integrating sap business objects xcelsius and web intelligence reporting with sap netweaver bw and...
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Integrating SAP Business Objects Xcelsius and Web Intelligence reporting with SAP NetWeaver BW and SAP NetWeaver Portal
Presented By: Mustansir Saifuddin
October 20, 2010
Session ID: BI212Session ID: BI212
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Agenda
• The new face of BI …. With BOBJ• Available Tools and Integration Points• Project Approach and Resource Requirements• BEX Queries and OLAP Universe• Deploying a Dashboard• Portal Integration and SSO• The Experience
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SAP Landscape with Business Objects
ECC
Financials Operations Human Resources Logistics
Corporate Services
ECC
Financials Operations Human Resources Logistics
Corporate Services
CRMCRM SCMSCM
SRMSRM PLMPLM
SAP Business SuiteSAP Business Suite
EPMEPM GRCGRC
Ente
rpris
e Ap
plic
ation
sEn
terp
rise
Appl
icati
ons
3rd-Party Databases and Applications3rd-Party Databases and Applications
SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse
SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse
Open HUBOpen HUB Process IntegrationProcess Integration
SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator
SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator
Master Data Governance
Master Data Governance
Master Data Management
Master Data Management
SAP NetWeaver PortalSAP NetWeaver Portal
SAP BexQueriesExcel AnalyzerWeb Analyzer
SAP BexQueriesExcel AnalyzerWeb Analyzer
Lifecycle Managem
entLifecycle M
anagement
SAP NetWeaverSAP NetWeaver
ContentExtractorsContentExtractors
Information Access
Information Access
Information Foundation
Information Foundation
Me
tad
ata
Ma
na
ge
me
nt, In
form
atio
n L
ifecycle
Ma
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me
nt
Me
tad
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Ma
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ifecycle
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SAP NetWeaver Business WarehouseSAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse
Data ProfilingData Profiling Data Services ETL/DQ
Data Services ETL/DQ
Data Federator
Data Federator
SAP NetWeaver BW AcceleratorSAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator
Master Data Governance
Master Data Governance
Master Data Management
Master Data Management
3rd-Party Databases and Applications3rd-Party Databases and Applications
ECC
Financials Operations Human Resources Logistics
Corporate Services
ECC
Financials Operations Human Resources Logistics
Corporate Services
CRMCRM SCMSCM
SRMSRM PLMPLM
SAP Business SuiteSAP Business Suite
EPMEPM GRCGRC
Ente
rpris
e Ap
plic
ation
sEn
terp
rise
Appl
icati
ons
SAP BusinessObjects POASAP BusinessObjects POA
Data Quality Management For SAP/CRM Real-time Validation Duplication
Data Quality Management For SAP/CRM Real-time Validation Duplication
Data Quality
Data Quality
Data Federator
Data Federator
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Why Business Objects
• Now part of the SAP Business Intelligence suite of tools
• Tight integration with SAP BW and ECC• More Reporting Options• Better Presentation Layer• User Friendly Tools• Intuitive User Interface
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• Meets the needs of different user base within the organization:
• Executives and Managers
• Business Analysts
• Information Consumers
Serving Different User Base
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Agenda
• The new face of BI …. With BOBJ• Available Tools and Integration Points• Project Approach and Resource Requirements• BEX Queries and OLAP Universe• Deploying a Dashboard• Portal Integration and SSO• The Experience
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Tools and Usage
Tools
Web Intelligence
Crystal Reports
Xcelsius
Pioneer
Explorer
Usage
Adhoc Query, Reporting and Analysis
Enterprise Reporting
Dashboard/Visualization
Advanced Analytics
Discovery and Exploration
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Integration Points and Architecture Components
Xcelsius
Live Office Query as a WebService
Web Intelligence (Webi)Web Intelligence (Webi)Crystal ReportsCrystal Reports
OLAP UniverseOLAP Universe
SAP BW BEX Query
MultiProvider
Infocube
Direct Access
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More Streamlined Connectivity – BEX to Xcelsius
Xcelsius
Live Office Query as a WebService
Web Intelligence (Webi)Web Intelligence (Webi)Crystal ReportsCrystal Reports
OLAP UniverseOLAP Universe
SAP BWBEX Query
MultiProvider
Infocube
Direct Access
BI Consumer Services BICS Connectivity Technical Requirements:
SAP NetWeaver BW 7.01 (SAP enhancement package 01), Service Pack 05
SAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius Enterprise 2008 Service Pack 02
SAP Frontend 7.x installed on the client with BI Add-Ons
BI Consumer Services BICS Connectivity Technical Requirements:
SAP NetWeaver BW 7.01 (SAP enhancement package 01), Service Pack 05
SAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius Enterprise 2008 Service Pack 02
SAP Frontend 7.x installed on the client with BI Add-Ons
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Building Blocks
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Agenda
• The new face of BI …. With BOBJ• Available Tools and Integration Points• Project Approach and Resource Requirements• BEX Queries and OLAP Universe• Deploying a Dashboard• Portal Integration and SSO• The Experience
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Project Approach
• Start with a Proof of Concept (POC)• Define Scope (both for POC and full implementation)
• Number of KPI’s to be captured in POC• KPI’s required for the go live • Identify any Drill Down Reports
• Use Production or Production Like Data• Identify your Audience
• Senior Management• C level Executives• Others
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Resource Requirements
• Team Requirement and Collaboration:• BI/BOBJ Architect and Project Manager• Identify BW Resource(s)• Pick the Business User/SME to guide the project Team• Basis Resource:
• Knowledge of Business Objects Environment• SAP Integration Kit• Enterprise Portal support
• Business Objects Developer(s)
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Agenda
• The new face of BI …. With BOBJ• Available Tools and Integration Points• Project Approach and Resource Requirements• BEX Queries and OLAP Universe• Deploying a Dashboard• Portal Integration and SSO• The Experience
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Use of BEX Queries as a Source for BOBJ
• BEX queries have a one to one relationship to a BOBJ Universe• This is identified as an OLAP Universe
• In order for the Universe to access the BEX query • Check the “Allow External Access” checkbox in query properties• Also check the settings in RSRT transaction called “Use selection of
Structure Members”. This allows Business Objects to read the structures in BEX query
• Try maintaining the reporting logic in BEX by utilizing exit variables to determine time and other complex computations if possible
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Use of BEX Queries as a Source for BOBJ
• Be mindful of the changes made to the BEX query• A Universe refresh is required every time a change is made to
the BEX query• Use inclusion filters instead of exclusions when using certain
values or value ranges for a characteristics• Check your query output by using MDXTEST transaction in BW
that allows you to debug any issues
Note: You do not need a BI Query for every report and you do not need a universe for every BI Query
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BEX Query and OLAP Universe• A universe on top of BEX query is an OLAP Universe
– No table joins etc. are required in this type of Universe• This is a major difference between relational database universe and OLAP
based
• The following screen shot shows the “Refresh Structure” setting • These settings
allows the developer to sync up the Bex query to the Universe
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SAP BW OLAP Universes - Terminologies
BW Query Element OLAP Universe Element
Cube Dimension Class
Characteristic (incl. Time and Unit) A class with dimension and detail objects (detail objects for key and description)
Key Figure Measure element in a class named Key figures
Navigational attribute A class with dimension and detail objects (detail objects for key and description)
Display attribute Each display attribute becomes a detail object underneath the related dimension object
SAP variables Query filter as predefined object which can be optional or mandatory
Custom structure Dimension object
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BEX Query Designer
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Comparable OLAP Universe on Top of BEX Query
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Universe Settings for BEX Queries• Hide Level 00 in the Universe definition• Remove L01 suffix from the object names and update the text to
reflect user friendly names
Use “Single Sign On When refreshing reports at view time” option as the authentication mode
Don't Forget
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Agenda
• The new face of BI …. With BOBJ• Available Tools and Integration Points• Project Approach and Resource Requirements• BEX Queries and OLAP Universe• Deploying a Dashboard• Portal Integration and SSO• The Experience
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Elements of Xcelsius
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Important Phases and Connectivity Model
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• Data Model design • Dashboard Front End Design • Dashboard Excel Design • SAP BI-Xcelsius connectivity
Sap Bex Query Sap Bex Query
Business Objects Universe
Business Objects Universe
QAAWS/ Live Office QAAWS/ Live Office
Xcelsius Dashboard Xcelsius Dashboard
BI Consumer Services Connector BI Consumer Services Connector
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Data Model Design for Dashboards• As the end product is a Dashboard, the SAP BI backend data model
should be designed very specifically keeping in mind the following aspects:
• Business Requirement • Dashboard performance • Complexity balance: Front-end/Back-end • Total development time • Change Management – Key Aspect due to
management visibility• Connectivity model
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Guidelines for deploying a Dashboard
• Architectural Guidelines• Dashboard Load Times. Define a criteria < 10 Seconds?• Consistency in Results – design needs to minimize the
opportunity to duplicate calculations or arrive at different results
• Flexibility in Dashboards and Queries/Reports• Identify the level of effort for any design changes
• Examples: Aesthetic changes VS adding new KPI’s
• “Simplicity” should rule the design in Xcelsius and reports• Keep ongoing maintenance in mind• Turn around time
• Ease of Use for End users
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Xcelsius Dashboard Best Practices• Define a standard look and feel for the corporate
dashboard• Color schemes• Corporate logo
• Pick the data connection that works for your situation• Query as a Web Services (QAAWS)• Live Office (LO) connection
• Define KPI’s that provide a high level overview of the data
• Allow drill down capabilities in to more detailed Webi reports• To answer any further questions prompted from dashboard
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Operational Budget Dashboard
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• In the object browser group the design elements in a logical manner
• A few things to consider when choosing the design components• Ease of Analysis • Naming convention for the
component • Use of Filters and panels • Color Scheme
Additional Tips for Dashboard Design
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• Use the following tips:• Formula Optimization
• Use of Vlookups• Color legends • Use different excel sheets per
different mapping scenarios • Use of headings and comments
with proper description
Dashboard Excel Design
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BOBJ Adhoc Capabilities• Web Intelligence (Webi) tool is known for its Adhoc
capabilities• Leverage the same Universe used for creating the
Dashboard for creating on demand reports to do more detail analysis
• Users can create their own Webi reports via Infoview (BOBJ Portal) that can be integrated in to Enterprise Portal
• Leverage the SSO capabilities that allows seamless integration between Enterprise Portal, Infoview and backend BW system
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Where can Web Intelligence add value?• Customer requirements
• Self-service reporting and analysis, autonomy from IT
• Simple user interface, designed for the masses• Combine data from SAP and non-SAP data in a single
report• Connectivity to SAP
• SAP and non-SAP data in a single report• Rich feature set
• Connectivity to SAP
• Sits on top of Business Objects Enterprise Universes• Universes connect to SAP NetWeaver BI via OLAP
BAPI • Access objects: BEx Queries & SAP BI Info Cubes
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Support of BW Variables in Webi’s
Variable type Processing Type
User Entry/ Default Value
Replacement path
Authorization Customer exit
SAP exit
Characteristic Supported Supported Supported Supported Supported
Text Not Supported
Supported N/A N/A N/A
Formula Supported Supported N/A Supported Supported
Hierarchy Supported N/A N/A Supported Supported
Hierarchy node
Supported N/A N/A Supported Supported
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Web Intelligence Publications• Publications in Business Objects Enterprise (BOE)
plays a similar role to Information Broadcasting in BW• Publications allows you to schedule a Crystal Report/Web
Intelligence object for distribution to end users
• Prerequisites – Publications with SAP BW Security:• BI authorizations are configured in SAP BI• Server side trust being granted between SAP BI and BOE• SAP authentication configured in BOE• SAP user and roles imported to BOE and available as
recipients• OLAP Universe deployed with SSO as authentication method • Web Intelligence report being created and available in BOE• Publication being created as multi-pass bursting process
(one fetch per recipient)
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Agenda
• The new face of BI …. With BOBJ• Available Tools and Integration Points• Project Approach and Resource Requirements• BEX Queries and OLAP Universe• Deploying a Dashboard• Portal Integration and SSO• The Experience
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Integrating BOBJ into Enterprise Portal• Xcelsius Dashboards, Web Intelligence and Crystal
Reports can be integrated into Enterprise Portal• Allows users a consistent look and feel for their reports
and dashboards• Leverages SSO functionality thus enhancing user
experience as a whole• Couple of Integration options:
• Knowledge Management (KM) content can be used to integrate BOBJ content into Portal
• OpenDoc URL Iviews can be configured in Portal to provide direct link to Dashboard and reports
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Data Journey and Authentication Path
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BOBJ Transport AKA Life Cycle Management
• Life Cycle Management (LCM) acts as the transport system to move BOBJ development objects between environments
• Examples Include:• Universe• Connections• Webi Reports• Xcelsius Dashboard• Custom Access Lists
(CAL’s) – BOBJ Authorization
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LCM Steps
• Following steps are involved in moving objects from Dev to QA or Prod environments:• Create a new job by clicking on this icon
• You must be logged on to source system• Add the necessary objects • Always verify dependencies between objects
• Some example sequence include:• Report => Universe => Connection
• Once the object collection is complete a “Test Promotion” can be performed. This allows for a quick sanity check before actually promoting objects to target system
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LCM Do’s and Don’ts
• Schedule your LCM job similar to how you would setup your SAP transports to a target system
• Use consistent naming conventions when creating the LCM jobs
• Avoid promoting dependencies if they are already in the target system
• Use rollback mechanism if you have to restore the destination system to its prior state• Only use this option if you have to quickly restore the
target system• Use this option sparingly as it takes up disk space
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Agenda
• The new face of BI …. With BOBJ• Available Tools and Integration Points• Project Approach and Resource Requirements• BEX Queries and OLAP Universe• Deploying a Dashboard• Portal Integration and SSO• The Experience
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Impact of Business Objects • Adding Business Objects in your current
landscape adds complexity• Newer skill sets above and beyond BW are
required• More Integration points (or more Pain Points
introduced) in the environment• Maintenance challenges with a new set of
components and upgrades to deal with• Evolving architecture
Warning
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Key Learnings • Xcelsius:
• Users can consume and analyze a lot of information in a meaningful way
• Information at the executives fingertips via tabs, filters with telling graphical representation
• Web Intelligence:• Webi reports reduces time to develop formatted reports
with much more capability on an Adhoc basis• Webi reports provide power users ability to modify
queries and reports like BEX• Webi reports provides executives and light information
workers quick insight into their data
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Payback• An enhanced user experience• Business Objects covers a wide spectrum of user base in the
organization– Something for everybody
• More business ownership less IT dependency– An opportunity to move away from Excel and Access based custom
solutions
• Provide insights in to your data at the highest level in the organization – Folks who are making critical business decisions
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Contact Info
Mustansir Saifuddin
Email: [email protected]: www.isolutionpartners.com
Session ID: BI212Session ID: BI212