Features From SharePoint 2010 Integration With SAP BusinessObjects BI 4

7/31/2019 Features From SharePoint 2010 Integration With SAP BusinessObjects BI 4

1/11

Features from SharePoint 2010

Integration with SAP BusinessObjects BI

4.0Introduction

The client I'm consulting with asked me about what features the SharePoint 2010

Integration with BI 4.0 (IOMS 4.0) can bring on the table in terms of enriching theirCorporate portals, since they have recently successfully migrated their existing BOXI R3

platform onto newly released BI4.0 enterprise server. (Note: after confirming with theclient, it's a "Ramp-up" instead of "GA" version of the BOE server installation.)

After a bit research and reading, I quickly put together a feature list based upon thefollowing major aspects:

Search Ability Improvement Collaboration Integration (one-stop-shop) Simple, Rapid Installation and Deployment Accessibility Integrated Security Model with Single Sign-On (SSO) feature

Search Ability Improvement

Unified Search Experience

IOMS provides flexible site searching options allowing users to search just the IOMS site orthe IOMS site plus all other SharePoint sites. When all SharePoint sites are searched, thebest match results appear on a single SharePoint search page.

Index and Search BI4.0 Meta Data

Users are now able to conduct free text search across all of this metadata at the same time.

In addition, the search index has expanded to include other meta information about files aswell as the actual content of the file.

For example, the dimensions, measures and values inside a WebI report are now indexed

and made searchable by users. This is very powerful as now users can get results when

searching for customers or products, locations or people or anything else that may exist inthe content of files.


2/11

Diagram 1, the Webi/Crystal reports can be fully searchable through the SharePoint 2010 portal

Collaboration

The authorized users can leverage discussion feature within the SharePoint 2010 portal to

collaborate with colleagues by adding comments to documents (such as Web Intelligence

document) in the report repository.

Diagram 2, to create a Webi report discussion within the report


3/11

The post message can be easily deleted or adjust their importance. The user can also replyback to the sender of the message or respond to the group as a whole.

Diagram 3, to create a message on the Webi Report level

As part of the meta data associate with the Webi Report, the discussion content for thereport can also be indexed and searchable through the SharePoint portal.

Integration (One-stop-shop)

Authorized users can manage their content directly from SharePoint. This includes theability for users to:

Set report schedules Edit report properties Set parameters View report history Delete files Send files to inbox Email or FTP And many more


4/11

Diagram 4, there are lot functionality available to manage the report through the SharePoint portal

User Interface

In addition, users can add or upload new content from Local machine to BusinessObjectswithout having to leave IOMS.

Users can open, view and interact with the content directly from SharePoint. Depending onthe type of file, the file may be opened directly in a web browser (such as in the case of a

crystal report, WebI document or Xcelsius dashboard) or in the appropriate thick clientapplication (such as in the case of opening a Word document, PDF file).


5/11

Diagram 5, the Webi report schedule can be set up through the SharePoint portal

The URE or content explorer webpart or Document explorer is flexible now to choose

columns you would want to see, number of items you would want, choosing the start folder,

etc.

IOMS includes SharePoint webparts that allow administrators to enhance existing

SharePoint sites with business objects content. Out of the box IOMS 4 ships with a numberof SharePoint WebParts that allow you to enhance other SharePoint sites with BI reports,dashboards and content stored in BusinessObjects.


6/11

Diagram 6, the Webi Report can be viewed/updated/embedded within the SharePoint Portal

For example, an Xcelsius dashboard containing sales metrics could be embedded into the

landing page of a SharePoint sales site. When users open the sales site, the dashboard isrefreshed to show the latest information on sales for that region or team.

Introduced helpful Units like Recently viewed and Recent Searches on the Out-of-boxtemplate Home Page to enable quick navigation.

Diagram 7, stunning quick navigation from Out-of-box integration templates


7/11

Simple, Rapid Installation and Deployment

No Pre-requisites Before Installation

In the previous version of IOMS XI3.1 installation, it required extra .NET SDK and the

corresponding fiddling as a pre-requisite. As for the latest version, all the pre-requisiteshave been already bundled within the installation package without any extra softwaredownload required. All you need to do is to double-click on the installation executable file.

Diagram 8, one click for the installation, no more Hush Hush

Easy Configuration with BI4.0 CMS Integration (Minimum InformationRequired from CMS Server)

It doesnt require the tedious configuration procedure as the previous version and can bequickly set up by supplying the following information to the installation wizard:

CMS Name with Port number CMS Administrator Logon details URL to the server that hosts BI Launch Pad


8/11

Diagram 9, minimum set-up required from BusinessObject Enterprise

Wizard-driven Installation

IOMS wizard driven installer and SharePoint site definition template allow it to be quicklydeployed with minimal configuration as a dedicated SharePoint site.

Once deployed SharePoint administrators can further tweak and enhance the IOMS site asrequired.


9/11

Diagram 10, the deployment and configuration option are fully wizard-driven

Accessibility

Users can browse to access content stored in their BusinessObjects inbox, personal folders,

public folders or categories. The users permissions and rights as set in BusinessObjects arestill enforced by IOMS ensuring that users are only able to access stuff they are authorizedto access.


10/11

Diagram 11, authorized user can quickly access the information through the SharePoint portal

IOMS is built on the 4.0 Business Intelligence platform and leverages the new Platform

features for Auditing, Search and other areas. Being built on the BI Platform means thatIOMS can be remotely administered using the web based Central Management Console.

Diagram 12, almost all the BI4.0 new features available on the SharePoint portal after IOMSinstallation

Integrated Security Model with Single Sign-On (SSO) feature

From an Authentication and SSO standpoint, users can login directly to BOE from

SharePoint using their Active Directory, LDAP or BusinessObjects Enterprise Credentials. Inaddition, Single Sign-on workflows can be supported using Kerberos or CA SiteMinder.


11/11

Diagram 13, the user can log on the SharePoint BI4.0 portal just with their AD login credentials

Well, I'm pretty sure that there are some features I missed out here, but I will definitelykeep everyone updated as I go with the integration and implementation phases.

Documents

Features From SharePoint 2010 Integration With SAP BusinessObjects BI 4