Business Objects XI 3.1

8/10/2019 Business Objects XI 3.1

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Intended Audience Business Objects Developers

Business Objects Business Users

Business Objects Administrators


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Agenda1. Introducing Business Objects

2. Overview of BO components

3. What is Universe

4. Creating Universes using different data sources

5. Introduction to Info View

6. Creating Reports using Web Intelligence

7. Ad-hoc Reporting and features of Web Intelligence

8. Creating Dashboards

9. Administration

10. Creating Users, assigning rights and Managing other components


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Introducing Business Objects


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Objectives

Understanding Business Objects XI 3.1

Creating Universes

Understanding how universes allow you to query databases using

everyday business terms


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Introducing Business Objects Business Objects Enterprise is a flexible, scalable, and reliable solution

for delivering powerful, interactive reports to end users via any web

applicationintranet, extranet, Internet or corporate portal. In additionBO gives us ability to create custom reports.

Can be used mainly for ad hoc and also for operational reporting needs

In BO you work with in your business terms and you dont need to have

any knowledge of your organizations Database structure

Can easily analyze and share the reports.


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Introducing Business Objects


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Architecture


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BO components Central Management Console(CMC)

Central Management Server (CMS)

Universe Designer

Info View

Central Configuration Manager (CCM)

Web Intelligence Rich client

Import Wizard


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Introducing Universe Business representation of relational

data sources

End-users build reports using the

Objects included within a Universe

Classes:

Number of logically group objects

Objects:

Dimensions:

Character type data such asgame name or retailer name

Measures:

Numerical data typically theresult of a calculation suchas net sales

Filters:

Give me a gooddescription


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A typical universe layout...

Classes

Objects

Universe Pane Structure Pane

1111


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Classes

A class is a logical grouping of objects within a universe. In general, thename of a class reflects a business concept that conveys the category or

type of objects

A class can be further divided into subclasses.

As a designer, you are free to define hierarchies of classes andsubclasses into a model that best reflects the business concepts of yourcompany.


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A universe is identified with a user name and a connection

to the databaseA detailed description can also be added

Setting up Parameters : Definition Tab

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Introducing Web Intelligence Web Intelligence offers a business intelligent reporting solution to

business users by providing an easy to use interactive and flexible user

interface for creating and analyzing reports on corporate data over theweb, on secured intranets and extranets

From the local computer, Web Intelligence can be accessed from the

business intelligence portal InfoView via an Internet browser like InternetExplorer, Mozilla Firefox etc. Then, depending on the security profile ofthe user, reports can be created/edited/interacted with, using the WebIntelligence report panel


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Objectives Info View

Viewing a Web Intelligence document in Info View

Accessing information with Web Intelligence

Creating Custom Reports and Dashboards

Different Features of Web Intelligence

Understanding how universes allow you to query databases using

everyday business terms


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Info View

A web-based interface that end users access to view, schedule, andkeep track of published reports. InfoView consolidates the presentationof a company's business intelligence information and allows it to beaccessed in a way that is secure, focused, and personalized to usersinside and outside an organization.


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Launching Web Intelligence

Web Intelligence is hosted on the InfoView

Any Web Intelligence document can be saved into one of theInfoView folders and later accessed


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Header Panel: Contains the InfoView Toolbar

Option Description

Home Displays the InfoView home page.

Document List Shows the Document List.

Open Opens components of InfoView such as the "Encyclopedia".

Send To Sends an object or instance to a destination.

Dashboards Allows you to access dashboards and analytics.

Log Out Logs the user out.

Preferences Allows you to set how information is displayed.

About Displays product and sales information about InfoView.

Help Displays the online help for InfoView.


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Workspace Panel: Displays InfoView Content

Option Description

Switch to Folders Shows folders in the Tree panel.

Switch to Categories Shows categories in the Tree panel.

Refresh

Refreshes the view of the Document

List.

NewAllows you to create new objects within

InfoView.

AddAllows you to add existing objects to

InfoView.

OrganizeAllows you to organize the selected

object.

Actions Allows you to perform actions on theselected ob ect.


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Changing your Password

To change your password:

1. Log on to InfoView

2. On the InfoView toolbar, click Preferences

3. Click the Change Password section

4. Type your old password in the Old Password field

5. Type your new password in the New Password field, confirm it in theConfirm New Password field, and then click Submit


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Vi i R t


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Viewing Reports

To view Report

Navigate to Report and Double-Clickits OR Right click it and click on "View"


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Web Intelligence Rich Client


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Building a query

Launch Web Intelligence from the InfoView


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Building a query

Select the universe on which the report is to be built


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W ki i th R t P l


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Data in the report can be represented in the following ways:

Table

Crosstab Free Standing Cells

Working in the Report Panel

Form

W ki i th R t P l


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Visual data representation also possible

3D Bar Charts 3D Pie Charts

Stacked Radar ChartsArea Charts

Working in the Report Panel

St t Vi d R lt Vi


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Structure View and Results View The Web Intelligence Report Panel

allows modifying documents andpreviewing those changes in the

Structure View This enables making multiple

formatting changes quickly andpreviewing them

On coming back to the ResultsView, Web Intelligence applies thechanges and returns the modified

format in a single operation

Structure

View

Results

View

F t


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Features

Filters

Displaying data in Tables and cross tables

Organizing Data with Sections, Breaks and Sorts Displaying data in Charts

Calculations, Formulas and Variables

Drilling on report data

Merging data by using common dimensions

Alerts

Ranking

Tracking changes in data

Hyperlink reports


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Restricting Data Returned by a Query

Obj ti


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Objectives Understanding restriction of data in a report using prompts

Understanding restriction of data in a report using report filters

D t Filt i i P t


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Data Filtering using Prompts A prompt is a special type of query filter

It is a dynamic filter that displays a question every time you refresh

the data in a document Prompts are to be answered by either typing or selecting the values

to be view before data refresh

Prompts allow multiple users viewing a single document to specify adifferent sub-set of the database information and display it in the

same report tables and charts Prompts also reduce the time taken for data to be retrieved from the

database

A prompt contains the following elements:

a filtered object

an operator

a message


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Using Report Filters


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Using Report Filters Report filters limit the results that are displayed in the report to

specific information of interest

The data you filter out remains within the Web Intelligencedocument; it is simply not displayed in the report tables or charts.This means you can change or remove report filters in order to viewthe hidden values, without modifying the query definition behind thedocument

Different filters can be applied to different parts of a report To create a report filter, three elements need to be specified :

a filtered object

an operator

values

Multiple filters can be included in a report

Comparison: Query and Report Filters


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Comparison: Query and Report Filters

Query Filters Report Filters

These filters are defined on thequery

These filters are defined within thereport

They limit the data retrieved fromthe data source and returned tothe Web Intelligence document.

They limit the values displayed onreports, tables, charts, sectionswithin the document, but they dontmodify the data that is retrievedfrom the data source; they simplyhide values at the report level


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Enhancing the Presentation of Data in

Reports

Objectives


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ObjectivesUnderstanding the use of

Alerters

Sections and Breaks Sorting

Ranking data

Using Alerters


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Using Alerters Alerters are used to highlight results that meet or fail specific

Business targets

Alerters are dynamic. They always highlight the latest results Alerters can contain multiple conditions. Hence help to highlight

information that meets multiple Business criteria

An alerter can be made of multiple sub-alerters, each containing oneor multiple conditions

Organizing a Report into Sections


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Organizing a Report into Sections Sections allow splitting report information into smaller and more

comprehensible parts

A single section or include multiple sections with subsections in a reportcan be created

Removal and re-positioning of sections within a report is also possible

A section can be created from one of two sources:

on a dimension already displayed on a table or chart

on a dimension included in the document but not displayed on a table or

chart

Sections cannot be created with a measure object

Breaks


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Breaks A break is a division within a block in which data is grouped according to

a selected dimension, detail, or measure into self contained sections

These sections are represented as smaller tables within the same blockof data

Breaks can be used to display all the data for each unique value of anobject in separate parts

Using breaks has two main advantages:

Efficient organization and representation of data

Display of subtotals

Comparison: Sections and Breaks


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Comparison: Sections and Breaks

Sections Breaks

A section breaks up the data into

multiple free-standing cells called

section headers

A break divides the data up within

one block

Each section header contains onevalue for a dimension, with a block

of data that corresponds to the

dimension value

One column contains the values

for a dimension, detail, or

measure, which are repeated for

each other row of values in the

block


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Using Ranking


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Using Ranking Ranking allows the user to isolate the top and bottom records in a

set based on a variety of criteria

Ranking options available in Web Intelligence are: Rank the top and/or bottom n records based on sum of a related

measure

Rank the top and/or bottom n% of the total number of recordsbased on the value of a related measure as a percentage of the

total value of the measure

Rank the top and/or bottom n records based on the cumulativesum of a related measure

Rank the top and/or bottom n records based on the value of arelated measure as a cumulative percentage of the total value ofthe measure.

Using Ranking


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Using Ranking


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Analyzing Data

Objectives


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Objectives Understanding drilling into data

Setting Web Intelligence drill options

Drill Mode


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Drill Mode Drill mode allows user to analyze the data in a document by breaking it

down and view it from different angles and levels of detail

To pinpoint the driving factor behind a good or bad result. In drill mode,user can analyze data in different levels of detail by analyzing the dataretrieved from the database

When working in drill mode, user is guided through the necessary steps bydynamic graphical features


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Drill Mode


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Drill Mode

Document can be made drillable in two ways:

With the document definition open in the Web Panel, click on the

Drill button on the toolbar While viewing the document click on the Drill icon on the top

right corner

After you enable drill mode and run the query, the following changes take

place in the document: The drillable information in document tables is underlined,

representing hyperlinks to the other levels

Some of the headers may contain an up arrow, to indicate thatyou can drill up a level

Drilling on a report


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Drilling on a report After enabling drill mode and run the query, following table can be

seen: If you position your cursor over one of the hyperlinks, the tool

tip indicates that you can drill down to Quarter. Right click on thecolumn value shows the popup menu which guides about the drilloptions.


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Using Multiple Data Sources

Objectives


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Objectives Creating multiple documents in a document

Synchronizing data with merged dimensions

Using Merged Dimensions


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Using Merged Dimensions Multiple data providers can be included in a Web Intelligence

document

Data returned by these data providers needs to be synchronized This can be done by incorporating common dimensions into a

merged dimension

When dimensions are merged, Web Intelligence creates a newdimension that contains all the values from the original dimensions

that make up the merged dimension This dimension can be used in reports as you use any other report

object

Report objects can be added from all the data providerssynchronized through the merged dimension in the same block as

the merged dimension

Rules of Synchronizing Data Across Data Providers


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Rules of Synchronizing Data Across Data Providers

4 rules for synchronizing data

Only the dimension objects can be linked Any number of data providers can be linked by common dimension

objects

Any number of dimension objects can be linked

A measure object can only be aggregated to the lowest level of

dimension object that has been linked between the synchronizeddata providers


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Calculating Data with Formulas and

Variables

Objectives


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Objectives Creating formulas and variables to calculate data

Using Formulas, Calculations and Variables


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Web Intelligence provides a variety of functions to carry out report levelcalculations, conversions etc

The Formula toolbar can be displayed by clicking the Show/Hide FormulaToolbar button on the Reporting toolbar. When a cell is selected, itsformula appears in the Formula toolbar

Web Intelligence also provides a few standard calculations like Sum,Count, Average, Variance etc which can readily be used in the report

Formulas can contain mathematical, conditional, logical, function-specificor extended syntax operators

If a formula is intended to be used frequently, it can be made a Variableand re-used

The variable then appears in the objects pane of the reporting interface

and can be dragged and dropped like any other object



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g ,

Type Formula Purpose

Numeric =[Revenue]*1.10 Increases revenue by 10 percent

String =[City] + ", " + [State]Concatenates City and State separated by a comma

into a single string

String=Concatenation("Dear ";

[Name])

Creates the salutation string that could be used for a

form letter

Date=ToDate("01/11/2009";

"MM/dd/yyyy") + 30

Converts a date string to a date data type and adds 30

days

Time =LastExecutionTime() The last time the report data was refreshed

Boolean =[Revenue] < 100000 Will display true if revenue is less than $100,000 andfalse if revenue is greater than or equal to $100,000

String

=If([Revenue]


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Tracking Data Changes

Objectives


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Objectives Understanding methods of tracking data changes in Web Intelligence

reports

Track Data Changes


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Track Data Changes

The Track Data Changes feature allows a report user to highlight thevalues that have changed since a previous refresh for any level of

aggregation. Report designers benefit from productivity gains because this feature

directly addresses the report users need to see data changes.

The Track Data Changes feature represents productivity gains forreport users and creators.

Report users can: Closely monitor their business

Immediately identify important changes

Quickly focus their analysis on relevant data to determine the rootcause of those changes

Then they can make timely and informed business decisions

Track Data Changes


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Track Data Changes

Web Intelligence allows tracking the following types of data change:

added data

removed data modified data

increased data

decreased data

Data Tracking Modes


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Automatic data tracking mode

In automatic data tracking mode Web Intelligence always

compares the current data with the data before the last refresh. To do this, Web Intelligence sets the current data as the

reference data just before each refresh.

The reference data is always one refresh behind the currentdata.

Manual data tracking mode

In manual data tracking mode, you select the reference data.

Web Intelligence continues to use this data as a reference point

until you update the reference point.

Data Tracking Limitations


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If the data provider behind a document is changed, or if the documentdata is cleared, Web Intelligence no longer displays changed data.

If the data provider is changed, the current version of the document is nolonger compatible with the reference version.

If the data is cleared, the old data no longer exists for comparison.

As a result, the following actions are incompatible with data tracking:

Drill out of scope

Query drill

Deleting a query

Any modification (including modifications to security rights) thatchanges the SQL generated by a data provider

Purging the document

When you perform any of these actions, Web Intelligence clears the datahistory of the document


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Creating Hyperlinks

Objectives


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j Understanding the options for creating hyperlinks

Hyperlinks in Web Intelligence Reports


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yp g p In Web Intelligence documents cells can be defined as hyperlinks

When a cell that contains a hyperlink is clicked, Web Intelligence opensthe target document specified in the link

The target document can be a Web Intelligence document, a CrystalReports document, a site on the world wide web, or any resource

accessible through a hyperlink

Generally, the need is to link the parent report to a child report through aparameter whose value is clicked in the parent report and the child reportopens up as an elaboration for that particular value

Hyperlinks can be either static or dynamic

Hyperlinks in Web Intelligence Reports


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yp g p Hyperlinks can be defined

using the Hyperlink dialog box

The hyperlink text can betyped or pasted into the textbox

URL Reporting using OpenDocument function


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URL reporting using openDocument provides URL access to multipledocument types by passing a URL string to a BusinessObjects Enterpriseserver. openDocument provides commands to control how reports aregenerated and displayed

OpenDocument can be used in BusinessObjects Enterprise to create

cross-system links to and from the following document types:

.wid: Web Intelligence documents

.rep: Desktop Intelligence documents .rpt: Crystal reports

.car: OLAP Intelligence reports

Detailed info on OpenDocument is provided in the following document:


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Hyperlinks with the Interactive Viewing Panel


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Creating a hyperlink in a Web Intelligence document using theInteractive mode is by far easier and quicker compared to theconventional method of coding the hyperlink using the OpenDoc function

However, across different products of Business Objects, a goodunderstanding of the usage of the OpenDoc function always proveshandy.

For example: The OpenDoc function can be extended to theOpenAnalytic function in Dashboard Builder analytics for linkingdashboards to other dashboards and Web Intelligence reports

The OpenDoc function also finds its use in linking Xcelsius dashboardsto Web Intelligence reports

Creating Dashboards


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Business Objects Dashboard Builder allows organizations to build customdashboards and analytics that meet their specific requirements

Creating Dashboards


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User Administration


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Logging into Central Management Console

Creating Users

Deleting Users Assigning Users to Groups

Central Management Console


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Creating Users


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Creating Users


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Creating Users


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Thank You

Documents

Business Objects XI 3.1