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15 Cognos Developer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various cognos developer interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.

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Common Cognos Developer Interview Questions

What is your experience with Cognos?

Cognos is a business intelligence and analytics software suite used to create and deliver reports, scorecards, dashboards, and analyses. The interviewer is asking about the interviewee's experience using this software in order to gauge their ability to perform the duties of a Cognos Developer, which would include creating and delivering reports, scorecards, dashboards, and analyses using the Cognos software suite.

Example: “I have worked with Cognos for over 5 years now and have gained a lot of experience with the tool. I have used it to develop many reports and dashboards for my clients. I am very familiar with the various features of Cognos and how to use them to create powerful and informative reports. I am also experienced in troubleshooting issues that may arise when using Cognos.”

What is your role in a Cognos project?

There are many possible roles that a Cognos Developer could play in a project, so this question helps the interviewer to understand what the candidate's particular strengths and experience are. It is important to understand the candidate's role in order to gauge their level of expertise and determine whether they are a good fit for the position.

Example: “I am typically involved in a Cognos project from the beginning to end. I work with the business users to understand their reporting requirements. I then design the Cognos solution, build the Cognos models and reports, and test the solution. I also train the business users on how to use Cognos and provide support during go-live and after the project has been completed.”

What are the different stages of a Cognos project?

There are different stages of a Cognos project in order to ensure that the project is completed successfully and on time. The different stages include:

1. Planning and Design: This is the stage where the project team plans and designs the project. They determine the scope of the project, the objectives, and the timeline.

2. Development: This is the stage where the project team develops the project. They create the project deliverables, such as the reports and dashboards.

3. Testing: This is the stage where the project team tests the project. They test the reports and dashboards to ensure that they meet the requirements.

4. Deployment: This is the stage where the project is deployed to production. The reports and dashboards are made available to users.

5. Maintenance: This is the stage where the project team provides maintenance and support for the project. They fix bugs and enhance features.

Example: “The different stages of a Cognos project are as follows:

1. Planning and requirements gathering: This is the first stage of any project and it is important to get a clear understanding of the requirements from the client. The project team should also create a project plan at this stage.

2. Design: In this stage, the team will design the solution according to the requirements gathered in the previous stage. This will involve creating the necessary Cognos objects such as cubes, dimensions, etc.

3. Development: This is the stage where the actual development work takes place. The team will develop the Cognos solution according to the design created in the previous stage.

4. Testing: Once the development work is completed, it is important to test the solution to ensure that it meets all the requirements.

5. Deployment: This is the final stage of the project where the Cognos solution is deployed to production.”

How do you create a data model in Cognos?

There are a few reasons why an interviewer would ask this question to a Cognos Developer. Firstly, it is important to understand how Cognos Developers create data models as this will impact the quality of the reports and dashboards that they produce. Secondly, understanding the data model creation process will help the Cognos Developer to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during report development. Finally, by understanding the data model creation process, the Cognos Developer will be able to optimize the performance of their reports.

Example: “There are two ways to create a data model in Cognos:

1. Using the Data Model Wizard: This is the recommended way for most users, as it guides you through the process of creating a data model and lets you preview your work before finishing.

2. Manually creating a data model: This is more suited for advanced users who are familiar with the Cognos platform and want more control over their data models.”

What are the different types of reports that can be created in Cognos?

There are many types of reports that can be created in Cognos, and each has its own purpose and use. It is important for the Cognos Developer to know the different types of reports so that they can create the most effective report for the needs of the client.

Example: “There are three types of reports that can be created in Cognos:
1. Query Studio Reports
2. Analysis Studio Reports
3. Report Studio Reports”

How do you create a report in Cognos?

Cognos developers use the Cognos platform to create and deliver reports. Reports created in Cognos can be used to provide insights into business performance, trends, and areas of opportunity. Asking a Cognos developer how they create reports helps to assess their level of expertise with the platform and their ability to create reports that meet the needs of users.

Example: “There are two ways to create a report in Cognos:

1. Using the Report Wizard: This is the recommended method for creating simple reports. The Report Wizard guides you through the process of creating a report, step-by-step.

2. Using the Report Studio: This method is recommended for creating complex reports. In Report Studio, you have complete control over the design of your report and can add any type of data or object to it.”

What are the different types of queries that can be created in Cognos?

There are many different types of queries that can be created in Cognos, and it is important for the interviewer to know which ones the Cognos Developer is familiar with. This question allows the interviewer to gauge the Cognos Developer's level of expertise and to determine whether they would be a good fit for the position.

Example: “There are three types of queries that can be created in Cognos:
1. Basic Queries: These queries are the simplest type of query and are typically used to retrieve data from a single data source.
2. Complex Queries: These queries are used to retrieve data from multiple data sources and can be used to create calculations and comparisons between data sets.
3. Ad Hoc Queries: These queries are created on the fly and are not saved for future use.”

How do you create a query in Cognos?

Cognos Developers are responsible for creating and maintaining the Cognos environment. This includes developing reports, cubes, and queries. Queries are an important part of the Cognos environment and are used to retrieve data from the data sources. The interviewer is asking how the candidate creates queries in Cognos so that they can gauge their understanding of the tool.

Example: “There are two ways to create a query in Cognos:

1. Using the Query Builder: The Query Builder is a graphical tool that allows you to select the data you want to include in your query, and specify any filters or sorting criteria. To use the Query Builder, simply click on the "Query Builder" button in the toolbar.

2. Using SQL: If you are familiar with SQL, you can also create queries directly in SQL by clicking on the "SQL" button in the toolbar. This will open up a blank query window where you can enter your SQL code.”

What are the different types of filters that can be applied to reports and queries in Cognos?

Cognos Developer would be expected to know the types of filters that can be applied to reports and queries in Cognos because they are responsible for developing these reports and queries. Filters are important because they allow you to control what data is included in your reports and queries. By understanding the different types of filters, you can ensure that your reports and queries are accurate and contain the data that you need.

Example: “There are two types of filters that can be applied to reports and queries in Cognos:
1. Static filters: These are filters that are set up once and do not change, even when the report or query is run again. Static filters are typically used to filter out data that is not needed, such as data from previous years.
2. Dynamic filters: These are filters that can be changed each time the report or query is run. Dynamic filters are typically used to filter out data that is not needed for the current report or query.”

How do you apply filters to reports and queries in Cognos?

An interviewer would ask this question to a Cognos Developer to gauge their understanding of how to apply filters to reports and queries in Cognos. It is important to be able to apply filters correctly in order to ensure that the correct data is being retrieved from the data source.

Example: “There are two ways to apply filters to reports and queries in Cognos:

1. Using the Filter tool in Report Studio:

To use the Filter tool, select the report or query object that you want to filter, then click the Filter button on the toolbar. In the Filter dialog box, you can specify the conditions that must be met for the object to be included in the report or query.

2. Using SQL expressions:

You can also use SQL expressions to filter reports and queries. To do this, select the report or query object that you want to filter, then click the Properties button on the toolbar. In the Properties dialog box, select the Filters tab, then click Add. In the Add Filter dialog box, you can specify an SQL expression that will be used to filter the report or query data.”

What are the different types of prompts that can be created in Cognos?

There are several reasons an interviewer might ask this question to a Cognos Developer. It is important to know the different types of prompts that can be created in Cognos because it allows the developer to better understand the tool and how to use it to its full potential. Additionally, knowing the different types of prompts can help the developer troubleshoot any issues that may arise during report development.

Example: “There are three types of prompts that can be created in Cognos:

1. Date Prompts
2. Text Prompts
3. Numeric Prompts”

How do you create a prompt in Cognos?

There are many reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a Cognos Developer. For example, the interviewer might want to know how the Cognos Developer would go about creating a prompt in Cognos. This is important because it can help the interviewer understand the Cognos Developer's process and thought process when it comes to working with Cognos. Additionally, this question can help the interviewer gauge the Cognos Developer's level of experience with Cognos and prompt development.

Example: “There are two ways to create a prompt in Cognos. The first way is to use the Prompt Wizard, which can be found in the Report Studio toolbar. The second way is to manually create a prompt by adding a prompt object to the report canvas.

To use the Prompt Wizard:

1. In Report Studio, open the report that you want to add a prompt to.
2. Click the Prompt Wizard button in the toolbar.
3. In the Prompt Wizard dialog box, select the data item that you want to create a prompt for.
4. Select the type of prompt that you want to create.
5. Click Finish.

To manually create a prompt:

1. In Report Studio, open the report that you want to add a prompt to.
2. Drag a Prompt object from the toolbox onto the report canvas.
3. In the Properties pane, select the data item that you want to create a prompt for from the Source drop-down list.
4. Select the type of prompt that you want to create from the Type drop-down list”

What are the different types of drill-downs that can be created in Cognos?

Cognos developers use drill-downs to allow users to explore data in greater detail. There are many different types of drill-downs that can be created, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. It is important for developers to understand the different types of drill-downs so that they can choose the one that best meets the needs of their users.

Example: “There are three types of drill-downs that can be created in Cognos:

1. Relative Date Drill-Downs
2. Nested Drill-Downs
3. Custom Drill-Downs”

How do you create a drill-down in Cognos?

A Cognos Developer would be asked this question to gauge their technical expertise in the software. It is important to know how to create a drill-down in Cognos because it is a common task that is performed in the software. Drill-downs allow users to see more detailed information about a data set.

Example: “There are two ways to create a drill-down in Cognos:

1. Using the Drill-Down Wizard:

To use the Drill-Down Wizard, select the column or row header on which you want to enable drill-down, and then click the Drill-Down icon on the toolbar. The Drill-Down Wizard will guide you through the process of creating the drill-down.

2. Manually creating a drill-down:

To manually create a drill-down, select the column or row header on which you want to enable drill-down, and then click the Properties icon on the toolbar. In the properties dialog box, select the Drill-Down tab, and then select the type of drill-down you want to create from the Type drop-down list. Finally, click OK to save your changes.”

What are some tips and tricks for working with Cognos?

Some tips and tricks for working with Cognos include:

-Become familiar with the Cognos interface and navigation.

-Explore the available data sources and learn how to connect to them.

-Create some basic reports and learn how to format and customize them.

-Save your reports in different formats (PDF, Excel, etc.) so that you can share them with others as needed.

It is important to become familiar with Cognos because it is a powerful tool that can help organizations make better decisions by providing them with accurate and timely information. Cognos developers need to be able to use the software to its full potential in order to create reports that meet the specific needs of their organization.

Example: “There are a few tips and tricks that can be useful when working with Cognos:

1. When creating reports, make use of the Report Studio's 'Insert > Reference' function to insert references to other reports or objects. This can be useful for creating dynamic reports that change based on user input.

2. Make use of the 'Run as User' function in Report Studio to test reports as different users. This can be helpful for troubleshooting issues that only occur for certain users.

3. Use the 'Export to Excel' function in Cognos to export data from reports into Excel format. This can be useful for further analysis or for creating pivot tables.

4. Use the 'Printable Version' function in Cognos to create PDF versions of reports. This can be useful for distributing reports electronically.”

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