• Your one-stop reference for all things WebI: queries, reporting, and analysis
• Integrate Web Intelligence with multiple data sources and platforms
• Learn about mobility analytics for Web Intelligence
• 2nd Edition updated and expanded for release 4.0

 Now is the time to master SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, the industry’s most powerful business intelligence reporting tool. This comprehensive guide will help you build a foundational understanding of Web Intelligence, and then teach you to create, analyze, and share enterprise-wide reports. Covering important reporting concepts and addressing topics new to version 4.0, this book will give you the information you need to revolutionize data presentation with SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence.

Introducing Web Intelligence 4.0
Begin sharing business insights using the newest features, including an improved charting engine for data visualization, new chart types, and enhanced drill-down.

User Interface Enhancements
View, publish, and distribute business intelligence content using the BI Launch Pad, the web portal formerly known as InfoView.

BI Mobile Coverage
Learn how to make important business content available to report users on the go, and apply best practices for on-device mobile analytics.

Web Intelligence Rich Client
Navigate this desktop application to effectively write and consume reports without connecting to the Central Management Server.

Real-World Application
Take advantage of practical, step-by-step instructions for creating the most powerful business-relevant queries and reports.

Highlights

• Web Intelligence 4.0 queries and reports
• Query and Report Panels
• Report tools, charts, and formatting
• On-device mobile integration
• Web Intelligence Rich Client
• Multiple data sources
• Analysis and drill-down
• BI workspaces
• Report scheduling and distribution
• New data visualization features
• Feature Pack 3 (Service Pack 4) enhancements

The Authors

Business intelligence consultant Jim Brogden leads a team of industry experts, including Heather Callebaut Sinkwitz, Mac Holden, Dallas Marks, and Gabriel Orthous. They offer expertise in business intelligence consulting, data visualization, and certified SAP BusinessObjects training and reporting.

Table of Contents

• ... Foreword ... 19
• ... Acknowledgments ... 23
• 1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 27
• 1.1 ... Features of Web Intelligence ... 28
• 1.1.1 ... Core Product Functionality ... 29
• 1.1.2 ... Web Intelligence Offline ... 31
• 1.1.3 ... SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 Client Tools ... 33
• 1.1.4 ... Web Intelligence and the Microcube ... 34
• 1.2 ... Reading Web Intelligence Reports ... 34
• 1.3 ... Adjusting Web Intelligence Preferences ... 36
• 1.3.1 ... Setting the View and Modify Selection Types ... 38
• 1.3.2 ... Locale When Viewing a Document ... 39
• 1.3.3 ... Drill Option Preferences ... 39
• 1.3.4 ... Saving to Microsoft Excel Priority ... 40
• 1.4 ... Web Intelligence Reporting and Analysis Environments ... 41
• 1.4.1 ... Zero-Client Online Analysis ... 41
• 1.4.2 ... Thin-Client Development ... 41
• 1.5 ... Report Display Modes ... 41
• 1.6 ... Summary ... 42
• 2 ... Creating New Documents and Queries ... 45
• 2.1 ... Creating a Web Intelligence 4.0 Document ... 46
• 2.1.1 ... Universe as a Data Source ... 49
• 2.1.2 ... Direct Connection to a BEx Query ... 50
• 2.1.3 ... Analysis Views as a Data Source ... 55
• 2.2 ... The Query Panel in Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 58
• 2.2.1 ... Universe Outline Pane ... 59
• 2.2.2 ... Query Properties ... 60
• 2.3 ... Adding and Editing Queries ... 61
• 2.3.1 ... Evaluating Generated SQL Script ... 62
• 2.3.2 ... Adding Queries and New Data Providers ... 64
• 2.3.3 ... Setting Up a Combined Query ... 67
• 2.4 ... Creating BEx Queries ... 69
• 2.5 ... Query Filters ... 73
• 2.5.1 ... Predefined Filters ... 74
• 2.5.2 ... Custom Filters ... 74
• 2.5.3 ... Quick Filters ... 76
• 2.5.4 ... Subqueries ... 77
• 2.5.5 ... Nested Conditions ... 79
• 2.6 ... Prompted Queries ... 79
• 2.6.1 ... Saving a Report to Refresh on Open ... 80
• 2.6.2 ... Creating a Prompted Filter ... 81
• 2.6.3 ... Setting Prompt Properties ... 81
• 2.7 ... Summary ... 82
• 3 ... Creating a Report in Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 85
• 3.1 ... Adding Data to Report Elements ... 87
• 3.1.1 ... Populate a Cross Table ... 88
• 3.1.2 ... Populate a Chart ... 89
• 3.2 ... Sections and Breaks ... 89
• 3.2.1 ... Setting as Section ... 90
• 3.2.2 ... Grouping Data with Breaks ... 92
• 3.3 ... Show/Hide Outline and Navigation ... 93
• 3.4 ... Sorting and Ranking ... 94
• 3.4.1 ... Sorting ... 94
• 3.4.2 ... Ranking ... 98
• 3.5 ... Conditional Formatting ... 100
• 3.6 ... Headers, Footers, and Background Images ... 104
• 3.7 ... Summary ... 106
• 4 ... The Web Intelligence 4.0 Report Panel ... 109
• 4.1 ... The Web Intelligence 4.0 Reporting Interface ... 109
• 4.2 ... Reporting Toolbars ... 111
• 4.3 ... The Left Pane ... 120
• 4.4 ... Report Panel ... 123
• 4.5 ... Report Property Categories ... 126
• 4.5.1 ... Report Elements ... 126
• 4.5.2 ... Formatting ... 129
• 4.5.3 ... Data Access ... 130
• 4.5.4 ... Analysis ... 131
• 4.5.5 ... Page Setup and Layouts ... 133
• 4.6 ... Summary ... 133
• 5 ... Displaying Data with Tables ... 135
• 5.1 ... Using Tables ... 137
• 5.1.1 ... Add Report Elements While Designing Reports ... 138
• 5.1.2 ... Manage Table Properties ... 140
• 5.2 ... Table Types ... 144
• 5.2.1 ... Horizontal Table ... 144
• 5.2.2 ... Vertical Table ... 144
• 5.2.3 ... Cross Table ... 145
• 5.2.4 ... Form Table ... 146
• 5.3 ... Converting Table Formats and Types ... 147
• 5.4 ... Blank and Predefined Cells ... 148
• 5.4.1 ... Blank Cells ... 148
• 5.4.2 ... Predefined Cells ... 149
• 5.5 ... Summary ... 150
• 6 ... Displaying Data with Charts ... 153
• 6.1 ... Adding Charts to a Report ... 154
• 6.2 ... Chart Types ... 156
• 6.2.1 ... Column Charts ... 157
• 6.2.2 ... Line Charts ... 161
• 6.2.3 ... Pie Charts ... 164
• 6.2.4 ... Point Charts ... 166
• 6.2.5 ... Bar Charts ... 170
• 6.2.6 ... Other Chart Types ... 171
• 6.3 ... Chart Properties ... 175
• 6.4 ... Summary ... 179
• 7 ... Making an Impact with Charts ... 181
• 7.1 ... Properties that Enhance the Display of Data ... 182
• 7.2 ... Drilling in Reports with Multiple Charts ... 188
• 7.3 ... Hierarchical Charting with Relational Data ... 189
• 7.4 ... Reports Functioning as Dashboards ... 190
• 7.5 ... Formatting Tips ... 193
• 7.5.1 ... Measure Formatting ... 193
• 7.5.2 ... Region Color and Value Axis Stacking ... 195
• 7.6 ... Summary ... 197
• 8 ... Report Properties, Tools, and Formatting ... 199
• 8.1 ... Formatting Report Properties ... 199
• 8.2 ... Document Summary ... 201
• 8.3 ... Report Map ... 203
• 8.4 ... Input Controls ... 203
• 8.5 ... Web Services Publisher ... 207
• 8.6 ... Available Objects (Design Mode Only) ... 210
• 8.7 ... Document Structures and Filters ... 211
• 8.8 ... Data ... 212
• 8.9 ... Summary ... 213
• 9 ... Filtering Data in the Query and Report Panel ... 215
• 9.1 ... Filtering in the Query Panel ... 215
• 9.1.1 ... Predefined Filters ... 216
• 9.1.2 ... User-Defined Filters ... 219
• 9.1.3 ... Value(s) from List ... 222
• 9.1.4 ... Prompted Filters ... 222
• 9.2 ... Filtering in the Report Panel ... 224
• 9.2.1 ... Simple Filtering with the Filter Bar ... 225
• 9.2.2 ... Element Filters ... 226
• 9.2.3 ... Filtering with Input Controls ... 229
• 9.3 ... Conditionally Hiding Report Elements ... 236
• 9.4 ... Summary ... 238
• 10 ... Scope of Analysis and Drilling Down ... 241
• 10.1 ... Setting the Scope of Analysis in the Query Panel ... 242
• 10.2 ... Drill-Down Setup in the Report Panel ... 248
• 10.2.1 ... Enabling Drill ... 248
• 10.2.2 ... Drill Toolbar ... 249
• 10.2.3 ... Drilling on Dimensions ... 250
• 10.2.4 ... Drilling on Measures ... 255
• 10.2.5 ... Drilling on Charts ... 256
• 10.3 ... Query Drill Option ... 259
• 10.4 ... Taking a Snapshot ... 261
• 10.5 ... User Settings for Drill Down ... 261
• 10.5.1 ... Prompt When Drill Requires Additional Data ... 262
• 10.5.2 ... Synchronize Drill on Report Blocks ... 262
• 10.5.3 ... Hide Drill Toolbar on Startup ... 263
• 10.5.4 ... Start Drill Session ... 263
• 10.6 ... Summary ... 263
• 11 ... Using Formulas and Variables ... 265
• 11.1 ... Formulas and Variables ... 266
• 11.1.1 ... Converting In-Place Objects into Formulas ... 266
• 11.1.2 ... Exploring the Formula Editor ... 268
• 11.1.3 ... Creating Variables ... 270
• 11.2 ... Reporting Functions and Operators ... 271
• 11.2.1 ... Aggregate Functions ... 272
• 11.2.2 ... Character Functions ... 274
• 11.2.3 ... Date and Time Functions ... 275
• 11.2.4 ... Document Functions ... 277
• 11.2.5 ... Data Provider Functions ... 278
• 11.2.6 ... Misc. Functions ... 279
• 11.2.7 ... Logical Functions ... 281
• 11.2.8 ... Numeric Functions ... 281
• 11.2.9 ... Set Functions ... 283
• 11.2.10 ... Operators ... 284
• 11.3 ... Formula Syntax ... 288
• 11.3.1 ... Primary Formula Syntax Rules ... 288
• 11.3.2 ... If – Then – Else Syntax ... 288
• 11.3.3 ... Saving a Variable ... 289
• 11.3.4 ... Modifying a Variable ... 290
• 11.4 ... Summary ... 291
• 12 ... Extending Query Panel Functionality ... 293
• 12.1 ... Complex Filtering Options ... 294
• 12.1.1 ... Filtering with Wildcards ... 294
• 12.1.2 ... Nested Query Filters ... 295
• 12.1.3 ... Database Ranking ... 298
• 12.2 ... Cascading and Optional Prompts ... 300
• 12.2.1 ... Defining a Cascading List of Values in the Universe Design Tool ... 301
• 12.2.2 ... Using a Cascading List of Values Object as a Prompted Filter in a Report ... 302
• 12.2.3 ... Refreshing a Report with a Prompted List of Values Object Filter ... 303
• 12.2.4 ... Optional Prompts ... 304
• 12.3 ... Using Custom Freehand SQL ... 305
• 12.4 ... Visually Tracking Data Changes in the Report Panel ... 307
• 12.4.1 ... Showing and Hiding Data Changes ... 308
• 12.4.2 ... Data Tracking Options ... 309
• 12.4.3 ... Purging Data ... 310
• 12.4.4 ... Identify and Modify Partial Results ... 310
• 12.5 ... Data Preview ... 312
• 12.6 ... Additional Queries and New Data Providers ... 314
• 12.6.1 ... Text Files as a Data Source ... 316
• 12.6.2 ... Web Services as a Data Source ... 316
• 12.6.3 ... Microsoft Excel Files as a Data Source ... 317
• 12.7 ... Summary ... 318
• 13 ... Using Multiple Data Sources ... 319
• 13.1 ... Combining Multiple Queries from Same Data Source ... 319
• 13.2 ... Combining Data from Different Universes ... 324
• 13.3 ... Query Local Data Sources Using Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 327
• 13.4 ... Data Synchronization Recommendations ... 330
• 13.5 ... Summary ... 331
• 14 ... Linking in Web Intelligence 4.0 Reports ... 333
• 14.1 ... Linking to Documents with the Web Viewer ... 334
• 14.1.1 ... Adding Hyperlinks to Published BI 4.0 Documents ... 334
• 14.1.2 ... Insert a Hyperlink to a Web Page ... 340
• 14.1.3 ... Adding Hyperlinks to Prompted Documents ... 341
• 14.2 ... Linking with the Rich Internet Application Viewer ... 343
• 14.2.1 ... Manually Creating Links Using the OpenDocument Syntax Structure ... 347
• 14.2.2 ... Adding a Hyperlink to an SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard ... 348
• 14.3 ... OpenDocument Syntax ... 349
• 14.3.1 ... Document Identifier Parameters ... 349
• 14.3.2 ... Input Parameters ... 350
• 14.3.3 ... Output Parameters ... 351
• 14.4 ... Element Linking ... 352
• 14.4.1 ... Adding Element Linking ... 353
• 14.4.2 ... The Impact of Element Linking ... 355
• 14.5 ... Summary ... 358
• 15 ... Working in the BI Launch Pad ... 361
• 15.1 ... Navigating in BI Launch Pad ... 361
• 15.1.1 ... Header Panel ... 362
• 15.1.2 ... List Panel ... 369
• 15.1.3 ... Tabs ... 370
• 15.2 ... Setting BI Launch Pad Preferences ... 370
• 15.2.1 ... General Preferences ... 370
• 15.2.2 ... Locales and Time Zone Preferences ... 372
• 15.2.3 ... Changing Your Password ... 372
• 15.3 ... Organizing in Folders versus Categories ... 373
• 15.3.1 ... Folders ... 373
• 15.3.2 ... Categories ... 374
• 15.3.3 ... Organizing Objects ... 375
• 15.4 ... Viewing, Printing, and Saving Objects in the BI Launch Pad ... 377
• 15.4.1 ... Web Intelligence Viewer Toolbar ... 377
• 15.4.2 ... Additional Menu Options ... 378
• 15.5 ... Summary ... 379
• 16 ... Using Web Intelligence with BI Workspaces ... 381
• 16.1 ... Introducing BI Workspaces ... 381
• 16.1.1 ... BI Workspaces Toolbar ... 382
• 16.1.2 ... BI Workspaces Module Library ... 385
• 16.1.3 ... Setting BI Workspaces Preferences in the BI Launch Pad ... 388
• 16.1.4 ... Setting Web Intelligence Preferences in the BI Launch Pad ... 389
• 16.2 ... Working with Modules ... 390
• 16.3 ... Working with Web Intelligence Report Parts ... 392
• 16.4 ... Using a BI Workspace as Default Home Tab ... 398
• 16.5 ... Summary ... 400
• 17 ... Interaction from a User’s Perspective ... 403
• 17.1 ... Creating Shortcuts and Hyperlinks ... 403
• 17.1.1 ... Shortcuts ... 403
• 17.1.2 ... Hyperlinks ... 404
• 17.2 ... Tracking Data Changes ... 405
• 17.2.1 ... Setting Reference Data ... 406
• 17.2.2 ... Formatting Changed Data ... 407
• 17.2.3 ... Displaying Tracked Data ... 411
• 17.2.4 ... Advanced Tracking Techniques ... 411
• 17.3 ... Searching within the BI Launch Pad ... 411
• 17.3.1 ... Search Facets ... 413
• 17.3.2 ... Searchable Object Types ... 413
• 17.3.3 ... Search Techniques ... 415
• 17.4 ... Sorting and Filtering Content ... 416
• 17.5 ... Creating Discussions ... 417
• 17.5.1 ... Notes ... 418
• 17.5.2 ... Discussion Threads ... 418
• 17.6 ... Summary ... 419
• 18 ... Sharing a Web Intelligence Report ... 421
• 18.1 ... Copying and Pasting ... 421
• 18.1.1 ... Copying and Pasting Between Applications ... 422
• 18.1.2 ... Copying and Pasting Between Web Intelligence Documents ... 423
• 18.2 ... Using the Send Feature in the BI Launch Pad ... 425
• 18.2.1 ... BI Platform Inbox ... 426
• 18.2.2 ... Email ... 428
• 18.2.3 ... FTP Location ... 428
• 18.2.4 ... File Location ... 429
• 18.3 ... Exporting a Web Intelligence Report ... 430
• 18.3.1 ... Export Options in the BI Launch Pad ... 430
• 18.3.2 ... Export Options in Web Intelligence ... 431
• 18.4 ... Scheduling a Web Intelligence Report ... 432
• 18.4.1 ... Scheduling in the BI Launch Pad ... 432
• 18.4.2 ... Viewing Latest Instance ... 437
• 18.4.3 ... Viewing History ... 438
• 18.5 ... Summary ... 438
• 19 ... Report Scheduling and Distribution with Publications ... 441
• 19.1 ... Publication Roles ... 443
• 19.1.1 ... The SAP BusinessObjects Administrator ... 443
• 19.1.2 ... The Web Intelligence Report Designer ... 444
• 19.1.3 ... The Publication Designer ... 444
• 19.1.4 ... The Recipient ... 444
• 19.2 ... Creating a Publication ... 444
• 19.2.1 ... Naming the Publication ... 445
• 19.2.2 ... Choosing the Source Documents ... 446
• 19.2.3 ... Choosing Enterprise Recipients ... 447
• 19.2.4 ... Choosing Dynamic Recipients ... 448
• 19.2.5 ... Setting Publication Properties ... 451
• 19.2.6 ... Testing the Publication ... 455
• 19.3 ... Summary ... 456
• 20 ... Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 457
• 20.1 ... How Rich Client is Different ... 457
• 20.1.1 ... Working in Offline Mode ... 460
• 20.1.2 ... Working in Connected Mode ... 460
• 20.1.3 ... Working in Standalone Mode ... 461
• 20.2 ... Data Provider Options ... 462
• 20.2.1 ... Importing a Universe from the CMS ... 462
• 20.2.2 ... Query Panel in Rich Client ... 463
• 20.3 ... Working with Web Intelligence Reports ... 463
• 20.3.1 ... Opening Documents from the CMS ... 464
• 20.3.2 ... Saving Reports Locally ... 465
• 20.3.3 ... Exporting Reports to CMS ... 467
• 20.3.4 ... Printing from Rich Client ... 468
• 20.3.5 ... Sending Reports as Email Attachments ... 469
• 20.4 ... Setting Preferences in Rich Client ... 469
• 20.5 ... Summary ... 469
• 21 ... Connecting Live Office to Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 471
• 21.1 ... Introduction to Live Office ... 471
• 21.1.1 ... Integration with Web Intelligence Reports ... 472
• 21.1.2 ... Live Office Ribbon Menu ... 473
• 21.2 ... Creating Live Office Documents with Web Intelligence Content ... 474
• 21.2.1 ... Accessing the Live Office Wizard ... 475
• 21.2.2 ... Selecting the Web Intelligence Document ... 475
• 21.2.3 ... Setting Context ... 476
• 21.2.4 ... Configuring Prompt Values ... 476
• 21.2.5 ... Selecting Report Content ... 476
• 21.2.6 ... Creating the Summary ... 476
• 21.2.7 ... Adding More Content ... 476
• 21.3 ... Setting Preferences ... 478
• 21.3.1 ... Application Options ... 478
• 21.3.2 ... Data Refresh Options ... 481
• 21.3.3 ... Object Properties ... 482
• 21.4 ... Summary ... 484
• 22 ... On-Device Mobile Integration: BI Mobile ... 485
• 22.1 ... Understanding BI Mobile ... 485
• 22.1.1 ... Architecture ... 485
• 22.1.2 ... Client-Side Installation ... 486
• 22.1.3 ... BI Mobile Home Page ... 487
• 22.2 ... Designing Reports for Mobile Viewing ... 488
• 22.2.1 ... Supported Web Intelligence Features ... 488
• 22.2.2 ... Report Design Basics ... 489
• 22.2.3 ... Utilizing Images ... 493
• 22.2.4 ... Creating Embedded Actions and Document Links ... 494
• 22.3 ... On-Device Viewing, Analyzing, and Interacting ... 496
• 22.3.1 ... Viewing ... 496
• 22.3.2 ... Analyzing ... 496
• 22.3.3 ... Interacting ... 497
• 22.4 ... Summary ... 500
• 23 ... Universe Basics: The Information Design Tool ... 501
• 23.1 ... Universe Basics ... 501
• 23.1.1 ... Introducing the Information Design Tool ... 502
• 23.1.2 ... Components of a Universe ... 504
• 23.2 ... Creating a New Universe Project ... 505
• 23.3 ... Creating Connections ... 506
• 23.4 ... Creating Data Foundations ... 509
• 23.4.1 ... Inserting Tables into Data Foundation ... 509
• 23.4.2 ... Inserting Joins into Data Foundation ... 510
• 23.4.3 ... The Importance of Setting Cardinality ... 512
• 23.4.4 ... Detecting Loops ... 513
• 23.4.5 ... Detecting Aliases ... 513
• 23.4.6 ... Detecting Contexts ... 515
• 23.5 ... Creating Business Layers ... 517
• 23.6 ... Creating Multisource Universes ... 522
• 23.7 ... Universe Design Best Practices ... 527
• 23.7.1 ... Design with the Business User in Mind ... 527
• 23.7.2 ... Design for Performance ... 528
• 23.7.3 ... Design for Maintainability ... 529
• 23.7.4 ... Design for Governance ... 529
• 23.8 ... Converting an Existing Universe to a .UNX Universe ... 529
• 23.9 ... Summary ... 534
• 24 ... Feature Pack 3 (Service Pack 4) Enhancements ... 537
• 24.1 ... Color Enhancements ... 538
• 24.2 ... Style Sheet Modification ... 540
• 24.3 ... Enhanced Sorting ... 543
• 24.4 ... Zone Formatting ... 546
• 24.5 ... Hierarchical Navigation ... 546
• 24.6 ... Waterfall Chart ... 549
• 24.7 ... Summary ... 551
• ... Appendices ... 553
• A ... Converting Desktop Intelligence Reports to Web Intelligence Documents ... 555
• A.1 ... Report Conversion Tool ... 556
• A.2 ... Summary ... 562
• B ... Third-Party Vendors ... 563
• B.1 ... Antivia ... 564
• B.2 ... APOS Systems ... 565
• B.3 ... Centigon Solutions ... 567
• B.4 ... EBI Experts ... 567
• B.5 ... EV Technologies ... 568
• B.6 ... GB & Smith ... 569
• B.7 ... InfoSol ... 571
• B.8 ... LaunchWorks ... 572
• B.9 ... Summary ... 574
• C ... The Authors ... 575
• ... Index ... 579