Inside SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

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Inside SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

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Inside SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

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Inside SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

Inside SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

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Price:

$69.95

Product Code:

H3123

Average Rating:

( 4 product reviews )

Availability:

In stock!

Product Details

ISBN:

978-1-59229-340-7

Author:

Ingo Hilgefort

Type:

Hardcover, 315 pages

Product Description and Table of Contents

If you’re considering using SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, this book is for you. It will show you how SAP BusinessObjects Explorer can help you make faster, better-informed decisions by giving you more insight into your data. And, if you’re already using Explorer, you’ll learn about the latest functionality of the XI 3.2 release and the new features of SAP BusinessObjects Explorer Accelerated Version in combination with SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator. From installation and deployment, to everyday usage scenarios and more advanced topics, this book is filled with invaluable information that will help you configure and utilize Explorer to its full potential.

Installation and Deployment
Learn about typical deployment options, both with and without SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator.

Functional Overview
Discover the most important functionalities of the different versions of SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — Standard and Accelerated.

Real-World Scenarios
See SAP BusinessObjects Explorer at work by exploring scenarios from a wide range of industries, including healthcare, retail, finance, customer service, and sales.

Advanced Topics
Go beyond the typical usage of Explorer and learn about more advanced topics, including uploading data from Microsoft® Excel™ and working with the on-demand, cloud version.

Highlights

· Installation and Deployment
· Using SAP and Non-SAP Data Sources with Explorer
· Real-life Examples From a Broad Range of Industries
· Data Connectivity and Data Security
· Explorer in the Cloud
· Using Explorer with Excel Spreadsheets
· Using Explorer on the iPhone

The Author

Ingo Hilgefort is an experienced BusinessObjects and SAP professional. He’s currently group product manager with SAP BusinessObjects, responsible for driving adoptions of the BusinessObjects BI platform within the SAP Business Suite. He is also the author of Integrating SAP BusinessObjects XI 3.1 Tools with SAP NetWeaver and Reporting & Analytics Using SAP BusinessObjects, also from SAP PRESS.

“Casual users generating analytics with SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, and the power of in-memory analytics are changing the business intelligence landscape.”
George Mathew
VP & GM, SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — One Piece of Your Business Intelligence Puzzle ... 19
1.1 ... A Short History of SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 19
1.1.1 ... The First Start to More Insight — Intelligent Question ... 20
1.1.2 ... Intelligent Search ... 22
1.1.3 ... First Release of Polestar ... 23
1.1.4 ... Polestar Becomes SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 24
1.1.5 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer Continues to Evolve ... 25
1.2 ... Introduction to SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 26
1.3 ... Introduction to the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Portfolio ... 30
1.3.1 ... Comparison of Tools and Requirements ... 35
1.4 ... Summary ... 37

2 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — Installation and Deployment ... 39
2.1 ... Deployment Options for SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 39
2.1.1 ... Deployment Options Without SAP NetWeaver BWA ... 40
2.1.2 ... Deployment Options in Combination with SAP NetWeaver BWA ... 41
2.2 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — Software Components and Installation Steps ... 45
2.2.1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 45
2.2.2 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer – Accelerated Version ... 47
2.2.3 ... SAP BusinessObjects Open Accelerator ... 48
2.2.4 ... Installation Material, Software Download, and Important SAP Notes ... 48
2.3 ... Data Connectivity Options ... 54
2.3.1 ... Data Connectivity Options Without SAP NetWeaver BWA ... 55
2.3.2 ... Data Connectivity Options for SAP BusinessObjects Explorer Accelerated Version ... 56
2.4 ... SAP NetWeaver BWA Configuration Steps ... 59
2.5 ... SAP NetWeaver BusinessWarehouse (BW) Configuration Steps ... 62
2.5.1 ... Enabling SAP BusinessObjects Explorer Accelerated Version ... 62
2.5.2 ... Configuring Global Settings in SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator Index Wizard ... 63
2.6 ... BusinessObjects Enterprise Configuration Steps ... 64
2.6.1 ... Configuring SAP Authentication for SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 65
2.6.2 ... Configuration of SAP Authentication for SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 70
2.6.3 ... Configuring TREX Parameters for SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 72
2.6.4 ... Configuring BusinessObjects Enterprise Security Profiles ... 74
2.6.5 ... Information Space Security ... 81
2.7 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer Accelerated Version — Known Limitations ... 82
2.8 ... Summary ... 83

3 ... Using SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 85
3.1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — Quick Basics ... 85
3.2 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and SAP NetWeaver BWA — Quick Basics ... 105
3.3 ... Using SAP BusinessObjects Explorer with Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets ... 119
3.4 ... Summary ... 123

4 ... Implementation Relevant Topics ... 125
4.1 ... Support for MultiProvider ... 125
4.2 ... Support for SAP NetWeaver BW Queries ... 143
4.3 ... Restricted and Calculated Key Figures ... 151
4.4 ... Calculated Measures ... 159
4.5 ... Facet Groups ... 162
4.6 ... Leveraging SAP NetWeaver BW Hierarchies ... 174
4.7 ... Data-Level Security and Filtering Information Spaces ... 179
4.7.1 ... Using BI Authorizations ... 179
4.7.2 ... Using Data Filtering in SAP BusinessObjects Explorer ... 181
4.8 ... Known Limitations and Possible Workarounds ... 186
4.9 ... Summary ... 188

5 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — Usage Scenarios ... 189
5.1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and Health Care ... 189
5.2 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and Retail ... 198
5.3 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and Insurance ... 205
5.4 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and Finance ... 211
5.5 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and Procurement ... 221
5.6 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and Customer Service ... 227
5.7 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer and Sales ... 234
5.8 ... Summary ... 245

6 ... Advanced Topics ... 247
6.1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer in the Cloud ... 247
6.2 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer “Excel Plug-In ... 251
6.3 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer on the iPhone ... 254
6.4 ... Using Index Designer for Open Accelerator ... 270
6.5 ... Summary ... 295

7 ... SAP BusinessObjects Explorer — Outlook ... 297
... The Author ... 301
... Index ... 303

Additional Resource(s)

Product Reviews

Awesome Book – Grab one if you are implementing BOBJ Explorer

Posted by Rama on 28th Jun 2010

This book “Inside SAP BusinessObjects Explorer" by Ingo is awesome.

I am in the middle of an SAP BOBJ explorer implementation and this book has been of great value assisting me in providing right business context to my client. Do not miss the Chapter #5 – SAP Business Objects Explorer – Usage Scenarios.

Ingo, as usual you have done an excellent job. Thanks!!!

Cheers,
Rama
A great book for a great business intelligence tool

Posted by Dallas Marks on 15th Jun 2010

This 400-page guide details the innovative Explorer in seven chapters, beginning with "SAP BusinessObjects Explorer - One Piece of Your Business Intelligence Puzzle". The chapter details the lineage of Explorer, beginning with Intelligent Question that was introduced with BusinessObjects Enterprise XI R2, reimagined as Polestar, then rebranded as Explorer. As the title indicates, Explorer is just one piece of the puzzle. It's simply not possible to have one BI tool that rules them all, but Explorer brings BI capabilities to non-traditional BI users (primarily casual and executive users), leverages the power of existing technologies such as the BusinessObjects semantic layer (universes) and the BW Accelerator, and integrates with existing tools like Web Intelligence.

This book allows organizations to quickly and confidently deploy SAP BusinessObjects Explorer.
Outstanding Book..not just for the Reporting/BI Professional, but for the BI Consumer as welll

Posted by Tammy Powlas on 22nd May 2010

The author indicates the tool is for the BI Information Consumer; not the power user or business analyst. Any function can be used with a left mouse click (not a right click). It is built for question-centric BI. It offers “a large set of data in a simpler user interface”. The tool was built for those “who can’t wait for IT”.

The author encourages the reader to download trial licenses and then follow along with the book. I like all the step-by-step instructions, including installation instructions.

The predecessor to Explorer, Polestar, started in 2006. The book is so recent that it mentioned that BusinessObjects Explorer for the iPhone was a demo jam winner at SAP TechEd Vienna. He even explains how this works in an advanced topic chapter.

The author frequently describes some of the limitations – for example, you cannot use display attributes; only one structure can be used if you are using BW query designer as a source. He also spends time on authorizations (always a forgotten step child in books).

A must read for an BI Consumer of Information
Perfect timing for SBO Explorer 2.0

Posted by Roland Kramer, Solution Principal BW(A)/BI, SAP EMEA on 14th Apr 2010

This Book is now available just in the right time of the general Release of SBO Explorer and accelerated 2.0 released end of March 2010.
The book gives a complete end-to-end overview from Installation, Implementation and already with several Usage Scenarios fitting your Industry.
It also shows the new and innovative ondemand Cloud possibilies which is now turned into bi.ondemand.com and the usage of the very easy to use iPhone Explorer App.
Despite to the ususal delay of printed Media and Books, all mentioned Information in this Book is accurate and shows the latest Status of the SBO Explorer 2.0 Software.
Synopsis: Highly recommended!