Universe Documenter

The tool exports BusinessObjects universe metadata into Excel file including information about objects, predefined conditions, tables, joins, contexts, index awareness and incompatibilities.

Requirements

  • Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5
  • BusinessObjects XI 3.1 SP3
  • Microsoft Office 2007 or OpenOffice 3.0

Installation

The tool is provided and supported by biclever.com.

The tool is build using Express version of Visual Studio, therefore it does not have a normal installer. Maybe I will do something about this later.

How to use

  • Start the tool  UnvDoc.exe as Administrator
  • Login to BOE system. If you cancel login, the tool will run in standalone mode.
  • Open universes from the disk or import from CMS.
  • Select output options. Do not check “List of values details” unless you need it – extraction of this information is very slow.
  • Save result to a specific file or click Quick View to get the result in Excel. ( Example of the result)

More Information

How to diff universes using Universe Documenter

Best practices of using Universe Documenter

List of output Excel columns

Objects
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Class Path
Class Id
Class Name
Object Id
Object Name
Object Type
Object Format
Object Description
Object Show
Object Select
Object Where
Tables
Object Qualification
Measure Projection
Associated Object
Object Has LoV
LoV Allow Edit
LoV Automatic Refresh
LoV Hierarchical
LoV Export With Universe
LoV Delegate Search
LoV Name
LoV Is Custom SQL
LoV SQL
Can Be Used In Condition
Can Be Used Result
Can Be Used Sort
Security Access Level
Database Format

Classes
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Class Path
Class Id
Class Name
Class Description
Class Show
Parent Class

Conditions
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Class Path
Class Id
Class Name
Condition Id
Condition Name
Condition Description
Condition Show
Condition Where
Tables
Mandatory Condition
Apply On LoV

Hierarchies
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Hierarcy Id
Hierarchy Name
Object Id
Object Name

Tables
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Table Id
Table Name
Alias
Is Derived
Derived SQL

Table Columns
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Table Id
Table Name
Column Name

Joins
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Join Id
Left Table
Right Table
Outer Join
Short Cut
Expression

Contexts
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Context Name
Context Description
Join Id
Left Table
Right Table

Index Awareness
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Class Path
Class Name
Object Name
Type
Select
Where
Enable

Incompatibilities
Universe Name
Universe Full Name
Table
Type
Object Id
Object Name

147 thoughts on “Universe Documenter”

  1. Dinesh

    Also datasource name.Actually, if it is possible to extract all the connection properties.It will be really helpful.

    Thanks

    Like

  2. priya

    Hi Dmytro,

    I am trying to run the application but it says UnvDoc has stopped working. I have BO 4.0 and .net framework 4 on my system. Is there anything I am missing here. Please help.

    Thankyou,
    Priya.

    Like

  3. Via_BO

    I have downloaded the BI4 version of the software but am unable to utlize the program. When I open the unvdoc.exe I receive a login window that ony states Standalone Mode with a button to click ok. I am using version 4 of Microsoft framwork. I tried running the software from both my desktop and my c:\

    Do you have any other idea’s? We are using version 4.0 of BO.

    Like

    1. Via_BO

      I have also tried running the UnvDoc.application which appears to attempt to install the software, however I then receive an error that the UnvDoc.exe.config.deploy file can not be located. I have down loaded every version of the software related to BO 4.0 available on this page. Any assistance you can offer is greatly appreciated.

      Thanks,

      Via

      Like

  4. Arun

    Hi dmytro,

    This tool is Awesome :)..Thanks a lot..

    Btw is there any tool to find out the impacted Reports which is using a particular table??

    In other words we are going to decommission a table from a DB and we need to know the list of Business Objects reports impacted.

    Thanks in advance.

    Arun

    Like

      2. Arun

        Hi Dmytro,

        Thanks a lot for the response.

        The tools in the link (watched some videos) are awesome but not bale to download it :(….Sent a mail to Support and waiting for their response.

        I am just wondering that impact analysis is a basic need for a organization but there is no a feasible solution for it.

        I will let everyone know about the response from support team.

        Like

  5. Tomer

    Great Tool,
    Is it possible to rename an object name (instead of using Translate Manager) and Export the universe (or save it locally).

    Thanks,
    Tomer.

    Like

  6. Steve92

    Hello!

    It seems to be a great tool but I can’t run it under “Windows server 2003 SP2″(VM) hosting BO XI 3.1 SP3. 😦

    I’ve just installed .Net 4, rebooted the VM and UnvDoc.exe always says “need .Net 3.5 or greater” !?!

    What could be the prob’ ?

    Thanks!

    Steve

    Like

    1. Jenifer

      Self affirmations are not neeedd. Your car won’t start but it will be fixed. The train will eventually come even if late. The rain is only natural and welcome, clothes will dry. If the boss complaints and warns you then you where never happy at that job. Everything changed in my life within 45 days. Literally everything. ))) The key is to manifest positive thought beyond the brain, otherwise it will only remain a thought like any other thought. Have an awesome day )

      Like

  7. Jatinder Singh

    Hello Dmytro,
    This is a great tool only thing missing is in Context Tab it doesnot show the Joins available corresponding to those context only shows context Name and left and right table.

    could you please let me know how can i check joins in particular context.

    Hope you understand the concern here.

    Regards

    Like

  8. RNelson

    Hello Dmytro,

    This tool looks like it will benefit us greatly, thank you for your hard work.

    After installation and execution, UnvDcc only opens in standalone mode at login. When I attempt to open a file I get the same exception as other users. How can I get the tool to display a logon screen to connect to our BO Server?

    I’m running this on the same server where I run the UDT and I’m running .Net 4.0. and SAP BusinessObjects BI platform 4.0 SP6 (14.0.6.1036) and MS Office 2010.

    Like

    1. Susan

      I don’t see any answers to the several people who have asked about the tool starting directly in standalone mode.

      Does anyone out there know how to get the BO Login screen to start in this tool? I would really like to be able to use this tool someday.

      Thanks
      Susan

      Like

  9. Robert Pollack

    In the “How to use” Not sure what/how to “Log on to the BOE system”. Is that just openning Universe Designer? I tried that and then it’s still standalone mode. The Import button is grayed out, when I select open a big ugly Unhandled exception is displayed. We us BOXI 3.1.

    Like

  10. Nehal

    Hi Dmytro ,

    This tool is really helpful.Can You say how to convert BOBJ reports or universe into XML.This will really help us to convert Business object universe to OBIEE RPD .(using this XML)

    Like

  11. Piyush

    Hi Dmytro,

    I am using your tool for UDT and it has helped us immensly in documenting our historic universes.

    We have recently developed a big Universe using IDT and was wondering if this tool will work on IDT or you have another version for IDT?

    I am a big ZERO in C/VB or nay coding so do not understand the code.

    Regards

    Piyush

    Like

  12. Deena

    Dmytro,

    Great Work Man!!! Likewise,Is it possible to create universe dynamically through coding using sdk or jdk??

    Thanks,
    Deena

    Like

  13. Chris

    Thanks for this great tool! SO much better than the old VBA way of exporting this information! You’re awesome for sharing this! 🙂

    Like

  14. Zizi

    I was trying to run the exe file. However, it never prompts me the log in screen, and directly go to the standalone. And then I got error message when click on Open. Please help.

    Like

  15. Sandeep Chandran

    Great tool.. Thanks Dmytro.. Would like to know,if you have developed a similar tool for BI 4.0 UNX(Semantic layer)

    Thanks,
    Sandeep Chandran

    Like

    1. dmytro Post author

      Unfortunately I am not working with BO at the moment so the development of the tools has stuck. As soon as I change job, I will continue 🙂

      Like

      1. Lesia Milimonka

        I know that you are not working on BO at this moment. But could you be hired to develop this?

        Let me know

        Like

  16. priya

    Hi,
    I am using BO4.0 SP 7 and .Net Framework 4.5 beta version in my local machine.
    And also i am using universe documenter 4.0 code its directly opening in standalone mode.
    In standalone mode also i am not able to open the universe.
    I am getting the following error message,
    COM object of type etc etc.

    Please help me to slove this.
    Thanks in advance

    Like

  17. Johnson

    First of all ,thank you,really , this is very useful to us, i even used Excel VBA to export BO universe,but from my local BO client can not connect to remote BO server. we have LADP access.
    found this plugin ,its so helpful.
    thank you very much.

    BR/Johsnon

    Like

  18. Wolf

    Hello Dmytro,
    thanks for your Generosity to share your fantastic tool with all the BO-Community.

    I would like to ask you for the favour, to make the universe restrictions (overloads) visible with the generatet xml-output. In CMC, one can not see them. And in Designer one can show them only by name.

    But unfortunately, its a little tricky, because of all the different types of overloads which are available, as e.g. table- or connection-exchanging, sql-conditions or
    object related…

    Thanks and regards Wolf

    Like

  19. Chris Ridings

    My universe design tool is version 14.1.4.1327 and could not download and create the excel file. I could connect to the server but I received the following error.

    Filed. Cannot open the universe. (UX0023): []

    I just updated my tools to the latest version of 4.1 SP 4. What should I do.

    Like

  20. Narendra

    Hi,

    Do we have anything like this to document amny universe od all the universe at once.

    Thanks

    Like

  21. Tony

    Hi,

    Thanks for sharing, IS there a way to download the restrictions sets applied in Business Objects Universe?

    Like

  22. tommy

    Hi, I have windows7 64-bit installed together with BO 6.5, BO XI 3.1 SP7 and client parts of BO XI 4.1 SP3. When I try to run your application I first get a message saying it is logging on in stand alone mode (which is strange since I have repositories and all). When I click OK in this it opens up the UNV DOC program. When I then click on the “Open” button the whole thing crashes on me. Below is the error message I get.

    could this be because I have 64 bit environment and this tool is build for 32bit?

    ************** Exception Text **************
    System.InvalidCastException: Unable to cast COM object of type ‘Designer.ApplicationClass’ to interface type ‘Designer.IApplication’. This operation failed because the QueryInterface call on the COM component for the interface with IID ‘{FB9A5FFE-D301-4011-BDF7-E81A32C3D714}’ failed due to the following error: No such interface supported (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80004002 (E_NOINTERFACE)).
    at System.RuntimeType.InvokeDispMethod(String name, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Object target, Object[] args, Boolean[] byrefModifiers, Int32 culture, String[] namedParameters)
    at System.RuntimeType.InvokeMember(String name, BindingFlags bindingFlags, Binder binder, Object target, Object[] providedArgs, ParameterModifier[] modifiers, CultureInfo culture, String[] namedParams)
    at System.RuntimeType.ForwardCallToInvokeMember(String memberName, BindingFlags flags, Object target, Int32[] aWrapperTypes, MessageData& msgData)
    at Designer.ApplicationClass.GetInstallDirectory(DsDirectoryID DirectoryID)
    at UnvDoc.MainForm.buttonOpen_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e) in C:\Users\dbu\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\UnvDoc\UnvDoc\MainForm.cs:line 65
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

    ************** Loaded Assemblies **************
    mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5477 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
    —————————————-
    UnvDoc
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Users/tolsson.CSCSWEAH496179/Downloads/UnvDoc/UnvDoc.exe
    —————————————-
    System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5468 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
    —————————————-
    System
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
    —————————————-
    Interop.Designer
    Assembly Version: 12.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 12.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Users/tolsson.CSCSWEAH496179/Downloads/UnvDoc/Interop.Designer.DLL
    —————————————-

    ************** JIT Debugging **************
    To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
    application or computer (machine.config) must have the
    jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
    The application must also be compiled with debugging
    enabled.

    For example:

    When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
    will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
    rather than be handled by this dialog box.

    Like

  23. JB

    Do you have this tool that run using SAP Business Object 4.0 version or later?
    I really need this kind of tool

    Like

  24. RAMADUGU SUMANTH

    Hi i would like Document the unvirese of version4.0 i have the downloaded the zip file accordingly and when i was trying to run the Unv Doc.exe,is it not asking for me to login and its directly saying the “STAND ALONE MODE”..is it required to make any intial setting in our system
    please help me thanks in advance

    Thanks
    R.sumanth

    Like

  26. R.Sumanth

    Thanks for your Reply

    when i was trying to do in that way its asking for the credentials of my RDC instaed of BOE, and even my RDC credentials are not working please help me thanks in advance….

    Like

  27. Suman

    Hi,

    Really I liked the tool .

    By any chance do you have similar tool developed for IDT (Information Design Tool)/BO XI 4?

    Thanks
    Suman

    Like

Comments are closed.