In this post I'm stepping one more step further, so let's investigate what tasks one has to perform in Map Builder.
Oracle Map Builder is a standalone application that lets you create and manage the mapping metadata (about styles, themes, and base maps) that is stored in the database. For example, use this tool to create a style or to modify the definition of a style. Besides handling the metadata, the tool provides interfaces to preview the metadata (for example, to see how a line style will appear on a map) and also spatial information.
Whenever possible, you should use Oracle Map Builder instead of directly modifying Oracle MapViewer metadata views to create, modify, and delete information about styles, themes, and maps. For any modifications made outside Oracle Map Builder, such as with SQL statements, you should refresh the database connection in Oracle Map Builder to get the current items.
Add a new connection in Map Builder
Firstly, Map Builder requires a connection to database schema with spatial data tables. To add you have to specify its database connection parameters:
Once you connect to the database, then all existing Map Viewer and Map Builder objects are loaded. Here you can observe Tyle layer created in my previous post.
There are basically two activities that are sufficient to create additional map layers that can be used in OBIEE.
Firstly, you have to create Texts, Colors etc. that are used with Geometry Themes:
Secondly, you have to create map objects that are called Geometry Themes. Creation of a new Geometry Theme is 4-step wizard driven process. This process is quite intuitive and doesn't require too much of explanation.
When you select Create Geometry Theme, wizard opens and guides you through necessary steps to create
geometry themes. In our case, there will be 3 geometry themes created, one of each table we
created in our database: MAP_SALES_REGION, MAP_CHIHO and PREFECTURE. These 3 geometry themes will be used in our map views as map data layers and
all will be put on previously created Tile Layer, that will be used as a
background map.
Step 1: Give a meaningful name to Geometry theme. Select the table owner, schema, and base table that contains spatial information. In our case, this is MAP_PREFECTURES. And finally, select Spatial column, i.e. GEOMETRY.
Step 2: Select style type (Color) and render style parameter, which was defined in one of the steps above. This selection actually sets the color of polygons defined in database table.
Step 3: Optionally add label style by selecting previously defined and define attribute that will be used for label. In this case PREFECTURE (Prefecture name) is selected.
Step 4: Review and confirm.
If finish is clicked, Geometry Theme is created. It can be opened now and reviewed:
You can see that a map of Japan was created with all 40+ prefectures. You can see that color just created is used and if you zoom in on the map, and you will see prefecture labels.
To create Geometry Themes for the remaining spatial tables repeat Steps 1-4 for both, for MAP_SALES_REGIONS and MAP_CHICHO tables.
One will notice that Oracle is a bit inconsistent when using terminology. When using Map Viewer and Map Builder you would create Tyle Layers and Geometry Themes, which are called Background Maps and Layers when you switch to OBIEE.
This concludes the preparation part of GeoSpatial Analytics in Oracle Business Intelligence series. I will focus on bringing all peaces together in my next 2 posts.