Best Practices For SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 in Combination With SAP NetWeaver

Best Practices for SAP BusinessObjects 4.
0
in combination with SAP NetWeaver
Ingo Hilgefort
Director Solution Management
Customer Insight & Action
Agenda
Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Hierarchical Reporting Capabilities
BI Content Lifecycle Management
Migrating XI 3.x BI Content to SAP BusinessObjects 4.x
SAP NetWeaver and SAP BusinessObjects BI Landscape Implications
Best Practices on BEx Query Design
This presentation and SAPs strategy and possible future developments are subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. This document is provided
without a warranty of any kind either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.
Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support
SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Direct Access via BICS
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

Multi-Source Universes
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 database vendors, 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

Direct Access via BICS or Multi Source Universe
Direct BICS Connection
Re-uses your existing BEx Queries

Connectivity is shared across all BI client tools
Provides hierarchical meta-data
One Connection can point to multiple BEx
Queries ( Multi-Source)
Allows to connect to SAP ERP via Transient
Provider (ECC 6 EhP05)
Support for BEx Query elements, such as
structures, variables, restricted and calculated
keyfigures
No Customization of objects possible
No option to create your own objects outside
the BEx Query
No connection limits possible (for example,
timeout after 5 min)
Multi-Source Universe
Direct link to Infoprovider level
Allows to combine multiple source in a single
connection
Allows you to customize the objects
Allows you to create your own objects and
calculations
No support for external BW hierarchies
No support for restricted keyfigures
No support for calculated keyfigures
Enterprise Reporting
Crystal Reports
2011
Crystal Reports for

Enterprise
Self Service
Reporting
Data Visualization
Web Intelligence
Dashboards
(Xcelsius)
Analysis
Analysis Office
Search & Exploration

Analysis OLAP
BusinessObjects
Explorer
BI
WebServices
Live Office
Semantic Layer
Direct Access
Universe Based Access

BICS
Direct Access
ODBC
JDBC
BICS
SAP NetWeaver BWA
SQL
SAP HANA
SAP NetWeaver BW
Data Services / Sybase Replication Server

Transient Provider
3rd party
This presentation and SAPs strategy and possible future developments are
subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. This document is provided
data
SAP HCM
SAP SD
SAP FIN
PeopleSoft
Oracle EBS
JDE

Meta-Data Support for BEx Queries
BEx Query Element
Crystal
Reports for
Enterprise
(BICS)
Web
Intelligence
(BICS)
Dashboards
(former
Xcelsius)
Analysis,
edition for
MS Office
Analysis,
OLAP Edition
SAP
Business
Objects
Explorer
Universe
(Relational)
InfoProvider Dimension
Characteristic
Characteristic with Hierarchy
Structure based on Characteristics
Navigational Attribute
Display Attribute
Key Figure
Unit / Currency
Calculated Key Figure
Restricted Key Figure
(!)
(!)
(!)
Defaults in the BEx Query
Constant Selection
Compounded Characteristics

BEx Query Element
Crystal
Reports for
Enterprise
Web
Intelligence
Dashboards
(former
Xcelsius)
Analysis,
edition for
MS Office
Analysis,
OLAP
Edition
SAP
Business
Objects
Explorer
Universe
(Relational)
Single Value Variable
Multi Single Value Variable
Interval 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
Selection Option Variable

BEx Query Element
Crystal
Reports for
Enterprise
Web
Intelligence
Dashboards
(former
Xcelsius)
(!)
(!)
(!)
Number of Decimals
Display Result Rows (top / bottom)
Suppress Result Rows
Calculate Result as (local

calculation)
Display as hierarchy
Sorting
Hide / Unhide
Reverse +/- signage
Scaling Factor
Analysis,
edition for
MS Office
Analysis,
OLAP
Edition
SAP
Business
Objects
Explorer
Universe
(Relational)
10

BEx Query Element
Conditions in rows
Conditions in columns
Conditions on selected characteristic
Exceptions
Empty / non empty
Crystal
Reports for
Enterprise
Web
Intelligence
Dashboards
(former
Xcelsius)
Analysis,
edition for
MS Office
Analysis,
OLAP Edition
SAP
Business
Objects
Explorer
More support for Conditions is planned for future releases

11

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.
12

Compounded Characteristics
Compounded Key Values

Combined Key Value for the compounded characteristic
except for Analysis, Edition for Microsoft Office
Cascading prompts for compounded characteristics

Supported by Analysis, Edition for Microsoft Office only
13

Scaling Factor
Scaling Factor is supported, but the information

about the actual scaling factor is missing
with the exception of
Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office
SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards
14

Local Calculations
Local Calculations
Items like a Ranking configured in the BEx Query
Key Figures configured with a local calculations

are filtered out for
Crystal Reports for Enterprise
Web Intelligence
15

Conditions
Conditions can be configured to be
applied in the rows

applied in the columns
applied on fixed characteristics
applied independently
As of SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 only

Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office and
Analysis, OLAP Edition f
fully support Conditions
16
Hierarchical Reporting Capabilities
SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Hierarchical Capabilities

Crystal Reports for Enterprise
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
Not part of Crystal Reports for Enterprise 4.0:

Switching between hierarchies on the fly
Level based member selection
18

Web Intelligence

Not part of Web Intelligence 4.0

19

Analysis, Edition for Microsoft Office & OLAP Edition

Support for Level based member selection
Support for exchange of hierarchies
20

Dashboards
Support for hierarchical member selection via BEx Web Runtime
Support for hierarchical parameters via BEx Web Runtime
Not part of Dashboards 4.0

Support for Level based member selection
Support for exchange of hierarchies
Hierarchical visualizations are planned for SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.1
21

Common Items
Hierarchical Member Selection

In SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 for Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, and Dashboards the
selection is based on members and it is a fixed selection (not on levels)
Hierarchical charting
Hierarchical charts are not offering a drill down in SAP BusinessObjects 4.0
22
BI Content Lifecycle Management
SAP BusinessObjects Lifecycle Management

Integration with SAP CTS+
SAP Business Warehouse
SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise
Controller
A designated BW server configured as a Domain

Controller (Transport Host) in Transport
Management System (STMS)
A designated BusinessObjects Enterprise server with

LifeCycle Manager Add-on
Route
Predefined on the Controller through Transport route

configuration
Definable per Transport(Promotion) by assigning a source

and a destination systems
Systems
Source and target servers predefined on the

Controller through Transport route configuration
Definable per Transport(Promotion) by assigning a source

and a destination systems
SAP BusinessObjects
Development
QA
Production
Development
QA
Production
SAP Business Warehouse
24

CTS
Change and Transport System
To synchronize content in SAP ABAP
deployments
CTS+
Enhanced Change and Transport System
Used to transport non ABAP objects
TMS
Transport and Management System

Transaction STMS
Define transport domains and transport routes
Transport all changed objects from one system to
another.
Transport organizer
Transport routes
25

LifeCycle Manager is a Web-Based tool that enables you to
Promote Business Intelligence resources from one BusinessObjects system to another
BusinessObjects system
Manages dependencies of BI resources
Rollbacks a promoted resource to restore the destination system to its previous state
Manages different versions of BI resources
No additional licensing required
Available now at the SAP
Service Marketplace extranet
26

TMS System-Landscape Configuration Representation of BOE Systems

TD1
(DEV System)
Transport
Transport
Request
Transport
Request
Request
Transport
Promote
via CTS
Organizer
Web UI
ZIP
TD2
(Test System)
Application
Type
BOLM
Transport
Transport
Request
Transport
Request
Request
ZIP
XYZ
(Prod System)
Application
Type
BOLM
Job
Promotion of
Jobs
Start the import in

TMS to process the
job
BOE Systems
Collect
objects
TD1
TEST
TD2
TEST
XYZ
TEST
27

Change(s) made in SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Development system
Lifecycle Manager used to:
Collect changed objects & any required internal dependencies into Promotion Job
Associate any external dependencies with the promotion job (e.g. BEx Queries)
Assign Promotion Job to Transport Request
Export to CTS+ consolidation environment
Transport Request is being released. CTS+ transports objects via Transport

Routes to various Transport nodes (destination systems)
Lifecycle Manager import plug-in called at destination & changes committed
to destination system (>> SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise 4.0)
All objects committed with administrator credentials
Overrides to database connections are applied based on override table at destination
system
Related objects (e.g. BW) committed to appropriate destination as well
28
SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 SAP Integration

Lifecycle Management
29
Migrating XI 3.x BI Content to SAP BusinessObjects 4.x

Migrating BI Content from XI 3.1 to 4.0
The following steps are purely focusing on migrating the BI content

for Crystal Reports 2008 (BW MDX Driver) moving to Crystal Reports for Enterprise 4.0
(BICS Connectivity)
for Web Intelligence XI 3.1 (OLAP Universe) moving to Web Intelligence 4.0 (BICS
Connectivity)
IMPORTANT:
Remember that the new connectivity does not allow for customization or custom objects
>> Means all needed objects need to be part of the underlying Bex Query
31

Migrating XI 3.1 OLAP Universe to BICS Connection

Step 1: Open the Web Intelligence report in Edit Mode
Step 2: Use the Change Source Menu
32


Step 3: Change the source to the new BICS Connection
33


Step 4: Map the existing fields to the new list of fields
Issues in 4.0
Unit / Currencies & Hierarchies
34

Migrating Crystal Reports 2008 to Crystal Reports for Enterprise

Step 1: Open the Crystal Reports 2008 report to Crystal Reports for Enterprise
35


Step 2: Change the connection to the new BICS Connection
36


Step 3: Map the fields to the new meta-data
37
SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW

Overall recommendation
BEx Queries are recommended as data sources for all the SAP BusinessObjects BI Tools
BEx Queries offer significant functionality to create customized data sources that meet enduser requirements, such as Calculated Key figures, Restricted Key figures and SAP
Variables.
You do NOT want one BEx Query for one report

(. And not one BEx Query for all reports either)
Focus the implementation strategy on limiting the number of BI 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
In some situations extremely large queries and universes can adversely affect performance
39
SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW

Placement of Characteristics / Key Figures have no direct impact for the BI tools
Allow External Access option should be set in the properties of the BEx query
For large sets of key figures, use the option - Use Selection of Structure Members in
transaction RSRT (Query Monitor)
Leverage the capabilities of the Restricted Key and Calculated Key Figures
Leverage SAP Variables as part of the BW Query
Can be shared across queries, minimizing development downstream
List of Values are being generated automatically
Time based structures / calculations

Leverage EXIT Variables as part of the BW query
Data Level Security & BW

Use BI authorizations for data level security
Items not supported via direct InfoCube access:
Variables (e.g. Authorization Variables)

Restricted or calculated Keyfigures
Filters
Custom structures
Navigational attributes
40
SAP Community Resources
SAP BusinessObjects Community

SAP BusinessObjects BI Solution Architecture
www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/bi-solution-architecture
41
SAP Press
Reporting and Analytics using SAP BusinessObjects

(SAP Press, 2010)
Inside SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

(SAP Press, 2010)
Integrating SAP BusinessObjects XI 3.1 Tools

with SAP NetWeaver
(SAP Press, 2009)
Inside SAP BusinessObjects Advanced Analysis

(SAP Press, 2010)
42
Thank You!
Contact information:
Ingo Hilgefort
Twitter: ihilgefort
Blog: www.mastering-sap-and-businessobjects.com
2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved
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Best Practices for SAP BusinessObjects 4.

Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Best Practices on BEx Query Design

Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Direct dimensional access to your BEx Queries

Hierarchical query panel

Hierarchical report output

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Direct BICS Connection

Re-uses your existing BEx Queries

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Crystal Reports for

Search & Exploration

Universe Based Access

SAP NetWeaver BWA

Data Services / Sybase Replication Server

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Characteristic with Hierarchy

Structure based on Characteristics

Calculated Key Figure

Restricted Key Figure

Defaults in the BEx Query

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Single Value Variable

Multi Single Value Variable

Hierarchy Node Variable

Hierarchy Version Variable

Single Key Date Variable

Multiple Key Data Variable

Default Values for Variables

Selection Option Variable

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Display Result Rows (top / bottom)

Suppress Result Rows

Calculate Result as (local

Reverse +/- signage

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

More support for Conditions is planned for future releases

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Calculated / Restricted Keyfigures

Define calculated measures as part of the Universe

Define prompts as part of the Universes or Web Intelligence Query Panel.

Currency and Unit Conversion

Use filters on measures.

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Compounded Key Values

Cascading prompts for compounded characteristics

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Scaling Factor is supported, but the information

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Key Figures configured with a local calculations

SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 Connectivity for SAP Landscape

Conditions can be configured to be

applied in the rows

As of SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 only

fully support Conditions