in the GO Data Warehouse (analysis) package
includes lineage information. For more information about The Great Outdoors
Company samples, see Sample Reports and Packages.View lineage information of a data item to see what the item represents before you add it to a report. Lineage information traces the metadata of an item back through the package and the data sources used by the package. Lineage also displays any data item filters that were added by the report author or that were defined in the data model. Viewing lineage information ensures that you add the correct data items to a report. For example, you can view the lineage information of a model calculation to see how it was created.
Note: Lineage is not supported in reports that are not linked to packages.
You can use the lineage tool that comes with IBM Cognos 8, or you can use another lineage tool by specifying the URL to the tool in IBM Cognos Administration. Note that if the URL source is secured, the source must be able to prompt users for a password because IBM Cognos 8 does not pass security information. IBM Cognos 8 also supports the IBM Metadata Workbench as a lineage tool. For more information about configuring other lineage tools, see the Administration and Security Guide.
Tip: The Customer Returns and
Satisfaction sample report in the GO Data Warehouse (analysis) package
includes lineage information. For more information about The Great Outdoors
Company samples, see Sample Reports and Packages.
The IBM Cognos 8 lineage tool includes two views: the business view and the technical view.
The business view shows high-level textual information that describes and explains the data item and the package from which it comes. This information is taken from IBM Cognos Connection and the Framework Manager model.
The technical view shows a graphical representation of the lineage of the selected data item. The lineage traces the data item from the package to the data sources used by the package.
When you click an item, its properties appear below it. If you click an item in the Package area, you see the model properties of the item. If you click an item in the Data Sources area, you see the data source properties of the item.
You can also view lineage information when you run a saved report
in IBM Cognos Connection. For example, you can click a cell in a
crosstab to see how the cell value was calculated. To view lineage
information, click an item in the report and then click the Lineage button 
. If you or an administrator runs a saved
report with the IBM Cognos 8 lineage tool, both the business
view and the technical view are visible. Report consumers can see
only the business view. In addition to the Package and Data
Sources areas, a Report area exists
when looking at the technical view.
You cannot use lineage information to troubleshoot queries. For example, lineage information will not explain why a data item is double counted. Also, you cannot view lineage information when running a report from a mobile device.
To access lineage information, your administrator must configure lineage in IBM Cognos Administration. Also, the administrator must enable the lineage capability and grant read permission for you on the report.
In the Insertable Objects pane, on
the Source tab 
,
right-click the data item and click Lineage.
Tip: You can view lineage information for multiple data items at the same time by first Ctrl+clicking the items. The IBM Metadata Workbench does not support viewing lineage for multiple data items at once.
The lineage tool opens showing the lineage information of the selected data item.
