BOBJ:

SUPER-USER FUNDAMENTALS
Overview of Business Objects (BOBJ), Basic Navigation,
and Creating & Formatting Reports

This document created by:

EBS Training, Functional, & Technical Teams.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 The SuperUser Role ......................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Creating a PDF for Distribution ......................................................................................... 5
1.3 Saving a Report to Favorites or SuperUser Work Area Folders ........................................ 5
2. Design Mode Overview .......................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Accessing Design Mode.................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Available Objects .............................................................................................................. 9
2.3 Structure and Filters.........................................................................................................11
2.4 The Main Tool Bar ...........................................................................................................12
2.4.1 Left Side of Main Tool Bar-File Tab............................................................................13
2.4.2 Left Side of Main Tool Bar-Properties Tab .................................................................14
2.4.3 Report Elements Tab .................................................................................................15
2.4.4 Formatting Tab ..........................................................................................................17
2.4.5 Data Access Tab .......................................................................................................17
2.4.6 Analysis Tab ..............................................................................................................18
2.4.7 Page Setup tab ..........................................................................................................19
2.5 Viewing ModesPage and Quick Display .......................................................................21
2.6 Folding and Unfolding Report Data ..................................................................................22
2.7 Freezing Table Headers, Columns and Rows ..................................................................23
2.8 Tracking Changes in Data................................................................................................24
2.8 Drilling on Report Data .....................................................................................................27
3. Report Design Modifications .................................................................................................29
3.1 Columns in a Table ..........................................................................................................29
3.1.1 Add a Column ............................................................................................................29
3.1.2 Remove a Column .....................................................................................................30
3.1.3 Swap a Column .........................................................................................................30
3.1.4 Replace a Column .....................................................................................................30
3.2. Sections ..........................................................................................................................30
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3.2.1 Add a Section ............................................................................................................31

3.2.2 Set the Page Layout of a Section [I would recommend adding a couple of screenshots
for where these are found] ..................................................................................................32
3.2.3 Hide Sections [supporting screenshots of menu] .......................................................34
3.2.4 Delete a Section ........................................................................................................34
3.3 Breaks .............................................................................................................................35
3.3.1 Insert Break(s) ...........................................................................................................36
3.3.2 Remove Break(s) .......................................................................................................37
3.3.3 Manage Break(s) .......................................................................................................38
3.4 Input Controls ..................................................................................................................41
3.4.1 Add Input Controls .....................................................................................................41
3.4.2 Edit Input Controls .....................................................................................................43
3.4.3 Organize Input Controls .............................................................................................43
3.4.5 View Input Controls Map ............................................................................................44
3.4.6 Use Input Controls to Filter Documents .....................................................................44
3.5 Ranking Report Data .......................................................................................................45
3.5.1 Add Ranking to a Report............................................................................................45
3.5.2 Remove a Ranking ....................................................................................................49
3.6 Calculations .....................................................................................................................50
3.6.1 Insert a Standard Calculation in a Table or Cross Table ............................................50
3.6.2 Remove a Standard Calculation ................................................................................51

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1. Introduction
This guide provides the following information for City of Portland Web Intelligence (Webi) report
users who have the BOBJ Super User role:

Responsibilities of the SuperUser

Overview of the Webi icons and buttons

Viewing Reports

How to execute basic edit (design) modifications in existing Webi reports to meet
bureau specific needs.

Note: Basic information on accessing, refreshing and viewing a Webi report is located in the
BOBJ End User Guide on the SAP Learning Center website. Please review that guide first if
you are new to Webi reports.

SAP Business Objects (BOBJ) is used to gather data from SAP, and Web Intelligence (Webi) is
the tool that is used to create web-based reports using the gathered data. Webi reports are built
using data that is refreshed nightly from SAP.
You can use the Java or HTML interface of SAP Business Objects Web Intelligence to perform
data analysis from the BI launch pad. You can choose which interface to launch by setting in
your Preferences settings in the BI launch pad.
Note: The screen shots in this guide are created with the HTML interface.

1.1 The SuperUser Role

As a BOBJ SuperUser, your role is multifaceted. One of the primary roles is to inform your
bureaus end-users of the different reports that are available and how the end-users can filter
those reports to meet their needs. Another responsibility is to run reports for those in your
bureau who do not have the end user role, and send them a PDF copy of the report. You can
also request the end user role for people in your bureau by submitting a HelpDesk ticket. You
are the go to person to provide training to end-users on how to access reports and how to use
any custom reports.
As a SuperUser you can edit reports for bureau-specific needs and request promotion of those
reports to your bureaus public folders so that all end-users can access the edited reports.

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Note: To request a report be promoted to your bureaus public folder, contact Chan Aaby:
chan.aaby@portlandoregon.gov

1.2 Creating a PDF for Distribution

One of your responsibilities as a SuperUser is to create PDFs of reports to distribute to those
who dont have the End User role. This is a simple process:

Step 1: Open the report you wish to distribute.

Step 2: Refresh the report, making changes to the prompts to generate the desired data.

Step 3: Click on the Print Icon in the Main Tool Bar

Step 4: From here you can save the report to your desktop, print the report or e-mail to the
recipients directly from the PDF.
Note: The report must be in PDF format in order to print.

1.3 Saving a Report to Favorites or SuperUser Work Area Folders

When you are ready to edit (design) a report you must first save the report you want to edit to
your Favorites folder or to your Super User Work Area. If you save to your Favorites folder, only
you will be able to access the report. If you save to your SuperUser Work Area, other Super
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Users can access the report which can be useful if you are collaborating on the editing of a
report.
Step 1: Once you are logged into ireport.city, click on the Documents Tab at the top of the
page, open the Public Folders folder, and then the 1-SAP folder.

Step 2: Open any of the folders and right click on the report you want to edit.
Step 3: In the drop-down menu click on Organize>Copy.

Step 4: Choose the folder you wish to work in, either your Favorites folder or your Bureaus
Super User Workarea.
To access your Favorites folder click on My Documents and then My Favorites.

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To access your Super User Workarea, scroll to the bottom of the expanded 1-SAP folder in the
Public Folders, expand the Z-Super user workarea folder and then click on the folder for your
bureau.

Step 5: Once the folder you want to use is open, right click
in the report listing area of the folder and in the drop down
menu click on Organize>Paste. Your report is now available
for you to edit and to save the edits you make.

Note: In order for End-Users to access the edited report you must have it promoted to your
Bureaus folder in the 1-SAP folder. To request a report be promoted to your bureaus public
folder, contact Chan Aaby: chan.aaby@portlandoregon.gov
Step 6: If you want to delete the report, right click on the report and click on Organize>Delete.

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2. Design Mode Overview

2.1 Accessing Design Mode
To be able to edit reports you have to change a report to the design mode by clicking on the
Design button in the Main tool bar.

Once you are in Design mode, two new icons are available on the side panel:

2.2 Available Objects

When you click on the Available Objects icon
, all the objects that are used to create the
report are displayed. The objects are elements that correspond to a selection of data from SAP.
The objects are organized into Dimensions, Details, and Measures and are grouped into folders
called classes.

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In the screenshot to the right there are two

ClassesQuery 1 and Variables which include all
the objects used in the report.
Within the folders, the blue diamonds
are
dimensions. The dimension
represents character-type data such as the Funds
Center name; for example: Office of
Management and Finance.
If there is a detail to further
describe the dimension you
can see it by expanding the
+ sign to the left of the
dimension. Once
expanded the detail
appears below the
dimension and provides
additional information
about the dimension,
usually the object code or number.

The measure objects are represented by

.
The measure object retrieves numeric data or is
the result of a calculation and is always numeric.
Examples are Current Budget, Actuals, PO
Encumbrances, etc.

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2.3 Structure and Filters

The Structure and Filters icon
on the Side Panel
displays the structure of the report and is useful in
determining where you are in a report when making
modifications. The screen shot to the right shows
the structure for a Year-to-Date Budget to Actual
Report by Fund and Bureau w/Commitment Item
Roll-Up. (BA04).

When you highlight a line in the structure the related

area on the report is outlined with a blue line as
shown in the screen shots below of the page footer.

Each component that

makes up a section of the report, such as the Page Footer, can be highlighted and outlined on
the report. In the screen shot below the Last Refresh Date: is highlighted in the Page Footer
section of the Structure and the cell is highlighted on the report.

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2.4 The Main Tool Bar

Below is an explanation of the different icons and tabs on the Main Tool Bar. Many of these will
be familiar to you as they are similar to Office 2010 and 2013. Specific use of the icons and
tabs will be explained throughout the guide.
Note: Many of these same actions can be accessed by right clicking on an area of the report.

Note: If an icon is grayed out it is not currently available.

Icon

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Option

Description

Undo

Reverse the previous action.

Redo

Reverse the undo action.

Cut

Cut the selection from the document and put it on the

Clipboard

Copy

Copy the selection from the document and put it on the

Clipboard

Paste

Paste the content of the Clipboard

Remove

Delete the selected report elements

Edit

Edit query

Refresh Data

Opens Prompts window to allow for choosing and

refreshing the available prompt filters.

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2.4.1 Left Side of Main Tool Bar-File Tab

Icon

Option

Description

Open

Open a document.

Save

Save Report to Favorites folder or SuperUser

Workspace Folder. Once report has been saved to one
of these folders you can use the Save icon to save as
you make your changes.

Save As

Note: You cannot save your changes to a Citywide

folder or Bureau Folder. If you want your report saved
to one of these folders it must be promoted. See
Section for information on promoting a report.
Print

Export to PDF for printing

Find

Search for text in the document.

Export

Export to PDF, Excel or CVS

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2.4.2 Left Side of Main Tool Bar-Properties Tab

Icon

Option

Description

View

Choose which tool bars, tabs and panels you want to

view.

Document
Summary

Opens a Document Summary Window where you can

add a Description to your report and Key Words. You
can also check the Refresh on open box and save.
The prompt window will open automatically each time
you open the report.
Note: Keep all other options as is.

Application

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Choose if you want to change measurement unit to

inches or cm.

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2.4.3 Report Elements Tab

Note: Some icons or buttons are context specific so are only available when you are in a
certain area of the report.

Icons

Sub Tab

Description

Tables

Allows you to insert Vertical, Horizontal,

Cross-Tab and Forms to display data in a
report

Cell

Allows you to insert a blank text field or a

Pre-Defined text field.

Section

Allows you to choose a dimension and/or

detail object to use to create sections in a
report.

Chart/Other

Insert a variety of charts, graphs, and maps

into a report to display data in a graphical
manner.

Tools

Must have dimension column highlighted to

change to a chart or graph.
Must have dimension column highlighted to
set as a section.

Position

Order how charts, tables, etc. are displayed.

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Icons

Sub Tab

Description

Align elements in the report.

Linking

Allows user to add links in the report to

URLs, documents, and/or elements.

Table Layout

Insert a break to group results on a table

Insert rows or columns

Show table header and/or footer.

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2.4.4 Formatting Tab

Note: These icons work mostly the same as in a Word or Excel document.

2.4.5 Data Access Tab

Icon

Sub Tab

Description

Data Provider

Edit query
Purge all data within the report. To restore data user
has to refresh the report.
Open Prompts window to allow for choosing and
refreshing the available prompt filters.

Data Objects

Create a new variable based on available objects.

Merge dimensions based on available objects.

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2.4.6 Analysis Tab

Icon

Sub Tab

Description

Filters

Create, Edit, Remove Simple Filters and

Create new Input Control
Create rankings in report based on
measures.
Create and Define Input Controls.

Data
Objects

Create a new variable based on available

objects.
Merge dimensions based on available
objects.

Data
Tracking

Compare specified data with prior specified

data refreshes.
Show tracked data changes.

Display

Add a grouping set for selected values.

Add breaks, remove breaks, and manage
breaks.
Sort data.

Conditional Apply conditional formatting

Interact

Turn drill mode on or off

Create a snapshot of a report.
Show or hide simple report filter tool bar.

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Icon

Sub Tab

Description
Show or hide outline which provides the
ability to fold or unfold report elements.

Functions

Insert/Remove Calculations
Display or hide the formula bar under the
toolbars.

2.4.7 Page Setup tab

Icon

Sub Tab

Description

Report

Opens a new tab (report) to create a

new report using the same available
objects.
Opens a new tab with a duplicate of the
existing report.
Delete new created tabs (reports).

Rename Report

Provides a field to rename report

Move Report

Move the position of the tabs (reports)

Page

Change orientation of report

Change paper size

Header

Show or hide the header and/or footer

Footer

Set the height of the header and/or

footer

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Icon

Sub Tab

Description

Scale to Page

Set width, height and scale of report

Margins

Set top, bottom and side margins

Display

Display report as it will look on a page.

Display report with the set rows and
columns to easily scroll through the
report.

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2.5 Viewing ModesPage and Quick Display

In the Reading and Design document modes, you can view reports in different modes
depending on how you want to work with data and how you want the data to appear.
In Reading document mode you can access the two different mode icons at the bottom of the
document:

In Design document mode, you can access the different modes from the Main Tool Bar on the
Page Setup Tab > Display Subtab.

The Page view mode displays the page layout of reports, including page margins, headers, and
footers. Use Page view mode when you want to fine-tune the formatting of tables and charts
and the layout of report pages.
The Quick Display view mode is the default display mode.
It is a pagination mode that is based on the data, rather than the physical size of report pages.
The Quick Display view mode displays just the tables, reports, and free standing cells in
reports and displays a maximum number of records vertically and horizontally, depending on the
Quick Display settings. The Quick Display view mode also specifies the minimum page width
and height and the amount of padding around the edges of the report.
Because the Quick Display view mode restricts the number of horizontal and vertical rows, a
report might not contain all possible data. You can change the number of horizontal rows and
vertical rows displayed by changing the settings.

Use the Quick Display view mode when you want to focus on analyzing results, add
calculations or formulas, or add breaks or sorts to tables to organize results.
You can easily switch between the two modes by clicking on the icons.

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2.6 Folding and Unfolding Report Data

You can hide and display report data by folding and unfolding the display of different report
elements.
You can fold and unfold sections, breaks and tables. Data is concealed and displayed in
different ways depending on the report element.
Report element

Result

Section

When a section is folded, section details are hidden and free cells only are
displayed.

Table or break

When a table or break is folded, the rows are concealed, and only
headers and footers are displayed. Tables must have headers and footers
to be folded and unfolded.
Vertical tables, horizontal tables and cross tables can be folded and
unfolded.

You can fold and unfold data in Reading and Design mode by activating the outline. Open a
Web Intelligence document.
1. Select a cell in the table.
2. Do one of the following:

In the Reading mode, click Outline on the Main tool bar.

In the Design mode, in the Analysis tab, select the Interact sub tab and click
Outline.

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The fold and unfold bars appear to the side of and above the report panel, depending on the
report structure. (see screenshot below).
3. Use the +/- or arrow icons on the bars, which
correspond to and are aligned with individual report
elements, to fold and unfold the report elements.

2.7 Freezing Table Headers, Columns and Rows

When you view a Web Intelligence report in Reading mode, you can freeze headers, and rows
or columns in tables to keep them displayed as you scroll through data.
You can freeze one or several zones of your table, depending on the type of table. The following
table lists zones you can freeze according to the type of table:
Type of table

Zones you can freeze

Vertical table

Header or data columns or both.

Horizontal table

Header or data rows or both.

Cross table

Vertical header or horizontal header or both.

You can freeze up to 5 data rows or columns.

Note: You must be in Quick Display mode to be able to use this feature.

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1. Highlight the row or column you want to freeze.

2. Click on the Freeze icon. The Freeze icon will be grayed out until you highlight the row
or column.

2.8 Tracking Changes in Data

You can track data changes in Webi documents. When you track data changes, you select a
particular data refresh as a reference point. This data is known as the reference data. When you
activate data tracking, you see your data in relation to the reference data.
You can track the following types of data changes:

Inserted data

Deleted data

Changed data

Increased values

Decreased values

To track changes:
1. Refresh and save your report in your Favorites folder or in the Super User Workspace if
you want other Super Users to access the report.
2. You can access the Track Changes icon in a variety of places
In any mode, click Track changes on the status bar at the bottom of the window.

In the Reading mode, click Track in the main toolbar.

In the Design mode, on the Analysis tab, select the Data Tracking sub tab and
click Track.

3. In the Data Tracking dialog box, select the Data tab.

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To compare the data with the last refresh, select Compare with last data refresh.

When you select this option, the current data becomes the reference data after each
data refresh. The report always shows the difference between the most recent data
and the data before the last refresh.
If this option is selected, the status bar displays Track changes: Auto-update.

To compare the data with a specific data refresh, select Compare with data refresh from
and select the date of the data refresh from the list.

When you select this option, the data refresh you choose becomes the reference
data. The report always shows the difference between the most recent data and the
data refresh you chose.
If this option is selected, the status bar displays Track changes: Fixed data.
4. Select the reports that you want to display data tracking from the Reports with data
tracking shown list.
5. Select Refresh data now to refresh the data when the dialog box closes.
6. Click OK to close the Data Tracking dialog box.

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The default settings for the changes that are tracked and how they are displayed are in the
screen shot below:

If you are in Design mode, you have the ability to change those options. You can choose the
elements you wish to track by checking and unchecking the boxes. You can also change the
formatting of how those changes are displayed. For numerical values you can change the
formatting and the % amount of increased or decreased value.

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2.8 Drilling on Report Data

Drilling on reports lets you look deeper into your data to discover the details behind a summary
result displayed in tables, charts, or sections.
When you analyze data in drill mode, you move along a drill path. These paths are based on the
dimension hierarchies that are set up in BusinessObjects. Hierarchies are set up with the
summary objects at the top and the most detailed at the bottom. A report can be set up to be a
high-level report which includes objects at the top of the list. If you want to see more detailed
information, in Drill Mode you can drill down on each dimension value displayed in the reports.
To drill up or down in a report:
1. Verify you are in drill mode. In Reading mode click on the drill icon in the main tool bar.

In Design mode click on the Analysis Tab then the Interact subtab. Then click on the Drill
icon.
There are different ways to drill:
2. You can drill down by clicking on the link of the dimension you want to drill on:

You can drill up by clicking on the arrow in the right of the cell:

You can right-click on the cell you want to drill from and choose where you want to go using
the drop down menu.

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3. Once you have the report drilled to the level you want, you can save that version of the
report by taking a snapshot. Take a snapshot of the report by clicking on the snapshot
icon from the drop down menu on the drill icon. That snapshot will
appear in your document as with a new tab. If you are in Design
mode you can rename the report by right clicking the tab and
clicking on rename report.

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3. Report Design Modifications

It is important to recognize that the reports that have been developed in the City-Wide folder
and promoted to the bureau folders are not all developed in exactly the same way. When
making your design modifications, pay close attention to the data to ensure you are getting the
results you need.

3.1 Columns in a Table

One way you can modify the design of a report is by adding, removing, replacing, and swapping
columns in a table so that just the information you want is displayed, just the way you want it.

3.1.1 Add a Column

You must be in Design mode to modify columns.
To add a column, highlight the object you want to add to a
report from the available objects, drag it to the area of the
report where you want it to appear, and release the
mouse when you see the message drop here to replace
cell.

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You can change the heading if you want by highlighting the heading and changing it in the
Function toolbar.

3.1.2 Remove a Column

To remove a column, first highlight the column you want removed and
then right click and select Delete.

3.1.3 Swap a Column

To swap the position of columns, highlight one of the columns and drag
over the column you want to swap places with and release once you see the message:
.

3.1.4 Replace a Column

Highlight the object from the available objects you want to use to replace a column, drag to the
column you want to replace, and release when you see the message:

3.2. Sections
Another modification you can make to a report is to add and/or delete a section. Sections allow
you to split report information into smaller, more comprehensible parts and add totals or other
calculations to the sections. A section distributes the data into multiple free-standing cells called
section headers. Each section header contains one value for a dimension, with a block of data
that corresponds to the dimension value. The sections sort numerically and alphabetically.
There are a few different ways you can add a section to an existing report.

Note: Breaks and sections separate data differently in Web Intelligence.

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A break divides the data up within one block. One column contains the values for a dimension,
detail, or measure, which are repeated for each other row of values in the block. (See 3.3 for
detailed information on Breaks).

3.2.1 Add a Section

1. To add a section from an object that is currently in a report, highlight the column with the
object you want to use as a section.
2. Click on the Report Elements tab in the Main Tool Bar and the Section subtab.
3. Click on the Set as section icon.

4. To add a section from an object that is not currently in a report, click on the Insert
Section tab.

Drag the field to the area between the header of the report and the report table.

5. Highlight the object you want to use to create sections from the available objects window
that opens and click on OK.

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Your report is now organized by sections by the object you chose. You can add totals to the
sections. (See 3.6 for information on how to add totals).

Note: You cannot create a section with a measure object!

3.2.2 Set the Page Layout of a Section

You can set the parameters for how you want the section to appear in the report.
1. Click on the Document Structure and Filters icon on the left Side Panel

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2. Right-click the section in the Document Structure window and select Format Section
from the menu.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Select the Layout tab in the dialog box.

Select Start on a new page to start each section on a new page.
Select Avoid page breaks to avoid page breaks in the section.
Select Repeat on every page to repeat the section header on every page.
Click on Apply and then OK.

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3.2.3 Hide Sections

You can hide sections in your report based on selected parameters.
1. Click on the Document Structure and Filters icon on the left Side Panel
2. Highlight the section in the Document Structure window.

2. Select Report Elements > Behaviors > Hide on the Main Tool Bar to hide the section.
3. Select Report Elements > Behaviors > Hide When Empty to hide the section when it is
empty.
4. Select Report Elements > Behaviors > Hide When, select Hide when the following
formula is true, and type a formula in the box to hide the section when the formula is true.

Note: The formula must return a Boolean value (True or False).

3.2.4 Delete a Section

To delete a section, right click on the section cell, click on Delete > Cell and Section. If you
click on Cell Only, the label will be deleted, but the report will still be divided into sections.

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3.3 Breaks
A break divides the data up within one block. One column contains the values for a dimension,
detail, or measure, which are repeated for each other row of values in the block
Example of City of Portland reports that use breaks are the BA04 and BA06 reports. In the
report below the dimension Commitment Item Roll-Up & Description is repeated for each row of
values in the block.

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When you apply a break in a report, a default sort order is applied.

When you insert a break on an object, the values for the object are automatically sorted in
ascending order as follows:

If the values are numeric, the lowest value appears in the first row of the table, the
highest in the last row.

If the values are alphabetical characters, then the values are sorted in alphabetical order
from A to Z.

You can set multiple breaks across several dimensions details or measures and set a sort
priority on each break

3.3.1 Insert Break(s)

You can insert a break in any table in a Web Intelligence report, except in form tables.
1. In a table, select a column on which you want to apply a break.

2. In the Analysis tab, in the Display subtab, select Add Break from the Break dropdown list
or right click on the highlighted column, choose Break > Add Break.

The table is divided into as many mini tables as there are unique values in the column. Each
mini table has a footer.
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3.3.2 Remove Break(s)

To remove the break(s) in a table
1. Select the table column on which the break is defined.
2. In the Analysis tab, in the Display subtab, select Remove Break from the Break
dropdown list or right click on the highlighted column, choose Break > Remove Break.
Note: If the column does not have a break defined, the Remove Break menu item is not
available.
3. To remove all breaks, select any column in the table and select Remove All Breaks
from the Break dropdown list.
Note: The Remove All Breaks menu item is not available if the table has no breaks defined.

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3.3.3 Manage Break(s)

You can manage existing table column breaks.
1. In a Web Intelligence document in Design mode, select any column in a table.
2. In the Analysis tab, in the Display subtab, select Manage Breaks from the Break
dropdown list. The Manage Breaks dialog box shows the breaks defined in the table. If
the table is a crosstab, the dialog box shows the breaks on both the horizontal and
vertical axes. Each break is represented by the dimension on which it is defined. The
order in which the dimensions appear indicates the order in which the breaks are
applied.

3. To change the priority of a break, select the dimension and click the Up or Down arrow
to move the dimension in the break priority.
4. To add a break, click Add and select the dimension on which you want to apply the
break.
5. To remove a break, select the dimension and click Remove.
6. To set the properties of a break, select the dimension and select the properties in the
opposite section in the dialog box.

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You can set the following properties of a break:

Property

Description

Break header

Displays a header for each part of the table, crosstab, or form when
you insert a break.

Break footer

This displays a footer for each break in a section, including a footer

after the last row for a table or column for a crosstab when you
insert a break. When you apply a calculation to the data, the result
is shown in the footer.

Apply Sort

Applies the default sort order to the values in the break.

The defaults sort order is numerical, then alphabetical.

Duplicate values:
Display all

Displays all values in the break, even when they are duplicated.

Duplicate values:
Display first

Displays the first value only when values are duplicated.

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Property

Description

Duplicate values:
Merge

Merges cells containing duplicate values and displays a single

value over the merged cells.

Duplicate values:
Repeat first on
new page

Displays the first value in a group of duplicate values at the

beginning of the break and on each new page.

Start on a new
page

Displays each part of the table or form created by a break on a new

page.

Avoid page
breaks in block

Where possible, keeps each break section on the same page. This
option is not taken into account when a block is larger than one
page.

Repeat header on
every page

Repeats the header at the top of the table on every new page when
a table goes over onto a new page.

Repeat footer on
every page

Repeats the footer at the bottom of the table on every new page
when a table goes over onto a new page.

7. Click OK.

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3.4 Input Controls

Web Intelligence documents can be filtered using Input Controls. In Design mode you can add,
edit and remove input controls in Web Intelligence documents to further filter data using check
boxes and radio buttons.

3.4.1 Add Input Controls

1. In the Analysis tab, select the Filters sub tab, and then from the Input Controls
dropdown list, select Define Control or you can click on the input control icon in the side
panel and click on New.
2. In the Select Report Object panel, select the report object to supply values for the input
control, then click Next.

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3. Select the input control type. The list of control types is determined by the data type of
the report object.
4. Define the input control, select an input control, then set the properties.
Note: The available properties are determined by the control type.
Property

Description

Name

The name of the input control

Description

The description of the input control

List of values

The list of values available in the input control. You can use all values
of the report object on which the input control is based (the default) or
define your own custom list of values.

Use restricted List

of Values

If you define a custom list of values for the report object, this setting
filters the data in the report element you assign to the input control
based on this list of values. Even when no values are selected in the
input control, any values not in the restricted list are excluded from the
report element filtered by the input control.
For example, if an input control based on the Fund dimension is
restricted to the values General Fund, a table filtered by the input
control shows data for General Fund only, even when no value is
selected in the input control.
If you deselect Use restricted List of Values, all values of Fund appear
in the table when no value is selected in the input control.

Allow selection of all This property allows you to show or hide the All Values option in an
values
input control. For example, you may want to hide the All values option
when the aggregation of the values makes no sense.
Filter operators

The operator that the input control uses to filter the associated report
elements.

Default values

The default values that the input control uses to filter the associated
report element.

Number of lines

The number of lines that the input control displays in the Input Control
pane. For example a list of five radio buttons with Number of lines set
to 3 displays only three radio buttons by default. You access the other
two radio buttons by using the scrollbar.

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5. Click Next.
6. In the Assign Report Elements panel, select the report elements you want the input
control to filter.
7. Click Finish.
The input control appears on the Input Controls pane.

3.4.2 Edit Input Controls

You can edit an input control in the Edit Input Control dialog box.
1. In a Web Intelligence document in Design mode, select the Input Controls tab in the
Side Panel.
2. Select the input control, then click the Edit icon on the input control toolbar to display the
Edit Input Control dialog box.

3. Edit the input control properties in the Properties tab of the Edit Input Control dialogue
box.
4. Edit the report elements associated with the input control on the Dependencies tab.
5. Click OK to return to the document.

3.4.3 Organize Input Controls

You can change the order of input controls in the Input Controls panel and remove input
controls from a document.
1. In a Web Intelligence document in Design mode, select the Input Controls tab in the
Side Panel.
2. Drag and drop input controls to move them up or down on the Input Controls pane.
3. Select an input control, then click the Remove icon on the input control toolbar to remove
it from the Input Controls pane.

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4. Click Yes to confirm the action.

3.4.5 View Input Controls Map

To more easily see the dependencies that are set up for input controls, click on the Input
Controls icon in the side panel and then on the Map tab at the top.

3.4.6 Use Input Controls to Filter Documents

1. In a Web Intelligence document in Design mode, select the Input Controls tab in the
Side Panel.
2. Uncheck Select (All) and check the values you want to use to filter the data.

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The associated report elements are filtered based on the values you select.

3.5 Ranking Report Data

Ranking allows you to isolate the top and bottom records in a set based on a variety of criteria.
You can rank data in the following ways:

rank the top and/or bottom n records by dimension (for example Commitment item)
based on the sum of a related measure (for example Actuals)

rank the top and/or bottom n% of the total number of records by dimension based 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 by dimension based on the cumulative sum of a
related measure

rank the top and/or bottom n records by dimension based on the value of a related
measure as a cumulative percentage of the total value of the measure

3.5.1 Add Ranking to a Report

1. Select the block that you want to rank
2. In Design mode, click on the Analysis Tab and then the
subtab Filters. On the Ranking pull down menu choose Add
Ranking.
2. The "Create Rank" dialog box appears
3. Click Top and select the number of records if you want to rank the highest records in the
block.
4. Click Bottom and select the number of records if you want to rank the lowest records in
the block.
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5. Select the measure on which the ranking is based in the Based on list.
6. Click Ranked By and select the dimension on which the ranking is based if you want to
rank by a particular dimension rather than by all dimensions in the block.
7. Select the rank calculation mode in the Calculation mode list.
8. Click OK.

The following parameters can be configured in the Ranking dialog box.

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Parameter

Description

Top/Bottom

When the calculation mode is Count, the ranking returns the

top/bottom n records based on the measure specified as the Based
on parameter.
When the calculation mode is Percentage, the ranking returns the
top/bottom n% of the total number of records based on the measure
specified as the Based on parameter. For example, if there are 100
records and you rank the top 10%, the ranking returns the top 10
records.
When the calculation mode is Cumulative Sum, the ranking returns
the top/bottom records, for which the cumulative sum of the measure
specified as the Based on parameter does not exceed n.
When the calculation mode is Cumulative Percentage, the ranking
returns the top/bottom records, for which the cumulative sum of the
measure specified as the Based on parameter does not exceed n%
of the total of the measure.

Based on

The measure on which the ranking is based.

Ranked By

The ranking dimension. If you specify a ranking dimension, the

aggregated values of the Based on parameter, calculated for the
dimension, determine the ranking. If you do not specify this
dimension, the values of the Based on parameter calculated for all
dimensions in the block determine the ranking. In other words, the
ranking returns the top/bottom X rows in the block based on the
measure.

Calculation mode

The type of calculation used to create the ranking.

The screen shot below shows a BA04 report with the following parameters applied.

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Note: Sorts applied to display rankings take precedence over sorts that you previously applied
to data. For example, if a list was previously sorted in alphabetical order the ranking sort
overrides the alphabetical order.
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Note: You cannot rank on an object whose values depend on the data order. This is because
the ranking changes the data order, which in turn changes the object data, which then requires
a recalculation of the ranking. The result is a circular dependency between the ranking and the
object that cannot be resolved.

3.5.2 Remove a Ranking

To remove a ranking from a report in Design mode click on the Analysis tab >Filters subtab.
On the Ranking Drop Down menu choose Remove Ranking.

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3.6 Calculations
When in Design mode you can add calculations to reports.

3.6.1 Insert a Standard Calculation in a Table or Cross Table

You can insert standard calculations in tables or cross tables to make quick calculations on
table data.
1. Click the table cell that contains the data you want to calculate.
2. Click Analysis > Functions and select the calculation you want to add.

You can repeat this step to add multiple calculations to the same column.
A footer containing the result of the calculation is added below the column.

You can change the name that was added to the footer by highlighting the cell and changing the
name in the formula bar and then using formatting tools from the main menu to change font,
color, etc.

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3.6.2 Remove a Standard Calculation

1. Right-click the cell that contains the calculation.
2. Select a cell in the row or column containing the calculation, right-click and select Delete
from the menu.
3. In the dialog box, select Row to delete the row or Column to delete the column.

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