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Jim Brogden, Heather Sinkwitz, Dallas Marks, Gabriel Orthous
SAP® BusinessObjects Web Intelligence
The Comprehensive Guide
SGalileo Press
Bonn •
Contents
Acknowledgments 21
Foreword 23
1.1 Features of Web Intelligence 26
1.1.1 Core Product Functionality 27
1.1.2 Web Intelligence Offline 29
1.1.3 SAP BusinessObjects Bl 4.1 Client Tools 31
1.1.4 Web Intelligence and the Microcube 31
1.2 Reading Web Intelligence Reports 32
1.3 Adjusting Web Intelligence Preferences 33
1.3.1 Setting the View and Modify Selection Types 36
1.3.2 Locale When Viewing a Document 37
1.3.3 Drill Option Preferences 37
1.3.4 Saving to Microsoft Excel Priority 38
1.4 The HTML Viewer versus the Applet (Java) Viewer 39
1.5 Web Intelligence Reporting and Analysis Environments 39
1.5.1 Zero-Client Online Analysis 40
1.5.2 Thin-Client Development 40
1.6 Report Display Modes 40
1.6.1 Saving in the Applet Viewer 41
1.6.2 Saving in the HTML Viewer 41
1.7 Summary 42
2.1 SAP HANA Variable Support in SAP BusinessObjects Bl 4.1 SP3...
46
2.1.1 Support of Query Stripping 46
2.1.2 Enabling Query Stripping 47
2.2 Freeze Header Rows and Left Columns 49
2.2.1 Freeze Rules 49
2.2.2 Enabling Freeze Settings 50
2.3 Custom Grouping 52
2.3.1 Steps for Creating Custom Groups 53
2.3.2 Custom Group Values in a Table 56
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Contents
2.4 Merged Dimension Improvements 57
2.4.1 Adding an Object to an Existing Merge 57
2.4.2 Removing an Object from a Merged Dimension
Instance 59
2.4.3 Merging Objects with Hierarchies 59
2.5 Usability Improvements 59
2.5.1 New Input Control Features 60
2.5.2 Improved Header and Footer Property Access 62
2.5.3 Formula Editor Enhancements 63
2.5.4 Query Editing and Refreshing Updates 65
2.6 Customizing Color Properties 67
2.6.1 Custom Color Palettes 67
2.6.2 Creating a New Custom Color Palette 69
2.6.3 Formatting Data Series Colors 71
2.6.4 Defining Global Chart Palettes 73
2.6.5 Modifying Default Styles 74
2.7 Using Excel as a Data Source in the Bl Launch Pad 74
2.7.1 Creating Queries from Excel Files 76
2.7.2 Updating Published Excel Files 78
2.7.3 Refreshable Queries Based on Excel 79
2.8 Charting Enhancements 80
2.8.1 Format Data Series 80
2.8.2 Series Color Options 80
2.8.3 New Waterfall Chart Properties 81
2.8.4 Individual Line Widths in Line Chart 83
2.9 Report Formatting Improvements 84
2.10 Summary 85
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^S 1
3.1 Creating a Web Intelligence 4.1 Document 88
3.1.1 Universe as a Data Source 91
3.1.2 Direct Connection to an SAP BEx Query 93
3.1.3 Analysis Views as a Data Source 97
3.2 The Query Panel in Web Intelligence 4.1 100
3.2.1 Universe Outline Pane 101
3.2.2 Query Properties 102
3.3 Adding and Editing Queries 104
3.3.1 Evaluating Generated SQL Script 104
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Contents
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
3.3.2 Adding Queries and New Data Providers 106
3.3.3 Setting Up a Combined Query 110
Creating SAP BEx Queries 113
Query Filters 117
3.5.1 Predefined Filters 118
3.5.2 Custom Filters 118
3.5.3 Quick Filters 121
3.5.4 Subqueries 122
3.5.5 Nested Conditions 123
Prompted Queries 124
3.6.1 Saving a Report to Refresh on Open 124
3.6.2 Creating a Prompted Filter 125
3.6.3 Setting Prompt Properties 126
Summary 127
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Adding Data to Report Elements 133
4.1.1 Populating a Cross Table 133
4.1.2 Populating a Chart 135
Sections and Breaks 136
4.2.1 Setting a Section 136
4.2.2 Grouping Data with Breaks 139
Outline Navigation 140
Enhanced Sorting and Ranking 141
4.4.1 Sorting 141
4.4.2 Ranking 148
Conditional Formatting 150
Headers, Footers, and Background Images 154
Summary 157
|»X«1
The Web Intelligence 4.1 Reporting Interface 159
Reporting Toolbars 162
The Side Panel 172
Report Panel 175
Report Property Categories 178
5.5.1 Report Elements 179
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5.5.2 Formatting 182
5.5.3 Data Access 183
5.5.4 Analysis 184
5.5.5 Page Setup and Layouts 185
5.6 Summary 186
6.1 Using Tables 189
6.1.1 Add Report Elements While Designing Reports 190
6.1.2 Manage Table Properties 192
6.1.3 Grouping 196
6.1.4 Freezing Header Rows and Columns 201
6.2 Table Types 204
6.2.1 Horizontal Table 204
6.2.2 Vertical Table 204
6.2.3 Cross Table 205
6.2.4 Form Table 206
6.3 Converting Table Formats and Types 207
6.4 Blank and Predefined Cells 209
6.4.1 Blank Cells 209
6.4.2 Predefined Cells 209
6.5 Summary 211
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^S
7.1 Adding Charts to a Report 214
7.2 Chart Types 217
7.2.1 Column Charts 218
7.2.2 Line Charts 223
7.2.3 Pie Charts 225
7.2.4 Point Charts 228
7.2.5 Bar Charts 231
7.2.6 Other Chart Types 233
7.3 Chart Properties 240
7.4 Zone Formatting 245
7.5 Summary 246
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8.1 Properties That Enhance the Display of Data 248
8.2 Drilling in Reports with Multiple Charts 254
8.3 Hierarchical Charting with Relational Data 256
8.4 Reports Functioning as Dashboards 257
8.5 Formatting Tips 259
8.5.1 Measure Formatting 260
8.5.2 Region Color and Value Axis Stacking 261
8.6 Custom Color Enhancements 264
8.7 Summary 271
9.1 Formatting Report Properties 273
9.2 Document Summary 275
9.3 Report Map 278
9.4 Input Controls 278
9.5 Web Services Publisher 282
9.6 Available Objects (Design Mode Only) 285
9.7 Document Structures and Filters 286
9.8 Data 287
9.9 Style Sheet Modification 289
9.10 Summary 294
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10.1 Filtering in the Query Panel 295
10.1.1 Predefined Filters 296
10.1.2 User-Defined Filters 299
10.1.3 Value(s) from List 302
10.1.4 Prompted Filters 302
10.2 Filtering in the Report Panel 304
10.2.1 Simple Filtering with the Filter Bar 304
10.2.2 Report Element Filters 305
10.2.3 Filtering with Input Controls 308
10.3 Conditionally Hiding Report Elements 316
10.4 Hierarchical Navigation with SAP BW Data Sources 318
10.5 Summary 321
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Contents
11.1 Setting the Scope of Analysis in the Query Panel 324
11.2 Drill-Down Setup in the Report Panel 330
11.2.1 Enabling Drill 330
11.2.2 Drill Toolbar 331
11.2.3 Drilling on Dimensions 331
11.2.4 Drilling on Measures 336
11.2.5 Drilling on Charts 337
11.3 Query Drill Option 340
11.4 Taking a Snapshot 342
11.5 User Settings for Drill Down 342
11.5.1 Prompt When Drill Requires Additional Data 343
11.5.2 Synchronize Drill on Report Blocks 343
11.5.3 Hide Drill Toolbar on Startup 344
11.5.4 Start Drill Session 344
11.6 Summary 344
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^a^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^S12.1 Formulas and Variables 346
12.1.1 Converting In-Place Objects into Formulas 346
12.1.2 Exploring the Formula Editor 348
12.1.3 Creating Variables 350
12.2 Reporting Functions and Operators 352
12.2.1 Aggregate Functions 353
12.2.2 Character Functions 354
12.2.3 Date and Time Functions 356
12.2.4 Document Functions 357
12.2.5 Data Provider Functions 358
12.2.6 Miscellaneous Functions 359
12.2.7 Logical Functions 361
12.2.8 Numeric Functions 362
12.2.9 Set Functions 363
12.2.10 Operators 364
12.3 Formula Syntax 368
12.3.1 Primary Formula Syntax Rules 368
12.3.2 If-Then-Else Syntax 368
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12.3.3 Saving a Variable 369
12.3.4 Modifying a Variable 369
12.4 Input, Output, and Calculation Contexts 371
12.4.1 Aggregates in Context Formulas 373
12.4.2 Report Structure Operator and Keyword Combinations ... 375
12.4.3 Context Operators 376
12.5 Summary 378
^^^^S
13.1 Complex Filtering Options 380
13.1.1 Filtering with Wild Cards 380
13.1.2 Nested Query Filters 382
13.1.3 Database Ranking 384
13.2 Cascading and Optional Prompts 387
13.2.1 Defining a Cascading List of Values in the Universe
Design Tool 387
13.2.2 Using a Cascading List of Values Object as a PromptedFilter in a Report 389
13.2.3 Refreshing a Report with a Prompted List of Values
Object Filter 390
13.2.4 Optional Prompts 391
13.3 Editing Auto-Generated SQL Scripts 392
13.4 Visually Tracking Data Changes in the Report Panel 394
13.4.1 Showing and Hiding Data Changes 395
13.4.2 Data Tracking Options 396
13.4.3 Purging Data 397
13.4.4 Identify and Modify Partial Results 398
13.5 Data Preview 400
13.5.1 Filter Preview Data 400
13.5.2 Using Search to Filter Data Preview Values 401
13.6 Additional Queries and New Data Providers 402
13.6.1 Text Files as a Data Source 403
13.6.2 Web Services as a Data Source 404
13.6.3 Microsoft Excel Files as a Data Source 405
13.7 SAP HANA as a Data Source 406
13.8 Summary 409
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Contents
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14.1 Combining Multiple Queries from the Same Data Source 411
14.2 Combining Data from Different Universes 417
14.3 Data Synchronization Recommendations 422
14.4 Summary 423
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15.1 Linking to Documents with the HTML Viewer 426
15.1.1 Adding Hyperlinks to Published SAP BusinessObjectsBl 4.1 Web Intelligence Documents 426
15.1.2 Insert a Hyperlink to a Web Page 432
15.1.3 Adding Hyperlinks to Prompted Documents 434
15.2 Linking with the Applet Viewer 436
15.2.1 Manually Creating Links Using the OpenDocument
Syntax Structure 441
15.2.2 Adding a Hyperlink to an SAP BusinessObjects
Dashboard 442
15.3 OpenDocument Syntax 443
15.3.1 Document Identifier Parameters 443
15.3.2 Input Parameters 444
15.3.3 Output Parameters 445
15.4 Element Linking 447
15.4.1 Adding Element Linking 447
15.4.2 The Impact of Element Linking 450
15.5 Summary 453
^^^^^^^^^^^^B^^^^^^^^E^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^S
16.1 Navigating in Bl Launch Pad 455
16.1.1 Header Panel 456
16.1.2 List Panel 464
16.1.3 Tabs 464
16.2 Setting Bl Launch Pad Preferences 464
16.2.1 General Preferences 464
16.2.2 Locales and Time Zone Preferences 466
16.2.3 Changing your Password 467
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Contents
16.3 Organizing in Folders and Categories 467
16.3.1 Folders 468
16.3.2 Categories 468
16.3.3 Organizing Objects 469
16.4 Viewing, Printing, and Saving Objects in Bl Launch Pad 471
16.4.1 Web Intelligence Viewer Toolbar 472
16.4.2 Additional Menu Options 473
16.5 Summary 474
17.1 Introducing Bl Workspaces 475
17.1.1 BI Workspaces Toolbar 476
17.1.2 Bl Workspaces Module Library 479
17.1.3 Setting Bl Workspaces Preferences in the Bl
Launch Pad 483
17.1.4 Setting Web Intelligence Preferences in the Bl
Launch Pad 484
17.2 Working with Modules 485
17.3 Working with Web Intelligence Report Parts 486
17.4 Using a Bl Workspace as the Default Home Tab 493
17.5 Printing Bl Workspaces 495
17.6 Content Linking 496
17.7 Summary 500
18.1 Creating Shortcuts and Hyperlinks 501
18.1.1 Shortcuts 501
18.1.2 Hyperlinks 502
18.2 Tracking Data Changes 503
18.2.1 Setting Reference Data 504
18.2.2 Formatting Changed Data 505
18.2.3 Displaying Tracked Data 509
18.2.4 Advanced Tracking Techniques 509
18.3 Searching within the Bl Launch Pad 509
18.3.1 Search Facets 511
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Contents
18.3.2 Searchable Object Types 511
18.3.3 Search Techniques 513
18.4 Sorting and Filtering Content 514
18.5 Creating Discussions 514
18.5.1 Notes 515
18.5.2 Discussion Threads 516
18.6 Summary 517
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19.1 Copying and Pasting 519
19.1.1 Copying and Pasting between Applications 520
19.1.2 Copying and Pasting between Web IntelligenceDocuments 521
19.2 Using the Send Feature in Bl Launch Pad 523
19.2.1 Bl Platform Inbox 523
19.2.2 Email 525
19.2.3 FTP Location 526
19.2.4 File Location 527
19.3 Exporting a Web Intelligence Report 528
19.3.1 Export Options in Bl Launch Pad 528
19.3.2 Export Options in Web Intelligence 529
19.4 Scheduling a Web Intelligence Report 530
19.4.1 Scheduling in Bl Launch Pad 530
19.4.2 Viewing Latest Instance 535
19.4.3 Viewing History 536
19.5 Summary 537
^^^^^^^^^5^^^S^^^^^S^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^S^^^^^S 2
20.1 Publication Roles 541
20.1.1 The SAP BusinessObjects Administrator 541
20.1.2 The Web Intelligence Report Designer 542
20.1.3 The Publication Designer 542
20.1.4 The Recipient 542
20.2 Creating a Publication 542
20.2.1 Naming the Publication 543
20.2.2 Choosing the Source Documents 544
20.2.3 Choosing Enterprise Recipients 545
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Contents
20.3
20.4
21.1
21.2
21.3
21.4
21.5
20.2.4 Choosing Dynamic Recipients 547
20.2.5 Setting Publication Properties 549
20.2.6 Testing the Publication 554
Mobile Publications 554
Summary 555
How Web Intelligence Rich Client Is Different 557
21.1.1 Working in Offline Mode 560
21.1.2 Working in Connected Mode 560
21.1.3 Working in Standalone Mode 561
Data Provider Options 562
21.2.1 Import a Universe from the CMS 562
21.2.2 Query Panel in Web Intelligence Rich Client 563
Working with Web Intelligence Reports 563
21.3.1 Opening Documents from the CMS 564
21.3.2 Saving Reports Locally 565
21.3.3 Exporting Reports to CMS 568
21.3.4 Printing from Web Intelligence Rich Client 568
21.3.5 Sending Reports as Email Attachments 569
Setting Preferences in Web Intelligence Rich Client 569
Summary 570
22.1 Introduction to SAP BusinessObjects Live Office 571
22.1.1 Integration with Web Intelligence Reports 572
22.1.2 Live Office Ribbon Menu 573
22.2 Creating SAP BusinessObjects Live Office Documents with
Web Intelligence Content 575
22.2.1 Accessing the Live Office Insert Wizard 575
22.2.2 Selecting the Web Intelligence Document 575
22.2.3 Setting Context 576
22.2.4 Configuring Prompt Values 576
22.2.5 Selecting Report Content 576
22.2.6 Creating the Summary 577
22.2.7 Adding More Content 578
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Contents
22.3 Setting Preferences 578
22.3.1 Application Options 578
22.3.2 Data Refresh Options 581
22.3.3 Object Properties 582
22.4 Summary 584
23.1 New Features in SAP BusinessObjects Mobile 585
23.2 Designing Reports for Mobile Viewing 587
23.2.1 Mobile Categories 589
23.2.2 Mobile versus MobileDesigned 591
23.3 Mobile-Only Analytic Types 600
23.3.1 Query and Formula Design 600
23.3.2 Creating Sparklines 603
23.3.3 Creating Bullet Graphs 606
23.3.4 Creating Micro Bar Charts 607
23.3.5 Creating Scorecards 609
23.4 Report Linking 612
23.5 Input Controls 614
23.6 Mobile Thumbnails 615
23.7 Summary 617
24.1 Universe Basics 620
24.1.1 Introducing the Information Design Tool 620
24.1.2 Components of a Universe 622
24.2 Creating a New Universe Project 624
24.3 Creating Connections 625
24.4 Creating Data Foundations 627
24.4.1 Inserting Tables into a Data Foundation 627
24.4.2 Inserting Joins into the Data Foundation 628
24.4.3 The Importance of Setting Cardinality 630
24.4.4 Detecting Loops 631
24.4.5 Detecting Aliases 631
24.4.6 Detecting Contexts 633
24.5 Creating Business Layers 636
24.6 Creating Multisource Universes 641
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Contents
24.7 Universe Design Best Practices 646
24.7.1 Design with the Business User in Mind 646
24.7.2 Design for Performance 647
24.7.3 Design for Maintainability 648
24.7.4 Design for Governance 648
24.8 Converting an Existing Universe to a .UNX Universe 648
24.9 Summary 654
A Converting Desktop Intelligence Reports to Web Intelligence
Documents 657
A.1 Report Conversion Tool (RCT) 658
A.2 Conversion to Web Intelligence 658
A.2.1 Analyze Existing Desktop Intelligence Report Usage 659
A.2.2 Identify Users with Desktop Intelligence Installed 659
A.2.3 Publish Locally Saved Desktop Intelligence Reports to
the Repository 660
A.2.4 Prioritize, Consolidate, and Eliminate 660
A.2.5 Customize the Conversion Plan and Roadmap 660
A.2.6 Perform Report Conversion 662
A.2.7 Execute Post-Conversion Analysis and Validation 663
A.2.8 Manually Create Unconverted Reports 664
A.2.9 Educate Users on Web Intelligence 4.1 664
A.3 Desktop Intelligence Compatibility Pack (DCP) 664
A.4 Summary 666
B Third-Party Vendors and SAP Partners 667
B. 1 Antivia 668
B.2 APOS Systems 668
B.3 Centigon Solutions 669
B.4 EV Technologies 670
B.5 GB & Smith 671
B.6 InfoSol 672
B.7 LaunchWorks 672
B.8 Summary 673
C The Authors 675
Index 677
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