Abstract: Techniques to improve query caching performance by efficiently selecting queries stored in a cache for evaluation and increasing the cache hit rate by allowing for inexact matches. A list of candidate queries stored in the cache that potentially could be used to answer a new query is first determined. This list may include all cached queries, cached queries containing exact matches for select list items, or cached queries containing exact and/or inexact matches. Each of at least one candidate query is then evaluated to determine whether or not there is a cache hit, which indicates that the candidate query could be used to answer the new query. The evaluation is performed using a set of rules that allows for inexact matches of aggregates, if any, in the new query. A query plan is generated for the new query based on a specific candidate query with a cache hit.

Abstract: Techniques to provide dynamic multi-lingual support for software applications such as analytics, which typically rely on two different types of data, underlying data and metadata, to generate reports. The metadata defines the underlying data and a presentation layer displays the reports, which may be generated using presentation and metadata layer objects. Each such object may be defined by a language independent representation, which may in turn be associated with multiple display or language dependent representations (i.e., translations or translated strings) for multiple supported languages. One of the languages may be selected for use in a given session, and the display representations for the selected language are then bound to the language independent representations. The binding may be dynamically performed and is session-specific.

Abstract: Techniques to dynamically select data sources for users and to direct queries for the users to the proper data sources. Initially, user information (e.g., user name) for each user is received and used to determine a data source designated for the user. The designated data source may be determined via a look-up table or by running a query with the user information to obtain the identity (e.g., the logical name) of the data source. A data source variable for each user can then be set to the identity of the designated data source. Thereafter, queries for each user are directed to the user's designated data source by determining database connection information for the designated data source based on the data source variable and using this information to direct the queries.

Abstract: Techniques to improve query caching performance by efficiently selecting queries stored in a cache for evaluation and increasing the cache hit rate by allowing for inexact matches. A list of candidate queries stored in the cache that potentially could be used to answer a new query is first determined. This list may include all cached queries, cached queries containing exact matches for select list items, or cached queries containing exact and/or inexact matches. Each of at least one candidate query is then evaluated to determine whether or not there is a cache hit, which indicates that the candidate query could be used to answer the new query. The evaluation is performed using a set of rules that allows for inexact matches of aggregates, if any, in the new query. A query plan is generated for the new query based on a specific candidate query with a cache hit.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for using learning activity information, such as for individuals in an organization, to provide a variety of benefits is described. In some situations, reporting functionality is available to provide information about completed learning activities, such as in the form of reports for presentation. In addition, learning activities may in some situations be rated based on learning activity criteria, such as to determine the amount or the effectiveness of the learning activities, and information about the learning activity ratings can then be provided in various ways. Learning activities can also be related to performance criteria in some situations, such as to correlate learning activities to corresponding changes in organizational or individual performance measures, and information about the relationships can then be provided in various ways. A variety of performance criteria and learning activity criteria may be used.

Abstract: A facility for efficiently storing and querying snapshot measures from a relational data warehouse is provided. The facility allows for the efficient query of measures at any given point in time by efficiently modeling snapshot measures. In one technique, the facility stores periodic snapshots of a metric at longer time intervals, and computes intermediate snapshots of the metric as necessary in between these time intervals. Under this technique, the facility can compute an intermediate snapshot measure of a metric for any specified time by determining the last snapshot measure of the metric from the most recent periodic snapshot, and adding to the last snapshot measure the value of the changes to the metric that happened since the time of the most recent periodic snapshot and the specified time.

Abstract: A facility for performing a distinct count metric by utilizing aggregate navigation is provided. For a distinct count query of an identifier of a detail table, where the query specifies zero or more restrictions, the facility identifies an aggregate table that is associated with the detail table. The facility then determines whether the aggregate table contains the identifier that is being distinct counted, and if so, further determines whether the identifier is different in every row of the aggregate table. If it is, then the facility performs a count operation on the rows of the aggregate table that satisfy the specified restrictions to obtain a result for the distinct count query. If the identifier is not different in every row of the aggregate table, the facility performs a distinct count operation on the rows of the aggregate table that satisfy the specified restrictions to obtain a result for the distinct count query.