This book provides you with a comprehensive functional overview of SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, as well as actionable, step-by-step content to help you quickly begin creating, analyzing and sharing enterprise-wide reports. It also covers advanced features to ensure you’re using the tool to its full capacity, including customizing Web Intelligence with the software developer’s kit (SDK), and linking with other SAP BI tools.

The SAP BusinessObjects Universe
Understand the SAP BusinessObjects Universe, a key factor in solving business problems and creating successful SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise reporting solutions.

Building Web Intelligence Queries
Learn how to create queries graphically using the highly intuitive query panel.

Creating Web Intelligence Reports
Explore how reports are used to analyze, present, and interact with company data to enable accurate and informed decisions.

Using Formulas and Variables
Discover how to create complex calculations using data objects, and how to transform data into practical analytical information.

Web Intelligence Extensions Points
Delve into the customization options using Extension Points, including embedding and configuring the DHTML client, Java Report Panel, Java Clients, and Desktop Rich Client.

Highlights

· Query Filters
· Web Intelligence Reports
· SAP BusinessObjects Reporting Tools
· Report Manager
· Report Elements and Properties
· Report Formatting
· Scope of Analysis
· Drilling Down
· Charts
· InfoView
· Sending Reports

The Authors

Jim Brogden is a software engineer, data analyst, award-winning technical author, and business intelligence consultant. Heather Sinkwitz is a certified instructor and experienced business intelligence developer implementing end-to-end BusinessObjects reporting solutions over the last several years. Mac Holden has over 15 years of software development and design experience, working primarily with Web based technologies.

Table of Contents

... Foreword ... 19

... Acknowledgments ... 21

1 ... SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence XI 3.1 ... 23
1.1 ... Features of Web Intelligence ... 23
1.1.1 ... Core Functionality ... 25
1.1.2 ... Web Intelligence Offline ... 27
1.1.3 ... Launching Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 27
1.1.4 ... Web Intelligence and the Microcube ... 28
1.2 ... Web Intelligence InfoView Preferences ... 29
1.3 ... Setting Web Intelligence Preferences in InfoView ... 30
1.3.1 ... Setting the Default View Format ... 31
1.3.2 ... Locale When Viewing a Document ... 34
1.3.3 ... Select the Default Creation/Editing Tool ... 34
1.3.4 ... Drill Option Preferences ... 35
1.3.5 ... Saving to Microsoft Excel Priority ... 36
1.4 ... Reporting Analysis Environments ... 36
1.4.1 ... Zero-Client Online Analysis ... 37
1.4.2 ... Thin-Client Development ... 37
1.5 ... Viewing and Saving Reports ... 37
1.5.1 ... Report Viewing Modes ... 38
1.5.2 ... Saving Web Intelligence Reports ... 38
1.6 ... Summary ... 39

2 ... The SAP BusinessObjects Universe ... 41
2.1 ... What Is a Universe ... 41
2.1.1 ... Design with the Business User in Mind ... 42
2.1.2 ... Primary Elements in a Universe ... 43
2.1.3 ... Creating a New Universe ... 44
2.1.4 ... Setting Query Limits ... 46
2.1.5 ... Object Types ... 47
2.1.6 ... Creating Classes and Objects ... 48
2.1.7 ... Object Properties Described ... 48
2.1.8 ... Object Definition Properties ... 50
2.1.9 ... Table Joins in the Universe ... 51
2.1.10 ... Join Types ... 52
2.1.11 ... How to Join Tables ... 52
2.1.12 ... Editing Joins ... 53
2.1.13 ... Right-Click on a Join to Edit Join Properties ... 55
2.1.14 ... Options ... 55
2.1.15 ... Edit Join Properties ... 56
2.2 ... Publish a Universe to SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise ... 57
2.2.1 ... Run an Integrity Check on Your Universe ... 57
2.2.2 ... Save and Export ... 58
2.2.3 ... Importing a Universe ... 59
2.3 ... Using a Universe to Create a Web Intelligence Report ... 60
2.4 ... Getting to Know the Designer Toolbars ... 61
2.5 ... OLAP Universes ... 63
2.6 ... Summary ... 64

3 ... Creating a Web Intelligence XI 3.x Query ... 67
3.1 ... Tour of the Query Panel ... 68
3.1.1 ... The Query Manager Pane ... 70
3.1.2 ... Query Manager Properties ... 71
3.1.3 ... Display Universe Objects by Hierarchies ... 72
3.2 ... Query Basics ... 74
3.2.1 ... Evaluating Generated SQL ... 74
3.2.2 ... Adding Additional Queries ... 76
3.2.3 ... Merging Dimensions ... 77
3.2.4 ... Setting Up a Combined Query ... 82
3.3 ... Result Objects ... 84
3.4 ... Query Filters ... 86
3.4.1 ... Predefined Filters ... 87
3.4.2 ... Custom Filters ... 87
3.4.3 ... Quick Filters ... 91
3.4.4 ... Creating a Subquery ... 92
3.4.5 ... Creating Nested Conditions ... 93
3.5 ... Prompted Queries ... 94
3.6 ... Summary ... 96

4 ... Creating a Web Intelligence XI 3.x Report ... 99
4.1 ... The Web Intelligence Report Panel ... 100
4.1.1 ... Working in the Report Panel ... 101
4.1.2 ... Viewing Web Intelligence Reports ... 109
4.2 ... Report Elements and Properties ... 109
4.3 ... Adding Data to Report Elements ... 114
4.4 ... Sections and Breaks ... 116
4.4.1 ... Sections ... 116
4.4.2 ... Breaks ... 117
4.5 ... Sorting and Ranking ... 119
4.5.1 ... Sorting ... 119
4.5.2 ... Ranking ... 123
4.6 ... Alerters ... 126
4.7 ... Headers, Footers, and Background Images ... 130
4.7.1 ... Background Images ... 131
4.8 ... Adjusting Page Layouts ... 132
4.9 ... Align and Relative Position ... 133
4.10 ... Summary ... 136

5 ... Filtering Data ... 139
5.1 ... Query Filtering ... 139
5.1.1 ... Predefined Filters ... 140
5.1.2 ... User-Defined Filters ... 144
5.1.3 ... Prompted Filters ... 147
5.2 ... Report Filtering ... 149
5.2.1 ... Standard Report Filters ... 150
5.2.2 ... Standard Block Filters ... 153
5.2.3 ... Simple Report Filters ... 157
5.3 ... Filtering Reports with Input Controls ... 159
5.4 ... Summary ... 162

6 ... Displaying Data with Tables ... 163
6.1 ... Using Tables ... 165
6.1.1 ... Add Report Elements While Viewing Reports ... 165
6.1.2 ... Adding Objects to Data Tables When Editing or Creating a Report ... 168
6.1.3 ... Table Properties ... 168
6.2 ... Table Types ... 172
6.2.1 ... Horizontal Table ... 173
6.2.2 ... Vertical Table ... 173
6.2.3 ... Crosstab Table ... 174
6.2.4 ... Form Table ... 174
6.3 ... Grouping Data ... 175
6.3.1 ... Set as Section ... 175
6.3.2 ... Grouping Data with Breaks ... 178
6.4 ... Converting Table Formats and Types ... 179
6.5 ... Free-Standing Cells ... 180
6.6 ... Summary ... 183

7 ... Formatting Web Intelligence Reports ... 185
7.1 ... Report Formatting ... 186
7.1.1 ... Primary Uses of Web Intelligence Reporting Documents ... 186
7.1.2 ... Preparing Reports for the Three Primary Report Functions ... 189
7.2 ... Formatting Sections and Breaks ... 190
7.2.1 ... Formatting Sections ... 190
7.2.2 ... Formatting Breaks ... 193
7.2.3 ... Adding Charts to Sections ... 195
7.3 ... Formatting Data Tables ... 197
7.3.1 ... Formatting a Vertical Table ... 197
7.3.2 ... Column and Row Properties of a Table ... 199
7.3.3 ... Formatting a Crosstab ... 201
7.4 ... Formatting Numbers and Dates ... 204
7.4.1 ... Number Format ... 206
7.4.2 ... Date/Time Format ... 206
7.5 ... Formatting Table Values While Viewing Reports ... 211
7.6 ... Summary ... 214

8 ... Using Formulas and Variables ... 215
8.1 ... Formulas and Variables ... 216
8.1.1 ... Creating Formulas ... 216
8.1.2 ... Exploring the Formula Editor ... 219
8.1.3 ... Creating Variables ... 220
8.1.4 ... Using the Variable Editor ... 222
8.2 ... Reporting Functions and Operators ... 222
8.2.1 ... Aggregate Functions ... 223
8.2.2 ... Character Functions ... 225
8.2.3 ... Date & Time Functions ... 226
8.2.4 ... Document Functions ... 227
8.2.5 ... Data Provider Functions ... 228
8.2.6 ... Misc. Functions ... 229
8.2.7 ... Logical Functions ... 231
8.2.8 ... Numeric Functions ... 231
8.2.9 ... Operators ... 232
8.3 ... Formula Syntax ... 235
8.3.1 ... Primary Formula Syntax Rules ... 236
8.3.2 ... If – Then – Else Syntax ... 236
8.3.3 ... Saving a Variable ... 237
8.3.4 ... Modifying a Variable ... 238
8.4 ... Summary ... 239

9 ... Scope of Analysis and Drilling Down ... 241
9.1 ... Setting the Scope of Analysis in the Query Panel ... 242
9.1.1 ... Scope Level Options ... 246
9.2 ... Drill-Down Setup in the Report Panel ... 249
9.2.1 ... Enabling Drill ... 249
9.2.2 ... Drill Toolbar ... 250
9.2.3 ... Drilling on Dimensions ... 251
9.2.4 ... Drilling on Measures ... 257
9.2.5 ... Drilling on Charts ... 257
9.3 ... Query Drill Option ... 263
9.4 ... Taking a Snapshot ... 265
9.5 ... User Settings for Drill Down ... 265
9.5.1 ... Prompt When Drill Requires Additional Data ... 266
9.5.2 ... Synchronize Drill ... 266
9.5.3 ... Hide Drill Toolbar ... 266
9.5.4 ... Start Drill Session ... 266
9.6 ... Summary ... 267

10 ... Displaying Data with Charts ... 269
10.1 ... Chart Types ... 270
10.1.1 ... Bar Charts ... 271
10.1.2 ... Line Charts ... 277
10.1.3 ... Area Charts ... 280
10.1.4 ... Pie Charts ... 284
10.1.5 ... Radar Charts ... 285
10.2 ... Chart Properties ... 287
10.3 ... Convert a Chart with Turn To ... 291
10.3.1 ... Convert a Chart in Edit Mode ... 291
10.3.2 ... Convert a Chart While Viewing a Report ... 293
10.4 ... Adding Charts to a Report – Viewing a Report ... 294
10.5 ... Summary ... 295

11 ... Working Within InfoView ... 297
11.1 ... Accessing InfoView ... 297
11.2 ... Navigating in InfoView ... 299
11.2.1 ... Header Panel ... 299
11.2.2 ... Workspace Panel ... 301
11.3 ... Setting InfoView Preferences ... 305
11.3.1 ... General Preferences ... 305
11.3.2 ... Changing Your Password ... 308
11.4 ... Organizing in Folders Versus Categories ... 309
11.4.1 ... Folders ... 309
11.4.2 ... Categories ... 310
11.4.3 ... Organizing Objects ... 311
11.5 ... Viewing, Printing, and Saving Objects in InfoView ... 312
11.5.1 ... Document Options ... 313
11.5.2 ... Viewing Options ... 313
11.5.3 ... Printing Options ... 314
11.5.4 ... Additional Options ... 314
11.6 ... Creating Shortcuts and Hyperlinks in InfoView ... 315
11.6.1 ... Shortcuts ... 315
11.6.2 ... Hyperlinks ... 316
11.7 ... Tracking Data Changes ... 317
11.7.1 ... Setting Reference Data ... 318
11.7.2 ... Manual Versus Automatic Tracking ... 318
11.7.3 ... Formatting Changed Data ... 319
11.7.4 ... Displaying Tracked Data ... 322
11.7.5 ... Advanced Tracking Techniques ... 322
11.8 ... Searching within InfoView ... 322
11.8.1 ... Simple Search ... 323
11.8.2 ... Advanced Search ... 323
11.8.3 ... Content Search ... 323
11.9 ... Summary ... 324

12 ... Using Multiple Data Sources ... 325
12.1 ... Accessing Multiple Data Sources ... 325
12.1.1 ... Accessing Multiple Data Sources from InfoView ... 326
12.1.2 ... Accessing Multiple Data Sources in Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 328
12.2 ... Merging Dimensions ... 333
12.2.1 ... Manually Merging Dimensions ... 334
12.2.2 ... Edit Merged Dimension Names Before Merging ... 336
12.3 ... Data Synchronization ... 337
12.4 ... Working with Unsynchronized Data ... 340
12.5 ... Summary ... 343

13 ... Extending Query Panel Functionality ... 345
13.1 ... Complex Filtering Options ... 345
13.1.1 ... Filtering with Wildcards ... 346
13.1.2 ... Nested Query Filters ... 347
13.1.3 ... Database Ranking ... 350
13.2 ... Cascading and Optional Prompts ... 351
13.2.1 ... Defining a Cascading Lists of Values in Designer ... 352
13.2.2 ... Using a Cascading List of Values Object as a Prompted Filter in a Report ... 353
13.2.3 ... Refreshing a Report with a Prompted LOV Object Filter ... 354
13.2.4 ... Optional Prompts ... 355
13.3 ... Using Custom Freehand SQL ... 356
13.4 ... Visually Tracking Data Changes in the Report Panel ... 358
13.4.1 ... Showing and Hiding Data Changes ... 359
13.4.2 ... Data Tracking Options ... 359
13.4.3 ... Purging Data ... 360
13.4.4 ... Identify and Modify Partial Results ... 361
13.4.5 ... User Settings ... 362
13.5 ... Summary ... 363

14 ... Advanced Universe Design Topics ... 365
14.1 ... @Functions ... 365
14.1.1 ... Creating an Object with an @Function ... 366
14.1.2 ... @Aggregate_Aware Function ... 368
14.1.3 ... @Prompt Function ... 370
14.1.4 ... @Select Function ... 375
14.1.5 ... @Variable Function ... 376
14.1.6 ... @Where Function ... 377
14.2 ... Linked Universes ... 377
14.2.1 ... Universe Linking Requirements ... 378
14.2.2 ... Universe Linking Restrictions and Limitations ... 378
14.2.3 ... Link Universes ... 378
14.3 ... Derived Tables ... 381
14.3.1 ... Create a Derived Table ... 381
14.3.2 ... Create a Nested Derived Table ... 382
14.4 ... Lists of Values ... 384
14.4.1 ... Viewing or Editing a List of Values ... 384
14.4.2 ... Tips for Editing a List of Values ... 384
14.4.3 ... Additional List of Values Settings ... 385
14.5 ... Summary ... 385

15 ... Linking in Web Intelligence Reports ... 387
15.1 ... Adding Hyperlinks While Viewing Reports ... 387
15.1.1 ... Add Hyperlinks to Published Documents ... 388
15.1.2 ... Editing Existing Links While Viewing a Report ... 391
15.1.3 ... Insert a Hyperlink to a Web Page ... 392
15.1.4 ... Adding Hyperlinks to Prompted Reports ... 393
15.2 ... Adding Hyperlinks While Creating or Editing Reports ... 396
15.2.1 ... Manually Created OpenDocument URL Details ... 398
15.2.2 ... Using OpenDocument Syntax While Viewing a Report ... 399
15.2.3 ... Add a Hyperlink to an External Site ... 400
15.2.4 ... Create a Hyperlink to an Xcelsius Presentation ... 401
15.3 ... OpenDocument Syntax ... 402
15.3.1 ... Platform Parameters ... 402
15.3.2 ... Input Parameters ... 403
15.3.3 ... Output Parameters ... 404
15.4 ... Summary ... 404

16 ... Sharing a Web Intelligence Report ... 407
16.1 ... Copying and Pasting to Another Application ... 407
16.2 ... Using the Send Feature in InfoView ... 409
16.2.1 ... Business Objects Inbox ... 409
16.2.2 ... Email ... 411
16.2.3 ... FTP Location ... 412
16.2.4 ... File Location ... 413
16.3 ... Exporting a Web Intelligence Report ... 413
16.3.1 ... Export Options in InfoView ... 414
16.3.2 ... Export Options in Web Intelligence ... 415
16.4 ... Scheduling a Web Intelligence Report ... 416
16.4.1 ... Scheduling in InfoView ... 416
16.4.2 ... Viewing Latest Instance ... 422
16.4.3 ... Viewing History ... 422
16.5 ... Creating Publications ... 423
16.5.1 ... General Properties ... 424
16.5.2 ... Source Documents ... 424
16.5.3 ... Recipients ... 425
16.5.4 ... Personalization ... 427
16.5.5 ... Formats ... 427
16.5.6 ... Destinations ... 428
16.5.7 ... Additional Options ... 428
16.5.8 ... Subscriptions ... 429
16.6 ... Summary ... 430

17 ... Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 431
17.1 ... How Rich Client Is Different ... 431
17.1.1 ... Working in Offline Mode ... 433
17.1.2 ... Working in Connected Mode ... 434
17.1.3 ... Working in Standalone Mode ... 435
17.2 ... Data Provider Options ... 435
17.2.1 ... Import a universe from the CMS ... 436
17.2.2 ... Query Panel in Rich Client ... 437
17.3 ... Working with Web Intelligence Reports ... 437
17.3.1 ... Importing Reports from CMS ... 440
17.3.2 ... Saving Reports Locally ... 441
17.3.3 ... Exporting Reports to CMS ... 445
17.3.4 ... Printing from Rich Client ... 445
17.3.5 ... Sending Reports as Email Attachments ... 446
17.4 ... Setting Preferences in Rich Client ... 446
17.5 ... Summary ... 447

18 ... Connecting SAP BusinessObjects Live Office to Web Intelligence XI 3.x ... 449
18.1 ... About Live Office ... 449
18.1.1 ... Integration with Web Intelligence Reports ... 450
18.1.2 ... Live Office Toolbar ... 450
18.2 ... Creating Live Office Documents with Web Intelligence Content ... 452
18.2.1 ... Accessing the Live Office Wizard ... 452
18.2.2 ... Selecting the Web Intelligence document ... 452
18.2.3 ... Setting Context ... 453
18.2.4 ... Configuring Prompt Values ... 453
18.2.5 ... Selecting Report Content ... 454
18.2.6 ... Creating the Summary ... 455
18.2.7 ... Adding More Content ... 455
18.3 ... Setting Preferences ... 456
18.3.1 ... Application Options ... 456
18.3.2 ... Data Refresh Options ... 459
18.3.3 ... Object Properties ... 460
18.4 ... Summary ... 462

19 ... Introducing the Web Intelligence SDK ... 463
19.1 ... What Can I Achieve with the SDK ... 464
19.1.1 ... System Administration ... 464
19.1.2 ... Automation of Reporting ... 464
19.1.3 ... Interfacing with Other Internal or External Systems ... 464
19.1.4 ... Creation of Custom Solutions ... 464
19.1.5 ... Distribution of Applications ... 465
19.1.6 ... Embed Reporting into Applications ... 465
19.2 ... Getting Started with the SDK ... 465
19.2.1 ... The SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise SDK (.NET and Java) ... 466
19.2.2 ... The Report Engine SDK (.NET and Java) ... 467
19.2.3 ... The Java Server Faces SDK ... 469
19.2.4 ... The Web Services Consumer SDK (.NET and Java) ... 471
19.2.5 ... Other SDKs ... 472
19.3 ... The Java Program Object ... 473
19.4 ... Selecting the Right SDKs ... 474
19.5 ... Setting Up the Development Environment ... 476
19.5.1 ... Java SDK Setup ... 476
19.5.2 ... Setup for .NET ... 479
19.6 ... Building Applications ... 480
19.6.1 ... Authentication Objects ... 480
19.6.2 ... The InfoStore Class ... 481
19.6.3 ... The SAP BusinessObjects Query Language ... 482
19.6.4 ... The InfoObjects and InfoObject Classes ... 484
19.6.5 ... Plug-ins ... 484
19.7 ... Summary ... 485

20 ... Customizing Web Intelligence Using Web Intelligence Extensions Points ... 487
20.1 ... What Are Web Intelligence Extensions Points ... 488
20.2 ... What Can I Achieve with Extension Points ... 490
20.3 ... Building Applications with Extension Points ... 491
20.3.1 ... Web Intelligence Customization Extension Points ... 492
20.3.2 ... Interactive Viewing Customization Using Extension and Integration Points ... 502
20.3.3 ... Calculation Extension Points API ... 507
20.3.4 ... Custom Data Provider Plug-in ... 509
20.4 ... Summary ... 511

21 ... Web Intelligence SDK Sample Applications ... 513
21.1 ... Connecting to the Central Management Server ... 514
21.1.1 ... Connecting in Java ... 515
21.1.2 ... Connecting in .NET ... 516
21.2 ... Displaying a Document List ... 517
21.2.1 ... The OpenDocument Call ... 518
21.2.2 ... Displaying a Document List Using Java ... 519
21.2.3 ... Displaying a Document List Using .NET ... 522
21.3 ... Amending the Viewer with Extension Points ... 525
21.4 ... Summary ... 527

22 ... Creating BI Widgets ... 529
22.1 ... About BI Widgets ... 530
22.2 ... Installation of BI Widgets Software ... 530
22.3 ... Creating BI Widgets Using Web Intelligence ... 532
22.3.1 ... Content Search ... 532
22.3.2 ... Document List Explorer ... 533
22.3.3 ... Other File Types ... 535
22.3.4 ... Outlook Objects ... 535
22.4 ... Setting BI Widget Properties ... 535
22.4.1 ... Widget Options ... 535
22.4.2 ... Program Options ... 537
22.5 ... Summary ... 538

... Appendices ... 539
 

A ... Third-Party Vendors ... 541
A.1 ... Antivia ... 542
A.2 ... APOS Solutions ... 543
A.3 ... Business Intelligentsia ... 544
A.4 ... EBI Experts ... 545
A.5 ... GB & Smith ... 545
A.6 ... InfoBurst by InfoSol ... 547
A.7 ... Integeo – A Forge Group Company ... 548
A.8 ... Noad ... 548
A.9 ... Noetix ... 549
A.10 ... MeLLmo, Inc ... 550
A.11 ... Teleran Technologies ... 551
A.12 ... Tidal Software ... 552
A.13 ... Summary ... 553
 

B ... Web Intelligence XI 3.1 Service Pack 2 ... 555
B.1 ... Input Controls ... 556
B.2 ... Fold/Unfold ... 557
B.3 ... Query on Query ... 558
B.4 ... BI Services ... 558
B.5 ... Data Provider Extension Points ... 559
B.6 ... Formula Language Extension Points ... 559
B.7 ... Translation Manager ... 559
B.8 ... Summary ... 560

C ... The Authors ... 561

... Index ... 563