sap businessobject's webi rich client

Webi Rich Client

Eric Molner

22009 SAP BusinessObjects User Conference

Learning Points

Creating and Editing – Putting Together a Report Working with Reports

Merging data from Multiple Sources Ranking Track Changes Formulas and Variables Formatting and Displaying of Data

Connected, Offline, and Standalone Mode – Discussing the differences between the three modes

Review BOBJ Reporting Client Tools – Webi, Deski, Crystal Reports 2008, Webi Rich Client


Who Am I ?

Eric Molner is a Chicago-based Consultant with Analytics8. He has extensive real-world expertise with the entire BusinessObjects product suite and all aspects of aBI project including:

Business analysis Report design & best practices Database design System testing Data quality management

Contact: [email protected]


What we do

Assist our customers in the definition and development of a best fit data and BI solution through…

“It is reassuring to know that I can pick up the phone and talk to someone I can trust, who understands our business based on a long

association, and whose advise is 100% objective”

David Walker, Director of Global IT - Swiss Re.

Chicago • Sydney • Melbourne

Business and Technology requirements analysis & strategic definitions Data Warehouse project management/implementation ETL and data transformation and migration Business Intelligence implementation Dashboard & Scorecard implementation Training and Knowledge transfer System Profiler


Typical Reporting Deployment

Web Intelligence (Webi) – Web-based UI

where a user can interact with reports by conducting ad-hoc analysis

Desktop Intelligence (Deski) – Full client version of Webi that allows users to continue reporting on their local machine

Crystal Reports – Long time standard reporting tool that satisfies simple to complex reporting needs.


Throw In Web Intelligence Rich Client


What is Webi Rich Client ?

Webi Rich Client “the spork” A new tool offered with Business Objects XI3.1 Similar to the Webi Java version Capability to work on reports offline without being

connected to a CMS


Login


New Document


New Document – Data source selection


Open Document


Report Panel


Query Panel


Rich Client Working Modes

Connected Mode – Connected to the CMS

Offline Mode – Working with local data sources

NOT connected to a CMS, BUT applies CMS Security

Standalone Mode – NOT connected to a CMS and security is NOT applied


Connected Mode

What Can You Do ? import documents to the CMS export documents to the CMS open local documents create, edit, and refresh documents save documents locally


Offline Mode

What Can You Do ? open local documents create, edit, and refresh documents

This requires a local universe/data source and local connection server

save documents locally

Note: Cannot Import or Export documents to a CMS The security information for a CMS is stored in a local security information file (extension LSI) in the LocData folder under the BusinessObjects Web Intelligence

Rich Client installation folder. One computer can store

LSI files for several CMSs.


Standalone Mode

What Can You Do ? open local documents create, edit, and refresh local documents save documents locally

Note: Cannot Import or Export documents to a CMS

You cannot work with documents or universes that have been secured by a CMS.


Demo Time

What we will Cover Query Panel Report Panel Common Report Functionality

Merging data from multiple Sources

Ranking Track Changes Formulas and Variables Formatting and Displaying

of Data


How are they similar ?

Compatible with numerous data sources: Semantic layer – Universe Raw SQL Microsoft Excel CSV files

Varying degrees of user interactivity

Leveraging the same enterprise backbone for distribution


How do they differ ?

Feature & Usability Comparison What does one offer that another does not?

Technical Comparison How are they different “behind the scenes”?

Business Use Comparison When is each the right tool for the job?


Web Intelligence (Thin Client)

Feature & Usability Web-based Tightly integrated with other components of BOBJ tool

set (Xcelsius via Live Office) Connected to CMS required Web behavior is extensible via Java SDK



Technical Interface impact can be tailored to environment (zero-

footprint vs full-featured Java client) .wid file extension Services specific to Web Intelligence in BOE:

Web Intelligence Job Service – receives Webi document request and forwards it to the Webi server for processing

Web Intelligence Processing Service – processes Webi document requests



Business Usage Primary strength is ad-hoc reporting Generate formatted reports that are easily modified Speed of report development makes it most often the

first stop for enterprise users


Desktop Intelligence (Deski)

Feature & Usability Original Business Objects full client windows

application High comfort level of some longtime users Flexibility and robustness of full desktop software Extensible via VBA macros



Technical Requires a desktop install and client middleware .rep file extension Services specific to Deski in BOE:

Desktop Intelligence Cache Service – handles viewing requests and manages viewable pages

Desktop Intelligence Job Service – processes scheduling requests & generates instances of the document

Desktop Intelligence Processing Service – handles viewing requests and generates the documents



Business Usage Initially the single point for both enterprise reporting

and ad-hoc querying Still has a faithful set of users because it was the first

reporting tool that came with BOBJ. Frequently are still found in the enterprise where:

Heavy VBA customization Legacy BOBJ deployments


Crystal Reports 2008

Feature & Usability Full client desktop tool for report development More programmatic Satisfies high volume reporting Flexibility and robustness of full desktop software Extensible via VBA macros Pixel perfect



Technical Requires a desktop install .rpt file extension Standalone Viewer available Services specific to Crystal Reports in BOE:

Crystal Reports Cache Service – determines if user request can be satisfied with cached report page

Crystal Reports Job Service – schedules & processes report objects, generates instances of the document

Crystal Reports Processing Service – generates report pages for viewing, retrieves data for the report, and converts the data to one or more EPF files



Business Usage Is a mainstay of boardroom-quality enterprise

reporting, and has been for years Often burst to a set of users with custom data, or

refreshed with prompts by the end user as-needed Front line reporting often leverages previously created

Crystal reports for ease of use High Volume Printing (e.g. Invoices or Financial

Statement)


Webi Rich Client

Feature & Usability Enables offline creation and editing of Web

Intelligence documents Is essentially a hybrid of Webi and Deski (spork) Use of local datasources No CMS connection required


Webi Rich Client

Technical Runs in a self-contained Java executable Creates .wid files, leverages the same Webi services Is Java only but no Java application server is necessary Three connectivity options:

Standalone (no CMS or security) Online (connected to CMS, can import and export) Offline (disconnected from CMS, security is still applied)

Supports multiple data sources like Excel and CSV


Webi Rich Client

Business Usage Used for offline Web Intelligence report access and

modification Incorporate local data Enables creation and formatting of reports in multiple

modes Ease of transitioning from Deski


Key Learnings

Creating and Editing – Putting Together a Report Working with Reports

Merging data from Multiple Sources Ranking Track Changes Formulas and Variables Formatting and Displaying of Data

Review BOBJ Reporting Client Tools – Webi, Deski, Crystal Reports 2008, Webi Rich Client

Connected, Offline, and Standalone Mode – Discussing the differences between the three modes


Questions


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SESSION CODE:

1102