SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence
The Comprehensive Guide
2nd Edition
Published on 26. October 2012
Book
Hardback
591 pages
978-1-59229-430-5 (ISBN)
Description
Learn how to revolutionize your company's data presentation with SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0 with new flexibility and functionalities. No matter how much experience you have had with WebI to date, this comprehensive guide is for you. You can either build a foundational understanding of WebI by beginning with the fundamentals; or you can jump straight into the advanced discussions that are new to the latest release, including advanced charting, advanced formula writing, and report scheduling and distribution. This is the resource that will enhance your understanding of SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0 and give you the means to optimize this versatile tool.
Highlights: include
Web Intelligence 4.0 queries and reports
Query and Report Panels
Report tools, charts, and formatting
On-device mobile integration
Web Intelligence Rich Client
Multiple data sources
Analysis and drill-down
BI workspaces
Report scheduling and distribution
New data visualization features
Feature Pack 3 (Service Pack 4) enhancements
More details
Other editions
New editions
Christian Ah-Soon | Jim Brogden | Dallas Marks
SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence
The Comprehensive Guide
Book
10/2017
4th Edition
SAP PRESS
€79.95
Article not available at the moment
Jim Brogden | Heather Sinkwitz | Dallas Marks
SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence
The Comprehensive Guide
Book
10/2014
3rd Edition
SAP PRESS
€79.95
Article not available at the moment
Previous edition
Jim Brogden | Mac Holden | Heather Sinkwitz
SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence
Book
03/2010
1st Edition
SAP PRESS
€79.95
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Author
Jim Brogden is an experienced SAP BusinessObjects consultant. He's currently a consultant with Daugherty Business Solutions. He was recently a grand-prize winner in an SAP content contest for a technical case study that he wrote on deploying the latest release of BusinessObjects Enterprise. He was one of the first 40 people in the world to obtain the BOCP-BOE and BOCP Migration specialist certifications (September 2006). He holds a master's in information technology. He has developed business intelligence solutions for several major corporations. He worked as a technical editor in the Crystal Reports 2008 Official Guide.
Heather Sinkwitz gained her expertise while working as a Business Intelligence Consultant specializing in Business Objects reporting solutions. She is currently employed as a Business Intelligence Developer for Rural/Metro Corporation. She is a certified instructor for the BusinessObjects Web Intelligence and Xcelsius tools. She brings her extensive background in the accounting field to the reporting process to aid in the completion of financial dashboards and reporting solutions. She enjoys presenting data in new and unique ways to aid companies in making informed decisions at a fast pace to remain competitive in today's market.
Mac Holden currently works for Inovista Components, a small software house specializing in custom components for SAP's Xcelsius product in addition to Web Intelligence customization. Mac has over 15 years of software development and design experience, working primarily with web based technologies. He has 10 years of experience in using the various SDKs to create Web Intelligence applications for customers in many different locations and industries. He has also co-authored a number of books on Java Enterprise Development in addition to supplying articles for publications such as Java Pro. Mac is currently based in southern Spain and can be contacted at cmholden@inovista.com.
Dallas Marks is a certified SAP BusinessObjects instructor with over a decade of BusinessObjects experience, and is a frequent presenter at SAPPHIRE NOW, ASUG's SAP BusinessObjects User Conference, and ASUG chapter meetings.
Gabriel Orthous is an expert on the entire SAP BusinessObjects tool suite and has over 10 years of business intelligence experience.
Content
Foreword ... 19
Acknowledgments ... 23
1. SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 27
1.1 ... Features of Web Intelligence ... 28
1.2 ... Reading Web Intelligence Reports ... 34
1.3 ... Adjusting Web Intelligence Preferences ... 36
1.4 ... Web Intelligence Reporting and Analysis Environments ... 41
1.5 ... Report Display Modes ... 41
1.6 ... Summary ... 42
2. Creating New Documents and Queries ... 45
2.1 ... Creating a Web Intelligence 4.0 Document ... 46
2.2 ... The Query Panel in Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 58
2.3 ... Adding and Editing Queries ... 61
2.4 ... Creating BEx Queries ... 69
2.5 ... Query Filters ... 73
2.6 ... Prompted Queries ... 79
2.7 ... Summary ... 82
3. Creating a Report in Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 85
3.1 ... Adding Data to Report Elements ... 87
3.2 ... Sections and Breaks ... 89
3.3 ... Show/Hide Outline and Navigation ... 93
3.4 ... Sorting and Ranking ... 94
3.5 ... Conditional Formatting ... 100
3.6 ... Headers, Footers, and Background Images ... 104
3.7 ... Summary ... 106
4. The Web Intelligence 4.0 Report Panel ... 109
4.1 ... The Web Intelligence 4.0 Reporting Interface ... 109
4.2 ... Reporting Toolbars ... 111
4.3 ... The Left Pane ... 120
4.4 ... Report Panel ... 123
4.5 ... Report Property Categories ... 126
4.6 ... Summary ... 133
5. Displaying Data with Tables ... 135
5.1 ... Using Tables ... 137
5.2 ... Table Types ... 144
5.3 ... Converting Table Formats and Types ... 147
5.4 ... Blank and Predefined Cells ... 148
5.5 ... Summary ... 150
6. Displaying Data with Charts ... 153
6.1 ... Adding Charts to a Report ... 154
6.2 ... Chart Types ... 156
6.3 ... Chart Properties ... 175
6.4 ... Summary ... 179
7. Making an Impact with Charts ... 181
7.1 ... Properties that Enhance the Display of Data ... 182
7.2 ... Drilling in Reports with Multiple Charts ... 188
7.3 ... Hierarchical Charting with Relational Data ... 189
7.4 ... Reports Functioning as Dashboards ... 190
7.5 ... Formatting Tips ... 193
7.6 ... Summary ... 197
8. Report Properties, Tools, and Formatting ... 199
8.1 ... Formatting Report Properties ... 199
8.2 ... Document Summary ... 201
8.3 ... Report Map ... 203
8.4 ... Input Controls ... 203
8.5 ... Web Services Publisher ... 207
8.6 ... Available Objects (Design Mode Only) ... 210
8.7 ... Document Structures and Filters ... 211
8.8 ... Data ... 212
8.9 ... Summary ... 213
9. Filtering Data in the Query and Report Panel ... 215
9.1 ... Filtering in the Query Panel ... 215
9.2 ... Filtering in the Report Panel ... 224
9.3 ... Conditionally Hiding Report Elements ... 236
9.4 ... Summary ... 238
10. Scope of Analysis and Drilling Down ... 241
10.1 ... Setting the Scope of Analysis in the Query Panel ... 242
10.2 ... Drill-Down Setup in the Report Panel ... 248
10.3 ... Query Drill Option ... 259
10.4 ... Taking a Snapshot ... 261
10.5 ... User Settings for Drill Down ... 261
10.6 ... Summary ... 263
11. Using Formulas and Variables ... 265
11.1 ... Formulas and Variables ... 266
11.2 ... Reporting Functions and Operators ... 271
11.3 ... Formula Syntax ... 288
11.4 ... Summary ... 291
12. Extending Query Panel Functionality ... 293
12.1 ... Complex Filtering Options ... 294
12.2 ... Cascading and Optional Prompts ... 300
12.3 ... Using Custom Freehand SQL ... 305
12.4 ... Visually Tracking Data Changes in the Report Panel ... 307
12.5 ... Data Preview ... 312
12.6 ... Additional Queries and New Data Providers ... 314
12.7 ... Summary ... 318
13. Using Multiple Data Sources ... 319
13.1 ... Combining Multiple Queries from Same Data Source ... 319
13.2 ... Combining Data from Different Universes ... 324
13.3 ... Query Local Data Sources Using Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 327
13.4 ... Data Synchronization Recommendations ... 330
13.5 ... Summary ... 331
14. Linking in Web Intelligence 4.0 Reports ... 333
14.1 ... Linking to Documents with the Web Viewer ... 334
14.2 ... Linking with the Rich Internet Application Viewer ... 343
14.3 ... OpenDocument Syntax ... 349
14.4 ... Element Linking ... 352
14.5 ... Summary ... 358
15. Working in the BI Launch Pad ... 361
15.1 ... Navigating in BI Launch Pad ... 361
15.2 ... Setting BI Launch Pad Preferences ... 370
15.3 ... Organizing in Folders versus Categories ... 373
15.4 ... Viewing, Printing, and Saving Objects in the BI Launch Pad ... 377
15.5 ... Summary ... 379
16. Using Web Intelligence with BI Workspaces ... 381
16.1 ... Introducing BI Workspaces ... 381
16.2 ... Working with Modules ... 390
16.3 ... Working with Web Intelligence Report Parts ... 392
16.4 ... Using a BI Workspace as Default Home Tab ... 398
16.5 ... Summary ... 400
17. Interaction from a User's Perspective ... 403
17.1 ... Creating Shortcuts and Hyperlinks ... 403
17.2 ... Tracking Data Changes ... 405
17.3 ... Searching within the BI Launch Pad ... 411
17.4 ... Sorting and Filtering Content ... 416
17.5 ... Creating Discussions ... 417
17.6 ... Summary ... 419
18. Sharing a Web Intelligence Report ... 421
18.1 ... Copying and Pasting ... 421
18.2 ... Using the Send Feature in the BI Launch Pad ... 425
18.3 ... Exporting a Web Intelligence Report ... 430
18.4 ... Scheduling a Web Intelligence Report ... 432
18.5 ... Summary ... 438
19. Report Scheduling and Distribution with Publications ... 441
19.1 ... Publication Roles ... 443
19.2 ... Creating a Publication ... 444
19.3 ... Summary ... 456
20. Web Intelligence Rich Client ... 457
20.1 ... How Rich Client is Different ... 457
20.2 ... Data Provider Options ... 462
20.3 ... Working with Web Intelligence Reports ... 463
20.4 ... Setting Preferences in Rich Client ... 469
20.5 ... Summary ... 469
21. Connecting Live Office to Web Intelligence 4.0 ... 471
21.1 ... Introduction to Live Office ... 471
21.2 ... Creating Live Office Documents with Web Intelligence Content ... 474
21.3 ... Setting Preferences ... 478
21.4 ... Summary ... 484
22. On-Device Mobile Integration: BI Mobile ... 485
22.1 ... Understanding BI Mobile ... 485
22.2 ... Designing Reports for Mobile Viewing ... 488
22.3 ... On-Device Viewing, Analyzing, and Interacting ... 496
22.4 ... Summary ... 500
23. Universe Basics: The Information Design Tool ... 501
23.1 ... Universe Basics ... 501
23.2 ... Creating a New Universe Project ... 505
23.3 ... Creating Connections ... 506
23.4 ... Creating Data Foundations ... 509
23.5 ... Creating Business Layers ... 517
23.6 ... Creating Multisource Universes ... 522
23.7 ... Universe Design Best Practices ... 527
23.8 ... Converting an Existing Universe to a .UNX Universe ... 529
23.9 ... Summary ... 534
24. Feature Pack 3 (Service Pack 4) Enhancements ... 537
24.1 ... Color Enhancements ... 538
24.2 ... Style Sheet Modification ... 540
24.3 ... Enhanced Sorting ... 543
24.4 ... Zone Formatting ... 546
24.5 ... Hierarchical Navigation ... 546
24.6 ... Waterfall Chart ... 549
24.7 ... Summary ... 551
Appendices ... 553
A ... Converting Desktop Intelligence Reports to Web Intelligence Documents ... 555
B ... Third-Party Vendors ... 563
C ... The Authors ... 575
Index ... 579