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TechED
BusinessObjects FastTrack
CONTENTS:
Designer
Supervisor
InfoView workshop
WebIntelligence workshop
BO 1
TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
BusinessObjects
SETUP/INSTALLATION
Ensure that you have a valid license (*.xml) file before you proceed with product
installation.
License available at http://license.businessobjects.com for customers and
employees. Employees use their NT login ID.
Besides testing the database middleware layer, no special configuration is
necessary for desktop products. (In training, we often install server products at
the same time as desktop, we will configure them later.)
LICENSE
License available at http://license.businessobjects.com.
This .xml file is checked at install and runtime. Additional/new licenses are
installed to the same directory, with priority to the file with highest rights.
Location of license file: (avoid putting under <BO install directory>) This
registry setting provides the path to the location of the license file:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects \Suite
6.0\default\Shared\gGeneral\Directories\License
TERMINOLOGY
New Report Wizard, The universe provides the semantic layer – maps to the
Database. (There are other data providers.)
Query Panel is designed to build the (SQL) query using objects . Running this
query creates a document (.rep file) which contains at least one Report and the
data.
CLASSES (SUB-CLASSES)
Classes in the Query Panel are a means to organize objects by subject. Classes
and their subclasses are set up in the Universe.
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
BUILDING QUERIES
If the ‘Classes and Objects’ pane is selected at the bottom of the Query Panel (
), Report Objects may be inserted in the top pane. The appropriate SQL
statement is automatically and dynamically generated. Click the Run button to
run the initial query. to refresh the query and run the same SQL statement again,
click Refresh Data ( ). To return to the Query Panel, edit the query, and
change the SQL statement generated, click Edit Data Provider ( ). Reports
can also be generated using Conditions ( ), see later.
SQL GENERATION/MANIPULATION
Report designers may use the SQL button ( ) in the Query Panel to edit the
SQL statement generated using the universe metadata. To lock in custom SQL
statements, be sure to check the option.
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
VARIANCE
To insert variance ( ) or variance percentage ( ) on dimensions/details,
first select the ‘a’ value, hold down the CTRL key to select the ‘b’ value, and then
click the appropriate toolbar button. A new column is inserted with the
calculation.
BO 4
TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
CALCULATIONS
Available calculations will vary depending on whether a dimension/detail or a
measure is selected. To apply simple calculations, first select the data on which
you would like to perform the calculation, then select the click the appropriate
toolbar button ( , , ). More calculation options are available from the
right-click pop-up menu when selecting the data.
Calculations are “ready-made” formulas.
OUTLINE MODE
Outline view is used to show summary values, as well as details as necessary.
Select View | Outline to display outline indicators on to the left of the report
window. Sections and breaks can be opened and closed using the arrows or
map buttons at the bottom.
GROUPING DATA
To group data in a way other than may be available in the database, click multiple
dimension values, then click Group Values ( ). A new variable is created by
default, and may be further edited under Data | Variables. This operation may be
repeated as many times as necessary.
ALERTERS
Alerters are used to alert the report user of the occurrence of certain values in
any text blocks on a report. To apply an alerter on any column/row, select the
data on which you would like to apply the alerter, and click Alerters ( ). Click
the Add b utton, enter a name and description on the Definition tab, and define the
conditions under which the alerter should display on the Conditions tab.
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
SPECIAL FIELDS
Special fields are typical, frequently-used formulas which have been simplified for
end-user use. Either click the desired area on the report after selecting Insert |
Special Field, or click the desired cell before.
FINANCIAL BLOCK
Use Rotate Table ( ) to turn a vertically-oriented table into a horizontally-
oriented table. Horizontal bar-charts will be available from 6.5 onwards.
SLICE/DICE ANALYSIS
Use Slice and Dice ( ) to graphically rearrange data in blocks (tables,
crosstabs, and charts), and apply breaks, sections , filters, sorts, rankings, and
calculations.
REPORT CONTEXTS
When performing calculations, context (or relative placement in the block/report)
is automatically taken into consideration, but may be manipulated in the Formula
Editor to facilitate certain calculations across contexts, for example ‘=
(Sum<Revenue> In <City>) / (Sum <Revenue> In <Country>)’ for a percentage.
RUNNING CALCULATIONS
Special ‘running’ calculations, including RunningAverage, RunningCount,
RunningMin, RunningMax, Running Product, and Running Sum, and available in
the Formula Editor.
IF…THEN…ELSE…
Special conditional ‘If…Then…Else…’ functionality is available in the Formula
Editor.
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
Note that using the Scope of Analysis causes the additional dimensions to be
included in the Select statement and in the Microcube. Drill through allows users
to drill down to data detail not already in the report, i.e. re -query the database.
Note also: Drill filters display, the drill-toolbar
Drilling requires the “Explorer” module.
CONDITION OBJECTS
If the ‘Predefined Conditions’ pane is selected at the bottom of the Query Panel (
), Conditions (query restrictions) may be inserted in the bottom pane. Note
the additional Where clause by viewing the SQL statement.
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
CUSTOM CONDITIONS
Custom conditions may also be built using a sequential combination of Objects,
Operators, and Operands.
Date/numeric ranges are possible using the ‘Between’ Operator.
Prompts are possible using the ‘Type a new prompt’ Operand. Multiple
conditions are possible, although care must be taken to ensure that query logic is
correct: if more than one condition exists, it may be necessary to specify an
And/Or operators; if more than two conditions exist, it may be necessary to shift
pairs of conditions left/right as appropriate.
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
SUBQUERIES
It is possible to construct subqueries using the Query Panel using the ‘Create a
subquery’ Operand when creating a condition: additional query tabs appear at the
bottom of the Query Panel. The result of any inner (sub) queries will run first and
be used to complete the conditions in the outer (main) query. For this reason,
there can be only one field in each of the Result Objects pane of the subqueries .
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
BO 10
TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
EXERCISE 9: XML as a Data Provider (use catalog.xml) and save .rep as .xls
REPORT MANAGER
The Report Manager ( ) has two tabs, which provide access to both variables
and formulas in the document (Data), and navigation around the reports and
sections in the document (Map).
LISTS OF VALUES
Lists of values are used when building custom conditions and when responding
to query prompts. Stored locally as .lov , otherwise it is a Select hit on the DB.
Individual users may be able to edit, purge, and refresh their own lists. To
access, click the List of Values button under Tools | Universes.
USER OBJECTS
User objects (stored locally as a .udo) allow individual users to create their own
custom objects in the Query Panel and extend predefined universes as
necessary. To access, either use the User Objects button ( ) in the Query
Panel, or click the User Objects button under Tools | Universes.
CONDITIONAL FORMATTING
Under Format Block ( ), on the Appearance tab, use the Hide Block option to
hide a block when a certain condition is met. This is useful in a sectioned report
in which multiple blocks are placed over one another, so depending on the
formulas defined for each. Different blocks may be displayed in each section.
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TechEd FastTrack BusinessObjects
STRUCTURE, ALIGNMENT
A s implified but cryptic view of the report structure (no data) is available using
Structure ( ) view. For aesthetics, some alignment options are available
under Format | Placement. Use Bring to Front and Send to Back to appropriately
overlay blocks/cells, use Alignment to line up specific blocks/cells, and use the
Snap to Grid options to auto -align blocks/cells. If desired, turn on the visual grid
using View | Grid.
Export: Do not confuse with “exporting” (publishing) a document (or universe) to the repository!
REPOSITORY/OFFLINE MODE
Upon login, select to work in either online (connected to repository, created by
Supervisor) or offline (disconnected) mode. Offline mode requires having made
at least one previous connection (i.e. having the .lsi file on the workstation (see
Supervisor)).
Don’t confuse with repository vs. inexistence of repository (= no prompt for a
user ID/password).
BO 13