How can I import db column comments into the OBIEE presentation layer?

Question

We have a very well designed data mart - it is a star schema and all the fact and dimension table columns have comments in them with their definition and use. There is virtually no change required in the physical or business layer. The only modifications done in the presentation layer was to hide the Pk/Fk columns.
Is there a way to import these column comments into the presentation layer so that the business user can see this comment in the tool tip while hovering over the presentation column in Answers?
Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Hi,
I assume the comments you mean are stored in user_tab_comments and user_col_comments.
When this is the case you should do the following:
Go to your subject area in your presentation layer. For now I assume the name of this subject area is "Subject Area".
Then right click on this subject area and check "Externalize Descriptions".
Then create an initialization block (session) using this query:
(select 'CD_Subject_Area_' || table_name, comments from user_tab_comments)
union all
(select 'CD_Subject_Area_' || table_name || '_' || column_name, comments from user_col_comments)
Use "Row-wise initialization" for this initialization block.
Two comments:
1) Like I said, I assume Subject Area is the name of your subject area in your presentation layer, so I guess you need to replace this with the name of your Subject Area.
But be sure that you replace each space ' ' with an underscore '_'.
2) Maybe you need to refine above querys by filtering on table_name for those table_names you are using.
Good luck.
Regards,
Stijn