Business Objects
Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
May 2014
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
Revision Log
Date
5/28/2014
Version
No.
1.0
Description
Draft Delivered
Author
Sharon Chandler
Reviewer
Review Date
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
Contents
1.0 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 4
2.0 Web Intelligence Issues ..................................................................................................... 4
2.1
HTML Client vs Applet Interface Feature Issues .................................................................................. 4
2.1.1
Setting you Interface Preferences ....................................................................... 4
2.1.2
Saving Documents................................................................................................ 4
2.1.3
Exporting Documents........................................................................................... 5
2.1.4
Printing Documents ............................................................................................. 6
2.1.5
Selecting a Data Source........................................................................................ 6
2.1.6
Managing a Data Source ...................................................................................... 6
2.1.7
Conditional Formatting ........................................................................................ 7
2.1.8
Number Formatting ............................................................................................. 7
2.1.9
Find (Cntl F) Feature............................................................................................. 8
2.2
Changing Timestamp Value with Date Prompt ..................................................................................... 8
2.3
Avoiding #MULTIVALUE and #DIV/0 Errors......................................................................................... 8
3.0 JAVA Issues ....................................................................................................................... 9
3.1
Eliminating Repetitive Java Warnings .................................................................................................. 9
3.2
Adding Trusted Sites .......................................................................................................................... 10
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
1.0 Overview
The purpose of the document is to provide tips and processes for troubleshooting know issues within BO 41
application.
2.0 Web Intelligence Issues
2.1
HTML Client vs Applet Interface Feature Issues
2.1.1
Setting you Interface Preferences
The Preferences feature sets options to determine how you view, create, and manage documents. To set
the Web Intelligence interface, click on Preferences in the top header menu bar.
Click
Preferences
Highlight Web Intelligence to view the setting options. From here you can select HTML or Applet for viewing
a modifying Webi documents. Select the appropriate radio buttons.
Save and close the panel. You must at least refresh your browser session for any changes to take effect. The
changes will be preserved for future login session until you make additional changes.
2.1.2
Saving Documents
Click to Save
Both HTML and the Applet interfaces provide the save icon. Upon clicking the downward arrow, the
application displays the option to Save (re-save an existing document) or Save As (save a document for the
first time or to a different location). Save As renders the Save As/ Save Document panel.
The HTML interface only allows you to save as a Web Intelligence file type. You can use the Export feature to
store a file in a different format. See Exporting Documents.
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
The Applet interface allows you to save as:
CSV archive
Excel
Excel 2007
PDF
Text
Web Intelligence
•
•
•
•
•
•
File format
drop down list
box
Note: You must choose a location other than the BO repository (default location) to get the drop down box
for specifying the document format.
2.1.3
Exporting Documents
The HTML interface includes the export option icon,
).
Export as:
•
•
•
•
•
PDF
CSV archive
Excel
Excel 2007
Text
The Java Applet interface does not show that export icon. This is a known issue. It is not contingent upon
access level. It is specific to the preferences setting for Web Intelligence, View and Modify.
The work around is to use "Save As". See Saving Documents.
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
Upon selecting a location other than the BO repository, the ‘Save As’
window displays a drop down for selecting the desired format.
This will be a training issue until a fix is made available.
2.1.4
Printing Documents
Both HTML and the Applet interfaces provide the save icon.
Click to print a
document
The HTML interface – Upon clicking the Print icon in HTML, the application will export the document to PDF
format first before printing.
The Java Applet interface – Displays the Print panel for printing specifications.
2.1.5
Selecting a Data Source
Both HTML and the Applet interfaces provide the save icon.
Click to create a new
document
The HTML interface – Upon clicking the Print icon in HTML, the application will export the document to PDF
format first before printing.
The Java Applet interface – Displays the Print panel for printing specifications.
2.1.6
Managing a Data Source
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
This feature is specific to the Java Applet interface:
•
•
•
•
"Data" mode (in addition to Reading and Design).
Ability to add a "New data provider" directly within Design mode (Data Access > Data Providers).
Ability to "Change Source" directly within Design mode (Data Access > Tools).
Ability to Delete, Rename and Change Source within Data mode.
In the Applet interface, one may need to reveal the options by clicking
the “double greater-than” sign in the upper right-hand corner of the
header menu.
Click the double greater-than
sign to reveal menu options
in the Java Applet interface.
2.1.7
Conditional Formatting
This feature is comparable to the 3.x Alerter. Conditional formatting defines rules for changing the attributes
of a cell based on its value. Only the Java Applet interface provides the action to create new formatting
rules. In Web Intelligence, click on the Analysis tab. Select the Conditional sub-menu tab. As applicable, view
existing formatting rules and the option for establishing new rules (Applet only).
Click on the
Analysis tab
View the difference sub menu items based on the interface.
2.1.8
Number Formatting
Only the Java Applet interface provides the action to apply Custom number formats. In Web Intelligence,
click on the Formatting tab. Select the Numbers sub-menu tab. This feature is used to customize numeric
data in a chart. As applicable, view the existing options. Note that the custom button is only available in the
Applet interface.
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
2.1.9
Find (Cntl F) Feature
Only the Java Applet interface provides a “Highlight All” button in the “Find” box to highlight all occurrences
of a text string in a report page. This feature is used to search for specific terms. The Java Applet interface
allows you to select one or all search terms as applicable.
“Highlight all”
button
2.2
Changing Timestamp Value with Date Prompt
This phenomenon is a reported bug. Refer to this logged forum issueThe timestamp value associated with a prompt can change upon refresh. It appears to advance 4-5 hours
based on how it is applied within a prompt, acting to establish a date or date range. The forum discussion
does not confirm the viability of a fix as referred to in 4.1 patches.
1.
2.
The phenomenon can only be duplicated upon VIEW > REFRESH verses scheduling the report.
The phenomenon seems to only occur when using the HTML interface. * I refreshed the report 6
times using both interfaces. I was able to duplicate the date issue within the third refresh using
HTML. I could not duplicate the date issue using Applet.
3. The user’s formula to format the date based on the timestamp value is susceptible to this bug given
the way the formula is constructed.
Work around options:
1. Use the Applet interface.
2. Have the user re-construct the formula to format the timestamp value as he wants it displayed in
the report. If HTML is to be used, and the timestamp’s hour value toggles between one and two
digits, then one cannot use a substring function that counts characters from the end of a timestamp
value and expect to end up at the same place in the string. That is what is happening in the user’s
formula and that is why the year value is getting miss-represented (ex. 8/1/0200 and 2/15/0201).
2.3
Avoiding
Avoiding #MULTIVALUE and #DIV/0 Errors
The #MULTIVALUE error appears when reports display objects that can be aggregated or “Rolled Up” to the
lowest common denominator. For example, if you run a query for all budget allocation records for Fund XYZ
and only pull the amount and the Fund Code, you will return one record and a #MULTIVALUE in the amount
field.
If you are looking for the detail in this report you will need to set the Table format to “Avoid duplicate row
aggregation.”
Click on outer boarder of table to select it. Then click to reveal the drop down menu. Select Format Table.
This will render the Format Table window. Check the box to “Avoid duplicate row aggregation”. Hit
“Apply”, then “Okay”. Note that this feature only exists for tables, and not crosstabs.
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
Note: You can also create your own variable to sum the measure within the table (you'll need to do this in all
tables in the report).
The #DIV/0 error occurs when your formula results in a division by zero in a particular cell. Use an If Then
Else statement to specify how to handle the error message.
3.0 JAVA Issues
3.1
Eliminating Repetitive Java Warnings
While attempting to run Java based applet or application, a security warning dialog box appears:
Signed Java Web Start applications and applets that contain signed and unsigned components could
potentially be unsafe unless the mixed code was intended by the application vendor.
To get rid of the warning, follow the steps below:
1. Go into the Control Panel
2. Double click on Java to open the Java Control Panel
3. Go to the Advanced Tab
4. Expand Security
5. Expand Mixed code (Sandboxed Vs. trusted) security verification option
6. Select the option for “Enable – hide warning and run with protections”
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1
Four levels of control are available.
1. Enable - show warning if needed
This is the default setting. When a potential security risk is encountered, a warning dialog is raised. Clicking
“Yes” blocks potentially unsafe components from running and may terminate the program. When the user
clicks “No”, the application or applet continues execution with protections (packages or resources that are
later encountered with the same names but have different trust levels, i.e., signed vs unsigned, will not be
loaded).
2. Enable - hide warning and run with protections
This option suppresses the warning dialog. The code executes as if the user had clicked No from the warning
dialog.
3. Enable - hide warning and don't run untrusted code
This option suppresses the warning dialog and behaves as if the user had clicked Yes from the warning dialog.
4. Disable verification
This option is not recommended. This option completely disables the software from checking for mixing
trusted and untrusted code, leaving the user to run potentially unsafe code without protections
3.2
Adding Trusted Sites
To add a trusted site, follow these steps:
1. Go into the Control Panel
2. Double click on Java to open the Java Control Panel
3. Go to the Security Tab
4. Click on Edit Site List button
5. Upon clicking the Edit Site List button, view the Exception Site List
panel. Add the site full URL and hit OK.
Business Objects Troubleshooting Guide
Version 4.1