SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence (H3122)

Description

This book provides you with a comprehensive functional overview of SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, as well as actionable, step-by-step content to help you quickly begin creating, analyzing and sharing enterprise-wide reports. It also covers advanced features to ensure you're using the tool to its full capacity, including customizing Web Intelligence with the software developer's kit (SDK), and linking with other SAP BI tools.

The SAP BusinessObjects Universe

Understand the SAP BusinessObjects Universe, a key factor in solving business problems and creating successful SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise reporting solutions.

Building Web Intelligence Queries

Learn how to create queries graphically using the highly intuitive query panel.

Creating Web Intelligence Reports

Explore how reports are used to analyze, present, and interact with company data to enable accurate and informed decisions.

Using Formulas and Variables

Discover how to create complex calculations using data objects, and how to transform data into practical analytical information.

Web Intelligence Extensions Points

Delve into the customization options using Extension Points, including embedding and configuring the DHTML client, Java Report Panel, Java Clients, and Desktop Rich Client.

CONTENTS:

... Foreword ... 19

... Acknowledgments ... 21

1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence XI 3.1 ... 23

1.1 ... Features of Web Intelligence ... 23

1.1.1 ... Core Functionality ... 25

1.1.2 ... Web Intelligence Offline ... 27

1.1.3 ... Launching Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 27

1.1.4 ... Web Intelligence and the Microcube ... 28

1.2 ... Web Intelligence InfoView Preferences ... 29

1.3 ... Setting Web Intelligence Preferences in InfoView ... 30

1.3.1 ... Setting the Default View Format ... 31

1.3.2 ... Locale When Viewing a Document ... 34

1.3.3 ... Select the Default Creation/Editing Tool ... 34

1.3.4 ... Drill Option Preferences ... 35

1.3.5 ... Saving to Microsoft Excel Priority ... 36

1.4 ... Reporting Analysis Environments ... 36

1.4.1 ... Zero-Client Online Analysis ... 37

1.4.2 ... Thin-Client Development ... 37

1.5 ... Viewing and Saving Reports ... 37

1.5.1 ... Report Viewing Modes ... 38

1.5.2 ... Saving Web Intelligence Reports ... 38

1.6 ... Summary ... 39

2 ... The SAP BusinessObjects Universe ... 41

2.1 ... What Is a Universe ... 41

2.1.1 ... Design with the Business User in Mind ... 42

2.1.2 ... Primary Elements in a Universe ... 43

2.1.3 ... Creating a New Universe ... 44

2.1.4 ... Setting Query Limits ... 46

2.1.5 ... Object Types ... 47

2.1.6 ... Creating Classes and Objects ... 48

2.1.7 ... Object Properties Described ... 48

2.1.8 ... Object Definition Properties ... 50

2.1.9 ... Table Joins in the Universe ... 51

2.1.10 ... Join Types ... 52

2.1.11 ... How to Join Tables ... 52

2.1.12 ... Editing Joins ... 53

2.1.13 ... Right-Click on a Join to Edit Join Properties ... 55

2.1.14 ... Options ... 55

2.1.15 ... Edit Join Properties ... 56

2.2 ... Publish a Universe to SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise ... 57

2.2.1 ... Run an Integrity Check on Your Universe ... 57

2.2.2 ... Save and Export ... 58

2.2.3 ... Importing a Universe ... 59

2.3 ... Using a Universe to Create a Web Intelligence Report ... 60

2.4 ... Getting to Know the Designer Toolbars ... 61

2.5 ... OLAP Universes ... 63

2.6 ... Summary ... 64

3 ... Creating a Web Intelligence XI 3.x Query ... 67

3.1 ... Tour of the Query Panel ... 68

3.1.1 ... The Query Manager Pane ... 70

3.1.2 ... Query Manager Properties ... 71

3.1.3 ... Display Universe Objects by Hierarchies ... 72

3.2 ... Query Basics ... 74

3.2.1 ... Evaluating Generated SQL ... 74

3.2.2 ... Adding Additional Queries ... 76

3.2.3 ... Merging Dimensions ... 77

3.2.4 ... Setting Up a Combined Query ... 82

3.3 ... Result Objects ... 84

3.4 ... Query Filters ... 86

3.4.1 ... Predefined Filters ... 87

3.4.2 ... Custom Filters ... 87

3.4.3 ... Quick Filters ... 91

3.4.4 ... Creating a Subquery ... 92

3.4.5 ... Creating Nested Conditions ... 93

3.5 ... Prompted Queries ... 94

3.6 ... Summary ... 96

4 ... Creating a Web Intelligence XI 3.x Report ... 99

4.1 ... The Web Intelligence Report Panel ... 100

4.1.1 ... Working in the Report Panel ... 101

4.1.2 ... Viewing Web Intelligence Reports ... 109

4.2 ... Report Elements and Properties ... 109

4.3 ... Adding Data to Report Elements ... 114

4.4 ... Sections and Breaks ... 116

4.4.1 ... Sections ... 116

4.4.2 ... Breaks ... 117

4.5 ... Sorting and Ranking ... 119

4.5.1 ... Sorting ... 119

4.5.2 ... Ranking ... 123

4.6 ... Alerters ... 126

4.7 ... Headers, Footers, and Background Images ... 130

4.7.1 ... Background Images ... 131

4.8 ... Adjusting Page Layouts ... 132

4.9 ... Align and Relative Position ... 133

4.10 ... Summary ... 136

5 ... Filtering Data ... 139

5.1 ... Query Filtering ... 139

5.1.1 ... Predefined Filters ... 140

5.1.2 ... User-Defined Filters ... 144

5.1.3 ... Prompted Filters ... 147

5.2 ... Report Filtering ... 149

5.2.1 ... Standard Report Filters ... 150

5.2.2 ... Standard Block Filters ... 153

5.2.3 ... Simple Report Filters ... 157

5.3 ... Filtering Reports with Input Controls ... 159

5.4 ... Summary ... 162

6 ... Displaying Data with Tables ... 163

6.1 ... Using Tables ... 165

6.1.1 ... Add Report Elements While Viewing Reports ... 165

6.1.2 ... Adding Objects to Data Tables When Editing or Creating a Report ... 168

6.1.3 ... Table Properties ... 168

6.2 ... Table Types ... 172

6.2.1 ... Horizontal Table ... 173

6.2.2 ... Vertical Table ... 173

6.2.3 ... Crosstab Table ... 174

6.2.4 ... Form Table ... 174

6.3 ... Grouping Data ... 175

6.3.1 ... Set as Section ... 175

6.3.2 ... Grouping Data with Breaks ... 178

6.4 ... Converting Table Formats and Types ... 179

6.5 ... Free-Standing Cells ... 180

6.6 ... Summary ... 183

7 ... Formatting Web Intelligence Reports ... 185

7.1 ... Report Formatting ... 186

7.1.1 ... Primary Uses of Web Intelligence Reporting Documents ... 186

7.1.2 ... Preparing Reports for the Three Primary Report Functions ... 189

7.2 ... Formatting Sections and Breaks ... 190

7.2.1 ... Formatting Sections ... 190

7.2.2 ... Formatting Breaks ... 193

7.2.3 ... Adding Charts to Sections ... 195

7.3 ... Formatting Data Tables ... 197

7.3.1 ... Formatting a Vertical Table ... 197

7.3.2 ... Column and Row Properties of a Table ... 199

7.3.3 ... Formatting a Crosstab ... 201

7.4 ... Formatting Numbers and Dates ... 204

7.4.1 ... Number Format ... 206

7.4.2 ... Date/Time Format ... 206

7.5 ... Formatting Table Values While Viewing Reports ... 211

7.6 ... Summary ... 214

8 ... Using Formulas and Variables ... 215

8.1 ... Formulas and Variables ... 216

8.1.1 ... Creating Formulas ... 216

8.1.2 ... Exploring the Formula Editor ... 219

8.1.3 ... Creating Variables ... 220

8.1.4 ... Using the Variable Editor ... 222

8.2 ... Reporting Functions and Operators ... 222

8.2.1 ... Aggregate Functions ... 223

8.2.2 ... Character Functions ... 225

8.2.3 ... Date & Time Functions ... 226

8.2.4 ... Document Functions ... 227

8.2.5 ... Data Provider Functions ... 228

8.2.6 ... Misc. Functions ... 229

8.2.7 ... Logical Functions ... 231

8.2.8 ... Numeric Functions ... 231

8.2.9 ... Operators ... 232

8.3 ... Formula Syntax ... 235

8.3.1 ... Primary Formula Syntax Rules ... 236

8.3.2 ... If - Then - Else Syntax ... 236

8.3.3 ... Saving a Variable ... 237

8.3.4 ... Modifying a Variable ... 238

8.4 ... Summary ... 239

9 ... Scope of Analysis and Drilling Down ... 241

9.1 ... Setting the Scope of Analysis in the Query Panel ... 242

9.1.1 ... Scope Level Options ... 246

9.2 ... Drill-Down Setup in the Report Panel ... 249

9.2.1 ... Enabling Drill ... 249

9.2.2 ... Drill Toolbar ... 250

9.2.3 ... Drilling on Dimensions ... 251

9.2.4 ... Drilling on Measures ... 257

9.2.5 ... Drilling on Charts ... 257

9.3 ... Query Drill Option ... 263

9.4 ... Taking a Snapshot ... 265

9.5 ... User Settings for Drill Down ... 265

9.5.1 ... Prompt When Drill Requires Additional Data ... 266

9.5.2 ... Synchronize Drill ... 266

9.5.3 ... Hide Drill Toolbar ... 266

9.5.4 ... Start Drill Session ... 266

9.6 ... Summary ... 267

10 ... Displaying Data with Charts ... 269

10.1 ... Chart Types ... 270

10.1.1 ... Bar Charts ... 271

10.1.2 ... Line Charts ... 277

10.1.3 ... Area Charts ... 280

10.1.4 ... Pie Charts ... 284

10.1.5 ... Radar Charts ... 285

10.2 ... Chart Properties ... 287

10.3 ... Convert a Chart with Turn To ... 291

10.3.1 ... Convert a Chart in Edit Mode ... 291

10.3.2 ... Convert a Chart While Viewing a Report ... 293

10.4 ... Adding Charts to a Report - Viewing a Report ... 294

10.5 ... Summary ... 295

11 ... Working Within InfoView ... 297

11.1 ... Accessing InfoView ... 297

11.2 ... Navigating in InfoView ... 299

11.2.1 ... Header Panel ... 299

11.2.2 ... Workspace Panel ... 301

11.3 ... Setting InfoView Preferences ... 305

11.3.1 ... General Preferences ... 305

11.3.2 ... Changing Your Password ... 308

11.4 ... Organizing in Folders Versus Categories ... 309

11.4.1 ... Folders ... 309

11.4.2 ... Categories ... 310

11.4.3 ... Organizing Objects ... 311

11.5 ... Viewing, Printing, and Saving Objects in InfoView ... 312

11.5.1 ... Document Options ... 313

11.5.2 ... Viewing Options ... 313

11.5.3 ... Printing Options ... 314

11.5.4 ... Additional Options ... 314

11.6 ... Creating Shortcuts and Hyperlinks in InfoView ... 315

11.6.1 ... Shortcuts ... 315

11.6.2 ... Hyperlinks ... 316

11.7 ... Tracking Data Changes ... 317

11.7.1 ... Setting Reference Data ... 318

11.7.2 ... Manual Versus Automatic Tracking ... 318

11.7.3 ... Formatting Changed Data ... 319

11.7.4 ... Displaying Tracked Data ... 322

11.7.5 ... Advanced Tracking Techniques ... 322

11.8 ... Searching within InfoView ... 322

11.8.1 ... Simple Search ... 323

11.8.2 ... Advanced Search ... 323

11.8.3 ... Content Search ... 323

11.9 ... Summary ... 324

12 ... Using Multiple Data Sources ... 325

12.1 ... Accessing Multiple Data Sources ... 325

12.1.1 ... Accessing Multiple Data Sources from InfoView ... 326

12.1.2 ... Accessing Multiple Data Sources in Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 328

12.2 ... Merging Dimensions ... 333

12.2.1 ... Manually Merging Dimensions ... 334

12.2.2 ... Edit Merged Dimension Names Before Merging ... 336

12.3 ... Data Synchronization ... 337

12.4 ... Working with Unsynchronized Data ... 340

12.5 ... Summary ... 343

13 ... Extending Query Panel Functionality ... 345

13.1 ... Complex Filtering Options ... 345

13.1.1 ... Filtering with Wildcards ... 346

13.1.2 ... Nested Query Filters ... 347

13.1.3 ... Database Ranking ... 350

13.2 ... Cascading and Optional Prompts ... 351

13.2.1 ... Defining a Cascading Lists of Values in Designer ... 352

13.2.2 ... Using a Cascading List of Values Object as a Prompted Filter in a Report ... 353

13.2.3 ... Refreshing a Report with a Prompted LOV Object Filter ... 354

13.2.4 ... Optional Prompts ... 355

13.3 ... Using Custom Freehand SQL ... 356

13.4 ... Visually Tracking Data Changes in the Report Panel ... 358

13.4.1 ... Showing and Hiding Data Changes ... 359

13.4.2 ... Data Tracking Options ... 359

13.4.3 ... Purging Data ... 360

13.4.4 ... Identify and Modify Partial Results ... 361

13.4.5 ... User Settings ... 362

13.5 ... Summary ... 363

14 ... Advanced Universe Design Topics ... 365

14.1 ... @Functions ... 365

14.1.1 ... Creating an Object with an @Function ... 366

14.1.2 ... @Aggregate_Aware Function ... 368

14.1.3 ... @Prompt Function ... 370

14.1.4 ... @Select Function ... 375

14.1.5 ... @Variable Function ... 376

14.1.6 ... @Where Function ... 377

14.2 ... Linked Universes ... 377

14.2.1 ... Universe Linking Requirements ... 378

14.2.2 ... Universe Linking Restrictions and Limitations ... 378

14.2.3 ... Link Universes ... 378

14.3 ... Derived Tables ... 381

14.3.1 ... Create a Derived Table ... 381

14.3.2 ... Create a Nested Derived Table ... 382

14.4 ... Lists of Values ... 384

14.4.1 ... Viewing or Editing a List of Values ... 384

14.4.2 ... Tips for Editing a List of Values ... 384

14.4.3 ... Additional List of Values Settings ... 385

14.5 ... Summary ... 385

15 ... Linking in Web Intelligence Reports ... 387

15.1 ... Adding Hyperlinks While Viewing Reports ... 387

15.1.1 ... Add Hyperlinks to Published Documents ... 388

15.1.2 ... Editing Existing Links While Viewing a Report ... 391

15.1.3 ... Insert a Hyperlink to a Web Page ... 392

15.1.4 ... Adding Hyperlinks to Prompted Reports ... 393

15.2 ... Adding Hyperlinks While Creating or Editing Reports ... 396

15.2.1 ... Manually Created OpenDocument URL Details ... 398

15.2.2 ... Using OpenDocument Syntax While Viewing a Report ... 399

15.2.3 ... Add a Hyperlink to an External Site ... 400

15.2.4 ... Create a Hyperlink to an Xcelsius Presentation ... 401

15.3 ... OpenDocument Syntax ... 402

15.3.1 ... Platform Parameters ... 402

15.3.2 ... Input Parameters ... 403

15.3.3 ... Output Parameters ... 404

15.4 ... Summary ... 404

16 ... Sharing a Web Intelligence Report ... 407

16.1 ... Copying and Pasting to Another Application ... 407

16.2 ... Using the Send Feature in InfoView ... 409

16.2.1 ... Business Objects Inbox ... 409

16.2.2 ... Email ... 411

16.2.3 ... FTP Location ... 412

16.2.4 ... File Location ... 413

16.3 ... Exporting a Web Intelligence Report ... 413

16.3.1 ... Export Options in InfoView ... 414

16.3.2 ... Export Options in Web Intelligence ... 415

16.4 ... Scheduling a Web Intelligence Report ... 416

16.4.1 ... Scheduling in InfoView ... 416

16.4.2 ... Viewing Latest Instance ... 422

16.4.3 ... Viewing History ... 422

16.5 ... Creating Publications ... 423

16.5.1 ... General Properties ... 424

16.5.2 ... Source Documents ... 424

16.5.3 ... Recipients ... 425

16.5.4 ... Personalization ... 427

16.5.5 ... Formats ... 427

16.5.6 ... Destinations ... 428

16.5.7 ... Additional Options ... 428

16.5.8 ... Subscriptions ... 429

16.6 ... Summary ... 430

17 ... Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 431

17.1 ... How Rich Client Is Different ... 431

17.1.1 ... Working in Offline Mode ... 433

17.1.2 ... Working in Connected Mode ... 434

17.1.3 ... Working in Standalone Mode ... 435

17.2 ... Data Provider Options ... 435

17.2.1 ... Import a universe from the CMS ... 436

17.2.2 ... Query Panel in Rich Client ... 437

17.3 ... Working with Web Intelligence Reports ... 437

17.3.1 ... Importing Reports from CMS ... 440

17.3.2 ... Saving Reports Locally ... 441

17.3.3 ... Exporting Reports to CMS ... 445

17.3.4 ... Printing from Rich Client ... 445

17.3.5 ... Sending Reports as Email Attachments ... 446

17.4 ... Setting Preferences in Rich Client ... 446

17.5 ... Summary ... 447

18 ... Connecting SAP BusinessObjects Live Office to Web Intelligence XI 3.x ... 449

18.1 ... About Live Office ... 449

18.1.1 ... Integration with Web Intelligence Reports ... 450

18.1.2 ... Live Office Toolbar ... 450

18.2 ... Creating Live Office Documents with Web Intelligence Content ... 452

18.2.1 ... Accessing the Live Office Wizard ... 452

18.2.2 ... Selecting the Web Intelligence document ... 452

18.2.3 ... Setting Context ... 453

18.2.4 ... Configuring Prompt Values ... 453

18.2.5 ... Selecting Report Content ... 454

18.2.6 ... Creating the Summary ... 455

18.2.7 ... Adding More Content ... 455

18.3 ... Setting Preferences ... 456

18.3.1 ... Application Options ... 456

18.3.2 ... Data Refresh Options ... 459

18.3.3 ... Object Properties ... 460

18.4 ... Summary ... 462

19 ... Introducing the Web Intelligence SDK ... 463

19.1 ... What Can I Achieve with the SDK ... 464

19.1.1 ... System Administration ... 464

19.1.2 ... Automation of Reporting ... 464

19.1.3 ... Interfacing with Other Internal or External Systems ... 464

19.1.4 ... Creation of Custom Solutions ... 464

19.1.5 ... Distribution of Applications ... 465

19.1.6 ... Embed Reporting into Applications ... 465

19.2 ... Getting Started with the SDK ... 465

19.2.1 ... The SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise SDK (.NET and Java) ... 466

19.2.2 ... The Report Engine SDK (.NET and Java) ... 467

19.2.3 ... The Java Server Faces SDK ... 469

19.2.4 ... The Web Services Consumer SDK (.NET and Java) ... 471

19.2.5 ... Other SDKs ... 472

19.3 ... The Java Program Object ... 473

19.4 ... Selecting the Right SDKs ... 474

19.5 ... Setting Up the Development Environment ... 476

19.5.1 ... Java SDK Setup ... 476

19.5.2 ... Setup for .NET ... 479

19.6 ... Building Applications ... 480

19.6.1 ... Authentication Objects ... 480

19.6.2 ... The InfoStore Class ... 481

19.6.3 ... The SAP BusinessObjects Query Language ... 482

19.6.4 ... The InfoObjects and InfoObject Classes ... 484

19.6.5 ... Plug-ins ... 484

19.7 ... Summary ... 485

20 ... Customizing Web Intelligence Using Web Intelligence Extensions Points ... 487

20.1 ... What Are Web Intelligence Extensions Points ... 488

20.2 ... What Can I Achieve with Extension Points ... 490

20.3 ... Building Applications with Extension Points ... 491

20.3.1 ... Web Intelligence Customization Extension Points ... 492

20.3.2 ... Interactive Viewing Customization Using Extension and Integration Points ... 502

20.3.3 ... Calculation Extension Points API ... 507

20.3.4 ... Custom Data Provider Plug-in ... 509

20.4 ... Summary ... 511

21 ... Web Intelligence SDK Sample Applications ... 513

21.1 ... Connecting to the Central Management Server ... 514

21.1.1 ... Connecting in Java ... 515

21.1.2 ... Connecting in .NET ... 516

21.2 ... Displaying a Document List ... 517

21.2.1 ... The OpenDocument Call ... 518

21.2.2 ... Displaying a Document List Using Java ... 519

21.2.3 ... Displaying a Document List Using .NET ... 522

21.3 ... Amending the Viewer with Extension Points ... 525

21.4 ... Summary ... 527

22 ... Creating BI Widgets ... 529

22.1 ... About BI Widgets ... 530

22.2 ... Installation of BI Widgets Software ... 530

22.3 ... Creating BI Widgets Using Web Intelligence ... 532

22.3.1 ... Content Search ... 532

22.3.2 ... Document List Explorer ... 533

22.3.3 ... Other File Types ... 535

22.3.4 ... Outlook Objects ... 535

22.4 ... Setting BI Widget Properties ... 535

22.4.1 ... Widget Options ... 535

22.4.2 ... Program Options ... 537

22.5 ... Summary ... 538

... Appendices ... 539

 

A ... Third-Party Vendors ... 541

A.1 ... Antivia ... 542

A.2 ... APOS Solutions ... 543

A.3 ... Business Intelligentsia ... 544

A.4 ... EBI Experts ... 545

A.5 ... GB & Smith ... 545

A.6 ... InfoBurst by InfoSol ... 547

A.7 ... Integeo - A Forge Group Company ... 548

A.8 ... Noad ... 548

A.9 ... Noetix ... 549

A.10 ... MeLLmo, Inc ... 550

A.11 ... Teleran Technologies ... 551

A.12 ... Tidal Software ... 552

A.13 ... Summary ... 553

B ... Web Intelligence XI 3.1 Service Pack 2 ... 555

B.1 ... Input Controls ... 556

B.2 ... Fold/Unfold ... 557

B.3 ... Query on Query ... 558

B.4 ... BI Services ... 558

B.5 ... Data Provider Extension Points ... 559

B.6 ... Formula Language Extension Points ... 559

B.7 ... Translation Manager ... 559

B.8 ... Summary ... 560

C ... The Authors ... 561

... Index ... 563