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Omniscope FAQsOmniscope Frequently Asked QuestionsAnswers to the most common questionsIf you have questions about Omniscope, this is the place to start. Click on the headings below to go to the section most likely to respond to your question. Each answer also contains links to related sections in the User Guide and Knowledge Base. Scaling & PerformanceQ: How many records (rows) and fields (columns) can Omniscope handle?A: Relatively speaking, rather a lot... there really is no fixed upper limit in terms of rows and columns. The effective upper limit depends on a complex relationship between processor speed, available Windows/Java memory, data types, density of the columns and the number and type of Omniscope views employed in a given file. Omniscope file complexity is principally related to the number of cells (rows x columns), whereas the capacity of the users' computers is most closely related to the amount of RAM in the machine. The best way to determine how Omniscope will perform with larger data sets (over 5 million cells) or very large data sets (over 15 million cells) is to request a trial key. In general, a recent computer running a 32-bit operating system with:
The less than proportional increase between 1.0 and 2.0 GB of RAM results when the 32-bit Windows/Java addressing limit is reached. 64-bit computers with 2.0 GB or more RAM have much higher limits. For more information on Omniscope scaling and performance, and 64-bit operation, consult our Knowledge Base. Information on scaling exported DataPlayers is here. Q: We are still pulling together our data. If we get sign-off on Omniscope reports using a small sample of our data, will the look and feel vary as we add more records?A: Not noticeably in most cases. Omniscope views and report pages look pretty much the same regardless of record count, and only the very largest data sets (over about 15 million cells) need testing for possible performance optimisation. You can mock-up your target data set in a spreadsheet, open it in Omniscope and develop a full set of reports in a day. Omniscope is a very quick way to put sample (or even real) reports on user desks practically the next day, surfacing all sorts of issues of data quality, interpretation, ownership, etc. while the reporting database, warehouse or 'mart' is still being designed. Installation & ActivationQ: My hard drive crashed/was rebuilt by the IT department, but when I re-install my Visokio applications, I cannot activate with my license key?A: If you or your IT department does not de-activate your installation prior to re-building your machine, your license key will remain set to 'in use' and you will not be able to activate another installation on the re-built or a new machine using that key. In this case, you should contact us. For more information on installation, activation, and de-activation, see the Omniscope User Guide. For more detailed technical articles, consult the Knowledge Base sections on Installation , Activation, and Troubleshooting. Q: Is Omniscope compatible with Vista and MS Office 2007?A: Yes, Omniscope version 2.3 and above are fully compatible with Vista and MS Office 2007 files, provided you are running a version of Java that fully supports Vista, which means either the version that comes with Visokio applications (currently 1.5.0_11) or a version after 1.6.0_03. (for more information, see Known Issues-Java on Vista). Q: What version of Java must be installed to run Omniscope?A: Java 5 or better. The current version of Java is now 6. If you are installing Omniscope on a machine with a version of Java earlier than 5 (also known as 1.5.0), the installer will trigger a prompt to upgrade. You can also choose to install a private instance of Java 6 just for use with Visokio applications. You can install or check your already-installed version of Java here. Q: My company machine has Java installed, yet my Visokio application will not start?A: On more than one occasion, we have seen centrally administered machines whose recent Java installations are not complete...certain Java files are either missing or not functioning. If you can see a Java icon in the Windows Control Panel, and the version is more recent than 1.4.2, it may be that your Java installation is not complete. In this case, you have two options; either 1.) re-install the very latest version of Java for all applications in your machine to use from the official site here, or 2.) install a private version that only Visokio applications will use from www.visokio.com/getjava . Q: We need more than one Enterprise server license for our testing and back-up environments, clustered machines, etc. How are these licensed?A: Clients purchasing our Enterprise Server bundle (1 Enterprise and 10 desktops) have the option to convert one or two of the desktop keys to additional Enterprise keys for test and back-up environments at no extra cost. Clients/distributors with multiple Enterprise installations and/or Commercial Publisher licensing arrangements can upgrade any number of Omniscope Professional DP Publishers to Enterprise installations as needed over time. ASP operators with per-client commercial publishing licenses will be provisioned with sufficient keys to support clusters, grids etc. as needed to scale up their operations. Data Entry & ImportQ: I am trying to type a value into a cell, but the cell outline turns red and the value does not change?A: Omniscope enforces data typing (validation). If Omniscope sees (or you declare) that a field (column) data type is numeric, Omniscope will not let you enter text, or a date, etc. To check and if necessary change the data type for each of your columns, go to Edit > Manage fields (columns) on the Main Toolbar. If the title or column header is blue, it means the column is a formula and will not accept direct input. Q: What is the underlying data structure in an Omniscope file?A: Currently, Omniscope is not a database, but a superior alternative to spreadsheets and other reporting tools for visualising, managing and communicating tabular data/ reporting views. Each .IOK file contains a single, totally 'flat' table of rows (records) and columns (fields)...plus embedded images, links, etc. This may change in future versions. Omniscope files can be linked to each other, such that records in one file are linked to another, more detailed Omniscope file with a different(usually more granular) data structure. Q: When importing an Excel file, does Omniscope import the text in the comments fields?A: Not currently. To import Excel comments field text into an Omniscope file as text column(s), you must cut and paste the comments fields into separate Excel columns. Q: Can I import and refresh data columns currently held in different views/tables of our database?A: Yes, Omniscope will import the results of any valid SQL statement that returns a table. The ODBC protocol is currently limited to connecting to only a single database. If you need to connect to/join tables from more than one database for import and refresh, you must use the JDBC protocol. In general, JDBC will out-perform ODBC. For more information on importing your data, see the User Guide sections on Using your Data and Connecting to Databases. For more technical articles, see the Knowledge Base sections on Importing Data Files and Database Connections. Securing DataQ: If I publish my data in an Omniscope file, can anyone copy or export the data from the file?A: Omniscope files use proprietary strong compression and encryption that will withstand attempts to hack into the file for substantial periods of time, more than long enough to protect the value of your data. We can change our methods at any time should they become known. If you save an .IOK /.IOM file you have created, you have the option to prevent data editing and export, stopping anyone from changing and/or copying and pasting data from the file. It will also disable all data export options for that file. Q: If I lose my laptop, is the data secure? Can I control who can open an Omniscope file, and for how long?A: When you save an Omniscope file, you have the option to password protect the file. If you have licensed the Enterprise Edition, you also have additional security options including time-limiting the file, 'locking' the file to an online domain so that it will not open unless the subscriber is logged into your website with valid credentials. For more information on options available to secure access to your data, see the User Guide sections on Saving .IOK files/ Exporting Data and Advanced Tools for Publishers. Q: What is the difference between an .IOK and a .IOM file?A: .IOK files produced by Professional and Enterprise Editions can be opened by anyone with a free Viewer installed. Standard Editions produce .IOM files that can not be opened with the free Viewer, but only by activated Omniscope installations (Standard, Professional and Enterprise Editions) Navigation & ViewsQ: Some Omniscope views are not useful for my data set. Can I turn them off?A: Yes, on the Main Toolbar, go to Appearance > Views and untick the views you do not want to be available for that file. For more information, see the User Guide section on Using Views Reports & PresentationsQ: Exporting a DataPlayer to PowerPoint seems to hang...is this a bug?A: Not really, Flash DataPlayers only display fully when PowerPoint is in Slide Show mode. If your DataPlayer export seems to hang, press Shift+F5 to change to Slide Show mode (or click the Slide Show icon lower left). This should display you DataPlayer in the Slide Show mode. To return and save the file as a .PPT file, press Escape. You may further edit the file (but not the DataPlayer itself) from the PowerPoint .PPT project file, but prior to sending the file to an audience who will not be making changes, save the file as a .PPS Slide Show file and send it in that format. Q: We want our Omniscope files to look like our other reports and screens. Can we replace the Visokio logo in the upper right-hand corner of the display?A: Yes, on the Main Toolbar, go to Appearance > Branding > Add Corner logo. For best results, use a version of your logo that is 19 pixels high. More comprehensive corporate livery and white-label branding options are also available. (Note: this and other branding options are only available on Professional, DataPlayer and Enterprise Editions.) Q: Can I specify which fonts are available in Omniscope?A: Yes. If you are running on Windows go to C:\Windows\Fonts and copy all the fonts you want to make available from Omniscope into a new file, such as C:\our_fonts. Now on each activated user machine (not the free Viewer installs) go to the Omniscope installation directory (typically C:\Program Files\Visokio Omniscope ) and open the installconfig.properties file in NotePad. Add a command line option to specify which fonts are available by uncommenting (removing the space & hash) at the front of the #ADDITIONAL_JVM_ARGS line and add the following: -DinstalledFontLocation=c:\our_fonts (case sensitive) to the end of the line. The directory after the '=' (in this case C:\our_fonts) specifies the location of the fonts that should be available in Omniscope. Below is an example of how the modified installconfig.properties line would look: ADDITIONAL_JVM_ARGS=-XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError -DinstalledFontLocation=c:\our_fonts Note: it is important that to copy rather than delete your fonts from the C:\Windows\Fonts location. Also note that only True Type Fonts (with .TTF extension) files can be included. Q: Colour schemes displayed for data management and analysis are too brightly functional for our final presentations and report files. Can we tone them down or make them more stylish?A:Yes, on the Main Toolbar go to Appearance > Themes. Here you can select some other themes, or create and save your own theme matching your corporate style and palette. For more information, see the User Guide sections on Creating Reports and the Appearance Menu commands. Using MapsQ: I want to use mapping, but my data sets do not yet include columns with geographic coordinates. What can I do?A: There are currently three ways to add geographic decimal coordinate (longitude and latitude) columns to your data for map displays; 1.) Locate your records in Omniscope using the free Visokio world, country and city maps- just place the markers manually to generate the coordinates in the file automatically (see the tutorial on Using Maps), or 2.) Look up missing coordinates using online sources for finding coordinates such as Google Earth (and often Wikipedia). In Google Earth, look up the missing places, set a placemark then read off the values, then type/cut-and-paste them into Omniscope, or 3.) Merge the columns into your Omniscope data automatically using a merge file. To merge in coordinate columns for capital cities or geographic centres of countries, we supply free 'By Countries' merge file containing these columns. We also supply a free 'By Cities' merge file containing coordinates for about 60,000 of the world's largest cities. Free merge files 'By Post codes' are also available for the U.K., the U.S., and a growing number of other countries. Other free and licensed reference merge files may be available from data vendors in future. PrintingQ: How can I print one or more Omniscope displays or Report Pages so that they look the same on paper as on the screen?A: Upgrade to the latest version. Version 2.3 onwards has dramatically improved printing options, including the option to print the entire files as a PowerPoint slide pack or Abode Acrobat .PDF document. (Standard, Professional DP and Enterprise Edition only). Q: I want to print files with more row than show on the screen?A: Currently Omniscope print as PowerPoint or Acrobat .PDF only the visible aspects of each tab/display. Try using Grouping (Table View) or Aggregation options. If you must print 100s of rows at granular level, export the file to Excel and print from Excel. For more information, see the User Guide coverage of printing in the File Menu and View Tools commands sections. Refreshing DataQ: Can Omniscope displays be updated live, in real time, across my network and the web?A: Yes, beginning with version 2.3. Any number of Omniscope files can poll and receive updates from another linked source Omniscope file. The linked source Omniscope file can in turn be refreshing on a shorter time cycle (or immediately if triggered by changes) from the source database. Note: the Auto-refresh option will always return the User file configurations to match the Source file upon each opening. If Users wish to preserve personalised configurations while refreshing only the data from a single Omniscope source file, configure the source file as the linked data source for the customised/personalised User files (see below). For more information, see the User Guide section on Refreshing Data and the Knowledge Base discussions of Integration options and Auto-Refresh. Q: How can I refresh .IOK files other users have configured differently to the Source .IOK file, and in personalised ways unknown to me?A: You can configure your Source .IOK file as the linked data source for Users .IOK files, which they can then customise and re-configure over time as they adapt to their Omniscope working/reporting files. Whenever they open their file, only the data will be refreshed, leaving their individually personalised view configurations, filter settings and Report Pages unchanged. Formulae calculated in the Soiurce file will be imported as values. AutomationQ: Can we provide customised/personalised data sets as Omniscope files on demand?A: Yes, the Enterprise Edition includes Scheduler and Generator automation tools that run on your server. The Scheduler is time-driven, but the Generator listens continuously on a specified port for your systems to present an XML version of your data to be exported on demand in response to a user request. Whenever the Generator detects a new data file, it applies the data to the relevant template .IOK file and dispatches the new, on-demand, personalised Omniscope file to the requesting user in the specified way. For more information, see the Knowledge Base discussion of Automation options IntegrationQ: We are software developers providing integrated solutions using our own software package(s) and underlying database(s). Can we connect, bundle or integrate Omniscope for reporting and data entry/export ?A: Yes, please do. Omniscope is designed to become part of integrated data management and reporting solutions. Omniscope not only connects to and refreshes from internal proprietary data repositories, warehouses and 'marts' it also links to and displays web-based content, including 'dashboards'. Normally, database connections using ODBC or JDBC in conjunction with the Scheduler and Generator automation tools are sufficient to create powerful integration. If not, we can develop (for a fee) a bespoke Connector to optimise further the performance and functionality of the combined system. For more information, see the Knowledge Base discussion of Integration Options and Web integration Available ConnectorsBloomberg and other financial feedsQ: I have a Bloomberg PC, and I want to import Bloomberg data into my Omniscope files...why is there an option 'Create Bloomberg spreadsheet' in the File > Export menu?A: It is a question of record count, update/refresh speed and performance. If you want to refresh Bloomberg fields in Omniscope on a manual as-needed 'pull' basis, using the File > Import to current file > Refresh from Bloomberg should perform well enough. When you first import Bloomberg fields into Omniscope, you may have to refresh manually a couple of times to fully populate the file. Because auto-refresh from Bloomberg has not yet been implemented in Omniscope, if you want to refresh a very large number of records on an automated 'push' real-time basis, use Create Bloomberg spreadsheet to generate a stand-alone Excel automatic price-monitoring spreadsheet that will perform better. This may change in future. For more information, see the User Guide section on Working with Bloomberg Q: Do you have a connector for Reuters?A: Not at present, but one can be developed given enough interest from Reuters and its customers. Salesforce.com/APEX and other hosted business platformsQ: I have installed the free Visokio Connector for Salesforce in my Salesforce account and I am looking at my data objects in Omniscope. Why do the files only show internal ID numbers, rather than the names of account owners, opportunities, etc.?A: Salesforce data objects are transactional tables, so data is divided across multiple objects/tables. To see the big picture, you need to join the objects/tables so that the internal IDs are replaced with the names, etc. This can be done by creating a report that joins the tables, or by defining a new custom data object as a join. During the free 30-day trial period, or if you have an activated Professional Edition, you can perform some of the joins using Omniscope. Note: The current version of the Connector for Salesforce does not support downloading joined tables or report files. The next version will support both. If you would like to be a beta tester for the next version of the Connector for Salesforce, please contact us. You must have an Enterprise or Unlimited Salesforce account. Availability to Professional account users is coming soon. For more information, see the User Guide sections on using the available Connectors Omniscope Top |