1 Introduction to SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.1

25

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 BI 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 What's New in Web Intelligence 4.1?

45

2.1 SAP HANA Variable Support in SAP BusinessObjects BI 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

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 BI 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

3 Creating New Documents and Queries

87

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

3.3.2 Adding Queries and New Data Providers

106

3.3.3 Setting Up a Combined Query

110

3.4 Creating SAP BEx Queries

113

3.5 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

3.6 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

3.7 Summary

127

4 Creating a Report in Web Intelligence 4.1

131

4.1 Adding Data to Report Elements

133

4.1.1 Populating a Cross Table

133

4.1.2 Populating a Chart

135

4.2 Sections and Breaks

136

4.2.1 Setting a Section

136

4.2.2 Grouping Data with Breaks

139

4.3 Outline Navigation

140

4.4 Enhanced Sorting and Ranking

141

4.4.1 Sorting

141

4.4.2 Ranking

148

4.5 Conditional Formatting

150

4.6 Headers, Footers, and Background Images

154

4.7 Summary

157

5 The Web Intelligence 4.1 Report Panel

159

5.1 The Web Intelligence 4.1 Reporting Interface

159

5.2 Reporting Toolbars

162

5.3 The Side Panel

172

5.4 Report Panel

175

5.5 Report Property Categories

178

5.5.1 Report Elements

179

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 Displaying Data with Tables

187

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

7 Displaying Data with Charts

213

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

8 Making an Impact with Charts

247

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 Report Properties, Tools, and Formatting

273

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

10 Filtering Data in the Query Panel and Report Panel

295

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

11 Scope of Analysis and Drill Functionality

323

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

12 Using Formulas and Variables

345

12.1 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

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

13 Extending Query Panel Functionality

379

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 Prompted Filter 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

14 Using Multiple Data Sources

411

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

15 Linking in Web Intelligence 4.1 Reports

425

15.1 Linking to Documents with the HTML Viewer

426

15.1.1 Adding Hyperlinks to Published SAP BusinessObjects BI 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

16 Working in the BI Launch Pad

455

16.1 Navigating in BI Launch Pad

455

16.1.1 Header Panel

456

16.1.2 List Panel

464

16.1.3 Tabs

464

16.2 Setting BI 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

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 BI Launch Pad

471

16.4.1 Web Intelligence Viewer Toolbar

472

16.4.2 Additional Menu Options

473

16.5 Summary

474

17 Using Web Intelligence with SAP BusinessObjects BI Workspaces

475

17.1 Introducing BI Workspaces

475

17.1.1 BI Workspaces Toolbar

476

17.1.2 BI Workspaces Module Library

479

17.1.3 Setting BI Workspaces Preferences in the BI Launch Pad

483

17.1.4 Setting Web Intelligence Preferences in the BI Launch Pad

484

17.2 Working with Modules

485

17.3 Working with Web Intelligence Report Parts

486

17.4 Using a BI Workspace as the Default Home Tab

493

17.5 Printing BI Workspaces

495

17.6 Content Linking

496

17.7 Summary

500

18 Interaction from a User's Perspective

501

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 BI Launch Pad

509

18.3.1 Search Facets

511

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

19 Sharing a Web Intelligence Report

519

19.1 Copying and Pasting

519

19.1.1 Copying and Pasting between Applications

520

19.1.2 Copying and Pasting between Web Intelligence Documents

521

19.2 Using the Send Feature in BI Launch Pad

523

19.2.1 BI 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 BI 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 BI Launch Pad

530

19.4.2 Viewing Latest Instance

535

19.4.3 Viewing History

536

19.5 Summary

537

20 Report Scheduling and Distribution with Publications

539

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

20.2.4 Choosing Dynamic Recipients

547

20.2.5 Setting Publication Properties

549

20.2.6 Testing the Publication

554

20.3 Mobile Publications

554

20.4 Summary

555

21 Web Intelligence Rich Client

557

21.1 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

21.2 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

21.3 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

21.4 Setting Preferences in Web Intelligence Rich Client

569

21.5 Summary

570

22 Connecting SAP BusinessObjects Live Office to Web Intelligence

571

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

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 Mobile Business Intelligence

585

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 Universe Basics: The Information Design Tool

619

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

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

Appendices

655

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.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