SAP BUSINESSOBJECTS BI TOOLS -

IN A SINGLE DAY - XCELSIUS

SAP TechED 2010 –

Ingo Hilgefort
SAP Canada
Configure your SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise system
Before we will start using the SAP BusinessObjects reporting tools we will need to configure our
SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise system so that we are able to leverage Single Sign On with our
SAP credentials.

Configuring the SAP Authentication

1. Logon to the Central Management Console (CMC) via the menu Start > Programs >
BusinessObjects XI 3.1 > BusinessObjects Enterprise > BusinessObjects Enterprise Central
Management Console

2. As System enter the value Localhost:6400

3. As User Name enter the value administrator (without a password)
4. As Authentication select the entry Enterprise.
5. Click Log On.

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6. Select Authentication.
7. Double-Click the entry SAP.
8. Click New.
9. Enter the system details:
10. Click Update.
11. Navigate to the tab Role Import.

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12. Select the role from the list of available roles and Add the role to the list of Imported Roles.
13. Click Update.
14. Navigate to the tab Entitlement System.
15. Click New.
16. Enter the system details:
17. Click Update.
18. Navigate to the tab Role Import.
19. Select the role from the list of available roles and Add the role to the list of Imported Roles.
20. Click Update.
21. Close the screen.
22. Select the entry Users and Groups from the dropdown list

23. Select the entry Group List on the left-hand side.

24. Select the two newly added User Group:

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25. Click the button Actions.
26. Select the option Join Group.
27. Select the entry Group List.
28. Select the entry Administrators from the list and add it to the list of Destination Groups.
29. Click OK.

You are now able to leverage your SAP credentials in combination with SAP BusinessObjects
Enterprise.

Starting the SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise Services

1. In the Central Management Console select the entry Servers from the dropdown list.
2. Navigate to the entry Service Categories.

3. Select the category Core Services.

4. Select all server entries shown on the right hand side
5. Right click and use the menu item Start Server.
6. Select the category Crystal Reports.
7. Select all server entries shown on the right hand side
8. Right click and use the menu item Start Server.

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9. Repeat these steps for the categories:
a. Voyager
b. Web Intelligence

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Xcelsius 2008 and SAP NetWeaver BW

With Xcelsius 2008 Service Pack 02 and SAP NetWeaver 7.01 SP05 you are able to create a direct
connectivity from Xcelsius to your BW system.

Xcelsius

Live Office

Crystal Reports Web Intelligence Query as a Web Service

SAP Table,
SAP InfoSet Cluster and ODS BW MDX Data Federator OLAP Universe
Function

SAP ERP SAP NetWeaver BW

BEx Query
BI Client
InfoProvider
BEx Query
Table
Classic SAP ABAP InfoSet
and
InfoSets Queries Functions
Cluster
Multi InfoCube
Transient Provider DSO
Provider

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Below you can see a generic overview of some of the important SAP NetWeaver BW query
elements and how these elements are used in Xcelsius 2008 using the direct SAP NetWeaver BW
connectivity.

BW Query Element Xcelsius Designer Element

Characteristic Each characteristic in the actual dataset is being retrieved

based on the settings in the BW query. Settings in regards to
elements like key, short text, medium text, and long text are
being leveraged from the BW query. In addition each
characteristic is also available with a list of members which can
be used for filtering or provide a list of values for variables.
Hierarchies Each level of the hierarchy will be presented as a column in the
data set. The depth of the hierarchy depends on the configured
number of levels in the BW query designer.
Keyfigures Each keyfigure can be shown as plain numeric value or as
formatted value based on the user preferences. This choice
can be made for each SAP NetWeaver BW connection
configured in the Xcelsius Designer Data Manager.
Calculated / Restricted Keyfigure Each calculated / restricted keyfigure is treated like a keyfigure.
The user does not have access to the underlying definition in
the Xcelsius designer.
Filter Filters will be applied to the underlying query and the user has
access to the configured filter values and can use those values
for display purposes. In addition the user can set additional
filter values for characteristics from the underlying BW query
during the runtime of the Xcelsius object.
Navigational Attributes Navigational Attributes are being treated identical to a
characteristic.
Display Attribute Display attributes can be used for a list of values and can
become part of the overall dataset. In the actual dataset a
display attribute can only be shown in combination with the
actual characteristic.
Variables Variables from the BW query are transferred to Xcelsius as part
of the connection and will be shown as variables in the Input
Values area of the SAP NetWeaver BI connection settings.
Structure A single item with several rows

Conditions Fully Supported

Display Settings Fully supported

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In the next couple of steps I will use an example query and explain how the elements are made available to
you in the Xcelsius Data Manager. My sample SAP NetWeaver BW query is based on the SAP NetWeaver
Demo model InfoProvider 0D_NW_M01 and contains the following elements, as shown below.

 Characteristics: Country and Region

 Free characteristic: Calendar Year
 Key figures: Net Sales and Product Costs

After we connected to the BW system and selected the BW query in the Xcelsius Data Manager you will
receive several elements in the Input and Output of the connection screens

As you can see above, the Output Values section provides access to the Characteristics, Variables, defined
filters, error messages, and additional information about the data and the SAP NetWeaver BW query.
Starting with the Characteristic option, each characteristic that is part of the SAP NetWeaver BW query is
presented with several detailed fields that you can use as part of your dashboard.

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You can see that each characteristic has a set of fields as part of the Members Value Help. You can use
these fields to retrieve lists of members that you can then use for selector components (e.g., a drop-down
box) to offer an easy way for users to select values. You can then use the selected values and pass them to
a variable in the SAP NetWeaver BW query.

The Variables area of the Output Values section contains a similar list of fields. Here you can receive a list
of values that is valid for the defined variable. The reasons for having this functionality for characteristics
separate from the variables are:

 You can receive a list of values for all characteristics, even those without variables, and define
filtering in the Xcelsius dashboard
 You can use variables in the SAP NetWeaver BW query without actually using the underlying
characteristic in the SAP NetWeaver BW query

Static Filter gives you access to any defined filters in the SAP NetWeaver BW query (Figure 6). This allows
you to use the information and display it as part of your overall dashboard.

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The Information area provides access to more detailed information about the SAP NetWeaver BW query.
You might be familiar with these items from the BEx Analyzer tool, where they are called BEx Textelements.

The Messages are allows you to include upcoming error messages and display this information as part of
your dashboard.

After finishing with the Definitions tab, click the Data Preview tab. Here you can preview the data as well as
rearrange the elements from the SAP NetWeaver BW query to form the data structure for your Xcelsius
dashboard.

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In my example, the characteristics are shown as I placed them in the SAP NetWeaver BW query:

 Country and Region in Rows

 Calendar year in Free Characteristics

However, you can use drag-and-drop functionality or the buttons at the bottom of the left side of the screen
to place the objects as you need them for your dashboard. You can also overwrite the original SAP
NetWeaver BW query structure and define which elements you want to receive as part of the data set. (This
part of the Data Preview makes it one of the most used options in the connection.)

In regards to the returned data set, it is really important to understand the format of the data that is returned
to you. In addition to the DATA PREVIEW tab and the number of columns that you define, your dataset will
also have at least two rows of data that provide more details about the data.

As shown in the figure above you will identify that the first two rows of data do contain additional information
about the dataset by providing, on the one hand the labels, but also information about the unit and the actual
scaling of the keyfigure. Keep this in mind when creating your Xcelsius dashboards, which at least these first
two rows will always be there in addition to the actual results.
In addition you will also recognize in the figure shown above that the result set includes a row representing
the OVERALL RESULT. This might not always be what you would like to retrieve for your actual dashboard.

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In case you would like to avoid this row for the overall result you need to configure for each characteristic in
the BW query designer the option RESULT ROWS to the option ALWAYS SUPPRESS.

For the next set of steps we create a BEx Query based on the SAP NetWeaver Demo model
0D_NW_M01.

We will now go ahead and create our Xcelsius dashboard:

1. Start the Xcelsius Designer via the menu Start>Programs>Xcelsius>Xcelsius 2008.

2. Select the menu Data > Connections.
3. Click ADD.
4. Select the entry SAP NetWeaver BI Connection.

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Figure 2: Xcelsius Data Manager

5. Click Browse and logon to the SAP system outlined in the beginning of the document.
6. Select the BW query QUERY_XCELSIUS.
7. On the Definition Tab name the connection – DATA CONNECTION.
8. Click ADD.
9. Select the entry SAP NetWeaver BI Connection.
10. Click Browse and logon to the SAP system outlined in the beginning of the document.
11. Select the BW query QUERY_XCELSIUS.
12. On the Definition Tab name the connection – LIST OF VALUES COUNTRY
13. Click ADD.
14. Select the entry SAP NetWeaver BI Connection.
15. Click Browse and logon to the SAP system outlined in the beginning of the document.
16. Select the BW query QUERY_XCELSIUS.
17. On the Definition Tab name the connection – LIST OF VALUES REGION
18. Select the Connection – DATA CONNECTION.

19. Now navigate to the Data Preview tab.

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20. Move the characteristic Product to the rows and ensure all other characteristics are part of the Free
Characteristics.
21. Click the button Refresh Data Preview to see a preview of the result set.
22. Navigate to the tab Usage.

23. Activate the option Refresh Before Components Are loaded.

24. Navigate back to the tab Definition.
25. Select the entry Crosstab Data in the Output Values.

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26. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells A1 to B20 in Sheet 1.
27. Click OK.
28. Select the entry Country in the Input Area.

29. Use the next to Read from and select the cells D1 in Sheet 1.
30. Select the entry Region in the Input Area.

31. Use the next to Read from and select the cells E1 in Sheet 1.
32. Select the Connection – LIST OF VALUES COUNTRY
33. Navigate to the tab Usage.
34. Activate the option Refresh Before Components Are loaded.
35. Navigate back to the tab Definition.
36. Select the Key value from the value help area for the characteristic Country in the Output Values

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37. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells G1 to G20 in Sheet 1.
38. Select the Text value from the value help area for the characteristic Country in the Output Values

39. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells H1 to H20 in Sheet 1.
40. Select the Connection – LIST OF VALUES REGION
41. Navigate to the tab Usage.
42. Activate the option Refresh Before Components Are loaded.
43. Navigate back to the tab Definition.
44. Select the Key value from the value help area for the characteristic Region in the Output Values

45. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells J1 to J20 in Sheet 1.
46. Select the Text value from the value help area for the characteristic Region in the Output Values

47. Use the next to Insert in and select the cells K1 to K20 in Sheet 1.
48. Select the entry Country in the Input Area.

49. Use the next to Read from and select the cells D1 in Sheet 1.
50. Navigate to the tab Usage.

51. Use the next to Trigger Cell and select the cells D1 in Sheet 1.
52. Select the option When Value Changes.
53. Click Close.
54. Drag and Drop a Combo Box from the Selectors to your canvas.
55. Select the Combo Box and open the properties with a right click.

56. Use the and configure the cells for the Labels to be H1 to H20
57. Set the Insertion Type to Value

58. Use the and configure the cells for the Source Data to be G1 to G20

59. Use the and configure the cell for the Destination to be D1.

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60. Drag and Drop a second Combo Box from the Selectors to your canvas.
61. Select the Combo Box and open the properties with a right click.

62. Use the and configure the cells for the Labels to be K1 to K20
63. Set the Insertion Type to Value

64. Use the and configure the cells for the Source Data to be J1 to J20

65. Use the and configure the cell for the Destination to be E1.
66. Drag and Drop a Pie Chart to your canvas below the combo boxes.
67. Select the pie chart and open the properties with a right click.
68. Enter Revenue by Product as Title and remove the subtitle.

69. Use the and configure the cells for the Values to be B3 to B20.

70. Use the and configure the cells for the Labels to be A3 to A20.
71. Use the option Data in Columns

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72. Navigate to the area Behavior.
73. Activate the option In Values.

74. Right Click on the chart.

75. Use the menu item Send to Back.
76. Open the menu Date > Connections.
77. Select your connection – DATA CONNECTION.
78. Navigate to the tab Usage.

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79. Use the and configure the cells for the Trigger Cell to be F1.
80. Activate the option When Value Changes.
81. Close the Data Manager.
82. Enter the formula =D1&E1 into the cell F1.
83. Use the menu SAP > Publish and save your Xcelsius file to the SAP NetWeaver BW system.
84. Use the menu SAP > Launch to see your dashboard.

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