0512 Tips and Tricks Using SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 40 on Top of SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse Data

Tips and tricks using SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 4.0 on

top of SAP Netweaver Business Warehouse data. (#512)

Gregory Botticchio / Patrice Le Bihan

[

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Agenda

Selecting the Right SAP BusinessObjects BI Client

Why SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence ?

Implementation Best Practices for Web Intelligence on SAP NetWeaver BW


[

Selecting the Right SAP

BusinessObjects BI Client


[

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

Selecting the Right SAP BusinessObjects BI Client SAP BusinessObjects BI Client Portfolio


[ Selecting the Right SAP BusinessObjects BI Client Different Needs Require Different Experience

Executive

Individual Contributor

Middle Management

Business Analyst

Information

Placeholder

text

Placeholder

text

Placeholder

text


[ Selecting the Right SAP BusinessObjects BI Client Different Needs Require Different Experience

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


[

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

Selecting the Right SAP BusinessObjects BI Client Different Needs Require Different Experience

• 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


[

Why SAP BusinessObjects

Web Intelligence ?


[ 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


[ Why Web Intelligence ?

Report Design

Report Consumption

Share and re-use

Web Intelligence 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW


[ Self-Service Access to Data Empowers End Users to Do Their Own Reports and Analyses

Business Metadata

Access heterogeneous

data sources

User-defined

Queries


[ Streamlined access to all corporate data sources Unique options for bringing BW and 3rd-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

3rd-party

Data

Warehouse

Analysis

SQL

Universes (Unv)

3rd-party

OLAP

Server

MDX

MDX

3rd-party

OLAP

Server

SAP NetWeaver BW

BEx Query

InfoProviders

Multi-Source Universes (Unx)

SQL BAPI

BICS


[ 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


[

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


[

Dimensional concepts

integrated into rich

reporting model

Navigate directly into

the report hierarchies to

find root causes

Dimensional

charting

Navigate and Report Hierarchical Data



Report Design

Report Consumption

Share and re-use



[ Why Web Intelligence ? Gain Business Insight with Interactive Reports and Analysis


[ 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



Report Design

Report Consumption

Share and re-use



[ Why Web Intelligence ? 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



Report Design

Report Consumption

Share and re-use



[

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

Why Web Intelligence ? Web Intelligence 4.0 and SAP NetWeaver BW / Direct Access via BICS


[

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

Why Web Intelligence ? 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


[ Why Web Intelligence ? 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


[

Implementation Best Practices

for Web Intelligence on SAP

NetWeaver BW


[

BEx Query Design

Consumption of BEx Queries

Restrictions and Additional Information



[

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




[

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




[

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




[

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


[

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




[

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




[

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


[

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”)

Implementation Best Practices for Web Intelligence on SAP NetWeaver BW Restrictions you need to know

http://help.sap.com/businessobject/product_guides/boexir4/en/xi4_ia_en.pdf

http://help.sap.com/businessobject/product_guides/boexir4/en/xi4_ia_en.pdf


[

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.

Implementation Best Practices for Web Intelligence on SAP NetWeaver BW 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

Implementation Best Practices for Web Intelligence on SAP NetWeaver BW Additional BW Integration


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42

[

] Thank you for participating.

SESSION CODE: 512 Gregory Botticchio

[email protected]

Patrice Le Bihan:

[email protected]

@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

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


[

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

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/bi-solution-architecture






[ 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


[


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

SAP BusinessObjects 4.x Connectivity for SAP NetWeaver BW Meta-Data Support for BEx Queries


[


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



[


Intelligence

(BICS)

Analysis,

edition for MS

Office & OLAP

Conditions in rows

Conditions in columns

Conditions on selected characteristic

Exceptions

Empty / non empty



[ SAP BusinessObjects 4.x Connectivity for SAP NetWeaver BW 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.

Documents

0512 Tips and Tricks Using SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence 40 on Top of SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse Data