Product:
Microsoft Windows 2016 server

Problem:
You login to a Windows server with RDP, and are asked to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to change you password.
But if you press that – it will happen on your computer instead of on the server you remote control.

Solution:
Press CTRL+ALT+END to send order to Windows server to show change password dialog.

If you are accessing via citrix and RDP, then start the OSK.EXE from the Run menu.

Then press and hold [CTRL]+[Alt] keys on the physical keyboard in front of you and then finally press the [Del] key on the on-screen keyboard.

 

Other tip
To list all Active Directory groups a user is member of, enter this command

NET USER   username  /DOMAIN

To list all users in a “global security group”, enter this command

net group <your_groupname> /domain

To find out the DC servers in the domain , enter below at a DOS prompt:

NETDOM QUERY /D:domain.se   DC

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc835089(v=ws.11).aspx

To open the Local Group Policy Editor from the command line
Click Start , type gpedit.msc in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
Then you can adjust the settings in windows.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731745(v=ws.11).aspx

To start a RDP session, with admin rights you need for installing cognos software, enter on the Run command this

mstsc /v:servername.domain.com /admin /f

 

To open COMMAND prompt direct from File Explorer press
ALT+F
and select “Open command prompt as administrator”

https://shortcutworld.com/Windows/win/Windows-10-File-Explorer-Shortcuts

https://nutsandboltsspeedtraining.com/powerpoint-tutorials/windows-10-keyboard-shortcuts/

https://www.claudiokuenzler.com/blog/1035/how-to-use-ctrl-alt-del-key-combination-using-remote-desktop

Product:
Cognos Analytics 11.0.7 FrameWork manager
Microsoft Windows Server 2016 standard

Issue:
User can not login to Frame Work Manager. They get a error message at the login dialog, even do they have not enter any name.

Error message:
Windows Security
BMT
Connecting to servername.domain.com
Server Busy
This action cannot be completed because the other program is busy. Choose ‘Switch to’ to active the busy program and correct the problem.

Solution:
Start Internet Explorer
Go to Internet Options
Go to Trusted sites
Unmark the “Require server verification ….”
Enter the CA servername like servername.domain.com
Click on Add
Click Close
Click on custom level
Scroll down to the bottom of settings.
Mark “Automatic logon with current user name and password” at logon.
Click OK.
Click OK.
Exit Internet Explorer and start Framework Manager again, to see if the issue is gone.

In Cognos Configuration for FM under Environments ensure that Gateway URI is http://servername.domain.se:9300/bi/v1/disp

or

http://servername.domain.se:80/ibmcognos/bi/v1/disp

Product:
Cognos Controller 10.3
Microsoft Windows 2012 R2 server
Microsoft Excel 2010

Problem:
Some excel reports show 0 when updated with F9 or F10. No errors, but the numbers are not shown.

Possible workaround:
Change the xls filename to not contain any Swedish Characters (åäö) or turn off the use of Optimise2 (ERO).
Previous it have been known that space or apostrophe in the excel workbook name or worksheet name can give issues when using ERO reports.

To turn off ERO go to cell A1 in Excel;
Click the tab ‘Formulas’
Click ‘Name Manager’
Highlight the entry ‘ Optimise2’ (which refers to Sheet1, cell A1)
Click ‘Delete’
Save the worksheet and try again.

Create a support ticket with IBM Cognos Support to get a better solution to this issue.

More information:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21966485
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&uid=swg21365263
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21607230

Product:
Cognos Controller 10.3 (10.3.1.34-0)
Microsoft Windows 2012 R2 server
Microsoft SQL server 2014
Microsoft Excel 2010 or newer

Problem:
When start Excel from inside Cognos Controller client by press on the Excel icon or open data entry, you get a error message.

Error:
Cannot run the macro ‘cc.CompareDb’. The macro may not be available in this workbook or all macros may be disabled.
at Microsoft VisualBasic.CompilerServices.LateBinding.LateGet (Object o, Type objType, String name, Object[] args, String[] paramnames, Boolean [] CopyBack) at Cognos Controller.Forms.Common. fFmFrangoFunc.RunExcelMacro…

Solution:
Start Excel
Go to options in File menu
Go to add-ins
Click on Go at Excel Add-ins
UnMark a Adxloader.Controller.Excellink if it exists.
Click OK.
Exit Excel and Cognos Controller and try again.

Error:
Could not find c:\frangow\frangos.exe /automation. Check the file name is correct spelled and the path is correct…
at microsoft.office.interop.excel.workbooks.open(String filename Object UpdateLinks, object ReadOnly, Object Format, Object Password…
at Cognos.Controller.Forms.Common.fFrmFrangoFunc.InitExcelLink at Cognos.Controller:Forms.ControllerMDI.DoAction…

Solution:
Start Excel
Go to options in File menu
Go to add-ins
Click on Go at Excel Add-ins
UnMark a ControllerXL… line if it exists.
Click OK.
Should only be one line “Cognos Controller Link for Microsoft Excel”
Exit Excel and Cognos Controller and try again.

Product:
Cognos Analytics 11.0.7
kit_version=11.0.7.17082211
kit_name=IBM Cognos Analytics
Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 server

Problem:
Error message when try to install to C drive. This happens in the beginning of the installation when you try to select where to install the Cognos software. The C drive is hidden by a Group Policy. You can in file explorer enter C:\ to view the drive and the files, but this is not good enough for the Install software.

Error message:
Install Location
The specified drive in c:\program files\ibm\cognos\analytics is invalid. Please specify a valid drive.

Possible solution:
Ask your IT department for Windows support to turn of the Group Policy that prevent the user from seeing the C drive.
The Install Anywhere program need to see the drive to allow that you select it in the installation dialog.

You can check the registry on the Windows server to see if there is a policy making this issue.
Start REGEDIT by type that on the START-RUN line.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
“nodrives”=Dword
If there is a NoDrives=4, then there is a policy for the logged in users to not see the C drive.
Right click on key Explorer and select “export” to get a backup of that registry part. Save to a file.
Change the value to 0 for NoDrives.
Exit Regedit.
Log out of Windows server.
Log in as the same user again.
Then you may be able to see the C drive direct, and the installation will work.

Otherwise you have to install it to a different drive (e.g. D:).

The value you can set at nodrives is a 26 Bit mask
A: 1
B: 2
C: 4
D: 8
E: 16
F: 32
G: 64
H: 128
add the numbers up to hide more than one drive.
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
“nodrives”=Dword

Product:
Cognos Analytics 11.0.7
kit_version=11.0.7.17082211
kit_name=IBM Cognos Analytics
Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 server

Problem:
Silent installation of new Cognos Analytics does not work. No error message.

Possible solution:
Turn of the anti virus software on the server during installation.

The anti virus software on the Windows server have a rule that prevent EXE files to run from users TEMP folder.
When the Install Anywhere software start, after you click on the EXE, it will unpack a javaw.exe and a ANALYTICS_BI.EXE file, in the users temp folder. After unpack the Install Anywhere will try to start the JAVAW to continue with the installation of your cognos software, but here the antivirus will stop the action. Then the installation quits without error messages. There is also no log file from Install Anywhere.

If you click on your antivirus software (McAfee) and check the log file for it you will see message similar to this;
9/15/2017 3:00:31 PM Would be blocked by Access Protection rule (rule is currently not enforced) domain\username C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE C:\USERS\username\APPDATA\LOCAL\TEMP\I1505480296\WINDOWS\RESOURCE\JRE\BIN\JAVA.EXE Common Standard Protection:Prevent common programs from running files from the Temp folder Action blocked : Read
or C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE C:\TEMP\I1505483120\WINDOWS\ANALYTICS_BI.EXE Common Standard Protection:Prevent common programs from running files from the Temp folder Action blocked : Read

How to do a silent installation:
Copy your install file ca_server_win64_11.0.7.exe to a folder like c:\install\media on the Windows server.
Run the installation with below command to create the response file, do the installation as you normally should do.
c:\install\media\ca_server_win64_11.0.7.exe  -r  c:\install\media\response.properties
Now there is a response file created.
Uninstall Cognos Analytics.
Create a CMD file and enter below line to make it possible to start the silent installation;
c:\install\media\ca_server_win64_11.0.7.exe -i silent -f c:\install\media\response.properties
Start the above CMD file from a administrative prompt.
This will run the installation with your choices as before.

You can include in your CMD file, that you copy the database drivers (sqljdbc4.jar) you need to the drivers folder.
Create a folder c:\install\media\drivers and place the jar file in there. Then add below line to you CMD file.
copy /Y /V c:\install\media\drivers\*.* “C:\Program Files\ibm\cognos\analytics\drivers\”
Also you can include in your CMD file that you copy any pre-adjusted XML (cogstartup.xml) files to configuration folder.
copy /Y /V c:\install\media\configuration\*.* “C:\Program Files\ibm\cognos\analytics\configuration\”
When the installation is done, you start Cognos Configuration on server, adjust the values for your environment and click save.
Then start the Cognos service. (please note there is more steps to get CA11 up to run, this is only the silent installation).

Below example on a response.properties file.
# Tue Sep 05 09:27:57 CEST 2017
# Replay feature output
# ———————
# This file was built by the Replay feature of InstallAnywhere.
# It contains variables that were set by Panels, Consoles or Custom Code.

BISRVR_CA_INSTALL=1
BISRVR_CA_TOOLS_INSTALL=0
USER_INSTALL_DIR=C:\\Program Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics
BISRVR_SHORTCUT=IBM Cognos Analytics
BISRVR_ALLUSERS=1
BISRVR_INSTALLTYPE_CUSTOM=1
BISRVR_CUSTOM_FIRST=1
BISRVR_CUSTOM_EXPAND=0
BISRVR_FEATURE_DATATIER=1
BISRVR_FEATURE_APPTIER=1
BISRVR_FEATURE_GATEWAY=1
BISRVR_FEATURE_SAMPLES=1

#Install
#——-
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\Uninstall_IBM_Cognos_Analytics.lax=Yes
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\resource\\iawin64_x64.dll=Yes
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\resource\\iawin32.dll=Yes
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\resource\\win64_32_x64.exe=Yes
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\resource\\remove.exe=Yes
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\resource\\invoker.exe=Yes
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\configuration\\preserve\\preserve.txt=Yes
-fileOverwrite_C\:\\Program\ Files\\ibm\\cognos\\analytics\\configuration\\preserve\\.ca_base_preserve.txt=Yes

More Information:
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB73080
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.inst_cr_winux.doc/t_c8bi_setupunattendedinstallation.html

Product:
Cognos Controller 10.3 version 10.3.1.45 (Integration Version 10.3.1.19 Install/Udater Kit Version 10.3.1.36)
Microsoft Windows 2012 R2 server
Microsoft SQL 2014 database server

Problem:
When running a excel report or updating a excel form you get a error message. If you turn off ERO by remove the “Optimise2” name on cell A1 in the spreadsheet then it works. This is a upgrade installation from Cognos Controller 10.2.1 where it was no problem to run a ERO report in old version of Cognos Controller.

Error message:
System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException: Server was unable to process request. — System.Exception: Cannot bulk load because the file “xxx\xxx.tbl” could not be opened. Operating system error code 3(The system cannot find the path specified.). at Cognos.Controller.Proxy.CCRWS.ExcelLinkB_FetchValuesBulk(String sGuid, String sKeys, String sMcurr, Boolean bLocLang, string sUser, String sRep, Boolean bIsLnk, String sSortOrd, String sParams)
—End of inner exception stack trace—

Solution:
Ensure you leave the “server directory” field blank at Enhanced Reporting Optimizations tab in Controller Configuration.
With SQL databases the use of a directory folder in ERO, is not longer supported.

For Cognos Controller 10.3, there is less need to use ERO with SQL databases. But you still need to set it up for upgrading customers, so they can run there old Excel reports.

How setup ERO for SQL database:
Ensure that the SQL account used to access the Cognos Controller databases have Server Roles “bulkadmin” and “public”.
Ensure the SQL services is run by a windows domain account and not as LocalSystem.
Create a folder on your controller Windows server called d:\ero
Right click on the ERO folder and select Properties.
Click on Sharing tab.
Click on Advanced Sharing button.
Mark “Share this folder”
Enter the share name to be: ERO$
(The dollar sign make the share invisible for browsing users)
Click on Permissions button.
Click “Allow” at Full Control for user “Everyone” (or add the service account that should have access here).
Click Apply and OK.
Click Apply and OK.
Click on Security tab.
Click on Edit button.
Click Add button.
Enter the name of the service account and press Check Names button.
Click OK.
Click “Allow” at Full Control for the service account you just added.
Click Apply and OK.
By default members of the servers local Administrator group have full control to a folder. You can remove the users group to ensure other have no access.
Click Apply and OK.
Click Close. The share is created.

Open Controller Configuration.
Go to the Enhanced Reporting Optimizations tab.
Select the controller database from the connection drop down list.
Fill in for each database;
File Mode: File Copy
Server: the name of the server where the ERO share is — normally the controller server or the SQL server.
Share: the name of your share (e.g. “ERO$”)
Server Directory: Must be blank (empty). (if using Oracle you need to fill this in).
User ID: AD\service_account (the windows account that you have given read/write permission to the ERO network share)
Password: password for the above user — it is encrypted when you press enter.
Click on Save icon in Controller Configuration.

Ensure that the EXCEL spreadsheet that will use ERO does not have a space in there spreadsheets tab-name.
In the excel report that should use ERO , go to cell A1.
Click on Name Manager icon.
Enter the name to be Optimise2.
Save the change and spreadsheet.

Update the Controller values by pressing F9 in Excel, when you are logged in to the Controller database through the Controller Excel Link.

Other error messages:
Server was unable to process request. —- System.IO.IOException: The network name cannot be found.
Possible cause:
The ERO share does not exist, check that the folder is shared out and not misspelled in controller configuration.
Other error messages:
Server was unable to process request. —- System.ArgumentException: Access to the path “xxx\xxx\xxx.tbl” is denied.
Possible cause:
The user have only READ access to the share, make sure you have full access for the user doing the request.
Other error messages:
Operating system error code 5(Access is denied.)
Possible cause:
The user account doing the request have not the full access to the folder on hard disk. Check the NTFS rights on the ERO folder.

You define the Active Directory user to access the Windows file share in Cognos Controller Configuration. If this is left blank, the user running the COM object is used – in most cases it is “Local System” account on Windows server.

More Information:
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21347048
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21347757