Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

University of

Michigan Administrative Information Services

Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Laura Bollettino

March 29, 2006

March 29, 2006 2Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Why Upgrade?

• Our current version (5.1.5) is no longer supported

• Users have asked MAIS to provide Data Warehouse reporting over the Web

• Positions U-M to create dashboards Dashboard – a Web interface with indicators

showing the status of various metrics

March 29, 2006 3Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

March 29, 2006 4Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

University of

Michigan Administrative Information Services

March 29, 2006 5Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

• Run, create, and modify reports over the Web Supports Safari 1.3 (Mac)

• Two groups of licenses Some users only run reports Some users create, modify, and drill into reports Will need UL assistance with this as we get closer to

the upgrade

• Note: This only affects BusinessObjects users – use of the Data Warehouse through any other tool is unaffected.

What’s New in New Version?

March 29, 2006 6Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

• Business Objects Version XI Release 2 (XI R2), which includes: InfoView: The Web-based interface for

running reports WebIntelligence (WebI): The Web-based

product for creating, editing, and drilling into reports

New Version

March 29, 2006 7Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Approximate Timeframe

• XI R2 becomes available July or August 2006

• 5.1.5 (current version) remains available for about 2 months after XI R2 is available

• Running 5.1.5 and XI R2 simultaneously: Allows users to finish reporting for business

processes that began before go-live Allows users flexibility in deciding when to switch Enables users to run same report in 5.1.5 and XI to

verify accuracy of results

March 29, 2006 8Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Impact on Users

• Significant changes InfoView & WebI have different look & feel than current version Must convert reports in order to be able to edit them in WebI Two categories of licenses (refresh-only vs. create, modify,

refresh, and drill)

• Medium changes Won’t run BusinessObjects under Citrix No more effective dating dialog boxes

• Small changes Hierarchical report categories DocAnalyze not available for XI R2 BusinessObjects outage over a weekend

March 29, 2006 9Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

March 29, 2006 10Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Converting Reports

• Repository reports MAIS will convert

• User reports Report Conversion Tool will help with this –

more details on this tool later

March 29, 2006 11Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Support for Users

• Training – possibly Interchanges, eLearning

• Documentation – delta materials

• Communications To Unit Liaisons – e-mail, UL meetings To BusinessObjects users – Business

Objects User Group and targeted e-mail

• Web pages

March 29, 2006 12Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Next Steps for Unit Liaisons

• Be aware that the upgrade is coming.

• Look for additional information in e-mail and attend future UL meetings.

• Start preparing for the upgrade: Have users delete any unneeded user

reports.

• Note: no new software will need to be installed on user desktop.

March 29, 2006 13Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Questions?

University of

Michigan Administrative Information Services

March 29, 2006 14Business Objects XI R2 Upgrade

Demo

• Not ready for prime time: could be weird messages which won’t exist in production.

• Performance is slower than it will be in production.

• Early in the process; lots of things we don’t know yet.