xcelsius connectivity options.pdf
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Xcelsius Connectivity Options.pdfTRANSCRIPT
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Presented by: Mico Yuk & Ryan Goodman
Date: June 10th, 2009
When NOT to Utilize SAP Business Objects Enterprisefor your Dashboard?
Xcelsius Gurus: Part 2 - Data Connectivity Series
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Mico YukFounder – http://www.EverythingXcelsius.com (popular weblog)
Founder - Xcelsius Guru Network
Xcelsius Trainer / Developer / Architect / Blogger/ Fanatic
Ryan GoodmanFounder – http://www.CentigonSolutions.com (SAP SoftwareSolution Partner)
Xcelsius Evangelist / Blogger (ryangoodman.net/blog)
SAP BOBJ Alumni
Who are We?
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 3
Quick Agenda Preview & Links
Mico IntroductionRecap of Part 1: Utilizing BOE Connections for Xcelsius
Review Xcelsius 12 Connectivity Options (BOE vs. Non-BOE)
Ryan DiscussesXML Maps vs. XML Data Button vs. SOAP Web Service Connection
Soap Web Services
Mico discussesExcel XML Maps
XML Data
Ryan ClosesApplication Integration (Flash Vars, Custom Components)
Custom Components (New data connectivity Option!)
Stay Connected to the Xcelsius Gurus Network
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 4
Part 1: Recap Webinar Highlights
Webinar Part 1 (click to view)Use Live office when connecting to Webi and/or Crystal Reports as a DataSource
Use Query as a Web Service when connecting to one or more Universes
Live screenshots showing how to use both connections!
Dashboard Builder provides new exciting options for Xcelsius
Download the Presentation
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 5
Data MangerHouses Xcelsius 12 live data connectivity options. Userswith Engage and Enterprise licenses are allowed to mixconnection types in a single dashboard!
Xcelsius Data Manager
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 6
Xcelsius 12 Connectivity Options
Non - BO Enterprise BO EnterpriseWeb Service Connection
XML Data
Portal Data
LCDS Connection (Adobe)
External InterfaceConnections
Excel XML Maps
(Add-on) GoogleSpreadsheet Connector
Query as a Web Service
Live Office
Crystal Report DataConsumer
Flash Variables
FS Commands
Non-BO Enterprise vs. BO Enterprise
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Side-by-Side Comparison
Architecture Overview
Developer Caveats
Excel XML Maps vs. XML Data vs. Web ServiceConnections
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 8
XML Connectivity - Comparison
Web Service
• Invoke SOAPweb services
• Configurationthrough WSDL
XML Data
• Send or LoadXML
• Specific XMLschema
Excel XMLMaps
• Read Only XMLConnection
• Use of ExcelXML Mapsfeature
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 9
HTTPData PublishedClient DevelopmentMiddleware
XML Connectivity – Design Time
Xcelsius SWF
WebService
ExcelXML
Maps
XMLData
Any XMLstructure
.NET/J2EE
SOAP
<row><column>structure
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 10
HTTPData PublishedMiddleware
XML Connectivity – Run Time
SWFAny XML Structure.NET/J2EE
SOAP
<row><column> Structure
XML Data
Excel XML Maps
Web Service
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 11
XML Connectivity - Caveats
Developer CaveatsBoth have the same data volume restrictions for Xcelsius
Require additional skill sets to and knowledge of J2EE/.NET andweb services
SOAP Web services are difficult to write
Xcelsius will not support all SOAP web service configurations.
XML Data Button has non-flexible, flat <row><column> structure.
Excel XML Maps requires lots of steps to set up, though XMLstructure is extremely flexible
Database write back capabilities can only be accomplished withXML Data and Web Service connections
Xcelsius Engage only allows 1 data connection
Use Fiddler for troubleshooting: http://fiddler2.com
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Example
Benefits
DO’s / DONT’s (Scenarios)
Ryan discusses Web Services…
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
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Web Service Connector Benefits
4 Reasons to use Web Service Connections….
1. Non-technical Xcelsius designers can easily configure services using WSDLinput and output nodes.
2. More structure and control over data output
3. Potential use for data base write-back
4. flynet Viewer eliminates writing web services from scratch(Included with Xcelsius 2008 Engage Server)
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 25
flynet Viewer - Architecture
HTTPData PublishedClient DevelopmentMiddlewareIIS (.NET)
Xcelsius
SWF
WebService
SOAPWeb
Service
WSDL
Publish
http://flynetviewer.com
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 26
flynet Viewer - Architecture
Data PublishedMiddlewareIIS (.NET)
SWFSOAPWeb
Service
SOAP
Web Service
http://flynetviewer.com
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 27
flynet Viewer – Data Sources
Connects to 30+
data sources
http://flynetviewer.com
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 28
Web Service Connection DO’s
5 Scenarios …1. DO use separate tabs for each data source
2. DO use the Microsoft SOAP standard for building webservices for Xcelsius
3. DO Use String data types
4. DO Use arrays
5. DO Take advantage of Flynet viewer
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 29
Web Service Connection DON’Ts
5 Scenarios ….X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %, “,”)
X DO NOT trigger all queries to “Refresh on Load”
X DO NOT place formulas in data output cells
X DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time
X DO NOT use complex data types in SOAP web services
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Example
Benefits
DO’s / DONT’s (Scenarios)
Mico discusses using Excel XML Maps …
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
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Excel XML Map Benefits
3 Reasons to use the Excel XML Map….1. When you need to load an XML or XML stream directly into
your dashboard
2. Already familiar with technology
3. Excel based and can be configured in Excel externally beforeimporting spreadsheet into Excel
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 43
Excel XML Map DO’s
5 Scenarios …1. DO enable the task pane in Excel 2003 to access XML Maps
window
2. DO enable the developer toolbar in Excel 2007 to accessXML Maps window
3. DO Use XML Maps for read-only connectivity requirements
4. DO Delete Re-import your Excel XML Maps connection inXcelsius when your XML structure changes
5. DO reference Xcelsius 2008 Best Practice Book, chapter 15for more information (includes sample files)
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 44
Excel XML Map DON’Ts
6 Scenarios ...X DO NOT use the home and student versions of Excel
X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %, “,”)
X DO NOT create an excessive amount of queries
X DO NOT trigger all queries to “Refresh on Load”
X DO NOT place formulas in data output cells
X DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Example
Benefits
DO’s / DONT’s (Scenarios)
Mico discusses the XML Data Connection…
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 46
XML Data Connection DO’s
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XML Data Connection Benefits
3 Reasons to use the XML Data Connection….1. Utilize the ASP .NET script in guide to connect
2. Simple and provides ability to write back to database
3. Ability to query database based on filters
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 48
XML Data Connection DO’s
5 Scenarios …1. DO specify XML version in header of output XML
2. DO use the Preview button to obtain exact XML structure
3. DO change IE setting to avoid caching of data or us a RAND()variable at the end of the URL
4. DO preview the service in the browser before importing intoXcelsius
5. DO Use Fiddler for troubleshooting
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 49
XML Data Connection DON’Ts
7 Scenarios ….X DO NOT include any data in the XML header
X DO NOT deviate from the specific <ROW><COLUMN> xmlstructure
X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %, “,”)
X DO NOT create an excessive amount of connections
X DO NOT trigger all connections to “Refresh on Load”
X DO NOT place formulas in data output cells
X DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Crossdomain.xml
Portal Data
LCDS Connections (Adobe)
Flash Variables
External Interface Connection
Ryan discusses Application Integration…
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 51
Crossdomain.xml
Data Portal or WebSite
Application/Web Server
SWF.NET/J2EE
Web Service
CrossDomain.XML
<?xml version="1.0"?><!DOCTYPE cross-domain-policy SYSTEM"http://www.macromedia.com/xml/dtds/cross-domain-policy.dtd"><cross-domain-policy>
<allow-http-request-headers-from domain="*"headers="*" secure="false" />
<allow-access-from domain="*" secure="false" /></cross-domain-policy>
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 52
No Crossdomain.xml
Data Application/Web Server
SWF
.NET/J2EE
No Crossdomain.xml file is required if:
1. If the SWF and service are locatedon the same application/web server
2. The URL for the web service isrelative to the SWF
3. If the SWF is launched from yourdesktop
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 53
External Interface Connection
Additional Features to take advantage of…
1. Loading data into an Xcelsius SWF using JavaScript
2. Communicate with Java or active X controls in real-time
HTML<SCRIPT language="Javascript">
Dashboard (SWF)
External InterfaceConnection
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Flash VariablesHTMLFLASHVARS=“abc123”
Dashboard (SWF)
abc123
Pass parameters to into a SWF on-load
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LCDS Connection (Adobe)
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/livecycle/pdfs/streaming_xcelsius.pdf
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 57
Portal Connections
WebSphere or SharePoint Portal
Dashboard (SWF)
Dashboard (SWF)
Provider
Consumer
SWF to SWF communication in WebSphere and Sharepoint
Xcelsius Portal Integration Kits are available with the Engage Server and
Enterprise products
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009
Centigon NEW CSV Connector – ‘No more XML’
Add- on: Google Spreadsheet Connector
Ryan discusses Custom Connections…
Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus
@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 59
CSV Connector
Dashboard (SWF)
CSV Connector
Connect directly to CSV files from Xcelsius
http://wwww.centigonsolutions.com/components/csv_beta.html
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Google Spreadsheet
Connect directly to Google spreadsheets
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/innovation-center
Dashboard (SWF)
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Stay connected…
For more Guru tips, tricks, news, videos, etc.Visit: http://EverythingXcelsius.com
Mico YukEmail: [email protected]
Company: Everything Xcelsius
Ryan GoodmanEmail: [email protected]
Company: Centigon Solutions
http://www.centigonsolutions.com
http://www.twitter.com/XcelsiusGurus
Join our popular Xcelsius Guru social communities…
http://www.youtube.com/XcelsiusGurus
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