GUIDE : Install PalOOCa on Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix

PalOOCa provide a client interface to the Palo multidimensional OLAP datastore through OpenOffice.org. Using the PalOOCa extension, a user can model the datastore, and access and update the data using OpenOffice.org. With the combination, it is possible to build business and operational models - and share this information across the organisation. Please read on about installing PalOOCa on the Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix.

All three software (PalOOCA, Palo and OpenOffice.org are free open source software) that is able to give organisations a rapid modelling tools above their database systems. The majority of people (especially accounting people) are familiar with spreadsheet functions, so this provides an easy path towards building a sophisticated business intelligence tool for data that do not commonly fit in traditional business software such as competitor product share of the market, or general economic statistics such as GDP, CPI, PPI, etc.

OpenOffice.org

1. The current version of Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix includes OpenOffice.org 3.0
2. However, there are two packages that are required which can be installed from Netbook Panel Administration > Synaptic Package Manager:
   1. sun-java6-jre (this provides the Java runtime environment)
   2. openoffice.org-java-common (this provides java support for OpenOffice.org)
3. Include the Java runtime environment from OpenOffice.org menu Tools > Options
   1. OpenOffice.org > Java > Use a Java runtime environment > Sun Microsystems Inc 1.6.0

 Palo Business Intelligence Suite

1. Refer to my previous blog post on installing http://software.krimnet.com/guide/guide-installing-palo-bi-suite-30-community-edition-ubuntu-904-netbook-remix.htm
2. Check that the Palo server has started and running
   1. From Firefox web browser go to http://127.0.0.1:7777 (this is the Palo OLAP server)
   2. From Firefox web browser go to http://127.0.0.1:85 (this is the Palo WSS server) 

PalOOCa OpenOffice.org extension for Palo OLAP

1. From Firefox web browser download the PalOOCa_1-1-0.oxt file from http://sourceforge.net/projects/palooca/
2. Right click on the file and select Properties > Permission to check that it is executable
3. From OpenOffice.org add the downloaded PaloOOCa_1-1-0.oxt file through the menu Tools > Extension Manager
4. Exit OpenOffice.org then restart from the Netbook panel Office > OpenOffice.org Spreadsheet
5. The OpenOffice.org Calc spreadsheet application will now have a new menu Palo

PalOOCa configuration to Palo OLAP

1. From OpenOffice.org Calc, click on the menu Palo > Connection Manager
2. From the Connection Manager sub-window select localhost then click the Connect button then the Close button
3. From OpenOffice.org Calc, click on the menu Palo > Modeller
4. From PalOOCa modeller, the user can list, add and delete Database, Dimension, Cube and Elements (to edit, use the list view and right click on the item)

OpenOffice.org accessing data from Palo OLAP

1. From OpenOffice.org Calc, click on menu Palo > Create View
2. From the Create View sub-windows,
   
   1. select the Database (eg localhost/Demo)
   2. select the Data Cube (eg Sales)
   3. select the Rows by dragging the element from the Data textbox to the Rows textbox (eg Products)
   4. select the Columns by dragging the element from the Data textbox to the Columns textbox (eg Region, Years)
   5. select specific Rows elements by double-clicking the element in Rows textbox and selecting the elements (eg all Products under Stationery PC)
   6. select specific Columns elements by double-clicking the element in Column textbox and selecting the elements (eg Region of Germany and Years of 2007, 2008 and 2009)
   7. then click the Create button
3. PalOOCa will then fill in the data from Palo OLAP to OpenOffice.org (refer to the screenshot below)
4. It is then possible to format, add data, chart and functions in OpenOffice.org Calc to create the appropriate business or operational model

Preview	Attachment	Size
	palooca-ooo.png	67.13 KB