SAPBO - SAP BusinessObjects for SAP Netweaver BW(Col91)

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(1)SAPBO SAP BusinessObjects for SAP NetWeaver BW SAP NetWeaver. Date Training Center Instructors Education Website. Participant Handbook Course Version: 91 Revision A Course Duration: 2 Day(s) Material Number: 50098327. An SAP course - use it to learn, reference it for work.

(2) Copyright Copyright © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose without the express permission of SAP AG. The information contained herein may be changed without prior notice. Some software products marketed by SAP AG and its distributors contain proprietary software components of other software vendors.. Trademarks •. Microsoft®, WINDOWS®, NT®, EXCEL®, Word®, PowerPoint® and SQL Server® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.. •. IBM®, DB2®, OS/2®, DB2/6000®, Parallel Sysplex®, MVS/ESA®, RS/6000®, AIX®, S/390®, AS/400®, OS/390®, and OS/400® are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation.. •. ORACLE® is a registered trademark of ORACLE Corporation.. •. INFORMIX®-OnLine for SAP and INFORMIX® Dynamic ServerTM are registered trademarks of Informix Software Incorporated.. •. UNIX®, X/Open®, OSF/1®, and Motif® are registered trademarks of the Open Group.. •. Citrix®, the Citrix logo, ICA®, Program Neighborhood®, MetaFrame®, WinFrame®, VideoFrame®, MultiWin® and other Citrix product names referenced herein are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc.. •. HTML, DHTML, XML, XHTML are trademarks or registered trademarks of W3C®, World Wide Web Consortium, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.. •. JAVA® is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.. •. JAVASCRIPT® is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc., used under license for technology invented and implemented by Netscape.. •. SAP, SAP Logo, R/2, RIVA, R/3, SAP ArchiveLink, SAP Business Workflow, WebFlow, SAP EarlyWatch, BAPI, SAPPHIRE, Management Cockpit, mySAP.com Logo and mySAP.com are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries all over the world. All other products mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.. Disclaimer THESE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED BY SAP ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, AND SAP EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR APPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THESE MATERIALS AND THE SERVICE, INFORMATION, TEXT, GRAPHICS, LINKS, OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS CONTAINED HEREIN. IN NO EVENT SHALL SAP BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST REVENUES OR LOST PROFITS, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS OR INCLUDED SOFTWARE COMPONENTS.. g2010027115034.

(3) About This Handbook This handbook is intended to complement the instructor-led presentation of this course, and serve as a source of reference. It is not suitable for self-study.. Typographic Conventions American English is the standard used in this handbook. The following typographic conventions are also used. Type Style. Description. Example text. Words or characters that appear on the screen. These include field names, screen titles, pushbuttons as well as menu names, paths, and options. Also used for cross-references to other documentation both internal and external.. 2009. Example text. Emphasized words or phrases in body text, titles of graphics, and tables. EXAMPLE TEXT. Names of elements in the system. These include report names, program names, transaction codes, table names, and individual key words of a programming language, when surrounded by body text, for example SELECT and INCLUDE.. Example text. Screen output. This includes file and directory names and their paths, messages, names of variables and parameters, and passages of the source text of a program.. Example text. Exact user entry. These are words and characters that you enter in the system exactly as they appear in the documentation.. <Example text>. Variable user entry. Pointed brackets indicate that you replace these words and characters with appropriate entries.. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. iii.

(4) About This Handbook. SAPBO. Icons in Body Text The following icons are used in this handbook. Icon. Meaning For more information, tips, or background. Note or further explanation of previous point Exception or caution Procedures. Indicates that the item is displayed in the instructor's presentation.. iv. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(5) Contents Course Overview ......................................................... vii Course Goals ...........................................................vii Course Objectives .....................................................vii. Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy ............................... 1 The SAP BusinessObjects Tools......................................2 SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap......................................9. Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture .............................. 25 Architecture Overview ................................................ 26 BusinessObjects Integration with SAP solutions ................. 36. Unit 3: Crystal Reports ................................................. 45 Crystal Reports Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW.......... 46 Create a Report with Crystal Reports .............................. 57 Create Crystal Reports Based on SAP BW Queries with Variables, Hierarchies, and Multiple Structures. ........................... 74. Unit 4: Web Intelligence ............................................... 103 BusinessObjects Universe ..........................................104 SAP BusinessObjects Terminology ............................... 116 SAP Hierarchies in OLAP Universes ..............................131 Web Intelligence Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW .......136 Create a Report with Web Intelligence ............................139. Unit 5: Live Office....................................................... 153 Live Office.............................................................154. Unit 6: Xcelsius.......................................................... 167 Xcelsius Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW .................168 Query as a Web Service ............................................172 Create a Dashboard with Xcelsius.................................179. Unit 7: Special Themes ................................................ 213 Authorization..........................................................215 Intelligence Search ..................................................220 BusinessObjects Explorer (formerly Polestar) ...................229 Scheduling ............................................................236 Performance ..........................................................243. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. v.

(6) Contents. SAPBO. BI Widgets (Optional)................................................248 Auditing (Optional) ...................................................252. Unit 8: Perspectives .................................................... 261 Perspectives (Optional) .............................................262. Unit 9: Appendix ........................................................ 269 Additional Exercises .................................................270. vi. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(7) Course Overview This course provides and introduction to the various integration points between SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence and SAP BusinessObjects. During the course, you will examine BusinessObjects tools such as Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, Xcelsius, Query as a Web Service and others and how these analysis tools can access the data from an SAP BW data warehouse.. Target Audience This course is intended for the following audiences: •. SAP Netweaver BW customer, project team members, and consultants. Course Prerequisites Required Knowledge •. Fundamental knowledge in SAP NetWeaver BW 7.0 Advanced know-how in reporting capabilities in SAP NetWeaver BW 7.0. Course Goals This course will prepare you to: • • • •. SAP Business Object strategy SAP data provider for BO frontend tools Actual reporting capabilities with SAP Business Object (short introduction) Comparison and discussion of the different tools. Course Objectives After completing this course, you will be able to: • • •. 2009. Introduction of the reporting options with SAP Business Objects alongside with the product roadmap. Participants should learn about the strategic development of SAP Netweaver BW in combination with SAP Business Objects The tools in SAP Business Objects are introduced and participants gain practical experiences based on hands-on sessions. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. vii.

(8) Course Overview. viii. SAPBO. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(9) Unit 1 SAP BusinessObjects Strategy Unit Overview In this unit, you will be introduced to the concepts of Business Intelligence, the BusinessObjects Enterprise, and to the various roles that are important in your organization as you implement your business intelligence strategy. Later in the unit, the SAP BusinessObjects roadmap will be discussed.. Unit Objectives After completing this unit, you will be able to: • • •. Describe Business Intelligence and BusinessObjects Enterprise. Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise client applications by role. Explain how the new SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform co-exists with SAP Netweaver BW.. Unit Contents Lesson: The SAP BusinessObjects Tools ......................................2 Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap ......................................9. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 1.

(10) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Lesson: The SAP BusinessObjects Tools Lesson Overview This lesson provides a high-level overview of the different client tools and applications in BusinessObjects Enterprise.. Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: • •. Describe Business Intelligence and BusinessObjects Enterprise. Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise client applications by role.. Business Example What is Business Intelligence? By understanding Business Intelligence (BI), you will better comprehend how a BusinessObjects Enterprise solution addresses the BI product spectrum. Gartner defines Business Intelligence Gartner, Inc., a research and advisory firm that helps clients leverage technology, coined the term “Business Intelligence” in the late 1980s. Business Intelligence, as defined by Gartner, is an iterative user-centered process that includes accessing and exploring information, analyzing this information, and developing insights and understanding that lead to improved and informed decision making. BI usage crosses the spectrum of users, both internally and externally throughout any enterprise, and includes rank-and-file workers, executives, analysts, and knowledge workers. Examples of internal and external BI applications include: • • • •. 2. Generating a class list for a training session Creating an employee performance review Scheduling in a health care setting Manufacturing computer parts. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(11) SAPBO. Lesson: The SAP BusinessObjects Tools. Benefits of Business Intelligence Business Intelligence can help organizations to: • • • • • • • • •. Identify and track key performance metric against their direct competitors and the overall market Improve customer service and target high yield accounts Streamline operations and improve supplier and warehouse operations Identify successful marketing campaigns Improve response time to market trends and customer requests Decrease query and reporting time Reduce cost and anxiety over compliance Deliver true cost of Days Sales Outstanding and services Reduce strain on IT departments. Business Intelligence provides insights that enable business managers to make tactical decisions, as well as to establish, modify, or tune business strategies and processes in order to gain competitive advantage and improve business operations and profitability.. Describing BusinessObjects Enterprise BusinessObjects Enterprise brings together features from across the BusinessObjects product line to meet the diverse needs of users, from reporting query and analysis, dashboards and visualization to predictive analysis. BusinessObjects Enterprise ensures that all people within an organization get the right interface and level of interactivity necessary for their role. Describing BusinessObjects Enterprise client application by role BusinessObjects Enterprise includes and/or interacts with most BusinessObjects client tools. Depending on the job role, different client tools are used. The major four roles in BusinessObjects Enterprise are: • • • •. Administrator Business User Data Manager Designer. The following diagram identifies some common roles and the client tools that may be used in BusinessObjects Enterprise.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 3.

(12) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Figure 1: Roles In BusinessObjects. Role. Tools. Description. A web-based interface that end users access BusinessObjects Enterprise to view, schedule, and keep track of published reports. InfoView. Business User. Web Intelligence. A web-based tool that provides query, reporting, and analysis functionality for relational data sources in a single web-based product. Web Intelligence allows users to create reports, perform ad hoc queries, analyze data, and apply report formatting.. Web Intelligence rich client. Web Intelligence can be used offline as a Web Intelligence rich client, or as a standalone application.. Live Office. BusinessObjects Live Office integrates with the Microsoft Office environment, allowing for dynamically updated data to be embedded within Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word documents. In addition, you can share your documents with others over the web for collaborative decision-making.. Query as a Web Query as a Web Service provides new and Service easy ways to analyze information through user-driven client solutions for businesses. Business Intelligence (BI) content is usually bound to a specific user interface of BI tools.. 4. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(13) SAPBO. Lesson: The SAP BusinessObjects Tools. Query as a Web Service changes this by allowing BI content to be delivered to any user interface that can process web services.. Designer. 2009. Voyager. Voyager is an AJAX-based online analytical processing (OLAP) web client designed for business and financial analysts. It not only provides access to a wide range of OLAP databases, but also allows users to combine information from different systems within a single work space. Voyager offers a comprehensive range of business and time calculations, and includes features such as time sliders to analyze OLAP data.. Dashboard Builder. A web-based tool used to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and proactive alert managers via email and dashboards with the information they need, wherever they are.. Performance Manager. A web-based tool that allows users to track and analyze key business metric via management dashboards, scorecards, set analysis, and alerting.. Crystal Reports. A Windows-based reporting tool that is the industry standard. Used to create and integrate powerful reports in BusinessObjects Enterprise.. Web Intelligence. A web-based interface to provide query, reporting, and analysis functionality for relational and OLAP data sources all within one web-based product. Allows users to create reports, perform ad hoc queries, analyze data, and apply report formatting.. Dashboard Manager. A web-based tool that facilitates the deployment of powerful BI dashboards.. Desktop Intelligence. A Windows-based reporting tool that installs with BusinessObjects Enterprise. Designers can create reports, then publish them to InfoView where they can be viewed and scheduled. Users can share and distribute Desktop Intelligence documents by exporting them in different formats.. Xcelsius. Xcelsius is an intuitive application that uses a Windows interface to allow you to build interactive models of data and formulas from Excel spreadsheets. These models can then. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 5.

(14) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. be exported in multiple formats to meet your specific business needs and be used by other individuals in your organization.. Administrator. 6. Central Management Console Administrator (CMC). A web-based interface that allows you to perform user management tasks such as setting up authentication and adding users and groups. It also allows you to publish, organize, and set security levels for all of your BusinessObjects Enterprise content and enables you to manage servers and create server groups.. Central Configuration Manager Administrator (CCM). The CCM is a Windows based application that allows you to create and configure SIA nodes and start/restart your Web Applications Server. In addition, the CCM allows you to configure Windows specific networking parameters (such as SSL encryption). These configuration parameters apply to all the servers contained in the node. The CCM can also be used for limited system administration such as starting and stopping servers.. Publishing Wizard. A locally-installed Windows application that enables both administrators and end users to add reports to BusinessObjects Enterprise. It can be used for mass publishing of reports.. Report Conversion Tool. The Report Conversion Tool converts Desktop Intelligence reports to the Web Intelligence format and publishes the converted reports to the CMS.. Import Wizard. A locally-installed Windows application that guides administrators through the process of importing users, groups, and folders into BusinessObjects Enterprise. It also allows you to import objects, events, server groups, repository objects, and calendars in BusinessObjects Enterprise XI.. Repository Diagnostic Tool. The Repository Diagnostic Tool (RDT) scans, diagnoses, and repairs inconsistencies that may occur between the Central Management Server (CMS) system database and the File Repository Servers (FRS) filestore.. Life Cycle Manager. BusinessObjects Enterprise Life Cycle Manager (the LCM tool) is a web-based application that provides a centralized view to monitor the progress of the entire life cycle process. It. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(15) SAPBO. Lesson: The SAP BusinessObjects Tools. enables you to move BI resources from one system to another system without affecting the dependencies of these resources. It also enables you to manage different versions of BI resources, map dependencies of BI resources, and roll back a promoted resource to restore the destination system to its previous state. Universe Designer. A Windows-based tool that allows users to build semantic layer objects that simplify underlying database complexity, and set row- and columnlevel security. The objects (such as filters) set row-level security. This semantic layer is the foundation for empowering end users to customize query and analysis. It abstracts the complexity of data by using business language rather than data language to access, manipulate, and organize data.. Business View Manager. A Windows-based tool that allows users to build semantic layer objects that simplify underlying database complexity, and set rowand column-level security. The objects (such as filters) set row-level security. You can simplify data access for report designers by insulating them from the raw data structures. You can build connections to multiple data sources, join tables, alias field names, create calculated fields, and then utilize this simplified structure as a Business View in BusinessObjects Enterprise. Report designers can then use the Business View as the basis for their reports, rather than accessing the data directly and building their own queries.. Data Services. A Windows-based tool that provides an easy-to-use, graphical environment that simplifies and automates complex data quality and data integration processes. Data Manager. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 7.

(16) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Lesson Summary You should now be able to: • Describe Business Intelligence and BusinessObjects Enterprise. • Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise client applications by role.. 8. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(17) SAPBO. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap Lesson Overview In this lesson you will learn about the actual an the planned BI/BusinessObjects portfolio and the roadmap for the existing and upcoming tools. The information in this document is confidential and proprietary to SAP and may not be disclosed without the permission of SAP. This presentation is not subject to your license agreement or any other service or subscription agreement with SAP. SAP has no obligation to pursue any course of business outlined in this document or any related presentation, or to develop or release any functionality mentioned therein. This document, or any related presentation and SAP's strategy and possible future developments, products and or platforms directions and functionality are all subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. The information on this document is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality. This document is provided without a warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. This document is for informational purposes and may not be incorporated into a contract. SAP assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document, except if such damages were caused by SAP intentionally or grossly negligent. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates, and they should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.. Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: •. Explain how the new SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform co-exists with SAP Netweaver BW.. Business Example You want to get an overview of the currently available and planned tools for your reporting scenarios.. Purpose The primary purpose of this lesson is to educate SAP customers on the new SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform and how it will co-exist within SAP Netweaver BW. Furthermore, to reassure existing SAP Netweaver BW. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 9.

(18) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. customers of the value of SAP Netweaver BW (especially BI Accelerator and Data Warehouse). It will also provide a roadmap for the future of BI frontend tools, and SAP Netweaver BW (especially BI Accelerator and Data Warehouse) for SAP customers going forward. The secondary purpose is to help SAP customers see the value in the new SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform by describing the capabilities of the new business intelligence (BI) and information management (IM) solutions that are sold to SAP customers today.. Figure 2: How SAP BusinessObjects Tools Expand the Scope of BW. SAP BusinessObjects tools expand the scope of BW by providing a wide range of tools and applications. The SAP BusinessObjects tools support businesses by optimizing the connection between people and information. Crystal Reports is the flagship product for formatted reports. Xcelsius provides superior dashboard capabilities and sophisticated visual presentations. When Pioneer becomes available, it will run on SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise platform along side Netweaver BW. It will be the product of choice for OLAP analysis. Web Intelligence is the flagship produce for Ad Hoc query and analysis. Web Intelligence is a very agile and easy to use tool. BusinessObjects Explorer is the tool that provides quick access and intuitive search and exploration capabilities.. 10. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(19) SAPBO. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap. Figure 3: BEx Suite Cases and How They Should be Handled. The BEx Query designer will continue to be supported. The BEx Query Designer remains the central tool for SAP Netweaver BW. Projects requiring Excel OLAP integration may use the BEx Analyzer, until the tool Pioneer becomes available. The BEx Report Designer will remain in the BEx portfolio and may be used for light weight formatted reports. This product will continue to be supported, but not enhanced. The superior product, Crystal Reports is recommended. The BEx Web Application Designer will continue to be a supported tool in the BEx portfolio. Eventually, this tool will be replaced with more superior tools, such as CE Visual Composer, Xcelsius or Pioneer Web.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 11.

(20) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Figure 4: BEx Web Application Designer / Web Templates and How They Should be Handled. Hint: •. •. •. •. The roadmap portion of this presentation is primarily focused on the long term direction of the frontend tools found in SAP Netweaver BW (i.e. BEx Analyzer, Web Analyzer, Web Application Designer, Report Designer) The roadmap will not explicitly discuss the future direction of SAP BusinessObjects BI tools since these tools are an integral part of the new SAP BusinessObjects BI Solutions for SAP customers going forward In addition, it is important to note that the core foundation of SAP Netweaver BW as well as the SAP Netweaver BW Accelerator, MDM and Visual Composer will continue to receive innovation and development going forward. This lesson only covers the SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform and not the Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) or Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) solutions.. SAP BusinessObjects Portfolio – Immediate Value for SAP Customers SAP acquired BusinessObjects to provide for all customers a full suite of business intelligence (BI) and information management (IM) solutions available on one BI platform with deep integration to SAP Business Suite and SAP NetWeaver.. 12. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(21) SAPBO. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap. SAP customers have immediate access to a premium suite of reporting, analytical and dashboarding capabilities optimized for their SAP applications all running on the SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform. SAP customers benefit from an open and agnostic BI platform – with access and information management across all corporate databases and applications. With this you gain access to a broader set of Enterprise Performance Management solutions that includes the leading planning, budgeting, consolidation, profitability, operational analytics and compliance reporting.. SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform. Figure 5: The Current Portfolio. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 13.

(22) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Figure 6: Product Directions. Detail View of the Tools. Figure 7: Dashboarding and data visualization. SAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius Enterprise offers a completely new, innovative user experience to customers, covering scenarios that SAP NetWeaver do not offer, going beyond the realm of the classical SAP BEx usage types.. 14. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(23) SAPBO. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap. What is Xcelsius? •. •. Xcelsius is a tool for rapid development of Visualizations and highly interactive Dashboards through a flexible and easy to use point and click interface. Xcelsius supports deployment to a variety of destinations including Web, Desktop and MS Office documents.. Xcelsius enables creating Dashboards and Visualizations by… • • • •. Free-form layering a variety of visualizations on a canvas Customizing visualizations Setting fine grained control over eventing between visualizations and defining data bindings Compiling solution into flash format and deploying to various environments. Xcelsius is the SAP Strategy for Dashboards and Data Visualization What is the roadmap for Dashboards and Data Visualization? • •. • •. SAP Netweaver BW used to offer in the past the SAP BEx Web Application Designer for dashboard creation. The Web Application Designer will not be further enhanced and is going into maintenance, following the standard maintenance strategy from SAP. However, Pioneer will offer an OLAP SDK to enable web application design capabilities Xcelsius is the SAP Strategy for Dashboards and Data Visualization, bringing users a completely new, innovative experience Xcelsuis is available today and customers should start today to consider working with Xcelsuis. The integration and connectivity of Xcelsius with SAP NetWeaver BW will be enhanced •. New connectivity via a new BI Consumer Services (BICS) Web Services – – – –. •. Full integration with SAP NetWeaver’s Life Cycle Management – –. 2009. Access data from SAP NetWeaver BW: SAP BEx queries and query views Access all query information: characteristics, key figures, variables, value help,… Access technical information of the query: Infoprovider, author,… Solution is Independent from BusinessObjects Enterprise Server. Integration of the Xcelsius dashboard in the transport framework Multilingual support, transport, accessibility. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 15.

(24) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. The BICS connectivity for Xcelsius integration into NetWeaver Life Cycle Management is available if the following software requirements are met: • •. Server side: Support Package 05 for SAP NetWeaver BW Release 7.01 ( 7.0 Enhancement Package 01) Client side (dashboard authors): – – –. Xcelsius 2008 SP2 BI 7.X AddOn SP901 or higher SAP GUI 7.10 or higher. Figure 8: Enterprise reporting. With Crystal Reports, SAP can offer the de-facto industry standard for enterprise reporting. What is Crystal Reports? •. •. Crystal Reports is a powerful, dynamic, actionable reporting solution that helps you design, explore, visualize, and deliver reports to thousands of end users to any destination including the web or embedded in enterprise applications. It enables end users to consume presentation quality reports with stunning visualizations, conduct on-report business modeling, and execute decisions instantly from the report itself—reducing dependency on IT and developers.. Crystal Reports is the flagship product for Enterprise Reporting going forward.. 16. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(25) SAPBO. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap. Already today, Crystal Reports is tightly integrated with both SAP NetWeaver BW and SAP ERP. The connectivity of Crystal Reports is optimized to access InfoCubes, BW Queries, Data Store objects and Infosets. In addition, Crystal Reports offers direct connectivity to SAP ERP and SAP Business Suite for operational reporting. Crystal Reports will be integrated in the SAP NetWeaver platform in terms of: • • •. SAP NetWeaver Portal iViews SAP NetWeaver life cycle management Access to SAP BEx / Pioneer Queries and Views. Figure 9: Advanced OLAP analysis. Crystal Reports and Xcelsius will also be delivered with Business Suite 7 and the embedded analytics project. The target ist to provide one view and one common interface for reports created in Business Suite applications by embedding Crystal Reports and Xcelsius.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 17.

(26) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Figure 10: SAP BusinessObjects Business Content delivered in SAP Business Suite. Pioneer is SAP’s Next Generation Advanced Analysis Client Pioneer stands for the new SAP BusinessObjects product family for advanced analysis on multi-dimensional (OLAP) data sources. As premium offering it will replace Voyager and will also become a more advanced & innovative alternative for the base OLAP clients BEx Analyzer & BEx Web Analyzer. Pioneer is designed for key users, business analysts & information consumers to optimally leverage the data and analytic capabilities from BW, MS Analytical Services and others. Usability and openness are key design principles for making Pioneer suitable to this target group. Pioneer comes in two flavors: Web & Microsoft Office. The two parts can interchange analyses created with one or the other. Pioneer Web is initially expected to support most of the BW OLAP and MS Analysis Services functionality, with more detailed OLAP-provider specific functionality added over time. Pioneer Web will also be an alternative for Web Application Designer templates focusing on OLAP analysis. Pioneer will answer these current customer needs:. 18. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(27) SAPBO. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap. Pioneer Office will focus more on the support of specific SAP BW OLAP capabilities and add innovations on top as they become proven capabilities. • • • • • • • •. Direct access to various OLAP servers Support for SAP specific OLAP functions High Usability Standards State-of-the art Web 2.0 Client Deep integration with MS Office High Interoperability with BusinessObjects tools Support of BW Accelerator Runs on BusinessObjects Enterprise and SAP NetWeaver. Further information for SAP Netweaver BW customers: • • • •. The BW data model will not be affected by Pioneer, Pioneer will operate above query level BW 3.5 / 7.0 queries and query views can be re-used Query Views based on BW InfoProviders and saved with Pioneer Office can be used by Business Explorer tools The migration of BEx Analyzer workbooks to Pioneer will be possible. Figure 11: Project Pioneer Overview. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 19.

(28) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Figure 12: Ad-hoc Reporting and Analysis. WEBI is for casual end users looking for an intuitive BI tool for ad-hoc reporting and analysis 1.. Openness/multiple sources •. 2.. 3.. A single interface for SAP NetWeaver BW and any other non-SAP data sources, including personal XL files • Combine multiple heterogeneous data sources in a single report • Merging multiple data sources done by creator of report without IT Ease-of-use: same environment for design and consumption of interactive reports • Easily build queries with rich semantic layer • Easily analyze data with adapted set of features • Easily format reports with MS Office-like toolbar Combination of Web + offline • •. 4.. A single interface for all business users: HQ/office, mobile, remote Share reports with built-in interactivity among all users and enable mobile and remote users to drill down Report layout and printing. • • •. 20. Add charts & tables with precise positioning or free-form layout Insert custom calculations directly on the reports Print multi-page reports with managed page breaks. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(29) SAPBO. Lesson: SAP BusinessObjects Roadmap. Customer should start today with SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence • • •. SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence is a leading solution, available today for SAP customer with ad-hoc reporting needs. In addition the planned capabilities and functionalities, WebI will provide an even better integration with SAP NetWeaver in the near future. Interoperability between WebI and other tools is key for the future.. Performance and openness is key for WebI’s business users - planned availability of enhancements listed below is in 2010 • • • • •. 2009. WebI will provide a seamless access to SAP NetWeaver BW queries via BI Consumer Services (BICS). The already existing MDX connectivity will get major improvements. Users will get a better and faster access to SAP NetWeaver BW SAP NetWeaver BW hierarchies integrated into Web Intelligence query and interactive reporting models Interoperability with Pioneer to conduct ad-hoc reporting from OLAP analysis. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 21.

(30) Unit 1: SAP BusinessObjects Strategy. SAPBO. Lesson Summary You should now be able to: • Explain how the new SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform co-exists with SAP Netweaver BW.. 22. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(31) SAPBO. Unit Summary. Unit Summary You should now be able to: • Describe Business Intelligence and BusinessObjects Enterprise. • Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise client applications by role. • Explain how the new SAP BusinessObjects Intelligence Platform co-exists with SAP Netweaver BW.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 23.

(32) Unit Summary. 24. SAPBO. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

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(35) Unit 2 BusinessObjects Architecture Unit Overview This unit begins with an exploration of the rich architecture of SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise. The unit also discusses important vocabulary terms used in both SAP BW and SAP BusinessObjects and how various elements map between the two. The unit finishes with an introduction to SAP BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions, the components that integrate these two powerful business intelligence platforms to form a world class solution.. Unit Objectives After completing this unit, you will be able to: • • •. Explain the architecture and technical requirements for SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise front-end tools. Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise service groups and servers. Describe the components and features in BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions. Unit Contents Lesson: Architecture Overview ................................................ 26 Lesson: BusinessObjects Integration with SAP solutions .................. 36. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 25.

(36) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. Lesson: Architecture Overview Lesson Overview Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: • •. Explain the architecture and technical requirements for SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise front-end tools. Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise service groups and servers.. Business Example End users log in, create, edit, and interact with reports and documents using specialized BusinessObjects Enterprise tools and applications that include: • • •. Crystal Reports Web Intelligence Performance management applications. Administrators in the IT departments use data and system management tools that include: • • • • •. Central Management Console Central Configuration Manager Import Wizard Publishing Wizard Universe Designer. Developers access the platform using a set of web services and Java APIs to integrate BusinessObjects Enterprise into other enterprise systems, and to share dynamically updated documents with users on separate networks. When certain tasks are performed in BusinessObjects Enterprise, such as logging in, scheduling a report, or viewing a report, information flows through the system and the various servers communicate with each other. BusinessObjects Enterprise server architecture consists of web, management, processing, and storage services. Understanding this architecture will help you visualize how actions performed in client applications are processed by the services.. BusinessObjects Enterprise architecture A full deployment of BusinessObjects Enterprise is made up of client applications, BusinessObjects Enterprise services, and the organization’s relational and/or OLAP data sources.. 26. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(37) SAPBO. Lesson: Architecture Overview. Figure 13: BusinessObjects XI 3.1 Architecture. Describing BusinessObjects Enterprise service groups and servers The BusinessObjects Enterprise system can be installed on a single machine, spread across different machines in an intranet, or separated over a wide area network (WAN). For learning purposes, BusinessObjects Enterprise services can be grouped as follows:. 2009. Service group. Servers. Web services. Web Application Server, Business Process BI Services. Management services. Central Management Server, Event Server, Destination Job Server. Storage services. Input File Repository Server, Output File Repository Server, Crystal Reports Cache Server, Desktop Intelligence Cache Server. Processing services. Adaptive Processing Server, Adaptive Job Server, Program Job Server, Crystal Reports Job Server, Web Intelligence Job Server, Web Intelligence Processing Server, List of Values (LOV) Server, Desktop Intelligence Job Server, Desktop Intelligence Processing. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 27.

(38) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. Server, Connection Server, Crystal Reports Processing Server, Report Application Server, Multi-dimensional Analysis Server (MDAS), Publication Job Server, Search Server. Note: The service groups indicated above are logical groupings meant to facilitate learning in this course by grouping servers together that share similar operating behavior. In reality, BusinessObjects Enterprise web services must interact with management and processing services, storage services must interact with management and processing services, and so forth.. Enterprise Infrastructure The Enterprise Infrastructure provides the basic messaging mechanism needed for BusinessObjects Enterprise components to communicate with one another. The Enterprise Infrastructure is a series of services that are designed to communicate via CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture), which runs over TCP/IP. Some CORBA applications use a Name server. The Name server service is a facility of the underlying CORBA architecture that binds the BusinessObjects Enterprise servers together. The Name server provides a directory of the servers registered in the BusinessObjects Enterprise environment and helps establish connections between clients and these servers. The Name server service is a part of the Central Management Server. The Enterprise Infrastructure establishes connections between clients and servers. 1. 2.. It is the centerpiece of BusinessObjects Enterprise technology which facilitates communication between servers. A client object can transparently make requests to server objects using the Enterprise Infrastructure. • •. A server object is a server that participates in serving requests to client objects. A client object is a client that makes requests to servers on the Enterprise Infrastructure. Note: In the BusinessObjects Enterprise environment, most services act as clients and servers to each other during transactions between the servers. When a BusinessObjects Enterprise server starts, it registers itself with the Name server in the CMS. The server provides information about itself, such as its IP address, TCP port, and description of the server, to the Name Server. Each individual server polls the CMS every 60 seconds to get an updated list of available servers in the system.. 28. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(39) SAPBO. Lesson: Architecture Overview. BusinessObjects Enterprise web services The web services are server-side components that process requests from client applications and communicate these requests to the appropriate server. They include support for report viewing, and logic to understand and direct web requests to the appropriate BusinessObjects Enterprise server. BusinessObjects Enterprise web services include: •. Web Application Server. The Web Application Server uses the BusinessObjects Enterprise SDK to interface with the rest of the BusinessObjects Enterprise services. The Web Application Server acts as a gateway between the browser and the rest of the components in BusinessObjects Enterprise. Note: When configuring servers using the Central Management Console, the CMS holds the configuration settings and the CMS communicates with all BusinessObjects Enterprise servers. BusinessObjects web services provide a Java API accessed by rich clients in the user interaction tier, such as Live Office and Crystal Reports. Web Services consists of software components that can be called remotely using the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). SOAP is a protocol for exchanging information that is not dependent on a specific platform, object model, or programming language. BusinessObjects Enterprise Web Services includes functionality in the following areas: • •. • •. Session: Authentication and user privilege management. BI platform: Exposes advanced platform features such as scheduling, search, user and group administration, server administration, platform events, and calendars. Report Engine: Displays Web Intelligence and Crystal Reports in HTML, PDF, Excel, and XML format. Query: Builds ad hoc queries based on the BusinessObjects universe semantic layer.. BusinessObjects Enterprise management services The management services manage the BusinessObjects Enterprise system. These services maintain all security information, send requests to the appropriate services, manage auditing information, and maintain a record of each and every instance and its location. The management services are: •. 2009. Central Management Server (CMS). © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 29.

(40) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. The CMS is responsible for authenticating users and groups, and keeping track of the availability of the other BusinessObjects Enterprise services. It also maintains the BusinessObjects Enterprise system database, which includes information about users, groups, security levels, BusinessObjects Enterprise content, and services. The CMS also maintains a separate audit database of information about user actions and manages the BusinessObjects system database. Note: All servers communicate with the CMS when they start up. Note: The Audit Database is optional in a regular system deployment. It allows for extra auditing and tracking of some system information. •. Server Intelligence Agent. Server Intelligence Agent is a component of the Central Management Console (CMC) that simplifies administrative procedures, such as the management of CMC server processes. This includes the addition and removal of server processes, server process configuration, and the automatic restart or shutdown of servers that encounter unexpected conditions. •. Event Server. The Event Server manages file-based events. It monitors the directory you specified when setting up a file-based event. When the appropriate file appears in the monitored directory, the Event Server triggers your file-based event. •. Destination Job Server. The Destination Job Server makes it possible for a user to send an existing instance or object to a specified destination (Inbox, Email, FTP, disk location) independent of any schedules related to those instances or objects. It can also send a shortcut to a user’s inbox. For example, the server updates the shortcut in the CMS database to point to the object location. If the destination is to send a copy to a user inbox, then the server copies the object to the Input File Repository Server.. BusinessObjects Enterprise storage services The storage services are responsible for storing objects and object instances. The storage services are: •. Input File Repository Server. The Input File Repository Server manages all of the report and program objects that have been published to the system. It can store the following files: .rpt, .exe, .bat, .js, .xls, .doc, .ppt, .rtf, .txt, .pdf, .wid, .rep, .unv, and Voyager workspaces. Note: .rpt files can be stored to Input with Data. •. 30. Output File Repository Server. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(41) SAPBO. Lesson: Architecture Overview. The Output File Repository Server manages all of the report instances generated by the Crystal Reports Job Server and the program instances generated by the Program Job Server. It also manages instances generated by the Web Intelligence Processing Server and the LOV Job Server. It can store the following files: .rpt, .csv, .xls, .doc, .rtf, .txt, .pdf, .wid, .rep. Note: .rpt and .wid files are stored as reports/documents with saved data.. Crystal Reports Cache Server The Cache Server maintains a folder of cached report EPF files and determines if a request can be fulfilled with a cached report page. If the request cannot be fulfilled with a cached report page, it passes the request to the Crystal Reports Processing Server. The benefit of caching is that BusinessObjects Enterprise doesn’t have to generate .epf files each time a page is viewed. Therefore, report pages that have been cached can be shared among users.. Desktop Intelligence Cache Server The Desktop Intelligence Cache Server handles viewing requests for Desktop Intelligence documents and manages the viewable pages created by the Desktop Intelligence Processing Server.. BusinessObjects Enterprise processing services The processing services access the data and generate reports. This is the only tier that interacts directly with the databases that contain report data. Which services become involved in processing an object is determined by whether the object is being scheduled or viewed on demand. Viewer choice also plays a role in determining which servers are involved in object processing. The processing services are:. Program Job Server The Program Job Server processes scheduled actions on objects at the request of the CMS and generates text output. The Program Job Server processes the program objects by invoking the BAT and EXE file that are added to the BusinessObjects Enterprise system.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 31.

(42) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. Crystal Reports Job Server The Crystal Reports Job Server processes report objects, as requested by the CMS, and generates report instances. Note: Both the Program Job Server and the Crystal Reports Job Server retrieve the file to be run from the Input File Repository Server, run the report or program, and then save the processed file to the Output File Repository Server as an instance.. Adaptive Job Server The Adaptive Job Server receives scheduling Web Intelligence documents requests from the CMS and then forwards them to the processing servers for processing.. Adaptive Processing Server The Adaptive Processing Server is a generic server process that hosts BusinessObjects Enterprise services such as Client Auditing Proxy Service, Publishing Post Processing Service, and Search Service.. Web Intelligence Processing Server The Web Intelligence Processing Server processes Web Intelligence Document requests.. List of Values (LOV) Job Server The List of Values Job Server receives scheduling requests from the Business View manager and processes scheduled List of Values objects to populate them with values retrieved from a database.. Desktop Intelligence Job Server The Desktop Intelligence Job Server processes scheduling requests received from the CMS for Desktop Intelligence documents and generates the instance of the Desktop Intelligence document.. Desktop Intelligence Processing Server The Desktop Intelligence Processing Server processes viewing requests for Desktop Intelligence documents and generates the Desktop Intelligence document.. 32. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(43) SAPBO. Lesson: Architecture Overview. Connection Server The Connection Server is a service that can be administered and configured through the CMC (Central Management Console). The Connection Server is responsible for the database connectivity to access data. It is invoked when users want to edit and view Desktop Intelligence documents through InfoView in 3-tier mode. It is also used by some EPM services. Note: The Connection Server libraries are present on the Web Intelligence Processing Server, and Desktop Intelligence Processing Server. These libraries allow services to query the database directly without communicating with the Connection Server service. The viewing processing services are. •. Crystal Reports Processing Server. The Crystal Reports Processing Server is responsible for responding to files requests by processing reports and generating Encapsulated Page Format (.epf) files. The Crystal Reports Processing Server retrieves data for the report from the latest instance or directly from that database. After it generates the report, the Processing Server converts the requested data to one or more EPF files. These files are then sent to the Crystal Reports Cache Server. •. Web Intelligence Processing Server. The Web Intelligence Processing Server is responsible for generating documents. The Web Intelligence Processing Server obtains document creation requests from the Web Application Server and then communicates with the Input File Repository Server in order to obtain a copy of the Web Intelligence Document (WID) file and the universe definition. When viewing an existing instance of a WID, the Web Intelligence Processing Server communicates with the Output File Repository Server to obtain an existing historical instance of a WID. •. Report Application Server. Report Application Server resolves Dynamic Recipient Lists at design time and Runtime in Publishing, as well as with LiveOffice. The RAS also provides the ad hoc reporting capabilities that allow users to create and modify reports over the Web. As with the Crystal Reports Processing Server, the RAS supports Java viewer SDKs. The Report Application Server also includes an SDK for report creation and modification, providing you with tools for building custom report interaction interfaces. •. Multi-Dimensional Analysis Server. The Multi-Dimensional Analysis Server (MDAS) is a dedicated server intended to interact with OLAP data sources and to support Voyager.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 33.

(44) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. The MDAS needs an appropriate OLAP database client configured for the appropriate OLAP data source. The list of providers is dynamically generated, based on which database drivers are installed on the MDAS that you happen to connect to. If more than one MDAS exists, the server contacted is selected randomly, so the same drivers should be installed on all servers. Connections to OLAP data sources are defined and managed from the CMC. Entries can include: • • • • •. Oracle SAP Essbase Microsoft Analysis Services 8.0 (MSAS 2000) Microsoft Analysis Services 9.0 (MSAS 2005). •. Search Server. The Search Server processes search requests and executes the indexing. Your deployment can include multiple Search servers, and search requests are actively processed by all available servers. However, only one Search server performs the indexing process.. 34. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(45) SAPBO. Lesson: Architecture Overview. Lesson Summary You should now be able to: • Explain the architecture and technical requirements for SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise front-end tools. • Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise service groups and servers.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 35.

(46) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. Lesson: BusinessObjects Integration with SAP solutions Lesson Overview This lesson provides a high-level overview of the major features in BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions.. Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: •. Describe the components and features in BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions. Business Example The management executives in Company A felt that they did not have enough visibility into the various aspects of their business. They wanted to see trends, note exceptions and evaluate against goals. They were looking for a way to get highly summarized monthly data, displaying various aspects of their business performance. BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions provides you with powerful report design tools and a framework for managing, scheduling, and distributing your reports over the Web. Also it enables you to extract additional value from your SAP Business Warehouse (BW) and ECC data and share it with users across the enterprise. In addition, SAP Authentication enables Single Sign On between your SAP system and BusinessObjects Enterprise.. What’s in BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions? BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions consists of several key components: Crystal Reports is the report design tool that allows you to report off your SAP data; BusinessObjects Enterprise provides the framework for managing, scheduling, and distributing reports over the Web; Web Intelligence enables you to create queries and documents quickly; and Voyager allows you to analyze and report off the multidimensional data that is stored in the InfoCubes of SAP BW. This solution allows tools such as Voyager, Web Intelligence, LiveOffice and Xcelsius to report on SAP data. BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions also includes several add-on components to further integrate the BusinessObjects reporting technologies with existing SAP systems. The add-on components include •. 36. Data Access. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(47) SAPBO. Lesson: BusinessObjects Integration with SAP solutions. This component provides database drivers that are designed specifically for reporting on SAP data. Crystal Reports drivers are included for OpenSQL, InfoSet, BW Query, BW MDX and DSO. •. Crystal Reports SAP Toolbar. Integrated within Crystal Reports, the SAP Tools toolbar facilitates tasks associated with reporting based on BW queries. It allows you to log on to BW and work with its data sources, save reports to BW, and publish reports immediately to BusinessObjects Enterprise via BW. •. SAP Authentication. This component allows you to map your existing SAP roles and users to BusinessObjects Enterprise. It also enables BusinessObjects Enterprise to authenticate users against the SAP system, thereby providing Single Sign On to your SAP users. As a result, once SAP users are logged on to the SAP system, they are recognized by BusinessObjects Enterprise as authenticated users. •. BW Publisher. This component allows you to publish reports individually or in batches from BW to BusinessObjects Enterprise •. Web content. This component includes BusinessObjects Enterprise InfoView. InfoView allows users to organize and view their Crystal reports in multiple languages over the internet. •. Transport files. You use these transport files to connect to SAP through Crystal Reports and BusinessObjects Enterprise. •. BW Content Administration Workbench. This feature allows you to manage report publishing from within BW. You can identify roles in BW with specific BusinessObjects Enterprise systems, publish reports, and synchronize between BW and a BusinessObjects Enterprise system. •. Sample reports. The sample reports demonstrate a variety of ways in which you can extract value from SAP data using different database drivers. •. Sample iViews. Sample iViews illustrate how BusinessObjects Enterprise SAP Edition can be implemented with SAP Enterprise Portal version 6 and later. These iViews demonstrate sample functionality for alerts, and thumbnail views inside SAP Enterprise Portal. •. 2009. Knowledge Management (KMC).. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 37.

(48) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. The Knowledge Management interface enables third-parties to integrate any repository into the SAP Enterprise Portal. The KMC allows users to integrate BusinessObjects Enterprise into the SAP Enterprise Portal, When the BusinessObjects Enterprise repository is integrated into the KMC framework, the objects in the repository are accessible for different work flows like the collaboration features of the SAP Enterprise Portal.. Integrated architecture The following diagram illustrates how each of the BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions components expands upon the multi-tier framework of BusinessObjects Enterprise.. Figure 14: Integrated Architecture. Reporting with BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions Major features provided by BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions include: • • • • •. 38. Authenticating SAP users Reporting on BW queries, InfoSets, operational data stores, and MDX cubes Reporting on other SAP data sources Publishing from BW to BusinessObjects Enterprise Distributing information over the web. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(49) SAPBO. Lesson: BusinessObjects Integration with SAP solutions. Authenticating SAP users Security plug-ins expand and customize the ways in which BusinessObjects Enterprise authenticates users. This SAP security plug-in offers several key benefits: •. •. •. •. It acts as an authentication provider that verifies user credentials against your SAP system on behalf of the BusinessObjects Enterprise Central Management Server (CMS). When users log onto BusinessObjects Enterprise directly, they can choose SAP Authentication and provide their usual SAP user name and password. BusinessObjects Enterprise can also validate Enterprise Portal logon tickets against SAP systems. It facilitates account creation by allowing you to map roles from SAP to BusinessObjects Enterprise user groups, and it facilitates account management by allowing you to assign rights to users and groups in a consistent manner within BusinessObjects Enterprise. It dynamically maintains SAP role listings. Therefore, once you map an SAP role to BusinessObjects Enterprise, all users who belong to that role can log onto BusinessObjects Enterprise. When you make subsequent changes to the SAP role membership, you need not update or refresh the listing in BusinessObjects Enterprise. The SAP Authentication component includes a web application for configuring the plug-in. You can access this application in the "Authentication" area of the Central Management Console (CMC).. Figure 15: SAP Authentication. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 39.

(50) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. Reporting on BW queries, InfoSets, Data Store Objects, and MDX cubes BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions provides connectivity to your SAP data through four database drivers—the BW Query driver, the InfoSet driver, the DSO driver, and the MDX driver. •. •. • •. The BW Query driver is integrated directly within the Crystal Reports interface. The SAP Tools toolbar works with the BW Query driver to allow you to report on your BW queries within Crystal Reports. The toolbar also allows you to save reports to BW and publish them directly to BusinessObjects Enterprise. The InfoSet driver provides Crystal Reports with another means of accessing SAP data sources: this driver can access ECC InfoSets (previously known as Functional Areas) and ABAP Queries. You access this driver through the Data Explorer in Crystal Reports. The DataStore Objects (DSO) driver allows you to use existing DSO objects from your BW Data Warehouse as a data source in Crystal Reports. The SAP BW MDX Query driver introduces new flexibility when reporting off BW InfoCubes and queries. By writing reports with the MDX Query driver, you gain direct access to BW InfoCubes, display attributes and multiple structures. Note: One advantage of these drivers is that they allow business users to report on predefined views of your SAP data. Tables and fields are first logically grouped by an SAP content expert into queries, InfoSets, and so on. You then make these data sources accessible to users who are designing reports with Crystal Reports.. 40. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(51) SAPBO. Lesson: BusinessObjects Integration with SAP solutions. Reporting on other SAP data sources BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions also includes the Open SQL driver, which allows you to report off additional SAP data sources within Crystal Reports, BusinessObjects Enterprise and Voyager. 1.. Reporting off tables, views, clusters, and functions The Open SQL driver is the most powerful of the drivers due to the flexibility it provides for accessing data in SAP. This flexibility, however, results in a higher level of complexity than with the InfoSet driver. When you create reports that use the Open SQL driver, you gain easy access to SAP's transparent tables, pool tables, cluster tables, and views. Users who are currently involved with the production of ABAP reports will find it easy to build reports quickly with this driver. Advanced functionality in the driver also allows reporting against ABAP functions and ABAP data clusters. ABAP developers can use these features to perform advanced tasks such as reporting against data clusters in HR.. 2.. Reporting off multidimensional data in BW The BW Voyager has been specially designed to integrate the Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) viewing capabilities of Voyager and Crystal Reports with your SAP BW system. Users can connect to multidimensional BW InfoCubes and generate reports that incorporate complex data analysis.. Publishing from BW to BusinessObjects Enterprise The BW Publisher allows you to publish Crystal reports (.rpt files) individually or in batches from BW to BusinessObjects Enterprise. Reports are published from BW to BusinessObjects Enterprise in several ways: users who design Crystal Reports can simultaneously save reports to their roles in BW and publish them to BusinessObjects Enterprise, provided they have sufficient rights. Users with the appropriate rights within BW and BusinessObjects Enterprise can also publish reports individually or in batches using the Content Administration Workbench.. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 41.

(52) Unit 2: BusinessObjects Architecture. SAPBO. Distributing Information over the Web SAP functionality is integrated with your version of InfoView. These features are designed especially for SAP users. • •. •. 42. Users whose roles you import can log on to InfoView with their usual SAP credentials Users can browse a hierarchy of My Groups folders that correspond to the structure of the imported roles whose content you publish from BW to BusinessObjects Enterprise. In these folders, users can locate, view, and refresh Crystal Reports that have been saved in their BW roles. Users can schedule translated reports in specific languages and view report titles and on-demand reports.. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(53) SAPBO. Lesson: BusinessObjects Integration with SAP solutions. Lesson Summary You should now be able to: • Describe the components and features in BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 43.

(54) Unit Summary. SAPBO. Unit Summary You should now be able to: • Explain the architecture and technical requirements for SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise front-end tools. • Describe the BusinessObjects Enterprise service groups and servers. • Describe the components and features in BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions. 44. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

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(57) Unit 3 Crystal Reports Unit Overview In this unit you will receive an overview of Crystal Reports and the connectivity used to integrate SAP BW data into its formatted reports. You will also complete an exercise to build your own Crystal Report using data from an SAP BW query.. Unit Objectives After completing this unit, you will be able to: • • • • • • •. Explain the connectivity with SAP NetWeaver BW and Crystal Reports. Create a Crystal Report based on a BW query using standard Crystal Reports components and methods. Create a Crystal Report based on a BW query with variables. Describe the differences between BW MDX and BW Query driver in regards to hierarchies. Create a Crystal Report based on a BW query with hierarchies. Create a Crystal Report based on a BW query with a hierarchy variable. Create a Crystal Report based on a BW query with multiple structures.. Unit Contents Lesson: Crystal Reports Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW .......... 46 Lesson: Create a Report with Crystal Reports............................... 57 Exercise 1: Create a Report using Crystal Reports..................... 63 Lesson: Create Crystal Reports Based on SAP BW Queries with Variables, Hierarchies, and Multiple Structures. .......................................... 74 Exercise 2: Create Crystal Reports Based on BW Queries with Variables. .................................................................... 79 Exercise 3: Create Crystal Reports Based on BW Queries with hierarchies. .................................................................. 87 Exercise 4: Create Crystal Reports Based on BW Queries with Multiple Structures. .................................................................... 97. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 45.

(58) Unit 3: Crystal Reports. SAPBO. Lesson: Crystal Reports Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW Lesson Overview This lesson provides you with an overview of the connectivity between SAP NetWeaver and Crystal Reports.. Lesson Objectives After completing this lesson, you will be able to: •. Explain the connectivity with SAP NetWeaver BW and Crystal Reports.. Business Example You want to access your organization’s data and transform it into actionable information to improve performance. By delivering the most-requested pieces of information reliably and securely – via the web or embedded in enterprise applications – reports can serve as the foundation of a successful business intelligence (BI) strategy. Crystal Reports software enables you to easily design interactive reports and connect them to virtually any data source. Your users can benefit from on-report sorting and filtering – giving them the power to execute decisions instantly.. Advantages of Crystal Reports Crystal Reports provides comprehensive functionality to design, explore, visualize, and deliver compelling reports. With Crystal Reports, you can: • • • • • • •. 46. Leverage professional reporting Empower end users to explore reports with on-report sorting and parameters Minimize IT and developer effort with interactive reports Develop powerful data mash-ups Save valuable report design time Embed professional-looking reports in Java and .NET applications Tailor your solution by adding report management and viewing tools. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(59) SAPBO. Lesson: Crystal Reports Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW. Figure 16: Crystal Reports Business Value. Connectivity Overview. Figure 17: Connectivity Overview. BusinessObjects XI Integration for SAP Solutions includes components that integrate Crystal Reports with your existing SAP systems. Available SAP data sources for Crystal Reports are:. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 47.

(60) Unit 3: Crystal Reports. SAPBO. SAP ERP/ECC • • • •. Classic InfoSets SAP Queries and InfoSet queries ABAP Functions Tables and Clusters (Open SQL). SAP BW • • • •. Direct DSO access (no need for a BW query) BW queries and BW InfoCubes ABAP Functions Tables and Clusters (Open SQL). Figure 18: Crystal Reports: Connectivity Overview. In order to be able to access all available SAP data sources the SAP Integration Kit needs to be installed on top of Crystal Reports. This includes: • • • •. 48. Data access components for SAP ERP/ECC Data access components for SAP BW SAP authentication SAP BW toolbar. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(61) SAPBO. Lesson: Crystal Reports Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW. Connection Methods There are two ways to get connected with crystal reports 1. 2.. Using Database Expert of Crystal Reports Using SAP Toolbar. Figure 19: Connection Methods. SAP BW metadata in Crystal Reports When you connect to an SAP BW query in Crystal Reports, the underlying metadata from the SAP BW query is leveraged and matched to Crystal Reports elements. The table below shows how SAP BW metadata is used in Crystal Reports. BW Query element. 2009. Crystal Reports Designer Element. Characteristic. Separate fields for key and description per characteristic.. Hierarchy. Fields representing a parent-child relationship.. Key Figures. Measure element in a grouping called Key figure. Each Key figure can have up to three elements: numeric value, unit, and formatted value.. Calculated Key Figure. Measure element in the folder Key figure. (Information about the details of the calculated key figure is not available in Crystal Reports.). © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 49.

(62) Unit 3: Crystal Reports. SAPBO. Restricted Key Figure. Measure element in the folder Key figure (Information about the details of the restricted key figure is not available in Crystal Reports.). Filter (Characteristic Restriction). Characteristic Restrictions willl be applied to the underlying query but are not visible in the Crystal Reports designer.. Filter (Default Value). Note that Default Value restrictions are ignored in Crystal Reports.. Navigational attribute. Separate fields for key and description per navigational attribute.. Display attribute. Each display attribute becomes one field in the field explorer. The display attributes are grouped together with the actual characteristic.. SAP variables. Parameters.. Dimension and characteristics The image shows an SAP BW query in the BEx Query Designer.. Figure 20: Dimensions and Characteristics. The rows of this query include several characteristics and the columns display several key figures. On the left side, the actual InfoCube structure is shown with the InfoCube dimensions (not to be confused with characteristic InfoObjects). Building a Crystal Report on top of such an SAP BW query will result in the following elements:. 50. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 2009.

(63) SAPBO. Lesson: Crystal Reports Connectivity with SAP Netweaver BW. Figure 21: Database Fields. • • •. Each characteristic in the query will result in an element in the Field Explorer with a key and a description item. In addition, each characteristic will also generate a Node ID and a Parent Node ID that can be used for hierarchical reporting. Each characteristic will also generate a Member Unique Name field which represents the technical key value.. Hierarchies Hierarchies can be activated for characteristics in the BEx Query Designer which enables you the capability to navigate along a hierarchical structure. The image shows the Field Explorer in Crystal Reports based on an SAP BW query with a hierarchy (001).. Figure 22: Hierarchies In Crystal Reports. 2009. © 2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved.. 51.

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