architecting business intelligence applications for change: the open solution using birt

1Actuate Corporation © 2009

Architecting Business Intelligence Applications for Change: The Open Solution using BIRT

Seema HajiSr. Technical Marketing ManagerActuate Corporation

Daniel MelcherSr. RIA ArchitectActuate Corporation


• What is BIRT?

• Principles of Rich Information Applications

• The BIRT Product Line

• Demo

Architecting

Information

Applications

for Change

AGENDA

The Open Solution using BIRT


What Actuate Does…

Development Complexity

• Multiple-sources & datasets

• Web-2.0 application design

• Reuse library (public & private)

Presentation Complexity

• Dynamic visualizations

• User-configurable content

• Flash, Interactive Viewer

Delivery Complexity

• Skill-specific tools & UI’s

• Embedded content

• Single-server installations

• Large-scale enterprise deployments

Development Complexity

• Multiple-sources & datasets

• Web-2.0 application design

• Reuse library (public & private)

Presentation Complexity

• Dynamic visualizations

• User-configurable content

• Flash, Interactive Viewer

Delivery Complexity

• Skill-specific tools & UI’s

• Embedded content

• Single-server installations

• Large-scale enterprise deployments

Actuate removes the complexityin building data-driven

Rich Information Applications

One BIRT DesignOne BIRT Design

RIA’s support critical business processes


Simplicity

that makes simple reports

easy

Simplicity

that makes simple reports

easy

Power

to createvery complexreport layouts

Power

to createvery complexreport layouts

BIRTBIRT

What is BIRT?

• Easy to use for all types of developers

• Modern, web-page design metaphor

• Open and standards-based

• Flexible with rich programmatic control

• Full support for libraries and reuse

• Foundation for next generation Actuate products

• Easy to use for all types of developers

• Modern, web-page design metaphor

• Open and standards-based

• Flexible with rich programmatic control

• Full support for libraries and reuse

• Foundation for next generation Actuate products

A New Generation of Reporting and Data Visualization Technology

Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools


BIRT Open Source IS Actuate

• Open source initiative as part of the Eclipse Foundation

• Professional open source: founded, organized and led by Actuate

• Other members

Why Open Source?

• Build community of developers and users

• Drive high quality via community feedback

• Create buzz and generate awareness

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More than 6.5 million downloads

&1 Million

downloads per QTR for the last 3

QTRs

More than 6.5 million downloads

&1 Million

downloads per QTR for the last 3

QTRs

BIRT Downloads

Enterprise-ready maturityEclipse project launched in 2004

Five major BIRT releasesAdopted across IBM

http://www.birt-exchange.com/BIRT-Resource-Center


A Variety of Techniques With Actuate BIRT

BIRT Report with Embedded Flash Widgets

Actuate BIRT

Interactive ViewingActuate Mashboard

266 animated Flash widgets included in Actuate BIRT Designers

Users modify reports to their liking

Delivered as configurable Java component or as iServer option

Information Console customization w/ drag & drop assembly of “Mashpacks”

User configurable canvas

Canvases saved in iServer

Easy to Build, Easy to Use ApplicationsEasy to Build, Easy to Use Applications


Your Portal / Web Page / Java Application

What Makes BIRT Special?Cross-Section of an Information Application

BIRT: Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools

Eclipse standard design for RIA development

Multiple data sources & datasets secured for the User

Logic & Computations for Business Processes in Java, JavaScript, SQL & BIRT functions

Tables

Charts

Graphs

Drill thru

Crosstabs

Lists

Forms

AJAXInteractivity

Flash

Widgets

Data,Personalized & In Context


Business Process Logic


Presentation ElementsPresentation Elements

Delivered to usersDelivered to users

Actuate BIRT Interactive Viewer

Your Application’s

Data

Your Application’s

Data

ExternalData

ExternalData

CustomerSources

CustomerSources

BIRT is the universal container for reusable data, transformation & visualization components


Portal / Web Page / Java Application

What Makes BIRT Special?Cross-Section of an Information Application





Presentation ElementsPresentation Elements

Delivered to usersDelivered to users

DataSources

DataSources

Data Warehouse

Data Warehouse

ERPSources

ERPSources

Data In Context for the User

Logic & Computations for Business Processes

Without BIRT, this is a custom built, multi-language, heavily integrated, one-off

application

Tables

Charts

Graphs

Drill thru

Crosstabs

Lists

Forms

AJAXInteractivity

Flash

Widgets


Notable Actuate BIRT Features

Page Level Security

Micro-cube powered cross-tabs•Graphing inside cross-tab, •use measures in calculations, •attach scriptable events & •charting from cross-tab data

Interactive Viewer extensions•Available as deployment engine•Included in report preview•Accessible from JSAPI•Role-based modularity

Portable .rptdesign format •Can be accessed as data source•Can be saved as template•Can be opened and edited by • BRD Pro, BRD, BRS and IV

Report parameter treatment•Dialog-driven assignment•auto-suggest•embedded values in output•cascading value lookups•HTML button assignment•embedded in URLs

BIRT Report Designer Professional •Includes Information Object Designer perspective


Modern Customer Requests…

Based on The Information Workplace concept by Erica Driver and Connie Moore, Forrester

CollaborativeCollaborativeQuickQuick

VisualVisual

InteractiveInteractiveEverywhereEverywhere

Principles of Rich Information ApplicationsPrinciples of Rich Information Applications


VISUAL

Content must be engagingand readily understandable

VISUAL

Content must be engagingand readily understandable


Visual BIRT Content Engages Users

Highly Visual

• Draws user in

• Zero training

• Simplifies information

• Joy to use

Powered by BIRT

• 100% Web-based

• Built-in graphics

• 266 Flash objects included

• Lightweight and reusable

Highly Visual

• Draws user in

• Zero training

• Simplifies information

• Joy to use

Powered by BIRT

• 100% Web-based

• Built-in graphics

• 266 Flash objects included

• Lightweight and reusable

Animated Visualizations

Information is Compelling


BIRT Performance Scorecard ApplicationProvides Insight and Manages toward Strategy

Balanced Scorecards Strategic Plan Execution

Methodology SupportOperational Scorecards

Territory & Market Analysis

Custom Visualizations

…the most capable Performance Management suite available


INTERACTIVE

Answer the questionthat has not yet been asked

INTERACTIVE

Answer the questionthat has not yet been asked


Content Must be Interactive

Interactive & Engaging

• Encourages users to seek new perspectives

• Save their changes

• Leverages their ideas

• Creates self-sufficient users

Fully controlled by IT

• 100% Secure

• Components are reusable

• Features are configurable

• Use changes to drive requirements

Interactive & Engaging

• Encourages users to seek new perspectives

• Save their changes

• Leverages their ideas

• Creates self-sufficient users

Fully controlled by IT

• 100% Secure

• Components are reusable

• Features are configurable

• Use changes to drive requirements

…when users become smarter, they change their questions…when users become smarter, they change their questions

When presented with information, users become smarter…When presented with information, users become smarter…


COLLABORATIVE

Break traditional barriers between developers and end users

COLLABORATIVE

Break traditional barriers between developers and end users


BIRT StudioWeb-Based Ad-Hoc Content Creation

Web-based Ad-hoc• Drag and drop development

• Users pick template and data set

• Group, filter, sort & aggregate

• Supports all Excel functionality

IT-controlled • Templates controlled by IT

• Metadata secured

• Content can be scheduled, shared & used with Interactive Viewer

Graphical Objects• Built-in charting

• Hide & show elements

• Select themes

Web-based Ad-hoc• Drag and drop development

• Users pick template and data set

• Group, filter, sort & aggregate

• Supports all Excel functionality

IT-controlled • Templates controlled by IT

• Metadata secured

• Content can be scheduled, shared & used with Interactive Viewer

Graphical Objects• Built-in charting

• Hide & show elements

• Select themes

Template-driven developmentTemplate-driven development

BIRT Studio is the only template-driven ad-hoc environment that works within a collaborative design architecture that

includes BIRT Designers & Interactive Viewer

BIRT Studio is the only template-driven ad-hoc environment that works within a collaborative design architecture that

includes BIRT Designers & Interactive Viewer


Improve communication• Common design • Reduces requirements gathering• Supports agile development

practices

Reduce development costs• Reuse improves productivity• Assemble reports from libraries

of components, themes and templates

• Designs can be saved and opened in any BIRT Designer

Collaborative ArchitectureBIRT-driven design sharing drives RIA evolution


QUICK

Create highly functional, integrated applications rapidly

QUICK

Create highly functional, integrated applications rapidly


Quick to Find Experts:Huge Developer Community

Thriving BIRT Community

Eclipse.org• >1,000,000 downloads per

quarter• Developer & commercially

friendly license• Sponsors must build

commercial products

BIRT-Exchange.com• Professionally staffed experts• Extensive contributions• Marketplace applications

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More than 8 million downloads through 2009

More than 8 million downloads through 2009

BIRT Biannual Downloads


Quick: Deployment Flexibility

BIRT + Flash Widgets + IVBIRT + Flash Widgets + IVImplement security &

management

Publish rich PM apps that satisfy users

Publish rich apps outside the firewall

Secure and support millions

of users

Scale, performance,

security, reliability

EmbeddedApplications

Engage users and let them

drive rich apps

BIRT + iServer ExpressBIRT + iServer Express

Single-serverApplications

BIRT + iServer EnterpriseBIRT + iServer Enterprise

EnterpriseApplications

BIRT Open Source + JavaScript

+ SQL

BIRT Open Source + JavaScript

+ SQL

Free OpenSource Tools

Other Open Source VendorsOther Open Source Vendors

ActuateActuate

Traditional BI VendorsTraditional BI Vendors


Quick To Trust: Actuate iServer is Industry Leader in Dependability & Scalability

iServer supports high availability & scalability for mission-critical applications with large user communities

High-availability

Automatic clustering

Job control

Load balancing

Automatic failover

Multi-project support

BIRT iServer Enterprise

Global standard for scale, performance, reliability and security

Information Objects & CachesApplication Scheduling & Management

Security & Application Integration Performance Management

Web Services APIsAlerts & Distribution

Clustering & High Availability Information Console


EVERYWHERE

Place the content where your users are

EVERYWHERE

Place the content where your users are


BIRT Content EverywhereJavaScript API Places Content Where Users Are

Simple to deploy• Load JavaScript library

• Identify server & content

IT-controlled • Secured by iServer

• Delivered in any web page

Many new opportunities• Live active content

• Advertising

• Extended content placemen

Simple to deploy• Load JavaScript library

• Identify server & content

IT-controlled • Secured by iServer

• Delivered in any web page

Many new opportunities• Live active content

• Advertising

• Extended content placemen

JavaScript APIJavaScript API

JavaScript API simplifies BIRT deliveryJavaScript API simplifies BIRT delivery


Seamlessly Integrated Within Environment

All Data Secured• Multi-layered security model

• Standard and JavaScript portlets

• Seamlessly integrates user security

Any Format • Brochure-quality PDF

• Live Excel, PPT, etc…

• Live documents & spreadsheets

• Mobile devices like iPhone & Blackberry

Invisible• Supports your branding

• Integrate Marketing & Upsell opportunities

• Simple, guided interaction & help

All Data Secured• Multi-layered security model

• Standard and JavaScript portlets

• Seamlessly integrates user security

Any Format • Brochure-quality PDF

• Live Excel, PPT, etc…

• Live documents & spreadsheets

• Mobile devices like iPhone & Blackberry

Invisible• Supports your branding

• Integrate Marketing & Upsell opportunities

• Simple, guided interaction & help

Present Content Seamlessly…

…in the palm of

your hand

…in customer portals

…even in blogs


Actuate BIRT Information ApplicationsActuate BIRT Information Applications

• Easily created by BIRT designers & BIRT StudioEasily created by BIRT designers & BIRT Studio

• Each component independently modifiableEach component independently modifiable

• BIRT documents immediately interactiveBIRT documents immediately interactive

• Easily modified by users in Interactive ViewerEasily modified by users in Interactive Viewer

• Easily distributed & managed by iServerEasily distributed & managed by iServer

• AdaptabilityAdaptability is Actuate BIRT’s advantage is Actuate BIRT’s advantageBIRT .rptdesignBIRT .rptdesign

Actuate BIRT is the Universal Container for Adaptable Information Applications

ReusableComponents

RulesJava &

JavaScript ParametersAggregates

Java Applications Intranet Dashboards Extranet Applications

Cache

Business Logic

Web Layout

Charts & Graphs

Flash Widgets

AJAX Interactivity

crosstabs

Java portal / portlet

Web Services

ImagesSQLSQL

data

sets

data

sets

Drill-through

crosstabs


CollaborativeQuick

Visual

InteractiveEverywhere

Modern Customer Requests…

Actuate surpasses these requirementsActuate surpasses these requirements


BIRT Product Line from Actuate

BIRT iServer and BIRT iServer ExpressGlobal standard for scale, performance, reliability and security

BIRT Performance

Scorecard

BIRT OnPerformance

e.Reports

BIRT Studio

BIRT Smartsheet SecurityBIRT Page Level Security

BIRTDesigners &

Viewer

BIRTInteractive

Viewer

Eclipse BIRT Designers and Engine

BIRTSpreadsheets

BIRT Mobile BIRT Mobile


DemoDemo


Why BIRT is great for RIA’s

Developer Productivity• Web 2.0 design metaphor,

• not a banded report writer

• Java & JavaScript Programmability• Reuse component library• Multiple data sources & datasets• Universal container for the app

Versatile Delivery & Deployment• Multiple delivery alternatives

• OSS-embed-workgroup-enterprise

• Page Level Security• iServer dependability• JavaScript API • BIRT Warehouse appliance

Presentation Flexibility• Web 2.0 extensions

• (Flash, AJAX, JavaScript, Java)

• Widgets & dashboards• Ad-hoc reports• Interactive viewing• BIRT Mobile appliance

One BIRT DesignOne BIRT Design


Why Use Actuate for RIAs?

Easy to use self-serve content • Deliver information to MANY people

throughout the enterprise and beyond • Increases user adoption

Make real-time decisions with drill-through

• Arm people with the right information RIGHT NOW to take the right action

• Leverages all existing data-sources in the enterprise

Improves corporate performance• Increases employee accountability• Assure compliance - SOX, Basel II,

HIPPA, local regulators

Scorecards

Dashboards

Details & Visualizations

Insi

ght

Insi

ght

Transparency

TransparencyExcelExcel

One BIRT EnvironmentOne BIRT Environment

Ad-hocAd-hoc


Actuate Information Applications From BIRT

Actuate iServer

Global standard for scale, performance, reliability and security

Actuate Performancesoft

Suite

Forward-looking performancemanagementapplications

BIRT Report Studio

Ad hoc data access

Actuate BIRT Reports &

Dashboards

BIRTBusiness Intelligence and Reporting Tools

Eclipse standard for RIA development

Actuatee.Spreadsheet

Ready-to-analyze

Excel reports

Designers

Actuate BIRT

Actuate BIRT Pro

BIRT RCP

BIRT All-in-1

BIRTInteractive

Viewer

Information Objects & CachesApplication Scheduling & Management

Security & Application Integration Performance Management

Web Services APIsAlerts & Distribution

Clustering & High Availability Information Console

Web-Based Rich Information Applications


Questions?

[email protected]

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