Report Design & Data Monitor using BusinessObjects Dashboard Design EGN 5622 Enterprise Systems Integration Fall, 2015 Report Design & Data Monitor using

Report Design & Data Report Design & Data Monitor using Monitor using

BusinessObjects BusinessObjects Dashboard DesignDashboard Design

EGN 5622 Enterprise Systems IntegrationEGN 5622 Enterprise Systems Integration

Fall, 2015Fall, 2015


BusinessObjectsDashboard BusinessObjectsDashboard DesignDesign

Concepts and TheoryConcepts and Theory

Dashboard Dashboard DDefinitionefinition“A dashboard is a visual display of the most important information needed to achieve one or more objectives; consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be monitored at a glance”

Dashboard Dashboard TTypes Iypes IStrategic Dashboards• Used by executives• Quick overview on the health of the business, including major high-level measures• Few information, simple display mechanisms, static snapshots

Analytical Dashboards• Used by analysts• Support interaction with data, e.g. drill-down• Complex data, sophisticated display mechanisms, static snapshots

Operational Dashboards• Used to monitor operations• Support alerting for critical events, interaction with data • Detailed data, simple and clear display mechanisms, real-time data

Source: (Few 2006, p. 40-42)

Layers of InformationLayers of InformationT

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Summarized Graphical ViewPurpose: Monitor key performance metricsDisplay: Graphical indicators, numbers, textTechnology: Dashboards, scorecard, portals

Multidimensional ViewPurpose: Explore information from multiple dimensionsDisplay: Interactive charts and tablesTechnology: OLAP, interactive reports

Detailed Reporting ViewPurpose: Examine details before taking actionDisplay: Table or report in separate windowTechnology: Operational reports, data warehouse queries

Source: Eckerson (2006), p. 15

Dashboard Dashboard TTypes IIypes II

Dashboard versus Portal• Portal : Focus on the integration of different contents under one user interface• Dashboard : Focus on the compression of important facts and figures on one

single screen

Dashboard versus Scorecard• A scorecard is a specific dashboard including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs),

usually used on a strategic level

EvolutionEvolution of Dashboardsof Dashboards

First Generation

SecondGeneration

ThirdGeneration

Display:Simple Lamps

Function:-Indication of engine issues

Display:Simple Charts

Function:-Simple monitoring of some business areas

Display:-Lamps-Gauges-Odometers

Function:-Indication of engine issues-Measure fuel, etc.-Measure speed, distance

Display:-Advanced Charts-Gauges & Indicators-Tables

Function:-Advanced monitoring -Drill down to analyze-Monitor key metrics

Display:-Lamps-Gauges-Odometers-GPS

Function:-Indication of engine issues-Measure fuel, speed, dist.-Show route & destination

Display:-Advanced Charts-Gauges & Indicators-Tables-Scorecards-Strategy Maps

Function:-Advanced monitoring -Drill down to analyze-Monitor key metrics-Monitor tactics-Monitor strategy

Evolution of Automobile Dashboards versus Business Dashboards:

Automobile Dashboards Business Dashboards

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Function:-Indication of engine issues-Measure fuel, speed, dist.-Show route & destination









BusinessObjects BusinessObjects Dashboard DesignDashboard Design

SAP ImplementationSAP Implementation

SAP BusinessObjects BI PlatformSAP BusinessObjects BI Platform

Source: Hilgefort (2011)

Please check sdn.sap.com for latest version

Information Discovery & DeliveryInformation Discovery & Delivery

Crystal ReportsConnect to virtually any data source,

design and format interactive reports

Web IntelligenceSelf-service access to

information and intuitive analysis

SAP BusinessObjects

Dashboard Design (Xcelsius)

Point and click data visualization tool to create interactive

analytics and dashboards

SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard Design OverviewDesign Overview• Building dashboards for different purposes and different hierarchical levels or

functions, including dynamic charts and graphs, data presentations and visual what-if scenarios

• Data presentation is based on Adobe Flash, export to different applications including PowerPoint, Acrobat 9, Adobe AIR, Adobe Flash, HTML, Business Objects Platform

• Dashboards use static data from Microsoft Excel spreadsheet models or live corporate data sources linked using various connectors

• Available connectors: Query as a Web Service (QaaWS), Web Service Connections, XML Data Connections, Excel XML Map, Live Office,…

The WorkspaceThe Workspace

Embedded Spreadsheet

Object Browser

Component Browser

Canvas Area

Properties Panel

Design Time & Run TimeDesign Time & Run Time

XML RDBMS OLAP

Spreadsheet model

Design visualizationData bindingData connectivityWorkspace

Generate dashboard(.swf file with internal data model)

Design for Visualization

Business Logic

Data Source

Design time Run time

Optional: Dashboard (.swf file) deployed on corporate web server

Dashboard is opened on user‘s machine

Optional: Dashboard connects to data source to refresh data

Generate Visualization

Web Server

Client

Client

SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard Design & MVC (Model View Control) Design & MVC (Model View Control) PatternPattern

View (before adjustment)Controller

View (after adjustment)Model

Visual ComponentsVisual ComponentsChart components provide a range of different chart types like line, pie, bar, area, radar, and tree map chart

Container components group and display other components

Selector components are used to create a visualization with multiple options to select from

Single value components are used to add user interactivity to visualizations, these components are linked to a single cell in the spreadsheet

Map components create visualizations with geographical representations that can display data by region

Text components are used for placing labels and including text into a visualization

CreatingCreating Dashboards Dashboards

Three steps to create a new dashboard:• Create the spreadsheet model

• Import existing spreadsheet model or• Create new spreadsheet model with Excel functionality

• Build the visualization• Select suitable components from the visualization library• Data binding

• Publish the dashboard• Export to PPT, Word, Adobe, SWF, Business Objects …

Example of SpreadsheetExample of Spreadsheet

Source: http://www.sap.com/solutions/sapbusinessobjects/sap-crystal-solutions/dashboards-visualization/demos/index.epx

Import Spreadsheet ModelImport Spreadsheet Model

3. Your business model is now available in the embedded spreadsheet

2. Select existing Excel file …

1. Select Data -> Import…

Select Visual ComponentsSelect Visual Components

2. Move the component using drag and drop onto the canvas

1. Select a pie chart from the component browser

Properties and Data BindingProperties and Data Binding

1. Double click on the component to open the properties panel

2. Edit title of the component: Use static values or dynamic values from spreadsheet model

3. Bind data from spreadsheet model to the component

Properties PanelProperties Panel

• Title, subtitle• Selection of data source, data binding

• Adding drill-down capability for charts

• Settings for the visualization of the component• E.g. visibility of component, scaling of axis, animation and effects

• Settings for the appearance and formatting of components• E.g. layout, text, and color of component

• Settings for alerts for a component• E.g. definition of the number of alert colors used, or target limits

Publish DashboardPublish Dashboard1. Save spreadsheet model and visualization as *.xlf file

2. Export as e.g. PDF

3. Launch Dashboard

Case Study 1: Sales Dashboard Case Study 1: Sales Dashboard (Basic Concepts) (Basic Concepts)

• Dashboard design• Designing spreadsheet models• Basic components for visualization

– Charts components– Single value components– Text components

• Alerts• Selector components• Dashboard layout• Case study: Global Sales Overview

Dashboard DesignDashboard Design

• What type of dashboard should be designed?• What are the relevant data and KPIs that should be

visualized?• What are appropriate elements for visualization?• How should user navigation look like?• How is the dashboard supplied with data?

Applying the Gestalt Principles of visual perception to dashboards:

• Proximity: Objects that are located near each other are perceived as belonging to the same group.

• Similarity: Objects that are similar in color, size, shape, and orientation are perceived as belonging to the same group.

• Enclosure: Objects that are enclosed by a visual border, e.g. a line, are perceived as belonging to the same group.

• Closure: Open structure (e.g. shapes with open ends) are perceived as closed whenever possible.

• Continuity: Objects that appear to form a continuation of one another are perceived as belonging to the same group.

• Connection: Objects that are connected (e.g. by are line) are perceived as belonging to the same group.

Source: Few (2006), p. 90-95



Dashboard design principles I • Reduce the non-data pixels, by eliminating unnecessary non-data pixels and de-

emphasizing the remaining non-data pixels

– E.g. eliminate unnecessarythird dimension of depth on charts

– E.g. eliminate unnecessary grid lines in bar graphs

– E.g. eliminate variations in color that don’t encode any meaning

Source: (Few 2006, p. 103-110)

Dashboard DesignDashboard Design Dashboard design principles II• Enhance data pixels by eliminating unnecessary data pixels and highlighting

most important data pixels– Remove data that is less relevant– Condense data by summaries and exceptions– Emphasize important data by visual attributes like color intensity, size, line width– Emphasize important data by its position on the dashboard: top-left and center

are sections with greatest emphasis

Different degrees of visual emphasis. Source: (Few 2006, p. 114)

Emphasized Neither emphasized nor de-emphasized

Neither emphasized nor de-emphasized De-emphasized

Emphasized

Case Study 1: Sales Case Study 1: Sales Dashboard (Basic Concepts) Dashboard (Basic Concepts)




Spreadsheet ModelsSpreadsheet Models

Using Excel functionality

• SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard Design supports a variety of Excel functions (about 160) and formulas– Mathematical, statistical functions– Text-related functions– Date/Time related functions– Spreadsheet formulas

• Complete list of supported Excel functions available in SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard Design Help

• But: not all Excel functionality is available in SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard Design


Using Excel functionality

– Mathematical, statistical functions• Calculation of maximum value:

– Text-related functions• Concatenate Strings:

– Date/Time related functions• Provide current data: TODAY() • Provide current time and date: NOW()

=MAX(B2:D2)

=CONCATENATE (B2,C2)


Design guidelines

• Use different sheets if your spreadsheet includes many different tables

• For complex models use the first sheet for documenting your spreadsheet model

• Use colors and labels in your model for better readability

• Do not start in the first row and column, leave space for enhancements

• Apply formatting to your spreadsheet before you start building the visualizations


Limitations

• In case you re-import spreadsheets with renamed sheets, any bindings to cells in the renamed sheet will be lost

• Complexity of calculation being performed in the spreadsheet affect the performance of the visualization

• Only one single Excel workbook can be embedded in a dashboard, references to remote workbooks are not possible



– Charts components

– Single value components

– Text components• Alerts• Selector components• Dashboard layout• Case study: Global Sales Overview

Chart ComponentsChart Components

Chart overview

Examples:• Line Chart: showing the tendency over a period

of time, e.g. stock prices• Pie Chart: showing relative shares compared to

a certain total, e.g. relative share of revenue for a product compared to total revenue

• Bar Chart: visualization of rankings, e.g. TOP 10 products by revenue

• Column Chart: showing developments over a period of time, e.g. revenue by month

• Radar Chart: plotting multi-dimensional sets of data using several axis, e.g. compare different aspects of stock like price, volume, price to earning ratio, etc.


Column chart

Step-by-step:

• Drag chart to the canvas

• Adjust titles

• Bind data

• Adjust scaling

• Adjust layout


Column chart - general• Title, subtitle, axis values can include fixed value or values from the spreadsheet model

• Bind data:• Use Range option if data is a range of continuous cells• Use Series option if data series are segregated


Column chart – scaling

• Manual Scaling:If data doesn’t require the scales to change

• Auto Scaling:If data feeds of the chart change and scaling

has to be adjusted automatically


Column Chart – layout

• Adjust the color of your slices, chart background, title or plot area

• Adjust format for your titles• Adjust data type of the values

Single Value ComponentsSingle Value Components

Single value components overview

• Can be used for adding user interactivity to visualizations

• Components are linked to a single cell in the spreadsheet

• If cell content is a formula, component is an output component, no modifications possible

• If cell content includes a plain value, component is an input component, modification possible


Gauges

• Gauges as input component represent a variable that can be modified to affect other components. By dragging the needle users can interact with the Gauge to change the value

• Gauges as output components represent a value that changes and moves the needle if underlying data changes


Gauges: Data binding and scaling

• Bind data to a single cell

• Set minimum and maximum values, e.g. 0 and 1 if a percentage between 0 and 100% is displayed

Text ComponentsText Components

Overview text components

• Placing labels and typing text into the dashboard

• Input Text Area: input multiple lines of text • Label: add text to the dashboard, e.g. for

titles, explanation, help, etc.• Input Text: input one line of text





AlertsAlerts

Alerts overview

• Used to call the attention of the user to a specific item that has reached a pre-defined limit

• Limits are e.g. budgets or benchmarks, plan data, etc.• Alerts can be defined for different components, including

most charts and single-value components and some selector components

• Customization of different alert levels and colors possible

• Configuration takes place on the Alerts tab of the Properties panel

AlertsAlertsDefining Alerts for a Gauge

• Activate Alerts on the Alerts tab in the Properties panel

• Define Alert method:• as percent, if evaluated values are percentages

• as value, if evaluated values are integers

• Define Alert levels and colors

• Select if high/middle/low levels are good





Selector ComponentsSelector Components

Selector components overview

• Selector components let you create interactive dashboards with multiple selections

• Radio Button: users can select from a horizontal or vertical group of selections

• Combo Box: provides a vertical list of items, when it is clicked, users can select an item from the list

• Accordion Menu: provides a two-level menu, users first select a category and then select items within that particular category

Interactivity with Selector Interactivity with Selector ComponentsComponentsExample: Radio button selector

The user can select by a radio button selector if the share per model is shown by revenue or by pieces sold

Interactivity with Selector Interactivity with Selector ComponentsComponentsSource, destination and insertion type• A selector component can be linked to

• a data source, that represents the available data, and • a data destination, representing the selected data

• The values inserted into the data destination depend on the chosen insertion type• Insertion types:

• Row/column: The selected row/column of the data sources is inserted into the data destination

• Filtered rows: A set of rows from the data source that meet the selected filter criteria are inserted into the data destination

• Label/position: The label/position of the selected radio button is inserted into the data destination

Interactivity with Selector Interactivity with Selector ComponentsComponentsSource, destination and insertion type• Insertion types ROW:

Each row is linked to a radio button, the selected row is inserted into the data destination

• Insertion type POSITION:The position of the selected radio button (e.g. 1 or 2 in this example) is inserted into the data destination, the result can be used for further processing

Interactivity with Selector Interactivity with Selector ComponentsComponentsSettings for radio button selector

1. Customize the title and the name of the labels

Interactivity with Selector Interactivity with Selector ComponentsComponentsSettings for radio button selector

2. Select Insertion Type and bind data to source and destination

3. Use this range as source for your visualization. Each time the user changes the selection, the selected row is inserted here





Dashboard LayoutDashboard Layout

Art and background components

• Art and backgrounds can be used to enhance the dashboard layout

• Background: add backgrounds to dashboard to improve the design, can be used to create divisions and designate groups of related components

• Image: display JPEG images or SWF files• Rectangle, Ellipse, Lines: layout element that

outlines, defines, or contains sections

Dashboard LayoutDashboard Layout

Themes

• Allow a global change of the appearance of components

• Each theme has a number of different components with a look and feel of that particular theme

• Themes can be combines with different Color Schemes

Case Study 1: Sales Case Study 1: Sales Dashboard (Basic Concepts) Dashboard (Basic Concepts) • Dashboard design• Designing spreadsheet models• Basic components for visualization


• Alerts• Selector components• Dashboard layout• Case study:

• Sales Dashboard

Example of a DashboardExample of a Dashboard

Source: http://www.sap.com/solutions/sapbusinessobjects/sap-crystal-solutions/dashboards-visualization/demos/index.epx

Other DOther Dashboard ashboard EExamplesxamples

Standard income statement

• Highlights a new way of presenting typical income statements• By selecting a region from a map, the viewer can see its P&L and net income trend over the last six

quarters and compare it with the target values

Daily executive report

• Summarizes the daily status of a hospitality company's key performance indicators across different locations• Gives the executive an interactive view of the daily and monthly metrics

Source: http://www.sap.com/solutions/sapbusinessobjects/sme/xcelsius/demos/index.epx

Source: adapted from Few (2006), p. 124 ff

Medium Description Example

Graphs Visualize quantitative data, e.g. one single key measure or data series

Images Useful if images provide additional information

Icons Visualization of alerts or status (e.g. on/off)

Drawing objects

Arrange and connect different elements on the dashboards, e.g. to visualize processes or hierarchical relationships between elements

Text Used for labels or to report single measures on the dashboard 1000.00 USD

Organizers Arrange related business information, e.g. as tables or geographically in maps

Display Media for DashboardsDisplay Media for Dashboards

Extremely attractive

Highly interactive

Feather light

Highly scalable

Easy to build andmaintain

SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard Design (Xcelsius)Design (Xcelsius)

Source: K. Jason, M. Ty (2008). Which BI Client To Use. Retrieved 02/15/2009 from http://www.sdn.sap.com

Exercises:Exercises: (Due date 4/17/2015)(Due date 4/17/2015)

Case study 1: Sales dashboard (Basic concept)

Documents

Report Design & Data Monitor using BusinessObjects Dashboard Design EGN 5622 Enterprise Systems Integration Fall, 2015 Report Design & Data Monitor using