CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence

Yahoo Archive
1
CorVu 5 Windows-2000 Server Vantage 6.1.
Looks like they installed it 7/31/2006 on the new disk drive on the server.
I see changes made to the batch files dated Nov. 2006 so that was probably the last time I struggled with it.
When it was installed the Epicor person used his own disk. I never got one. When I requested one the one they sent was for 8.0. I still do not have a CorVu 5 disk for Vantage 6.1. I have not borthered pressing Epicor on this.

One of the major problems has been lack of decent documentation even for the most basic things. The last I was sent by support was for 8.0 and I was told to just change those references, etc... to 6.1 versions. Yeah, right. I eventually found a better document on the FTP site but have not had time to try to use it. Time is the biggest factor by far. Back when we first got CorVu I might have had a chance to dedicate 3-4 days to figuring it out. Now we are twice as big (and busy) and I'm still the lone IT person. It's easy to back burner the most frustrating projects. Especially when everyone else gave up on it and are no longer pushing for it.

None of this is entirely Epicor's fault. I've been conditioned to expect so little progress the ROI on my trying anymore is too low to prioritize it higher.

-Todd C.

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of brychanwilliams
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 11:45 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Re: CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence


Hi,

May I ask what version of Corvu you are running and the OS? When did
epicor last have a crack at it?

--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>, Todd Caughey <caugheyt@...> wrote:
>
> CorVu has been a disaster for us and after several years has not
ever been used. I am the butt of many derisive comments from our
President. I am sure it could be made to run correctly, eventually,
if I spent a lot of time with it which I don't have. The root issue
has been it has never run the nightly updating due to really weird
security issues that do not allow it to "login and run". There were
other issues early on that also delayed even getting this far. First
of which was a lack of disk space on our Vanage server. You will
need several times the space of your Vantage DB available for the
dynamarts. We tried running CorVu from another server and linking to
the Vantage DB but this incured even worse security issues so I
bought a new drive for the Netfinity server to dedicate to CorVu. I
have to say Epicor has been very supportive in terms of coming out
and setting things up and/or remoting in (sometimes for free). I
can't fault them for their trying but at the end of the day (or the
next day really) after they have gone it never runs correctly.
>
> The training I had was at CorVu a long time ago and was not Vantage
specific. The part I am missing is the how all the routines Epicor
has created to extract the data are supposed to work. Maybe they
have better training now that explains how things flow and the
background "whys" of the process. As far as I know there is no
documentation for Vantage BI that explains clearly "what and why" so
I can try to figure it out myself. I'm stuck in a position now where
our President goes ballistic if I mention spending anything more on
CorVu. When we bought FRx he was all over me about "this won't be
another CorVu will it?" So if a class is available now there is
little chance of my going to it.
>
> Perhaps it is just me (or my environment) and it is just
complicated enough that I have not been able to give it the attention
and time it needs. I plan to squeeze it in as a major goal for
reporting in 8.x as an alternative to Crystal for some of the RB
reports. Perhaps I can justify (and bury) the costs in that project.
>
> -Todd C.
>
> ________________________________
> From: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>] On
Behalf Of makos128
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups.com<mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence
>
>
> We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
> would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.
>
> I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
> following points about CorVu:
>
> - Degree of general satisfaction.
>
> - Ease of use.
>
> - The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can
use
> the product to achieve a desired result.
>
> - The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.
>
> Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
> Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
> Intelligence in place of CorVu?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mark Kemeny
> Systems Analyst
> PenSafe Inc.
>
> 905-643-7188 ex. 224
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> The information contained in this E-mail message and any documents
which may be attached are privileged and confidential, and may be
protected from disclosure.
>
> Please be aware that any use, printing, copying, disclosure or
dissemination of this communication may be subject to legal
restriction or sanction. If you think you have received this message
in error, please reply to the sender.
>
> For more information please visit www.harveyvogel.com
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



________________________________
The information contained in this E-mail message and any documents which may be attached are privileged and confidential, and may be protected from disclosure.

Please be aware that any use, printing, copying, disclosure or dissemination of this communication may be subject to legal restriction or sanction. If you think you have received this message in error, please reply to the sender.

For more information please visit www.harveyvogel.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2
We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.

I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
following points about CorVu:

- Degree of general satisfaction.

- Ease of use.

- The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can use
the product to achieve a desired result.

- The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.

Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
Intelligence in place of CorVu?

Thank you,

Mark Kemeny
Systems Analyst
PenSafe Inc.

905-643-7188 ex. 224
3
CorVu is an excellent product, very powerful compared to Crystal
Reports.



I've gone through some training (but through Epicor). I think the
actually training is about a week long.



HOWEVER,



It is NOT easy to learn (compared to Crystal), although if you never had
training in reporting it may be easier to pick up.

If your database is relatively large you will want to consider a
separate server for CorVu to run on.



There are an incredible number of canned reports which, once you learn
how to manipulate, that are useful. You may not need to create your
own.



If you are planning to upgrade to SQL server, be VERY careful. You may
not use it in the way YOU are thinking it can be used.

But there are a few implementations of it and those people can speak for
themselves. I've only heard the rumors.



HTH a little...feel free to call if you want more info.







M. Manasa Reddy

manasa@...

P: 630-806-2000

F: 630-806-2001

________________________________

From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of makos128
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence



We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.

I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
following points about CorVu:

- Degree of general satisfaction.

- Ease of use.

- The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can use
the product to achieve a desired result.

- The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.

Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
Intelligence in place of CorVu?

Thank you,

Mark Kemeny
Systems Analyst
PenSafe Inc.

905-643-7188 ex. 224





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
4
Hi,

We are v6.1 and strongly agree with the below. However, I think it is
no less easier to use than other reporting package but that is just
my experience.

I would also advise at looking at the other corvu products and what
they could deliver. These are in the performance management/planning
environment and may or may not be of interest. Rumor has it that
epicor and corvu are negotiating on these.





--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "Manasa Reddy" <manasa@...> wrote:
>
> CorVu is an excellent product, very powerful compared to Crystal
> Reports.
>
>
>
> I've gone through some training (but through Epicor). I think the
> actually training is about a week long.
>
>
>
> HOWEVER,
>
>
>
> It is NOT easy to learn (compared to Crystal), although if you
never had
> training in reporting it may be easier to pick up.
>
> If your database is relatively large you will want to consider a
> separate server for CorVu to run on.
>
>
>
> There are an incredible number of canned reports which, once you
learn
> how to manipulate, that are useful. You may not need to create your
> own.
>
>
>
> If you are planning to upgrade to SQL server, be VERY careful. You
may
> not use it in the way YOU are thinking it can be used.
>
> But there are a few implementations of it and those people can
speak for
> themselves. I've only heard the rumors.
>
>
>
> HTH a little...feel free to call if you want more info.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> M. Manasa Reddy
>
> manasa@...
>
> P: 630-806-2000
>
> F: 630-806-2001
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf
> Of makos128
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence
>
>
>
> We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
> would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.
>
> I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
> following points about CorVu:
>
> - Degree of general satisfaction.
>
> - Ease of use.
>
> - The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can
use
> the product to achieve a desired result.
>
> - The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.
>
> Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
> Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
> Intelligence in place of CorVu?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mark Kemeny
> Systems Analyst
> PenSafe Inc.
>
> 905-643-7188 ex. 224
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
5
CorVu has been a disaster for us and after several years has not ever been used. I am the butt of many derisive comments from our President. I am sure it could be made to run correctly, eventually, if I spent a lot of time with it which I don't have. The root issue has been it has never run the nightly updating due to really weird security issues that do not allow it to "login and run". There were other issues early on that also delayed even getting this far. First of which was a lack of disk space on our Vanage server. You will need several times the space of your Vantage DB available for the dynamarts. We tried running CorVu from another server and linking to the Vantage DB but this incured even worse security issues so I bought a new drive for the Netfinity server to dedicate to CorVu. I have to say Epicor has been very supportive in terms of coming out and setting things up and/or remoting in (sometimes for free). I can't fault them for their trying but at the end of the day (or the next day really) after they have gone it never runs correctly.

The training I had was at CorVu a long time ago and was not Vantage specific. The part I am missing is the how all the routines Epicor has created to extract the data are supposed to work. Maybe they have better training now that explains how things flow and the background "whys" of the process. As far as I know there is no documentation for Vantage BI that explains clearly "what and why" so I can try to figure it out myself. I'm stuck in a position now where our President goes ballistic if I mention spending anything more on CorVu. When we bought FRx he was all over me about "this won't be another CorVu will it?" So if a class is available now there is little chance of my going to it.

Perhaps it is just me (or my environment) and it is just complicated enough that I have not been able to give it the attention and time it needs. I plan to squeeze it in as a major goal for reporting in 8.x as an alternative to Crystal for some of the RB reports. Perhaps I can justify (and bury) the costs in that project.

-Todd C.

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of makos128
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence


We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.

I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
following points about CorVu:

- Degree of general satisfaction.

- Ease of use.

- The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can use
the product to achieve a desired result.

- The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.

Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
Intelligence in place of CorVu?

Thank you,

Mark Kemeny
Systems Analyst
PenSafe Inc.

905-643-7188 ex. 224



________________________________
The information contained in this E-mail message and any documents which may be attached are privileged and confidential, and may be protected from disclosure.

Please be aware that any use, printing, copying, disclosure or dissemination of this communication may be subject to legal restriction or sanction. If you think you have received this message in error, please reply to the sender.

For more information please visit www.harveyvogel.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
6
With that issue in mind, does anybody know of other Business Intelligence products that can be used instead of CorVu?

Thanks,
Jasper

-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Caughey [mailto:caugheyt@...]
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 11:36 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence



CorVu has been a disaster for us and after several years has not ever been used. I am the butt of many derisive comments from our President. I am sure it could be made to run correctly, eventually, if I spent a lot of time with it which I don't have. The root issue has been it has never run the nightly updating due to really weird security issues that do not allow it to "login and run". There were other issues early on that also delayed even getting this far. First of which was a lack of disk space on our Vanage server. You will need several times the space of your Vantage DB available for the dynamarts. We tried running CorVu from another server and linking to the Vantage DB but this incured even worse security issues so I bought a new drive for the Netfinity server to dedicate to CorVu. I have to say Epicor has been very supportive in terms of coming out and setting things up and/or remoting in (sometimes for free). I can't fault them for their trying but at the end of the day (or the next day really) after they have gone it never runs correctly.

The training I had was at CorVu a long time ago and was not Vantage specific. The part I am missing is the how all the routines Epicor has created to extract the data are supposed to work. Maybe they have better training now that explains how things flow and the background "whys" of the process. As far as I know there is no documentation for Vantage BI that explains clearly "what and why" so I can try to figure it out myself. I'm stuck in a position now where our President goes ballistic if I mention spending anything more on CorVu. When we bought FRx he was all over me about "this won't be another CorVu will it?" So if a class is available now there is little chance of my going to it.

Perhaps it is just me (or my environment) and it is just complicated enough that I have not been able to give it the attention and time it needs. I plan to squeeze it in as a major goal for reporting in 8.x as an alternative to Crystal for some of the RB reports. Perhaps I can justify (and bury) the costs in that project.

-Todd C.

________________________________
From: vantage@yahoogroups <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> .com [mailto: vantage@yahoogroups <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> .com] On Behalf Of makos128
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> .com
Subject: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence

We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.

I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
following points about CorVu:

- Degree of general satisfaction.

- Ease of use.

- The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can use
the product to achieve a desired result.

- The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.

Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
Intelligence in place of CorVu?

Thank you,

Mark Kemeny
Systems Analyst
PenSafe Inc.

905-643-7188 ex. 224

________________________________
The information contained in this E-mail message and any documents which may be attached are privileged and confidential, and may be protected from disclosure.

Please be aware that any use, printing, copying, disclosure or dissemination of this communication may be subject to legal restriction or sanction. If you think you have received this message in error, please reply to the sender.

For more information please visit www.harveyvogel.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
7
Hi,

May I ask what version of Corvu you are running and the OS? When did
epicor last have a crack at it?



--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, Todd Caughey <caugheyt@...> wrote:
>
> CorVu has been a disaster for us and after several years has not
ever been used. I am the butt of many derisive comments from our
President. I am sure it could be made to run correctly, eventually,
if I spent a lot of time with it which I don't have. The root issue
has been it has never run the nightly updating due to really weird
security issues that do not allow it to "login and run". There were
other issues early on that also delayed even getting this far. First
of which was a lack of disk space on our Vanage server. You will
need several times the space of your Vantage DB available for the
dynamarts. We tried running CorVu from another server and linking to
the Vantage DB but this incured even worse security issues so I
bought a new drive for the Netfinity server to dedicate to CorVu. I
have to say Epicor has been very supportive in terms of coming out
and setting things up and/or remoting in (sometimes for free). I
can't fault them for their trying but at the end of the day (or the
next day really) after they have gone it never runs correctly.
>
> The training I had was at CorVu a long time ago and was not Vantage
specific. The part I am missing is the how all the routines Epicor
has created to extract the data are supposed to work. Maybe they
have better training now that explains how things flow and the
background "whys" of the process. As far as I know there is no
documentation for Vantage BI that explains clearly "what and why" so
I can try to figure it out myself. I'm stuck in a position now where
our President goes ballistic if I mention spending anything more on
CorVu. When we bought FRx he was all over me about "this won't be
another CorVu will it?" So if a class is available now there is
little chance of my going to it.
>
> Perhaps it is just me (or my environment) and it is just
complicated enough that I have not been able to give it the attention
and time it needs. I plan to squeeze it in as a major goal for
reporting in 8.x as an alternative to Crystal for some of the RB
reports. Perhaps I can justify (and bury) the costs in that project.
>
> -Todd C.
>
> ________________________________
> From: vantage@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vantage@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of makos128
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence
>
>
> We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
> would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.
>
> I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
> following points about CorVu:
>
> - Degree of general satisfaction.
>
> - Ease of use.
>
> - The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can
use
> the product to achieve a desired result.
>
> - The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.
>
> Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
> Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
> Intelligence in place of CorVu?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mark Kemeny
> Systems Analyst
> PenSafe Inc.
>
> 905-643-7188 ex. 224
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> The information contained in this E-mail message and any documents
which may be attached are privileged and confidential, and may be
protected from disclosure.
>
> Please be aware that any use, printing, copying, disclosure or
dissemination of this communication may be subject to legal
restriction or sanction. If you think you have received this message
in error, please reply to the sender.
>
> For more information please visit www.harveyvogel.com
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
8
There are other options in the market place but I haven't used them
in a production environment and not with Vantage. There is Cognos and
Hyperion , very expensive. Then there are some open source options as
well.

I think corvu is one of the few products that directly interfaces
into progress(v9), not sure about openedge etc, not requiring an odbc
interface.

A benefit of the corvu package, if you can get it working, is the pre-
packaged VBI. This a good starting point.

Baring the limiting of the epicor corvu license(you can only access
the progress database directly), if went to corvu directly, it would
much more expensive.

At the end of it, if corvu doesn't do it for you(in terms of
functionality, administration and cost) use something else, life is
too short.



--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "Jasper Recto" <jrecto@...> wrote:
>
> With that issue in mind, does anybody know of other Business
Intelligence products that can be used instead of CorVu?
>
> Thanks,
> Jasper
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Todd Caughey [mailto:caugheyt@...]
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 11:36 AM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence
>
>
>
> CorVu has been a disaster for us and after several years has not
ever been used. I am the butt of many derisive comments from our
President. I am sure it could be made to run correctly, eventually,
if I spent a lot of time with it which I don't have. The root issue
has been it has never run the nightly updating due to really weird
security issues that do not allow it to "login and run". There were
other issues early on that also delayed even getting this far. First
of which was a lack of disk space on our Vanage server. You will need
several times the space of your Vantage DB available for the
dynamarts. We tried running CorVu from another server and linking to
the Vantage DB but this incured even worse security issues so I
bought a new drive for the Netfinity server to dedicate to CorVu. I
have to say Epicor has been very supportive in terms of coming out
and setting things up and/or remoting in (sometimes for free). I
can't fault them for their trying but at the end of the day (or the
next day really) after they have gone it never runs correctly.
>
> The training I had was at CorVu a long time ago and was not Vantage
specific. The part I am missing is the how all the routines Epicor
has created to extract the data are supposed to work. Maybe they have
better training now that explains how things flow and the
background "whys" of the process. As far as I know there is no
documentation for Vantage BI that explains clearly "what and why" so
I can try to figure it out myself. I'm stuck in a position now where
our President goes ballistic if I mention spending anything more on
CorVu. When we bought FRx he was all over me about "this won't be
another CorVu will it?" So if a class is available now there is
little chance of my going to it.
>
> Perhaps it is just me (or my environment) and it is just
complicated enough that I have not been able to give it the attention
and time it needs. I plan to squeeze it in as a major goal for
reporting in 8.x as an alternative to Crystal for some of the RB
reports. Perhaps I can justify (and bury) the costs in that project.
>
> -Todd C.
>
> ________________________________
> From: vantage@yahoogroups <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> .com
[mailto: vantage@yahoogroups <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> .com]
On Behalf Of makos128
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:44 AM
> To: vantage@yahoogroups <mailto:vantage%40yahoogroups.com> .com
> Subject: [Vantage] CorVu & MS SQL Server Business Intelligence
>
> We are in the process of considering the purchase of CorVu which
> would be executed against a Vantage 6.1 implementation.
>
> I would like to ask if anyone can offer some insights on the
> following points about CorVu:
>
> - Degree of general satisfaction.
>
> - Ease of use.
>
> - The degree to which administrative/executive (non-IT) staff can
use
> the product to achieve a desired result.
>
> - The degree of usefulnes of the canned reports.
>
> Also, we are considering implementing SQL Server when we upgrade to
> Vantage 8. Can anyone comment on using MS SQL Server 2005 Business
> Intelligence in place of CorVu?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mark Kemeny
> Systems Analyst
> PenSafe Inc.
>
> 905-643-7188 ex. 224
>
> ________________________________
> The information contained in this E-mail message and any documents
which may be attached are privileged and confidential, and may be
protected from disclosure.
>
> Please be aware that any use, printing, copying, disclosure or
dissemination of this communication may be subject to legal
restriction or sanction. If you think you have received this message
in error, please reply to the sender.
>
> For more information please visit www.harveyvogel.com
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>