Designing Mobile BI Reports for BlackBerry Users

Introduction What does this presentation cover?

This presentation describes how a real-world SAP customer has used various developer tools to build optimized SAP BI reports for BlackBerry device users within their organization It covers the following topics:
Understanding the mobile requirements for BI reports Using SAP BW Web Application Designer to build optimized web-based reports for BlackBerry users Using BlackBerry MDS Studio to develop custom rich-client applications for BlackBerry to interact with SAP BI Key lessons learned

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Learning Objectives As a result of this workshop, you will be able to

Understand options available to deploy SAP content to BlackBerry devices Recognize pros and cons associated with different approaches Use best practices to quickly create BI content for BlackBerry using SAP development tools Use BlackBerry Mobile Data System (MDS) Studio to quickly create custom BI content for BlackBerry devices

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Mobility Requirements Pushing SAP Web Content to the BlackBerry Use MDS to Create Custom Applications for BlackBerry Use MDS to Create SAP BI Content for BlackBerry Summary

Typical Mobile Applications

Sales Needs
View and update accounts and transactions

Executives
Remote approval and communication

Business Intelligence
Real-time access to confidential information

Workflow
Target participants could be anywhere

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Challenges to be Overcome Mobility is a fact of todays business

Executive and Sales / Field Service Reps have to be mobile in todays global business place

Timeliness
Cached information is not sufficient Real-time workflow is impossible with disconnected or sync-based solutions

Security
Typical applications require secure communications

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Mobility Requirements Pushing SAP Web Content to the BlackBerry Use MDS to Create Custom Applications for BlackBerry Use MDS to Create SAP BI Content for BlackBerry Summary

Goals for Deployment of BI Content Content

Centralized information from many sources
Cross-functional audience / Cross-functional content

Security
Multi-tiered authorization to control access Respect internal territory guidelines Security roles need to encompass deployment

Timeliness
Static reports are seldom read when generated Self-service must be seamless to be efficient Analysis tools generally best-suited to desktop workstation

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Available Deployment Alternatives Portal Deployment

Perfect to act as a gatekeeper for BPS / BW deployed to workstations Best suited to dashboard content and analytics NOT designed for mobile deployment

Email Broadcasting
Perfect for sending reports via email to distribution lists In-line content designed for viewing from a desktop or BlackBerry Challenge: multiple BlackBerry models deployed across customer base

BlackBerry Deployment
Best suited for mobile deployment Easy click for real-time rendering of data as required Customizable to the individual PIN holder Alternatives:
Browser push: Fast deployment of existing web content from SAP Custom MDS Studio application: Requires design work to use BW services
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Email Broadcasting
If content is delivered in-line from broadcaster, content must be viewable by any email reader used by the recipient Design content to be long and narrow (scrollable down not across) for blackberry distribution Advantages
One template can be filtered to create multiple slices of data Flexibility to publish to the portal as well as via email Flexibility on output options - Independent HTML files is the only option used if BlackBerry usage expected - Attachments sent to the BlackBerry have to be opened and read by another application - Online Links need to be modified by parameters to be viewed correctly on BlackBerry

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Broadcasting Best Usage

Best use of Broadcasting: scheduling Regularly deploy content to recipients via email or portal

Rich Content for Analysis Static In-line HTML

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BlackBerry Deployment Using SAP Toolset

SAP toolset provides ability to produce rich content including graphics, tables, text, and XML Content is webdeployed and therefore can be deployed on a blackberry with a browser

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URL Parameters for Web Templates

Mobile BW Web Applications have two modes: WAP and HTML
Default is WAP (WML) when connecting from a BlackBerry device Change to HTML mode (to enable richer rendering on BlackBerry) Append following string to the URL (see OSS note 902036)
&USER-AGENT=WINDOWS%20CE&ACCEPT=text/html&JAVASCRIPT=&NO_SESSION_COOKIE=X

Passing Variables
&VAR_NAME_1=MU_04031&VAR_VALUE_EXT_1=01%2e01%2e2004 MU_04031 is the name of the variable 01.01.2004 is the value of the variable

Passing Parameters
<SAP_BW_URL Parameter1='Value1' Parameter2='Value2' ...> Add other parameters with & after <SAP_BW_URL> tag: <SAP_BW_URL>?Parameter1=Value1&Parameter2=Value2&.. Example, Password Parameter &sap-user=my_user_name&sap-password=my_password

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Useful Settings for HTML Rendering Ensure to address the following areas for correct rendering
BlackBerry Browser settings (on device) Template properties Table properties Graphic design Query design

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BlackBerry Browser Option Settings Browser Configuration (Under Browser Options)

Emulation Mode:
Microsoft IE (if viewing BSP content) otherwise, BlackBerry

Support HTML Tables: Checked Support Style Sheets: Checked (if using style sheets) Style sheets media type: Handheld

General Properties
Default Font Family: BBCondensed Default Font Size: 7

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HTML Editing Tips

Create a Main template (series embedded URLs) to Control Parameters
<a href="<SAP_BW_URL>&CMD=LDOC&TEMPLATE_ID=EXAMPLE_TEMPLATE">Template_name</a>

Calling up Web Templates

<SAP_BW_URL>&CMD=LDOC&TEMPLATE_ID=EXAMPLE_TEMPLATE

Calling up the Variables Screen

<SAP_BW_URL>&CMD=PROCESS_VARIABLES&SUBCMD=VARIABLE_SCREEN

Changing the Values of Variables

<SAP_BW_URL>&CMD=PROCESS_VARIABLES&SUBCMD=VAR_SUBMIT&VAR_NAME_1=myVar&VAR_VALUE_EXT_1=4711

Data Provider - Commands

<SAP_BW_URL>&DATA_PROVIDER=DP_1&...

Back and Back to Start

Undo the last action: CMD=BACK Undo all actions: CMD=RESET

Jumping using Report-Report Interface

<SAP_BW_URL>&DATA_PROVIDER=View1&CMD=RRI&RRI_RECEIVER=XYZ Report-Report Interface Receivers on the BlackBerry device can be BW queries, BW Web Applications, or arbitrary URLs. The parameterization of the target action is taken from the source context you have jumped from

General Formatting Tips Use horizontal rule <hr> tags to separate sections of content Use filters (drop down preferred) to limit results Use <br> tags rather than <p> tags to separate objects

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Template Properties Template Properties

Output Device Optimization: unchecked Do not display system messages: checked Do not display warnings: checked Force variable screen display: unchecked Reset variables to default values: checked Read-Mode for Data: Pre-calculated, if it Exists (depends on template requirements)

Use style sheets to control object presentation

Sizing, spacing and colors are controllable with style sheets

Create generic report structures

Avoid creating multiple templates with the same data Use queries with exit variables to provide filters or make use of query views Create central Web templates with links (edit HTML)
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Table / Graphic Properties and Design Tips 1/2 Table Properties

Title: leave blank Generate Title: unchecked Border Type: With Border Objects with Navigation Links: unchecked Only Hierarchy Navigation: unchecked Number of data columns displayed at once: 4
Explicitly control table width so rows do not wrap

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Table / Graphic Properties and Design Tips 2/2 Chart Properties

Title: leave blank Generate Title: unchecked Objects with Navigational Links: unchecked Height and Width of graphic will be proportional to width of tables if Output Optimization on template is disabled Pie charts/ vertical bar charts/speedometers are preferable Minimize series to one level for simplified axis display Legends take up significant space consider leaving off and making axis display intuitive

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Query Design Tips Create global queries to maximize reuse

Create filters that can be set with parameters Central maintenance; deploy once One controllable access point/different content per user

Maximize use of dynamic BW constructs

Hierarchies (e.g., profit/cost centers) Master data (e.g., 0Customer, 0Material) Utilize navigational attributes to provide different dimensions to slice information Use exit variables to minimize user interaction Use structures and hierarchy display to replace Overall Result with Total Create intuitive short keys for attribute names
e.g., regions such as NA (North America) and EUR (Europe)

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Mobility Requirements Pushing SAP Web Content to the BlackBerry Use MDS to Create Custom Applications for BlackBerry Use MDS to Create SAP BI Content for BlackBerry Summary

Custom Applications Using MDS Studio V4.1

SAP Web Services (WSDL) SAP Applications
BI CRM ERP

SOAP / XML

MDS v4.1 Rich-Client Application

Wireless

Internet BlackBerry Enterprise Server with MDS v4.1 SAP Web Application Server

Benefits
MDS Studio v4.1 provides simple drag and drop tools for building rich-client applications Custom rich-client application provides enhanced user experience Applications function whether in or out of wireless coverage

Limitations
Requires Web Services to be exposed on the back end May require customization to existing Web Services

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Web Services - Overview

Enabling technology that allows disparate systems to connect and communicate Characteristics of a Web Service
programmable URL widely accessible via the Internet addressable code that can be activated with http requests called remotely using standard Internet Protocols (HTTP; XML) provides a standard mode of access for multiple languages and multiple platforms

Standards are Key for Communication

most important of these is the WS-Interoperability standard called BASIC Profile (WS-I BP) a service that supports WS-I BP can communicate with any other service that supports WS-I BP

Relies on three XML protocols: SOAP, WSDL and UDDI

the web service is exposed on the Web through the SOAP protocol described with a WSDL file registered in UDDI registry

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Web Service Discovery / Analysis / Exchange Three Step Process

Universal Description, Discovery and Integration
Internet registry for web services: advertise and search for services.

Analyze the Service

Web Service Description Language (WSDL) file, an XML file, defines the service WSDL provides critical application design details:
- How to communicate with the service - Operations and messages supported; data exposed by the service - Protocols and data elements passed/returned as parameters

Message Exchange
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is used to exchange messages SOAP most commonly uses HTTP as a transport and supports several modes of operation Most common: RPC (remote procedure call): synchronous Request/ Response pattern
Find service Analyze service Send messages
Discovery: UDDI Schema: WSDL Communications: SOAP

XML Web Service

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BlackBerry Mobile Data System (MDS) Components BlackBerry MDS Studio

Visual design tool used by developers to build applications Used to discover services, interpret WSDL and quickly build apps Drag and drop component-based methodology Enables enterprise developers to build rich-client applications for BlackBerry without having to do custom coding Server-side connectivity based on Web Services

BlackBerry MDS Runtime

BlackBerry device software component Provides runtime services to BlackBerry MDS applications

BlackBerry MDS Services

Resides on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Binds to selected Web Services and provides secure connection

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BlackBerry MDS Studio: Key Concepts Visual drag and drop assembly of components
Screens (UI) Data Message Scripts

Three Development Approaches

1. Quick Start
Automatically generates first version of your application based on WSDL information

2. Bottom Up
Generates essential data components, bindings and messages from WSDL leaving developer to create screens and additional logic

3. Top Down
Developer creates entire application and binds messages to existing WSDL

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Discovering SAP Services Out-of-the-Box RFC Web Services in SAP

All RFC-enabled function modules (all BAPIs) are exposed as web services by default Available since Web AS 6.20, browse using:
http://<sapserver.domain.toplevel>:<icmport>/sap/bc/bsp/sap/WebServiceBrowser/search.html

To retrieve the WSDL for a specific function module, use:

http://<sapserver.domain.toplevel>:<icmport>/sap/bc/soap/wsdl11?services=<NameOfBapiOrRfc>

Only available for out-of-the-box RFC function modules Web Services are delivered as is and cannot be modified There is also no way to configure web service security profiles

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Mobility Requirements Pushing SAP Web Content to the BlackBerry Use MDS to Create Custom Applications for BlackBerry Use MDS to Create SAP BI Content for BlackBerry Summary

SAP BI Queryview WSDL

http://sapserver:port/sap/bw/xml/soap/queryview?sap-client=110&wsdl=1.11

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Messages in SAP BI Query View Data Service WSDL

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SAP BI Query View Data Service WSDL (cont.)

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Results From Using MDS Studio Quick Start Approach Data binding from messages (in and out) Screens created to capture inbound message (GetQueryViewData) Screens created to display outbound message (GetQueryViewDataResponse) Result needs to be assembled from its parts:
AxisData row and column information AxisInfo provides key figure and dimension information CellData provides actual key figure values returned TextSymbols provides characteristics, filters and variables (including Query Name, Last Refresh Date, Key Date, etc.)
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MDS Scripting to Interpret Results

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Wins Security
Handled by BlackBerry Infrastructure

Re-usable Code
Useful for any query Use SAP tools to build content Build more complicated structures as required

Central Interface
Use one central interface to content for all users

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Mobility Requirements Pushing SAP Web Content to the BlackBerry Use MDS to Create Custom Applications for BlackBerry Use MDS to Create SAP BI Content for BlackBerry Summary

Bringing It All Together Broadcasting

Advantages - scheduled content Disadvantages - email deployment must consider blackberry

SAP Developed Web Content

Advantages rich content with graphics and analysis Disadvantages BlackBerry deployment must consider real estate/usage

MDS Studio Developed Rich-Client

Advantages quick custom application built from any web service Disadvantages no graphics; best suited to interact with field content

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Further Information

Public Web
www.sap.com www.sdn.sap.com

Americas SAP Users Group (ASUG)

www.asug.com

Research In Motion

www.BlackBerry.com/go/sap http://www.blackberry.com/knowledgecenterpublic/livelink.exe/fetch/2000/7979 www.BlackBerry.com/developers www.BlackBerry.com/solutions

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Further Information

Specific Links of Interest

Command URLs:
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/f1/50583cf7388362e10000000a114084/frameset.htm

Commands for Web Templates:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/f1/50583cf7388362e10000000a114084/frameset.htm

BEX Mobile Intelligence:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/f1/50583cf7388362e10000000a114084/frameset.htm

Text Elements:
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/9f/4e9d39d44cd45ee10000000a11402f/frameset.htm

Editing Charts:
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_bw33/helpdata/en/2f/776b3d32390968e10000000a114084/frameset.htm

Data Provider Commands:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/76/80a1393e3a6942e10000000a11402f/content.htm

Report to Report Interface:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/99/08629bd3e41d418530c6849df303c9/frameset.htm

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ASUG and SAP: Partners in Education

ASUG, the Americas SAP Users Group, is the worlds largest, customer-run community of SAP professionals and partners, with 45,000 individual members and 1,700 companies represented. ASUG delivers the highest value to member companies, allowing them to maximize their SAP investments. Some highlighted benefits include: Access to a year-round community for SAP customers and partners Diverse mix of educational topics and events through a variety of formats Exclusive opportunity to influence SAP future product direction Unparalleled networking opportunities with a dynamic professional network Unprecedented partnership with SAP Access to ASUG Groups and Chapters

To learn more about ASUG, visit the ASUG booth in the SDN Clubhouse, or visit our Web site at www.asug.com.

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