Business Objects

Q. What are the different tools in Business Objects 5.1? 
What’s new in BusinessObjects 5.1?
Although not a major release over BUSINESSOBJECTS 5.0, BUSINESSOBJECTS 5.1 has some important new features.

· Save as PDF
· Add hyperlinks to reports
· Zero Administration BusinessObjects

BUSINESSOBJECTS 5.1 can be installed in two ways:
• from INFOVIEW via an Internet browser
• from the product CD

Q. Explain the Reporting features in Business Objects reporting tool?
How do you access data sources?
BUSINESSOBJECTS lets you access your data through a graphical user interface. You need no technical knowledge of the underlying data structures to get the information you want. What you do need, however, is knowledge of your business.
To access a data source with BUSINESSOBJECTS, you build a data provider. The types of data providers supported in BUSINESSOBJECTS depends on whether you install BUSINESSOBJECTS from the installation CD or install BUSINESSOBJECTS via an Internet browser.

Building a More Powerful Query
The procedures described in the following sections enable you to build a more powerful query by controlling the data that your queries retrieve. You can:
• Define scope of analysis, which means that you retrieve data that you will later use for analysis in the report.
• Limit the query results to data that satisfies conditions.
• Sort data, for example alphabetically.
• Retrieve a specified number of rows of data.
• Eliminate duplicate rows of data from the query result.

Running a Query on a Different Universe
BUSINESSOBJECTS allows you to run a query on one universe and then run the same query on a different universe. By doing this, you can test your query on a pilot universe before applying it to your real data.
1. Open the report containing the query.
2. From the Data menu, choose View Data. The Data Manager dialog box opens.
3. Choose the query you want to use in the Data Providers list, then click the Definition tab.
4. Click the button to the right of the current universe name.
5. In the dialog box that appears, select the universe you want to use, then click OK.
6. Click the Results tab, then Refresh.
7. Click OK to close the Data Manager.

Applying Groups of Conditions
You use conditions to limit the data retrieved by queries. A group of conditions consists of two or more conditions (predefined, simple or complex) applied on the same query. You use groups of conditions when a single condition does not enable you to obtain the data that you need.

A group of conditions consists of two or more conditions applied on the same query. In the Conditions box in the Query Panel, conditions are linked by an operator (AND or OR).
Building Combined Queries
BUSINESSOBJECTS lets you combine the data returned by up to eight queries as one set of results. These combined queries enable you to:
• Obtain a single column of data from multiple objects.
• Obtain data common to two sets of results, such as customers from a given region and a given age group.
• Exclude the results of one query from the results of another.
Note: Building combined queries allows you to combine or exclude data from the query result by using operators to combine the results of multiple queries. You can contrast this with using the In list and Not in list operators when you apply a complex condition on a query. The In list and Not in list operators include or exclude data from a query result based on a list of values that you enter.
Operators used to combine queries are Union, Intersection and Minus.
Setting up hierarchies for drill mode
Drill mode enables you to analyze data on different levels of detail. You perform analysis by navigating up, down and across hierarchies of data in a report. You drill down on the data to examine the details of more consolidated data. You drill up on data to examine totals for the underlying data. Your ability to drill on data requires that the data be organized into hierarchies.

Note: You can only work in drill mode if you have installed the EXPLORER option with BUSINESSOBJECTS.
Exporting Data From BusinessObjects

What external formats are available?
You can export data from BUSINESSOBJECTS to the following formats:
• Text. You can open the text file in many different applications, and on platforms other than Windows 
  (Macintosh, OS/2 or UNIX, for example).
• Spreadsheet format (Microsoft Excel). When you view the exported data in the spreadsheet application, 
  each value appears in a separate cell.
• RDBMS format (including .dbf format for dBASE). When you export data from BUSINESSOBJECTS to 
  RDBMS format, you create a relational table in the database. The table contains the columns of data  
  returned by the data provider. This feature enables you to extract a subset of data from a very large table,
  then export the result to your RDBMS. Once exported, the data can be retrieved by running a data  
  provider in BUSINESSOBJECTS. The universe designer can build a new universe, or edit an existing 
  universe, to map to the data in the new table. Alternatively, you can access the data directly by using free-
  hand SQL.
Options available to export data from BO
· Export to Local File format
· Export to RDBMS
· Copy to DDE
Using offline mode
Using BUSINESSOBJECTS in offline mode means that you are not connected to a repository which in turn means that, whatever your connection type, you will not be able to retrieve and send documents using BROADCAST AGENT. However, what you can do once you have opened BUSINESSOBJECTS in offline mode depends on the type of connection you chose to use in offline mode.
Client/Server connection
If you are using a BUSINESSOBJECTS client/server connection offline and not connected to a repository, you can still work with documents and universes stored locally on your computer and even create and refresh documents if you have a connection to the database, and the database connection and security information is stored on your computer.
Web connection
If you are using a web connection offline, you will not be able to retrieve documents from, and send documents to, Personal Document folders on the web server, and will not be able to create queries or refresh documents because all the database and connection information is stored on the web server.
In offline mode, you can continue to work on documents stored locally; you can work on the formatting of your reports or analyze data in existing reports, for example, and work with the data contained in the document to build new reports. If BUSINESSOBJECTS cannot establish the connection you requested with the web server, it may give you the option of starting BUSINESSOBJECTS in offline mode if your user rights allow you to work offline.
No remote connection
You may also choose to start BUSINESSOBJECTS in offline mode because you know you have no remote connection at all - for example, on a plane - and want to continue to work on documents you have stored locally. Note: The right to use BUSINESSOBJECTS offline is given to you by your BUSINESSOBJECTS supervisor or system administrator. Depending on how BUSINESSOBJECTS has been set up in your company, you may not even have the option of logging on to BUSINESSOBJECTS in offline mode.
Different ways of refreshing documents
BUSINESSOBJECTS allows you to refresh documents in the following ways:
• Manually
• Automatically at specific times or intervals
• By sending the document to Broadcast Agent, the BUSINESSOBJECTS product that manages the scheduled 
   processing of documents.
• Every time you open a document.

Saving a document for all users
If you want to make a document accessible to another user working without a repository, then check the Save for all users option in the Save as dialog box (Save As command, File menu). If you do not do this, users working without a repository will get an error message saying “You are not authorized to use this document” when they try to open your document. This is important to bear in mind if you are sending documents to other users via email, for example.
.

Displaying Data in Tables
BUSINESSOBJECTS has three basic ways of displaying the data in a report. You can display data in tables, in charts or in free-standing cells.
What are master/detail reports?
Master/detail reports enable you to split large blocks of data into sections. This type of presentation allows you to avoid repeating values and also to display subtotals.
Structuring a Master/Detail Report
You set up a master/detail report by setting a variable as a master cell. This section describes the different ways to do this. You can: 
• use a variable in a table or crosstab to create a master cell
• add a variable from the Report Manager to create a master cell


Organizing Data in Reports
Limiting the Data Displayed
You may not want to display all the data returned by a data provider in a report. You may want to focus on a selection of it only, which is difficult to do if there is a lot of data on the screen. A filter enables you to hide the data you do not want to view behind the scenes and display only the data you need. There are two types of filter. A global filter affects the whole report. A blockspecific filter only filters data for the specified chart, table or crosstab.
Creating more complex filters
Simple filters enable you to view only the data you need in a report. When you apply a simple filter, all you do is select values for a variable in the report. Complex filters enable you to display values that satisfy conditions. You define a complex filter by writing a formula.
Ignoring filters
You can force BUSINESSOBJECTS to ignore any filters you have inserted on a report so that when you make a calculation, the calculation is made on all the data, not just the filtered values. To do this, you use the 
NoFilter function. The syntax is: =NoFilter(formula)
Using Ranking to View the Top and Bottom Values
You may only want to show the extreme ranges of the data. For example, you may want to determine your top ten customers. Ranking enables you to look at the largest numbers and the smallest numbers in a report. Like filtering, it hides the data you do not want to display. The hidden data is not deleted from the report - you can view it again whenever you like by removing the ranking. Ranking also sorts the data in descending order. Thus, the largest value of the ranking is always at the top of the ranked column and the smallest value at the bottom. You can rank data contained in tables, crosstabs or master cells in master/detail reports.
Highlighting Data: using Alerter Note: You cannot use alerters on charts.
BUSINESSOBJECTS has standard calculation functions that enable you to make quick calculations on the data in reports. These calculations are available directly from a menu. The most commonly used calculations are also available on the Report toolbar.  
Understanding input and output contexts
BUSINESSOBJECTS defines an input context and an output context to determine the result of an aggregate calculation. Remember that a context is made up of one or more dimensions. The following table defines which dimensions in a report make up which context:
 
Analyzing Data in drill mode
What is drill mode?
Drill mode is a BOs analysis mode that allows you to break down data and view it from different angles and on different levels of detail to discover what is the driving factor behind a good or bad result.
Hierarchies
Objects are also organized in this way for drilling. When you analyze data in drill mode, you use hierarchies. The Universe classes are the default hierarchies you use for drilling but the Universe designer can also set up custom hierarchies. You can also create and edit hierarchies in your reports. Drill hierarchies only contain dimension objects. In drill mode, you drill down on dimensions, for example from Year to Quarter to Month. At each level, measures, such as Revenue or Profit Margin, are recalculated.
Qualifying Data For Hierarchies
BUSINESSOBJECTS qualifies data as dimensions, measures or details. Hierarchies only contain dimensions so if you want to include an object in a hierarchy for analysis in drill mode, you must qualify it as a dimension.   Note: You cannot change the qualification of data returned by a query on a universe.
Q.  What is Slice and Dice feature in Business Objects? 
                    Working in Slice-and-Dice Mode
Slice-and-dice mode enables you to switch the position of data in a report. You can, for ex, move data from columns to rows. The result would be a crosstab, where numeric data such as revenue appears at the intersection of rows and columns. You can also use slice-and-dice mode to:
• Work with master/detail reports                  • Display and remove data
• Rename, reset and delete blocks                  • Turn tables and crosstabs into charts, and vice versa
• Apply, edit and delete breaks, filters, sorts, rankings and calculations. 
Slice-and-dice mode is enabled by   the Slice and Dice Panel, a pop-up window that provides a graphical representation of the report you are   working on. You carry out tasks by dragging and dropping icons that represent the data you can use.
Formatting Sections
What are sections?
There are two types of section in a BUSINESSOBJECTS report.
Main Section
If you have not created any sections, the main section is the only section in the report and when you apply shading, the whole report (except margins) will be shaded in the same color.
Sections in a Master/Detail report
If you have set up a report with sections, you can apply a different type of shading to each section in the report. This can allow you to easily distinguish between the different sections. The sections you have created are contained in the main section and a main section header is displayed at the beginning of the report and a main section footer at the end of the report. You can hide the main section header or the main section footer or both of them if you wish.

Formatting Tables
Tables and crosstabs are made up of headers and footers, columns and rows, and cells. All these elements together make up the block. The cell is the most basic element of a table or crosstab. Rows and columns are made up of groups of cells. When you format tables and crosstabs, you can work on the formatting cell by cell or on the block formatting.
Using hyperlinks in BusinessObjects reports
You can easily add hyperlinks such as email addresses and web site addresses to your reports. BUSINESSOBJECTS automatically recognizes certain keywords or symbols included in the address, adds any extra syntax behind the scenes and formats the address as a hyperlink. Hyperlinks you add to a BUSINESSOBJECTS report are retained when you save the report in PDF or in HTML format.

Positioning report components
Relative positioning
Relative positioning means positioning a selected block in relation to markers such as page margins or other blocks. If these markers change in size or position the block is re-positioned accordingly. 
Using Outline View
When you have a report in sections with a lot of information in each section, a convenient way of presenting the report is to use outline view. Outline view folds up the sections in the report to display only the high level information that you’ve included at the top of each section. People viewing your reports can then open up the sections they are interested in to get more details. A bar with arrows is displayed at the left side of the report window. The number of buttons displayed at the bottom of the outline bar depends on the number of sections you have in the report.

What is a template?
A standard report does not contain information on page setup or include custom elements such as graphics. A BUSINESSOBJECTS template allows you to do this. A template is a special kind of BUSINESSOBJECTS document that contains pre-defined styles and structure that you use as a foundation to create reports. BUSINESSOBJECTS comes with several templates for you to use and you can also create your own.
Structure: The structure of a report defines how the data is presented. Your data can be presented in a crosstab, a column chart, or it can have a master/detail structure
Styles: The styles contained in a template define the report page background and the style of the headers and footers.

Business Objects Certifications:

Be a certified person to excell in your technology.The industry is rapdily changing.To keep up the pace you need Certification in your specific area.Be a Business Objects Certified Professional (BOCP) if you are from Business Objects area.Certification programs will definetely increase your skill proficiency and knowledge. Being a Business Objects Certified Professional (BOCP) you may enjoy benefits like increase technical skills,industry-recognized credentials,broaden career choices and much more ...... There are three different certification program which Business Objects offers.

1. Certification on BusinessObjects Data Integrator XI
2. BusinessObjects Enterprise XI
3. Crystal Reports XI technologies

BusinessObjects Data Integrator XI Data administrators: Showcase basic to advanced mastery of BusinessObjects Data Integrator XI and earn a designation. Exams available in English.
Click here to View recommended education path for data administrators
Click here to download Exam Information Guide for BOCP - BODI on XI

BusinessObjects Enterprise XI Aif you are system administrator then BusinessObjects Enterprise XI may help you to build a foundation of skills to design, manage and scale and earn a designation. Exams available in English, French, Italian, and Japanese.
education path for system administrators
Click here to download Exam Information Guide for BOCP - BOE on XI

Crystal Reports XI This is for Report designers for mastering basic through advanced report design skills for Crystal Reports XI and earn a designation. Certification exams available in English and Japanese.
Education path for report designers
Click here to download Exam Information Guide for BOCP - CR on XI

Crystal Reports 2008
For Report designers who are already Business Objects Certified Professionals can Update your certification from Crystal Reports XI to Crystal Reports 2008. Update certification exam available in English.
Click here to download exam guide for BOCP CR 2008 Update
Click here for free Free Web Seminar Exam Preparation ..How to prepare for a certification: BusinessObjects

Business Objects

How many modes are there in BO & Designer? There are 2 types: Enterprise Mode, Workgroup Mode.

What are Enterprise and Workgroup modes? Designer lets you save universes in either enterprise or workgroup mode. Enterprise mode means that you are working in an environment with a repository. Workgroup mode means that you are working without a repository. The mode in which you save your universe determines whether other designers are able to access them. By default, a universe is saved in the mode in which you are already working. For example, if you launched a session in enterprise mode, any universe you save is automatically in that mode.

What is a macro? A macro is a series of commands and functions that are stored in a Visual Basic for Applications module and can be run whenever you need to perform the task. If you perform a task repeatedly, you can automate the task with a macro. You create macros using the Visual Basic Editor.

What is an add-in? Add-ins are programs that add optional commands and features to BUSINESSOBJECTS. Add-ins are usually created by those responsible in your company for adding customized features to BUSINESSOBJECTS. All you probably need to do is install and uninstall add-ins that are sent to you.

What is a universe? Universe provides a semantic layer between you and the database. It consists of classes and objects named in business terms. It is basically a mapping of table and the columns in the database to classes and objects respectively in the query panel. Alternatively, It is logical mapping of data in business terms. In the BusinessObjects User module, universes enable end users to build queries from which they can generate and perform analysis. Universes isolate end users from the complexities of the database structure as well as the intricacies of SQL syntax.

What is a database connection? A connection is a set of parameters that provides access to an RDBMS. These parameters include system information such as the data account, user identification, and the path to the database. Designer provides three types of connections: secured, shared, and personal.

What is Designer? Designer is a BusinessObjects IS module used by universe designers to create and maintain universes. Universes are the semantic layer that isolates end users from the technical issues of the database structure. Universe designers can distribute universes to end users by moving them as files through the file system, or by exporting them to the repository.

What are the components of the Designer interface? In Designer, you create a universe using three areas: the Universe pane, the Structure pane, the Table Browser. The Universe pane displays the components of the universe from the point of view of BusinessObjects; that is the classes, objects, and conditions. The Structure pane reflects the underlying database structure of the universe including the tables, columns, and joins. The Table Browser is the component that lets you create the classes and objects of the universe from the tables and columns of a database.

What are classes? A class is a logical grouping of objects within a universe. In general, the name of a class reflects a business concept that conveys the category or type of objects. For example, in a universe pertaining to human resources, one class might be Employees. A class can be further divided into subclasses. In the human resources universe, a subclass of the Employees class could be Personal Information. As designer, you are free to define hierarchies of classes and subclasses in a model that best reflects the business concepts of your organization.

What are objects? An object is the most refined component in a universe. It maps to data or a derivation of data in the database. Using objects, end users can build queries to generate reports. The name of an object suggests a concept drawn from the terminology of a business or discipline. For a human resources manager, objects might be Employee Name, Address, Salary, or Bonus, while for a financial analyst, objects might be Profit Margin, Return on Investment, etc. For the purposes of multidimensional analysis, objects are qualified as one of three types: dimension, detail, or measure.

What is a hierarchy? Groups of related dimension objects are referred to as dimension hierarchies. An example of a dimension hierarchy is Geography, which can consist of City, Region, and Country.(Hierarchy is an ordered series of related dimensions, which can be used, in multidimensional analysis) Good examples of hierarchy are geography and time

Typically a universe can have more than 1 fact table and numerous aggregated tables.

What is Aggregate Awareness? Aggregate awareness is a feature of DESIGNER that makes use of aggregate tables in a database. These are tables that contain pre-calculated data. The purpose of these tables is to enhance the performance of SQL transactions; they are thus used to speed up the execution of queries. Of course, the reliability of the technique depends on the accuracy of the aggregate tables. In fact, they must be refreshed at the same time as all fact tables. A universe that is "aggregate aware" has one or more aggregate objects with alternative definitions based on these tables. These definitions correspond to levels of aggregation. For example, a Profit object can be aggregated by month, by quarter, or by year. Queries built from such a universe return information aggregated to the appropriate level at optimal speed. Aggregate awareness is a feature that makes use of predefined aggregate tables to enhance the performance of SQL transactions. It is used to improve the speed by which aggregates are calculated in the database. To set up aggregate awareness in a universe, you define one or more objects using the @Aggregate_Aware function. The syntax for this function is as follows: @Aggregate_Aware(aggregate_table_1, ... aggregate_table_n) The arguments of this function are all the names of alternative aggregate tables. When you formulate the syntax, you should be aware of the order of the arguments. The precedence is from left to right; this means that BusinessObjects determines the aggregate to use beginning from the leftmost argument. As a general rule, you should enter the most aggregate table as the first argument, the next most aggregate table as the second argument, and so on. You must then use the Aggregate Navigation editor to set up a list of incompatible objects and/or incompatible conditions for each aggregate table in your universe. These are the components that cannot be used with an aggregate table. You can either set up these lists manually, or cause the list of objects to be detected by Designer.

What is Incompatibility? The set of incompatible objects you specify determines which aggregate tables are disregarded during the generation of SQL. With respect to an aggregate table, an object is either compatible or incompatible. The rules for compatibility are as follows: When an object is at the same or higher level of aggregation as the table, it is compatible with the table. When an object is at a lower level of aggregation than the table (or if it is not at all related to the table), it is incompatible with the table.

What is the typical strategy employed in developing/maintaining/distributing Universes?

1. Phase 1: Break down the informational system into functional areas.
2. Phase 2: Analyze the information needs of users.
3. Phase 3: Design a conceptual schema Design the specification of the user.
4. Phase 4: Create a Universe with designer. Test the Universe with the Business Objects module. Distribute the Universe. Repeat the other steps for other Universes.
5. Phase 5: Update and maintain the Universe. Notify end users of changes.

What are strategies? A strategy is a script that automatically extracts structural information from a database or flat file.

What are the different types of Strategies? In Designer we can specify two types of strategies: 1) Built-in strategies and 2) External strategies Built-in Strategies: Designer provides a number of default strategies which we can use. These are strategies for extracting joins, detecting cardinalities, and creating default classes and objects. Options for indicating default strategies are located in the Database tab of the Options dialog box. External Strategies: We can also create our own strategies. Such strategies are referred to as external strategies. With an external strategy, we can specify the exact way that objects and joins are to be extracted from the database structure. The strategy we use, for example, can be a script generated from a CASE Access tool. An external strategy is specific to one RDBMS.

How do you specify external strategies? With an external strategy, you can specify the exact way that objects and joins are to be extracted from the database structure. All external strategies are contained within the same text file. The name of this text file is indicated in the .prm file specific to your RDBMS. In the .prm file, the strategy file is declared as follows: STG=[StrategyFileName] where StrategyFileName is the name of the strategy file. An external strategy, whether for objects or for joins, is made up of the following sections: a name and description (These are visible in the Strategies tab of the Universe Parameters dialog box.) a type parameter: object or join an SQL parameter or file parameter an optional parameter that points to a connection other than the universe connection. An external strategy can be based on SQL or a file.

What are the visualization options available? Designer contains a variety of features for organizing and viewing the tables and columns in the Structure pane. Among these features are: List Mode, which adds three panes to the Structure pane. These panes are for viewing the names of tables, joins, and contexts. When you click a component in a pane, its corresponding graphical representation in the schema is highlighted. Graphic options, which let you customize the shape or appearance of the tables, columns, joins, and cardinalities in the Structure pane. Arrange tables, a feature that reorganizes the tables in the Structure pane so as to produce an orderly display. Gridlines, a command that displays a grid, which you can use to align tables in the Structure pane. Table (Column) Values, commands that display the data values associated with a particular table or column.

What are aliases?

An alias is a logical pointer to an alternate table name. The purpose of an alias is to resolve loops in the paths of joins. In some cases, more than one alias may be necessary for a given table. As you create aliases, Designer may prompt you to create other aliases. This occurs when the new aliases result in the need for additional aliases; in other words, creating such aliases entails the propagation of other aliases. In such a situation, two options are available to you:
1. You can cause only the first table proposed to be aliased
2. You can alias all the tables listed (i.e. propagate the aliases) Designer displays an alias in the Structure pane as a table. It links an aliased table to existing tables, re-arranging joins, as necessary.

How do you resolve the loop? You can resolve loops in two ways: o Using aliases o Using contexts DESIGNER provides three features, which guide you in the loop resolution process: o Detect Cardinalities o Detect Aliases o Detect Contexts The first step in resolving loops is to detect the cardinalities of the tables.

What is LoV? A list of values contains the data values associated with an object. These data values can originate from a corporate database, or a flat file such as a text file or Excel file. In Designer you create a list of values by running a query from the Query Panel. You can then view, edit, purge, refresh, and even export this file. A list of values is stored as an .lov file in a subfolder of the UserDocs folder.

How many types of join are available? Designer supports the following types of joins: equi-joins, outer joins, theta joins, and shortcut joins.

What functions are supported? Designer provides four types of functions: Number, Character, Date and @Functions. Functions beginning with the @ character are BusinessObject functions that render the definition of objects dynamic and database-independent.

1. @Aggregate_Aware is used to enhance the performance of SQL transactions; i.e. it determines which tables to use in SQL generation: either aggregate tables or detailed tables.
2. @Prompt is used to create an interactive object.In the Query Panel,this type of object causes a message to appear that prompts the end user to enter a specific value.
3. @Script is used to recover the results of an executed macro created with the Visual Basic Editor the BusinessObjects User module.
4. @Select lets you re-use the Select statement of an existing object
5. @Variable is used to reference the value assigned to a name or variable.
6. @Where lets you re-use the Where clause of an existing object.

What is meant by object qualification? The qualification of an object reveals how it can be used in multidimensional analysis. An object can be qualified as a dimension, a detail, or a measure. In the Universe pane, the symbol beside each object indicates its qualification.

What is multidimensional analysis? Multidimensional analysis is a technique for manipulating data in order to view it from different perspectives and on different levels of detail. In Business Objects, multidimensional analysis involves drill mode and slice-and-dice mode, and is enabled by the Analyzer and Explorer components of the User module. To set up a universe for multidimensional analysis, you must define hierarchies and dimensions that determine how users view and analyze the data. A dimension is simply the object to be tracked. A dimension can be an object such as Country, Region, and City. A hierarchy is an ordered series of related dimensions. An example of a hierarchy is Geography, which may group dimensions such as Country, Region, and City.

1. What are cardinalities? Cardinality expresses the minimum and maximum number of instances of an entity B that can be associated with an instance of an entity A. The minimum and the maximum number of instances can be equal to 0, 1, or N. Because a join represents a bi-directional relationship, it must always have two cardinalities.
   There are two main methods for detecting or editing cardinalities:
   1. the Detect Cardinalities command
   2. the Edit Join dialog box

If you selected the Detect cardinalities in joins options in the Database tab of the Options dialog box, Designer detects and retrieves the cardinalities of the joins. If you do not use this option, you can still retrieve the cardinalities for one or all joins in the universe.

How do you test the integrity of a universe? With the Check Integrity command, you can test the structure of your active universe. This means testing to determine whether its components are accurate and up-to-date. Check Integrity serves the following purposes: It detects any inconsistencies in the objects, joins, conditions, and cardinalities of your universe. It detects whether there are any loops in the joins.