Best Practices for Crystal Reporting With SAP

BEST PRACTICES FOR CRYSTAL REPORTING WITH SAPSAPDan Kearnan, Business Objects

BREAKOUT INFORMATIONThis is a hidden slide it will be printed in

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Best Practices for Crystal Reporting With SAPLearn the essential time-saving tips and tricks of using CrystalLearn the essential, time saving tips and tricks of using Crystal Reports to access data trapped in SAP systems. Using a live demonstration, this informative, working session promises to provide you with a clear understanding of the best mix of skills p y gneeded by Crystal Report designers when they tackle challenging SAP environments.

COPYRIGHT © 2007 BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A.SLIDE 2 Business Objects Confidential And Proprietary -Copyright 2007

Thursday, Oct 18, 2:00pm-3:00pm, room: 315A1_80_125

AGENDA

1. BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP – Overview2 Crystal Reports design tips for SAP2. Crystal Reports design tips for SAP3. Q&A

SLIDE 3 COPYRIGHT © 2007 BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A. Business Objects Confidential And Proprietary -Copyright 2007

OVERVIEW

BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAPBusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP

Business Objects Confidential And Proprietary -Copyright 2007

BUSINESSOBJECTS XI RELEASE 2 SAP SOLUTIONS

Add-on product to BusinessObjects Enterprise

Enables BusinessObjects XI Release 2 reporting, ad-hoc and analysis functionality against SAP environments

Provides tight integration to both SAP R/3 and BW

Mature, proven solution used by 2000+ customers

Based on joint development efforts with Business Objects and SAP


BUSINESS OBJECTS SAP SOLUTIONS: PRODUCT EVOLUTIONPRODUCT EVOLUTION

Crystal Enterprise SAP EditionCrystal Enterprise SAP Edition BusinessObjects 6.5 with SAP Adaptors

BusinessObjects XI SAP Solution R1BusinessObjects XI SAP Solution R1

BusinessObjects XI SAP Solution R2

BusinessObjects XI SAPN t l

Q1/Q22004

Q12005

Next release


H12006

Q12008

ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW

Business Objects XI Web intelligence

Crystal Reports

SAP Integration Kit

j g

UNIVERSEDIRECT CONNECTIVITY

Data Source OLAPBAPI

FI

CO

PAOLAP

BW Query

SAP R

/3

SAP B

WABAP Dictionary

InfoSet

PA

HR

SD

MM

ABAPQuery

ABAPFunction

Etc

Processor

Info Cube BW

Rep

osito

ry

ODS InfoSet

3 W


Etc. ODS InfoSet

YOUR ENTERPRISE

Data Sources R/3 BW Non-SAP


ENTERPRISE REPORTING

EndUser

EndUser

BusinessObjects XI

User

EndUser

User

PublishContent Crystal Reports XIContent

R/3 BW Non-SAP

Connection MethodNative Drivers:• InfoSet • Open SQL

R/3 Object Types:•Transparent Tables• HR Tables• Custom Tables

Connection Method:Native Drivers:• BW Query • InfoSet/Open SQL

BW Object Types:• BW Cubes• BW Queries• ODS


Open SQL• InfoSets• BAPIs

oSe /Ope SQ• ODS • InfoSets

CRYSTAL REPORTS DESIGN TIPS FOR SAPTIPS FOR SAP

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REPORT DESIGN – TIP 1

Which SAP connection driver to choose?Crystal offers 5 SAP drivers to connect to SAPCrystal offers 5 SAP drivers to connect to SAP

MDX DriverBW QueryInfosetInfosetODSTable, Cluster, Function

K i hi h t t b t t th ifi t t iKnowing which one to use to best meet the specific report request is a KEY consideration for a successful reporting strategy!



MDX DriverBest Fit: BW Only, Reporting off BW Queries; Supports most business logic (multiple structures etc); Recommended driver for BW reporting involving BW Queriesstructures, etc); Recommended driver for BW reporting involving BW QueriesGotchas: No

BW QueryBest Fit: BW Only; Legacy driver used for reporting off BW Queries;Best Fit: BW Only; Legacy driver used for reporting off BW Queries; Gotchas: Not all BW features (ex: multiple structures, display attributes), some performance issues

InfosetBest Fit: R/3 Reporting: Allows direct access to R/3 pre-built ‘business views’ thereby saving time in reporting (as opposed to hunting for the required R/3 data)Gotchas: Need to be familiar with R/3 Infosets

ODSODSBest Fit: BW Only, Require access to ODS for detailed, transactional level dataGotchas: By-passes BW Query business logic; Performance may be an issue

Table Cluster Function


Table, Cluster, FunctionBest Fit: R/3 Reporting; Access to most R/3 meta data objects for most reporting needsGotchas: Need to be familiar with R/3’s complex data model


Crystal Report options relevant for SAP reportingTurning SAP technical names ON/OFFTurning SAP technical names ON/OFF

The option to use SAP technical names or long descriptions in a report is an important consideration for the overall report design

Learn how to filter your search for tables queries infosets etc to moreLearn how to filter your search for tables, queries, infosets, etc to more quickly get the results you need



Identifying and finding the relevant R/3 data for reportingUse “technical help” within the report transactionUse technical help within the report transaction

“Technical help” can prove a valuable method for determining the underlying tables used in a report

Leverage Infosets using logical databasesInfosets = predefined views of SAP data grouped by business areas

Look to 3rd-party software for complete SAP data modelsex. SAPHIR by SilwoodSaphir provides a ‘window’ into SAP R/3 and SAP BW, making the exploration of metadata easy for both technical and business users


FINDING TABLES IN SAP R/3







Leveraging ABAP functions in Crystal Reports C t l R t SAP R/3 ABAP f ti tCrystal Reports can access SAP R/3 ABAP functions to incorporate complex business logic into the report

Can be used instead of joining numerous tables and creating complex formulas to replicate the business logiccomplex formulas to replicate the business logic

ABAP functions appear as tables in Crystal Reports C th b j i d t th t bl f l t tiCan then be joined to other tables for complete reporting

Determining the specific ABAP function can sometimes prove challenging


Report Design – Tip 4

FUNCTION_NAME



When to lead with Crystal Reports vs. ABAP for R/3Reports vs. ABAP for R/3 reporting ?



Clearly determine the output of the reporting requirements for end users

Are presentation-quality or less formatted reports required?What general output format options are required? (PDF, Word, Excel, rich text, etc.)(PDF, Word, Excel, rich text, etc.) What are the most common delivery choices required for end users?(file shares, e-mail, FTP sites, network printers, etc.)

Once clearly defined you’re in a better position to matchOnce clearly defined, you re in a better position to match required resources & time to achieve reporting objectives



Considerations when using SAP BW queries in CrystalDesign your BW Queries with Crystal in mind and not BexDesign your BW Queries with Crystal in mind and not Bex

Crystal and BEx are 2 different tools and handle BW Queries differently Queries do not need to contain numerous structures or other featuresQueries do not need to contain numerous structures or other features for most Crystal reporting purposesLet Crystal Reports handle the formatting needs of the report output

Avoid using large complex BW queriesAvoid using large complex BW queriesIf necessary, break the query into several smaller ones

Maximize filters and restrictions in order to reduce the datasets returned to Crystal Reportsreturned to Crystal ReportsConsider using Queries based on the ODS instead of BW QueryUse Queries based of InfoCubes vs Multi-providers


Less joins involved in reading data from InfoCubes = better performance

REPORTING – TIP 7

Ensure the necessary SAP BW or R/3 rights are granted for the required end user rolesGranting the necessary SAP authorizations is essential to ensure specific individuals receive the required rights to perform their various reporting dutiesvarious reporting duties

Check the SAP authorizations granted to each content-bearing and functional SAP role

If users are not able to perform their required report viewing, scheduling, content administration or publishing functions, an authorization trace may be necessaryy y


REPORT DESIGN - TIP 8

Ensure you define a clear security implementation plan before rolling out production reporting to end usersg p p g

Consider numerous security points when working with BusinessObjects XI for SAP against SAP R/3 or BWj g

Do I choose a security model that directly leverages security rights from R/3 and BW or do I focus on BusinessObjects Enterprise security?Determine the BusinessObjects XI folder-level security necessary toDetermine the BusinessObjects XI folder level security necessary to enforce your organization’s required content security modelCreate the appropriate SAP roles and/or BOE XI groups and make certain that the correct SAP R/3 or SAP BW users are memberscertain that the correct SAP R/3 or SAP BW users are members


SAP AT INSIGHT:ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIESADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

‘Business Intelligence for SAP Environments’B k S i TBABreakout Session – TBA

‘Enterprise Information Management for SAP’Breakout Session TBABreakout Session – TBA

SAP Focus Group SessionsSee Dan Kearnan if you are interested in participatingy p p g

One-on-one conversations with BOBJ SAP ExpertsSee Dan Kearnan to arrange a time


Q&A

QuestionsDan Kearnan Director SAP Product Business ObjectsDan Kearnan, Director SAP Product, Business ObjectsI will repeat questions to ensure everyone can hear

Contact informationEmail: [email protected]@ jEmail: [email protected]

SLIDE 26 COPYRIGHT © 2007 BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A. Business Objects Confidential And Proprietary -Copyright 2007

Documents

Best Practices for Crystal Reporting With SAP