This document summarizes a presentation by Mico Yuk and Ryan Goodman on when to use SAP Business Objects Enterprise (BOE) for dashboards. They discuss the different data connectivity options in Xcelsius 12 and the benefits of using Live Office versus Query as a Web Service connections to BOE. They provide examples and best practices for each option. Additional features for integrating Xcelsius with BOE like single sign-on and linking to reports are also covered.
Oracle forms to oci executive overview for customer
Xcelsius Gurus: SAP Webinar Part 1 - When to Utilize SAP BOBJ Enterprise for your Dashboard?
1. Xcelsius Gurus: Data Connectivity Series Part 1
When to Utilize SAP Business Objects Enterprise for
your Dashboard?
Presented by: Mico Yuk & Ryan Goodman
Date: May 13th, 2009
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
2. Who are We?
Mico Yuk
Founder – EverythingXcelsius.com (popular weblog)
Founder - Xcelsius Guru Network
Xcelsius Trainer / Developer / Architect / Blogger
Ryan Goodman
Founder – CentigonSolutions.com (SAP Software Solution Partner)
Xcelsius Evangelist / Blogger (ryangoodman.net/blog)
SAP BOBJ Alumni
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
3. Xcelsius Data Manager
Data Manger
Houses Xcelsius 12 live data connectivity options. Users
with Engage and Enterprise licenses are allowed to mix
connection types in a single dashboard!
Slide 3 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
4. Xcelsius 12 Connectivity Options
BOE vs. Non BO Enterprise
BO Enterprise Non-BO Enterprise
Query as a Web Service Web Service Connection
Live Office XML Data
Crystal Report Data Portal Data
Consumer LCDS Connection (Adobe)
Flash Variables External Interface
FS Commands Connections
Excel XML Maps
Add on Google Spreadsheet
Connector
Slide 4 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
5. Live Office vs. QaaWS
Architecture
Developer Caveats
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…
- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
6. Live Office vs. QaaWS – Design Time
Data Source BOE Client Development Published
BOE Web Services
Crystal
Reports
Live Office
WebI
Xcelsius SWF
Universe
QaaWS QaaWS
Service Client
Slide 6 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
7. Live Office vs. QaaWS - Runtime
Data Source BOE Published
BOE Web Services
Crystal
Reports
WebI
SWF
Universe
QaaWS
Service
Slide 7 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
8. Live Office vs. QaaWS - Caveats
Developer Caveats
Use Fiddler for trouble shooting queries
During Preview Mode: Live Office requires login/pw each time
| QaaWS you can hard code
Relative paths work the same
Cannot view SQL in QaaWS
Cannot use Universe Objects as operands in QaaWS
Slide 8 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
9. Ryan discusses Live Office …
Example Connecting to Webi Report
Benefits
DO’s / DONT’s (Scenarios)
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…
- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
32. Live Office Benefits
8 Reasons to use Live Office
1. Intuitive what you see is what you get interface with Excel
2. Shows up as simple Excel toolbar (familiarity)
3. Scheduled reports (faster performance, does not hit data base)
4. Utilization of cross tabs (gain control over data formatting and layout)
5. Use sub/combined queries and multi-cubes in Universe
6. Fetch data from multiple reports and Universe within single dashboard
7. Crystal Reports can be utilized when there is no Universe
8. Crystal Reports can connect directly to SAP R3
Slide 32 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
33. Live Office DO’s
9 Scenarios
1. DO think through queries before building to avoid redoing
the connection in Xcelsius
2. DO use separate tabs for each data source
3. DO use query prompts to break up large data sets and
return only what is needed
4. DO use the latest version (as of 5/14 its 12.1.5.1096)
5. DO build reports specifically for Xcelsius
6. DO disable Add-ons when using Live Office
7. DO send multiple input values to prompts using a “,”
8. DO use Excel 2007 vs.. 2003
9. DO bind relative paths to make migration easy
Slide 33 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
34. Live Office DON’Ts
7 Scenarios
X DO NOT fetch all report data at once
X DO NOT trigger all queries to “Refresh on Load”
X DO NOT use reports as a data source when the report
structure constantly changes
X DO NOT connect to queries that take a long time to refresh
X DO NOT bind Live Office parameters to cells with formulas
X DO NOT leave Live Office enabled in Xcelsius when using Bex
Queries
X DO NOT never Run Excel when running Xcelsius
Slide 34 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
35. Mico discusses QaaWS …
Example – Connecting to eFashion Universe
Benefits
DO’s / DONT’s (Scenarios)
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…
- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
61. Query as a Web Service Benefits
5 Reasons to use Query as a Web Service …
1. Connect to multiple Universe(s)
2. Universe contains ALL Logic
3. Document & manage queries
4. Filter data to display ONLY what is needed
5. Better for Universe developers vs. Business Analyst
Slide 61 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
62. Query as a Web Service DO’s
9 Scenarios …
1. DO place all Logic in Universe
2. DO write out queries before building
3. DO use well named folders & queries
4. DO document queries in QaaWS client
5. DO refresh queries after updating the Universe(s)
6. DO implement sorting for individual queries
7. DO use separate Excel tabs for each data source
8. DO filters data to break up large data sets
9. DO utilize relative paths for seamless environment migrations
Slide 62 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
63. Query as a Web Service DON’Ts
7 Scenarios …
1. DO NOT use Universe SubQueries or Combined Queries
2. DO NOT use Universe Multicubes
3. DO NOT create an excessive amount of queries
4. DO NOT trigger all queries to “Refresh on Load”
5. DO NOT place formulas in data output cells
6. DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time
Slide 63 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
64. SAP BO Enterprise Integration
SAP BO Enterprise Integration
Antivia XWIS
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…
- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
65. Important Integration Points
Additional Features to take advantage of…
1. SSO - Row Level Security Remains the same
2. Use of Infoview / Dashboard Builder (SSO) and home
3. Link to reports from Xcelsius (OpenDoc)
4. SAP Integration kit allows use of SAP security for Login
5. Storing global variables- Flash Variables
6. Dashboard Manager Integration
1. Xcelsius-WebI portlet communication- FS Command “queryparams”
2. Xcelsius-Xcelsius portal communication- portal connectors
Dashboard (SWF) OpenDoc.jsp WebI/ Crystal /SWF
Slide 65 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
66. Xcelsius Web Intelligence Integration Suite
What is it?
Interactive components build with Xcelisus 2008 SDK
Access information from your extensive Web Intelligence
library
Deliver drill capabilities from your Universe layer directly
to your dashboard
Data Connections direct to your reports
Xcelsius 2008
antivia.com
Antivia Xcelsius Web Intelligence Integration Suite
SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence
Slide 66 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
68. Xcelsius Web Intelligence Integration Suite
Benefits
XWIS predominantly works against cached Webi data
with no limitations to data volume
Point and click integration
No building Xcelsius specific reports
Full support for report instances and prompts and
also handles refresh on demand and drill off the
cube
antivia.com
Slide 68 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
69. Stay connected…
For more Guru tips, tricks, news, videos, etc.
Visit: http://EverythingXcelsius.com
Mico Yuk
Email: mico@everythingxcelsius.com
Company: Everything Xcelsius
Ryan Goodman
Email: ryan@centigonsolutions.com
Company: Centigon Solutions
http://www.centigonsolutions.com
Join our popular Xcelsius Guru social communities…
http://www.twitter.com/XcelsiusGurus http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=18
47619&trk=hb_side_g
http://www.youtube.com/XcelsiusGurus
Slide 69 @ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Editor's Notes
Accessing live office in Excel 2003 by right clicking within any live range.
Migration talking points- Bind paths and username and password