Tips and Tricks Using SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence PDF

Tips and tricks using SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.
0 on
top of SAP Netweaver Business Warehouse data. (#512)
Gregory Botticchio / Patrice Le Bihan
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Real Experience. Real Advantage.
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Agenda
Selecting the Right SAP BusinessObjects BI Client

Why SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence ?

Implementation Best Practices for Web Intelligence on SAP NetWeaver BW
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Selecting the Right SAP
BusinessObjects BI Client

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SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions provide business users with access to unified information
through a broad suite of BI tools for confident decision making and alignment across people and
teams on a single, scalable BI platform
Dashboards and
Visualization
How do I visualize
data for better
decision making?
Dashboards
How do I answer
ad hoc questions
and interact with
information?
Interactive
Reporting
Web
Intelligence
Data Exploration
How do I find
immediate answers
to business
questions?
Explorer
How do I determine
trends from
complex historical
data and possibly
make better
forecasts?
Analysis
Analysis, Edition
for Office & OLAP
How do I access
and transform
corporate data into
highly formatted
reports for greater
insight?
Reporting
Crystal Reports
BI Application
Design
How can IT create
centrally from
simple to complex
BI applications for a
larger audience ?
Analysis, Edition
for Application
Design
SAP BusinessObjects BI Client Portfolio
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Different Needs Require Different Experience
Executive
Individual Contributor
Middle Management
Business Analyst
Information
Placeholder
text
Placeholder
text
Placeholder
text
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Analysis, edition
for OLAP
Analysis, edition for
Microsoft Office
Web Intelligence
Business
Analyst
Microsoft Office
Crystal Reports
Web Intelligence
Individual
Contributor
Microsoft Office
SAP BusinessObjects
Dashboards
Analysis, edition
for OLAP
Middle
Management
SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards
SAP BusinessObjects Explorer
Executive
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Your consumer is driving the business requirements

We will focus on the consumer of reports and analytics in this presentation
IT will always play a role as part of your BI deployment to build the foundation

Setting up BEx Queries
Creating pre-defined workbooks
Building BI & Planning Applications
Dashboard Design
Setting up BEx Queries
Setting up connections
Report Design
IT
Crystal
Reports
Web
Intelligence
Dashboards
Analysis
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Why SAP BusinessObjects
Web Intelligence ?

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The Solution: Business Intelligence (BI)
Placeholder
text
Access
Format, layout
add context
Share,
distribute
Analyze
Business User
Information
usage
Life Cycle

Understand aggregates, details and
relationships & interdependencies
with other content
Communicate content to a
small or broad audience.
Users can start at any point in the cycle, interacting even with highly
formatted content created & shared by others
Interact with formatted reports to explore
and answer new questions
Ask questions on existing analytic
content or based on corporate
and personal data sources
Other users access/personalize
to their contexts
inside/outside their work
environment, Push and pull
information
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Why Web Intelligence ?
Report Design
Report Consumption
Share and re-use
Web Intelligence 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW

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Self-Service Access to Data
Empowers End Users to Do Their Own Reports and Analyses
Business Metadata
Access heterogeneous
data sources
User-defined
Queries
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Streamlined access to all corporate data sources
Unique options for bringing BW and 3
rd
-party data together
Best access method for each specific data source: SAP, RDBMS, OLAP
Multi-source universes with built-in data federation for SAP and RDBMS
Dimensional universes for 3rd-party OLAP data sources
Reporting, dashboards, ad-hoc, data
exploration
3
rd
-party
Data
Warehouse
Analysis
SQL
Universes (Unv)
3
rd
-party
OLAP
Server
MDX
MDX
3
rd
-party
OLAP
Server
SAP NetWeaver BW
BEx Query
InfoProviders
Multi-Source Universes (Unx)
SQL BAPI
BICS
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Access to heterogeneous data sources
Combine multiple data sources within a report
Synchronize different BEx queries with a
common dimension.

Merge BEx queries with other data
provider such other RDBMS or Excel file
Merged
dimensions for
data
synchronization
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Unified experience across all data
sources with new semantic layer

For OLAP sources:
Query Stripping: Improved
performance by
automatically removing
unused objects
Integration of hierarchical
concepts into query panel
user experience
Common User Experience Across All Data Sources

Selection in
value-based
hierarchies
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Analysis Your Way
Interactive Analysis Combined with Free-form Reporting

Analyze with few clicks
Analyze with few clicks
Context related
right click menu
Rich feature set
Drag and drop
Organized tool bar
Analysis Your Way
Interactive Analysis Combined with Free-Form Reporting
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Heat maps, tree maps
New look Tag Clouds
Bubble charts
Adaptability, Stunning Visualization
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Dimensional concepts
integrated into rich
reporting model
Navigate directly into
the report hierarchies to
find root causes
Dimensional
charting
Navigate and Report Hierarchical Data
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Report Design
Report Consumption
Share and re-use

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Gain Business Insight with Interactive Reports and Analysis
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Why Web intelligence ?
Online and Offline Analysis from New or Existing Reports
Mobilize Web Intelligence Content
Make informed decisions with instant access
to personalized information

Leverage existing BI investments & skills to
quickly reach mobile users

Ensure secure access to information across a
range of devices

Receive alerts on critical events

Investigate problems and opportunities

Take immediate action

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Report Design
Report Consumption
Share and re-use

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Share and Re-Use Web Intelligence reports across the suite
Web Intelligence
Analysis, Edition for OLAP
Analysis, Edition for Office
BI Workspaces
BI Mobile
Export
(PDF, XLS)
via Scheduling or
Report Bursting
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Report Design
Report Consumption
Share and re-use
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Direct dimensional access to your BEx Queries
No need to create a Universe
Support of hierarchies and dimensional
metadata
Hierarchical query panel
Member selector
Hierarchical navigation
Member functions
Hierarchical report output
Hierarchical columns
Fold unfold
Level totals
Hierarchical graphics
Multi-data provider synchronization
Hierarchical formulas on report

Web Intelligence 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW / Direct Access via BICS
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Authored with the information design tool
Create a data foundation and a
business layer based on multiple
SQL connections
Create multi source joins and
derived tables
Source independence through SQL
92 and Data Federator functions,
while keeping the ability to use
native SQL when necessary
Benefits
Federate different databases: OLTP
and DWH, SAP BW, SAS, flat files
Lower TCO for integration projects
(no complex ETL to put in place)
May in some cases, remove the need
for a consolidated DWH

Web Intelligence 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW / Multi-Source Universe (Relational)
Orange tables are from Microsoft SQL server
Blue tables are from SAP BW
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Web Intelligence 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW / What it is not

The Direct BEx Access does not derail Web Intelligence from its original value
proposition.
Web Intelligence is not an OLAP analysis tool.
Prefer using Analysis, Editions for Office or OLAP for pure OLAP capabilities

BEx query + Web Intelligence = Interactive Analysis off BW
Interactive Analysis is focused on low-end analysis capabilities for the non-specialist on all data sources
Ability to combine and merge BW and non BW data in the same report

BEx query + Analysis = OLAP Analysis off BW
Both editions of SBO Analysis are the OLAP analysis offerings in BI 4.0
Focused on high-end analysis workflow for OLAP sources as opposed to interactive analysis
Comparable to BEx Analyzer in the BEx Suite for BW
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Implementation Best Practices
for Web Intelligence on SAP
NetWeaver BW

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BEx Query Design
Consumption of BEx Queries
Restrictions and Additional Information
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Overall recommendation
BEx Queries are recommended as data sources for all the SAP BusinessObjects BI
products
BEx Queries offer significant functionality to create customized data sources that meet
end-user requirements, such as Calculated Key figures, Restricted Key figures and SAP
Variables.

You do NOT want one BEx Query per report
(. and not one BEx Query for all reports either)
Focus the implementation strategy on limiting the number of BEx Queries by sharing
common elements
The BI Client tool and report definition is the primary influence factor on how much data
is being retrieved from SAP NetWeaver BW
Ensure the right audience has access to the right level of details; ad hoc reporting on very
open BEx queries may lead to poor performance

Best Practices on BEx Query Design
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Allow External Access option has to be set in the properties of the BEx query

Placement of Characteristics / Key Figures have no direct impact on BI tools

For large sets of key figures, use the option - Use Selection of Structure Members in
transaction RSRT (Query Monitor) as part of the Query Properties

Leverage the capabilities of the Restricted Key and Calculated Key Figures

Leverage SAP Variables as part of the BEx Query
Can be shared across queries, minimizing development downstream
List of Values are being generated automatically
Limits the amount of cells a user will retrieve at one time
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Time based structures / calculations
Leverage EXIT Variables as part of the BEx query

Data Level Security & SAP NetWeaver BW
Use BI authorizations for data level security

Remember there is no Universe on top of your BEx Query
All changes to descriptions need to be part of your BEx Query
All variables / prompts need to be part of your BEx Query
Report based filters can not be shared across
All necessary calculations should become part of your BEx Query
Performance Consideration
Allows sharing across multiple BEx Queries and reports

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OLAP Connections in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0
You can define an OLAP Connection that points to
your SAP NetWeaver BW system
your InfoProvider
your BEx Query

Consider how you are securing your BEx Queries today
If already using BI Authorizations to restrict access BEx Queries and InfoProviders, a
single connection to SAP NetWeaver BW is an option

also consider your report designers
A single connection will mean to navigate the InfoArea > InfoProvider levels for each
report design

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BEx Query Design
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A number of restrictions can prevent the reusability of some BEx query features

It is recommended to properly assess the BEx queries to be reused with Web
Intelligence.

Be ready to build queries optimized for Web Intelligence

Those which fit Analysis may not fit Web Intelligence.

Best Practices on BEx Query Consumption
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Support for hierarchical member selection
Support for hierarchical parameters
Support for hierarchies in charts and
crosstab

Support for delegated measures
Support for hierarchical report design
Switching between hierarchies on the fly
Level based member selection
Showing Leaves only / Lowest Level of the
hierarchy

Expand to Level as a configuration
option

Skipping Levels of a hierarchy
Ranking data along hierarchies
Support of hierarchical chart
Hierarchical Reporting
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Single Value Variable
Multi Single Value Variable
Internal Variable
Selection Option Variable
Hierarchy Version Variable
Text Variable
Exit Variable
Single Key Date Variable
Multiple Key Date Variable
Formula Variable
Mandatory Values for Variables
Default Values for Variables
Variable Dependency
Hierarchy Variable
Hierarchy Node Variable
Variables
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Member Selection
Multi Member Selection
Prompts on member selection
Level based member selection
Showing Leaves only / Lowest Level of the
hierarchy

Expand to Level as a configuration option
Skipping Levels of a hierarchy
Member selector
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BEx Query Design
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Features Description Recommendation
Saved Variant Some organizations have popularized the
use of saved variant. The consequence is
that queries are highly parametized (lots of
variables)
Build specific queries and make reports highly interactive
to reduce the need for saved variant.
Query Condition Top N/Bottom N, KeyFigures > #, etc Removed the condition from the query. Result is
different. Alternative is to put the condition in the WebI
query if possible.
Local Calculation Result Row/Column & Sub-Total are
computed differently in Web Intelligence
No need to rebuild the BEx query. Webi will ignore the
calculation. Alternative is to calculate locally in WebI.
%GT, %RT, %CT, SUMGT,
SUMRT, SUMCT, LEAF
Calculation will be different in webi. Can
lead to mis-interpretation of the data
Avoid such function, do not publish a query when such
function is found. Alternative is to calculate in WebI.
Refer to the Web Intelligence documentation for all the details:
http://help.sap.com/businessobject/product_guides/boexir4/en/xi4_ia_en.pdf (section Building reports on Bex
queries)
Restrictions you need to know
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Features Description
Sorting & hierarchy Sorting a hierarchy is based on the order of the member in the underlying system. Sorting on a
measure does not preserve the order of member within a hierarchy in the same table. For this reason
the system is showing the hierarchy flattened in a table where the sort is applied on a measure.
Filter on Hierarchy A report/table filter where there is a hierarchy may remove rows without respecting the hierarchy
structure. For this reason, a filter can remove a parent node currently expanded and keep leaves or
nodes collapsed. To avoid returning an empty table in this case the system automatically expands the
hierarchy in the block to shows the resulting members.
Ranking & hierarchy A ranking on a table where there is hierarchy is not taking in account the hierarchy structure of the
data. For this reason, any hierarchy in a table where the user defines a ranking becomes flat.
Break on measures or
details
A break is always associated with sort on the object where it is applied. For this reason in that case,
any hierarchy in the table the break applies the hierarchy becomes flat. The user can remove the break
on the underlying object to restore the hierarchy.
#TOREFRESH for the
measure
Delegated measure returns #TOREFRESH when the required agregation is not available in the query.
User has to refresh to get the new level of agregation.
#UNAVAILABLE for the
measure
Delegated measure returns #UNAVAILABLE if it is asked in a context of formula on a dimension, not
in the context of the agregation of the measure. It is recommanded to create a variable on top of this
formula, as a detail of the original dimensionand include (but hidden) the original dimension in the
block.
Restrictions you need to know when using hierarchies in blocks
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Bex scalling factor support
Merge dimension by details
Delegated measures which aggregates with sum function, will aggregate locally in sum in WebI
Zero suppression (not specific to BEx queries)
Disable member selection when Hierarchy Node variable exists to prevent data inconsistency
Prefix Key and Name attributes with parent name
Hierarchy variable exists: remove hierarchies from query panel other than default hierarchy

Enhance change source from a OLAP BW universe (UNV) to BICS
Enable free mapping between source universe (UNV) objects and target BEx objects
Some mapping constraints are maintained: filters from source can only map to filters in the
target source

Additional BW Integration
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42
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Thank you for participating.
SESSION CODE: 512
Gregory Botticchio
gregory.botticchio@sap.com

Patrice Le Bihan:
patrice.le.bihan@sap.com
@PatriceAtSAP

Please remember to complete and return your
evaluation form following this session.
For ongoing education on this area of focus, visit the
Year-Round Community page at www.asug.com/yrc

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43
Appendix

For additional information :
Session #4412: Strategies for Selecting the Right BI Client Product Based on Your Own
Requirements
SAP BusinessObjects BI Solution Architecture :
www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/bi-solution-architecture

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SAP BusinessObjects 4.x Connectivity for SAP NetWeaver BW
Meta-Data Support for BEx Queries
BEx Query Element Web
Intelligence
(BICS)
Analysis,
edition for
MS Office &
OLAP
Universe
(Relational)
InfoProvider Dimension
Characteristic
Hierarchies
Custom Structures
Navigational Attribute
Display Attribute

Key Figure
Unit / Currency
Calculated Key Figure
Restricted Key Figure
Compounded Characteristics
Defaults in the BEx Query
Constant Selection
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Intelligence
(BICS)
Analysis,
edition for
MS Office
& OLAP
Universe
(Relational)
Single Value Variable
Multi Single Value Variable
Interval Variable
Selection Option Variable
Hierarchy Variable
Hierarchy Node Variable
Hierarchy Version Variable
Text Variable
EXIT Variable
Single Key Date Variable
Multiple Key Data Variable
Formula Variable
Default Values for Variables
[
Intelligence
(BICS)
Analysis,
edition for
MS Office &
OLAP
Universe
(Relational)
Scaling Factor

Number of Decimals

Display Result Rows (top / bottom)
-
Suppress Result Rows
-
Calculate Result as (local calculation)

Display as hierarchy

Sorting

Hide / Unhide

Reverse +/- signage

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Intelligence
(BICS)
Analysis,
edition for MS
Office & OLAP
Conditions in rows

Conditions in columns

Conditions on selected characteristic

Exceptions

Empty / non empty

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Multi-Source Universe - Possible workarounds
BEx Query Elements Relational Universe
Calculated / Restricted Keyfigures Define calculated measures as part of the Universe
Variables Define prompts as part of the Universes or Web Intelligence Query Panel.
Not possible for EXIT variables or variables filled through authorizations
Currency and Unit Conversion Possible with manual modeling of tables with conversion rates in the SAP
BusinessObjects Universe Designer and joins in Data Federator.
Display Attributes Possible with joins from InfoProvider to the master data tables in the Universe.
External BW Hierarchies No Workaround
Conditions Use filters on measures.

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