What Is the Difference Between Analysis Studio and PowerPlay Studio?

You are a PowerPlay user and wonder how Analysis Studio differs from IBM Cognos Series 7 PowerPlay Web functionality. Analysis Studio provides deep comparative analysis, which IBM Cognos Series 7 PowerPlay Web does not offer. IBM Cognos Series 7 PowerPlay Web offers a rich exploration experience, whereas Analysis Studio provides guided exploration.
IBM Cognos 8 PowerPlay Studio brings the IBM Cognos Series 7 PowerPlay Web interface to IBM Cognos 8.
One of the biggest differences between Analysis Studio and IBM Cognos 8 PowerPlay Studio is that Analysis Studio enables analysis of information independent of where your data is stored. This means that you can analyze and report against both online analytical processing (OLAP) data sources and dimensionally-aware relational sources.
PowerPlay users who are familiar with PowerPlay Web functionality and exploration capabilities, and who expect the same functionality and exploration capabilities in IBM Cognos 8 should consider moving to IBM Cognos 8 PowerPlay Studio.
PowerPlay users who perform analysis, or deep comparative analysis, use unbalanced hierarchies, or use large data sets will find that Analysis Studio is well suited for their business needs. Consider migrating IBM Cognos Series 7 applications that would benefit from this functionality in Analysis Studio when the time is right for your business.
You can also migrate PowerPlay applications to IBM Cognos 8 PowerPlay Studio, afterward, users can choose to move from IBM Cognos 8 PowerPlay Studio to other IBM Cognos 8 studios.

Position of Calculated Categories
If a report contains calculated categories, the relative position of the rows or columns that show
the calculated categories may be different between PowerPlay and Analysis Studio. This formatting difference does not affect the data.
The following examples show the difference in the position of a calculated column, 2004 + 2005.
The first image shows the original PowerPlay report. The second image shows the same report after migration to Analysis Studio.

Charting of Summary Data
Analysis Studio does not show summary values in charts. If the original PowerPlay report included charts that showed summary values, this level of detail will not appear in the charts in Analysis Studio.

Default Display Format for Bar Charts
In PowerPlay, a simple bar chart can combine the components of a summary in one bar. Analysis Studio always shows a bar for each component of the summary.
The following examples show the differences in the display of bar charts. The first image shows
the original PowerPlay report. The second image shows the same report after migration to Analysis Studio.

Default View in Analysis Studio
You can change the default view for an analysis by changing the package configuration properties.
This allows you to create a default view similar to PowerPlay, where the order of dimensions and
measures determines the default rows, columns, and measure when you open the cube.

Hidden Child Levels
In PowerPlay reports, when all child levels of a parent level are hidden, the parent level is also hidden.
The parent level appears in reports migrated to Analysis Studio. For example, a PowerPlay report contains the levels Products and Outdoor Protection. Products is the parent of Outdoor Protection.
If you hide Outdoor Protection and all of its child levels, no data appears for Products or Outdoor
Protection. If you migrate this report to Analysis Studio, Products appears

Hidden Measures
In PowerPlay reports, you can hide measures. Analysis Studio does not support hiding measures.