SAP BUSINESSOBJECTS BI TOOLS -

IN A SINGLE DAY - XCELSIUS

SAP TechED 2010 Ingo Hilgefort SAP Canada

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Configure your SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise system

Before we will start using the SAP BusinessObjects reporting tools we will need to configure our SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise system so that we are able to leverage Single Sign On with our SAP credentials.

Configuring the SAP Authentication

1. Logon to the Central Management Console (CMC) via the menu Start > Programs > BusinessObjects XI 3.1 > BusinessObjects Enterprise > BusinessObjects Enterprise Central Management Console

2. As System enter the value Localhost:6400 3. As User Name enter the value administrator (without a password) 4. As Authentication select the entry Enterprise. 5. Click Log On.

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6. Select Authentication. 7. Double-Click the entry SAP. 8. Click New. 9. Enter the system details: 10. Click Update. 11. Navigate to the tab Role Import.

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12. Select the role from the list of available roles and Add the role to the list of Imported Roles. 13. Click Update. 14. Navigate to the tab Entitlement System. 15. Click New. 16. Enter the system details: 17. Click Update. 18. Navigate to the tab Role Import. 19. Select the role from the list of available roles and Add the role to the list of Imported Roles. 20. Click Update. 21. Close the screen. 22. Select the entry Users and Groups from the dropdown list

23. Select the entry Group List on the left-hand side.

24. Select the two newly added User Group:

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25. Click the button Actions. 26. Select the option Join Group. 27. Select the entry Group List. 28. Select the entry Administrators from the list and add it to the list of Destination Groups. 29. Click OK. You are now able to leverage your SAP credentials in combination with SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise.

Starting the SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise Services

1. In the Central Management Console select the entry Servers from the dropdown list. 2. Navigate to the entry Service Categories.

3. Select the category Core Services. 4. Select all server entries shown on the right hand side 5. Right click and use the menu item Start Server. 6. Select the category Crystal Reports. 7. Select all server entries shown on the right hand side 8. Right click and use the menu item Start Server.

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9. Repeat these steps for the categories:

a. Voyager b. Web Intelligence

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Xcelsius 2008 and SAP NetWeaver BW

With Xcelsius 2008 Service Pack 02 and SAP NetWeaver 7.01 SP05 you are able to create a direct connectivity from Xcelsius to your BW system.

SAP NetWeaver BW

BW MDXODS OLAP Universe

Xcelsius

Data Federator

Crystal Reports Web Intelligence

Live Office

Query as a Web Service

SAP ERP

BEx Query

InfoSetClassic

InfoSets

SAP

Queries

ABAP

Functions

Table

and

Cluster

DSO

BI Client

BEx Query

Transient

Provider

SAP Table,

Cluster and

Function

SAP InfoSet

InfoProvider

Multi

ProviderInfoCube

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Below you can see a generic overview of some of the important SAP NetWeaver BW query elements and how these elements are used in Xcelsius 2008 using the direct SAP NetWeaver BW connectivity.

BW Query Element Xcelsius Designer Element

Characteristic Each characteristic in the actual dataset is being retrieved based on the settings in the BW query. Settings in regards to elements like key, short text, medium text, and long text are being leveraged from the BW query. In addition each characteristic is also available with a list of members which can be used for filtering or provide a list of values for variables.

Hierarchies Each level of the hierarchy will be presented as a column in the data set. The depth of the hierarchy depends on the configured number of levels in the BW query designer.

Keyfigures Each keyfigure can be shown as plain numeric value or as formatted value based on the user preferences. This choice can be made for each SAP NetWeaver BW connection configured in the Xcelsius Designer Data Manager.

Calculated / Restricted Keyfigure Each calculated / restricted keyfigure is treated like a keyfigure. The user does not have access to the underlying definition in the Xcelsius designer.

Filter Filters will be applied to the underlying query and the user has access to the configured filter values and can use those values for display purposes. In addition the user can set additional filter values for characteristics from the underlying BW query during the runtime of the Xcelsius object.

Navigational Attributes Navigational Attributes are being treated identical to a characteristic.

Display Attribute Display attributes can be used for a list of values and can become part of the overall dataset. In the actual dataset a display attribute can only be shown in combination with the actual characteristic.

Variables Variables from the BW query are transferred to Xcelsius as part of the connection and will be shown as variables in the Input Values area of the SAP NetWeaver BI connection settings.

Structure A single item with several rows

Conditions Fully Supported

Display Settings Fully supported

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In the next couple of steps I will use an example query and explain how the elements are made available to you in the Xcelsius Data Manager. My sample SAP NetWeaver BW query is based on the SAP NetWeaver Demo model InfoProvider 0D_NW_M01 and contains the following elements, as shown below.

Characteristics: Country and Region

Free characteristic: Calendar Year

Key figures: Net Sales and Product Costs

After we connected to the BW system and selected the BW query in the Xcelsius Data Manager you will receive several elements in the Input and Output of the connection screens

As you can see above, the Output Values section provides access to the Characteristics, Variables, defined filters, error messages, and additional information about the data and the SAP NetWeaver BW query. Starting with the Characteristic option, each characteristic that is part of the SAP NetWeaver BW query is presented with several detailed fields that you can use as part of your dashboard.

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You can see that each characteristic has a set of fields as part of the Members Value Help. You can use these fields to retrieve lists of members that you can then use for selector components (e.g., a drop-down box) to offer an easy way for users to select values. You can then use the selected values and pass them to a variable in the SAP NetWeaver BW query. The Variables area of the Output Values section contains a similar list of fields. Here you can receive a list of values that is valid for the defined variable. The reasons for having this functionality for characteristics separate from the variables are:

You can receive a list of values for all characteristics, even those without variables, and define filtering in the Xcelsius dashboard

You can use variables in the SAP NetWeaver BW query without actually using the underlying characteristic in the SAP NetWeaver BW query

Static Filter gives you access to any defined filters in the SAP NetWeaver BW query (Figure 6). This allows you to use the information and display it as part of your overall dashboard.

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The Information area provides access to more detailed information about the SAP NetWeaver BW query. You might be familiar with these items from the BEx Analyzer tool, where they are called BEx Textelements.

The Messages are allows you to include upcoming error messages and display this information as part of your dashboard.

After finishing with the Definitions tab, click the Data Preview tab. Here you can preview the data as well as rearrange the elements from the SAP NetWeaver BW query to form the data structure for your Xcelsius dashboard.

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In my example, the characteristics are shown as I placed them in the SAP NetWeaver BW query:

Country and Region in Rows

Calendar year in Free Characteristics However, you can use drag-and-drop functionality or the buttons at the bottom of the left side of the screen to place the objects as you need them for your dashboard. You can also overwrite the original SAP NetWeaver BW query structure and define which elements you want to receive as part of the data set. (This part of the Data Preview makes it one of the most used options in the connection.) In regards to the returned data set, it is really important to understand the format of the data that is returned to you. In addition to the DATA PREVIEW tab and the number of columns that you define, your dataset will also have at least two rows of data that provide more details about the data.

As shown in the figure above you will identify that the first two rows of data do contain additional information about the dataset by providing, on the one hand the labels, but also information about the unit and the actual scaling of the keyfigure. Keep this in mind when creating your Xcelsius dashboards, which at least these first two rows will always be there in addition to the actual results. In addition you will also recognize in the figure shown above that the result set includes a row representing the OVERALL RESULT. This might not always be what you would like to retrieve for your actual dashboard.

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In case you would like to avoid this row for the overall result you need to configure for each characteristic in the BW query designer the option RESULT ROWS to the option ALWAYS SUPPRESS.

For the next set of steps we create a BEx Query based on the SAP NetWeaver Demo model 0D_NW_M01.

We will now go ahead and create our Xcelsius dashboard: 1. Start the Xcelsius Designer via the menu Start>Programs>Xcelsius>Xcelsius 2008.

2. Select the menu Data > Connections.

3. Click ADD.

4. Select the entry SAP NetWeaver BI Connection.

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Figure 2: Xcelsius Data Manager

5. Click Browse and logon to the SAP system outlined in the beginning of the document.

6. Select the BW query QUERY_XCELSIUS.

7. On the Definition Tab name the connection DATA CONNECTION.

8. Click ADD.

9. Select the entry SAP NetWeaver BI Connection.

10. Click Browse and logon to the SAP system outlined in the beginning of the document.

11. Select the BW query QUERY_XCELSIUS.

12. On the Definition Tab name the connection LIST OF VALUES COUNTRY

13. Click ADD.

14. Select the entry SAP NetWeaver BI Connection.

15. Click Browse and logon to the SAP system outlined in the beginning of the document.

16. Select the BW query QUERY_XCELSIUS.

17. On the Definition Tab name the connection LIST OF VALUES REGION

18. Select the Connection DATA CONNECTION.

19. Now navigate to the Data Preview tab.

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20. Move the characteristic Product to the rows and ensure all other characteristics are part of the Free

Characteristics.

21. Click the button Refresh Data Preview to see a preview of the result set.

22. Navigate to the tab Usage.

23. Activate the option Refresh Before Components Are loaded.

24. Navigate back to the tab Definition.

25. Select the entry Crosstab Data in the Output Values.

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26. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells A1 to B20 in Sheet 1.

27. Click OK.

28. Select the entry Country in the Input Area.

29. Use the next to Read from and select the cells D1 in Sheet 1.

30. Select the entry Region in the Input Area.

31. Use the next to Read from and select the cells E1 in Sheet 1.

32. Select the Connection LIST OF VALUES COUNTRY

33. Navigate to the tab Usage.

34. Activate the option Refresh Before Components Are loaded.

35. Navigate back to the tab Definition.

36. Select the Key value from the value help area for the characteristic Country in the Output Values

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37. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells G1 to G20 in Sheet 1.

38. Select the Text value from the value help area for the characteristic Country in the Output Values

39. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells H1 to H20 in Sheet 1.

40. Select the Connection LIST OF VALUES REGION

41. Navigate to the tab Usage.

42. Activate the option Refresh Before Components Are loaded.

43. Navigate back to the tab Definition.

44. Select the Key value from the value help area for the characteristic Region in the Output Values

45. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells J1 to J20 in Sheet 1.

46. Select the Text value from the value help area for the characteristic Region in the Output Values

47. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells K1 to K20 in Sheet 1.

48. Select the entry Country in the Input Area.

49. Use the next to Read from and select the cells D1 in Sheet 1.

50. Navigate to the tab Usage.

51. Use the next to Trigger Cell and select the cells D1 in Sheet 1.

52. Select the option When Value Changes.

53. Click Close.

54. Drag and Drop a Combo Box from the Selectors to your canvas.

55. Select the Combo Box and open the properties with a right click.

56. Use the and configure the cells for the Labels to be H1 to H20

57. Set the Insertion Type to Value

58. Use the and configure the cells for the Source Data to be G1 to G20

59. Use the and configure the cell for the Destination to be D1.

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60. Drag and Drop a second Combo Box from the Selectors to your canvas.

61. Select the Combo Box and open the properties with a right click.

62. Use the and configure the cells for the Labels to be K1 to K20

63. Set the Insertion Type to Value

64. Use the and configure the cells for the Source Data to be J1 to J20

65. Use the and configure the cell for the Destination to be E1.

66. Drag and Drop a Pie Chart to your canvas below the combo boxes.

67. Select the pie chart and open the properties with a right click.

68. Enter Revenue by Product as Title and remove the subtitle.

69. Use the and configure the cells for the Values to be B3 to B20.

70. Use the and configure the cells for the Labels to be A3 to A20.

71. Use the option Data in Columns

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72. Navigate to the area Behavior.

73. Activate the option In Values.

74. Right Click on the chart.

75. Use the menu item Send to Back.

76. Open the menu Date > Connections.

77. Select your connection DATA CONNECTION.

78. Navigate to the tab Usage.

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79. Use the and configure the cells for the Trigger Cell to be F1.

80. Activate the option When Value Changes.

81. Close the Data Manager.

82. Enter the formula =D1&E1 into the cell F1.

83. Use the menu SAP > Publish and save your Xcelsius file to the SAP NetWeaver BW system.

84. Use the menu SAP > Launch to see your dashboard.

2010 SAP AG. All rights reserved. SAP, R/3, SAP NetWeaver, Duet, PartnerEdge, ByDesign, SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and other countries. Business Objects and the Business Objects logo, BusinessObjects, Crystal Reports, Crystal Decisions, Web Intelligence, Xcelsius, and other Business Objects products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects Software Ltd. in the United States and in other countries. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Data contained in this document serves informational purposes only. National product specifications may vary. These materials are subject to change without notice. These materials are provided by SAP AG and its affiliated companies ("SAP Group") for informational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind, and SAP Group shall not be liable for errors or omissions with respect to the materials. The only warranties for SAP Group products and services are those that are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services, if any. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.