The very confusing World on SAP BI
- Making sense of it all
Houston, TX
August 17, 2006
Dr. Bjarne Berg
Lenoir-Rhyne College
What We’ll Cover
•
Overview – BEx, Query designer, WAD, APD, Crystal, Broadcaster & Visual composer
•
How to fix some issues in BW reporting
•
Picking the right methodology for your next BW project
•
Report dispositioning –what tool to use
•
Use of standard content
•
Wrap up
2
The BW Toolset
BW is an enterprise-wide
comprehensive decision
support (DSS) system for
analytical needs of an
enterprise.
BW can also support some
degree of operational
reporting
Therefore it has many
presentation tools and
options for companies to
leverage.
3
The BEx Query Designer
The BEx query designer
is a simple tool that you
use to develop queries
for users.
While the Query
Designer defined the
query, you have many
options on how you
deploy the queries
You can deploy the
queries through web
templates, broadcasted
emails, portals, Excel
and more.
4
The BEx Ad-Hoc Query Designer
A simplified version of the BEx query designer is the "ad-hoc query
designer". This is a basic tool that can be used by power users to define
their own queries. It can be made available through a BW web template as
well as directly in the SAP Enterprise Portal (3.5 example)
In NW2004s it is improved by moving away from being based on DHTML
to leveraging true Java.
5
BEx - Workbooks
1. BEx Workbooks is Excel 'on steroids'.
2. BW queries can be opened in Excel
3. Queries can be refreshed
and standard Excel functions can
be used
This is a great tool for financial
analysts and power users.
To use this tool you need BEx/GUI
installed on each client machine
6
BEx web reports
•
•
The most common way of deploying BW queries are through a standard, or
customized web template with built-in navigational features.
BW provides a global web template that can be enhanced with logos, colors,
fonts and additional features at a low cost of development and ownership.
7
BEx Web Application Designer (WAD)
BEx Analyzer/
Query Designer
Web Browser
BEx Web Application Designer
WAD is an intuitive
tool to build powerful
web applications and
to interact with portals
and custom templates.
OLAP Processor
Web Service
Charting Engine
HTLM Templates
InfoProvider
Source: SAP AG
BW queries can be
manipulated in WAD
for better display
8
Web Application Designer for custom applications
You do not have to use the SAP
Enterprise Portal to use WAD.
WAD can also incorporate other nonSAP web items into powerful cockpits
and custom report centers.
While WAD can be used by developers
without extensive HTML and Java
scripting knowledge, these skills will be
useful on most projects.
9
Visual Composer
A Visual Composer is a tool to visualize the data. It is a browser-based
modeling and design tool for rapid application development & prototyping
in a code-free development environment.
Modelling of BI Applications using the BI Kit of the Visual Composer - Allows Business Users
to create analytical content for SAP Portal Offers the integration with BI InfoProviders (i.e.
InfoCubes, BEx Queries and Query Views, BEx Web Applications) via WEB API as well as
with heterogeneous data sources (OLAP and relational data sources) via Java Connectors 10
BI applications are creating ‘new’ data to the DW
•
In Data warehousing v2.0 (Bill Immon’s new terminology), we are
using BI applications to create new data that needs to be fed to the
data warehouse, and /or the transactional system
•
Tools are now available to build association data sets that creates
updates based on BI findings (i.e. customer segmentation, risk,
profitability flagging etc).
11
Images: Bhanu Gupta, ASUG 2005 Illinois chapter
Crystal Report
•
With BW you get access to Crystal reports. In fact you have 100+ pre-developed
reports that comes with SAP-BW. Currently, you can modify, or develop and deploy 10
crystal reports without any additional licensing cost.
•
Crystal is a great tool for batch reporting of "pixel controlled' formatted reports.
12
Different Needs and Broadcaster Tools
Reporting needs
Reporting tools
KPI & Scorecard
Formatted
• Simple
• Easy to view
• Limited nav
• Aggregates
Flat Reporting
• Formatted
• Print
• Form based
• Static
• Predictable access
OLAP Reporting
• Drill Down
• Slice and Dice
• Analyse
• Data Mining
• Search and discover
“Casual” users, non-BW users, traveling users, and executives
are all prime candidates for broadcasted reports!
13
Scheduling the Broadcast
We can schedule the job
to run every time the
infocube is changed (the
process chain has run)
We can limit the users to
when they can schedule
jobs to avoid stress on the
system. We can provide
multiple pre-defined times
when they can schedule the
reports.
We can also allow the
users to create their own
scheduling times (Only
authorized users see this)
More on SAP BEx
Broadcasting later today!
14
TREND: “Virtual” OLAP – an SAP approach
•
SAP formally launched the BI accelerator at the end of June 2006.
•
This tool takes BI and/or operational data and creates a
proprietary indexing system that allows users to access the data
very quickly.
Query performance can
be 100s of times faster
than traditional ROLAP.
15
Source: Alexander
Peter, SAP AG, 2006
Making sense of it all….
Level of Embedded Analytics
Complex (score
cards, budgeting,
planning, KPI)
Horizontal approach
(2nd generation)
Integrated analytical
(3rd generation)
Oracle E-business
suite applications
SAP APO
Oracle BI suite
Enterprise edition
PeopleSoft
EPM
Emerging
(1st generation)
SAP Strategic
enterprise mgmt
SAP BW
Siebel BI
Vertical approach
(2nd generation)
Oracle BI suite
standard edition
Oracle BI suite
standard one edition
Interactive
Mgmt. reporting
(OLAP, MQE) Toolsets &
accelerators
Level of Pre-delivered Content
Analytical applications
for specific industries16
What We’ll Cover
•
Overview – BEx, Query designer, WAD, APD, Crystal, Broadcaster & Visual composer
•
How to fix some issues in BW reporting
•
Picking the right methodology for your next BW project
•
Report dispositioning –what tool to use
•
Use of standard content
•
Wrap up
17
General Issues with Business Warehouse Web Reporting
The pre-delivered BW’s web template does not always provide the
functionality required.
Currently lacking functionality includes:
• Creating favorites/bookmarks that can be accessed from any machine
• Printing fit to page, report info, data status, basic formatting
• Ability to search for reports within the end user roles
• Definitions of characteristics and key figures are not available
• Current web reports can not show repeat values of characteristics
• Online user help is not available in the web template
• No standard tool to target specific users about system status/changes
• On-line training is missing
As a result, most customers enhanced the functionality of the web template
using development tools such as HTML and Java Script, ABAP, WAD.
18
Searching for BW queries
Users are often frustrated when
they have to search for a report
they are unfamiliar with. The
report may be hard to locate in
a hierarchy of roles on the
launch pad.
This searches within any string of the report name,
and all the folders you have access to. No TREX
engine required, only a simple javascript that
searches the SAP delivered role menu (BW upto 3.5) 19
The Web Template and Toolbar
•
Rule: After the BW query has been launched users
should interact with a standard interface that does not
change depending on the query executed.
•
This standardization is accomplished through the global
BW web template. Hint: Use WAD to customize and enhance yours
•
The web template should always include a toolbar that is
customized for your company.
•
In the next sections we will take a look at some standard
BW toolbar functionality and how you can extend the
web template to add more user features on the toolbar.
20
Print format basic
Users are generally
very unhappy with
browser based web
printing…
Again a simple JavaScript can leverage
SAP objects so that basic formatted BW
reports can be printed on the web.
21
Create advanced print formatting
A more experienced web programmer can also add advanced web print
features that reduces the need for other formatted reporting tools. It also gives
user's flexibility and increases the likelihood that the go-live is a success!! 22
Get Access to On-line Definitions
Users often ask what a certain field means or what how
it was calculated. Adding on the context menu a link to
a dictionary makes many users really happy!!!
1. Characteristic, Key Figure and Query
definitions stored on SQL Server table.
2. Aliases used to extend match probability
3. Context menu item added to basic menu
23
4. Search results open in new window
Create your own BW Alerts Center
BW system messages reach entire
user community. We needed to narrow
that down to certain users via custom
Query/InfoProvider messages
ZBW_MSG_CENTER
message_id
info_provider
info_query
message
valid_from
valid_to
created_by
created_on
requested_by
number
character
character
character
date
date
character
date
24
character
On-line help
•The
user help is a musthave feature.
•The
development of the
company specific help
system can be done in
tools such as front-page,
MS-word, SAP-web
application designer etc..
•The
trick to a good user
help system is to present
the information so that it is
easy to locate. Therefore,
you should add indexes,
content trees and search
25
features in the help system
A place holder
CSV format
A "place holder" allows users to create a separate
window to "hold" a view of the information while
exploring the data (standard BW feature). You can
add these features to your toolbar.
Workbooks (Excel)
New Window
26
What We’ll Cover
•
Overview – BEx, Query designer, WAD, APD, Crystal, Broadcaster & Visual composer
•
How to fix some issues in BW reporting
•
Picking the right methodology for your next BW project
•
Report dispositioning –what tool to use
•
Use of standard content
•
Wrap up
27
Business requirements
One of the first steps is to gather the right requirements. This is done
in a variety of ways based on the methodology that the company
employs. It is a complex process and involves a period:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Discovery and Education,
Formal communication,
Reviews
Final approvals.
What user wanted
How customer described it
A BW implementation does not simply
involve a series of black-and-white technical
decisions; just because something is
technically feasible does not mean it is wise
or desirable from a business perspective.
How analyst specified it
How designer implemented it28
The SAP NetWeaver Workflow - ASAP
Integration
Testing
Create Technical
Query specs
No
Create Functional
Query specs
System Testing
Complete?
No
Yes
Unit Testing
Complete?
Yes
Develop
queries
Yes
Peer Review
No
Approved?
Peer Review
Yes
No
Complete?
Yes
Approved?
Structured
walkthrough
No
No
Complete?
Yes
Structured
walkthrough
29
Alternative Approach For Smaller Projects (I.E. 1st Go-live)
Keep the scope focused and use a simple approach:
Activate
standard
content
Request for
modifications
Inscope?
Yes
Make
enhancements
No
Load infocube
User
acceptance
session
Test
In-future
scope?
No
Review data
quality issues
Create 2-3
sample queries
Deploy
Rejection
No functional or technical specs are used in this approach. The user
acceptance session is used to refine requirements
30
How can we do this Faster, Better and Simpler?
There are times when other methodologies should be used.
What determines the best methodology to use, is the impact of failure
and the time to delivery.
When to Select Different Methodologies
High
Joint Application Design
(JAD)
System development Life-Cycle
based methodologies
(SDLC)
Time to
Delivery
Extreme Programming
(EP)
Rapid Application Development
(RAD)
Low
Low
ASAP and SDLC
Methodologies are not
the only choices. RAD
is very popular as well.
This framework
illustrates the benefits
of each methodology.
High
Impact of Failure
31
What We’ll Cover
•
Overview – BEx, Query designer, WAD, APD, Crystal, Broadcaster & Visual composer
•
Some issues in BW reporting
•
Picking the right methodology for your next BW project
•
Report dispositioning –what tool to use
•
Use of standard content
•
Wrap up
32
Web Tools
Query tools
Deciding which reporting tool is right for you
Workbooks
Web
reports
Fixed
format
Web
Applications

-
-
-
-/
-/
*
-/


-
-
-

-/

-
-
-/
-



-
-


-/
-
-
-
-

Bex Broadcaster
-
-
-
-
-
-

Crystal Reports
-
-/

-

-
Query Designer
Ad-hoc query designer
Web Application
Designer
Visual Composer
Analysis Process
Designer
Other tools
Broadcaster -wizard
Models
-
Vizualization
Distribution
* Through embedded Bex Broadcaster
33
Tool Access – Who should do what…..
Other tools
Web Tools
Query tools
There are many options and decisions to be made on who
should be able to access all the different tools.
Query Designer
Ad-hoc query designer
Web Application
Designer
Visual Composer
Regular
users
Power
users
Authors
Developers
BW
Admins
-/
-/
-/
-
-/





-


-
-/



-
-


Broadcaster -wizard





Bex Broadcaster
-
-/
-/


Crystal Reports
-
-/



Analysis Process
Designer
34
The Blueprinting Phase: Leveraging Standard Content
Mostly standard storage objects
Some customization
Highly customized storage objects
• As
a guiding principle we
map requirements to
standard content before
we start customizing.
31%
33%
• However,
we may also
have external data sources
that require custom ODSs
and InfoCubes.
• Some
observations on
higher level objects…….
36%
An example from a large
manufacturing company
BW Content available:
Z
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
InfoObjects 11,772
ODS objects 349
InfoCube
605
MultiCubes
121
Roles
861
Queries
3,299
Workbooks 1,979
35
Modeling Your Solution
Unit
Material
1. Create a model
based on predelivered BW
content
2. Map your data
requirements to
the delivered
content and
identify gaps.
Logistics
Material number
Material entered
Material group
Item category
Product hierarchy
EAN/UPC
Currency Key
Unit of Measure
Base unit of measure
Sales unit of measure
Volume unit of measure
Weight unit of measure
Billing
Customer
Sold-to
Ship-to
Bill-to
Payer
Customer cla ss
Customer group
~ Custome r country
~ Custome r region
~ Custome r postal code
~ Custome r industry code 1
End user
Number of billing documents
Number biling line items
Billed item quantity
Net weight
Subtotal 1
Subtotal 2
Subtotal 3
Subtotal 4
Subtotal 5
Subtotal 6
Subtotal A
Net value
Cost
Tax amount
Volume
Organization
Company code
Division
Distribution channel
Sales organization
Sales group
3. Identify where the
data gaps are
going to be
sourced from.
Plant
Shipping/receiving point
Personnel
Sales rep number
Accounting
Cost center
Profit ce nter
Controlling area
Account a ssignme nt group
Billing information
Billing document
Billing item
Billing type
Billing category
Billing date
Creation date
Cancel indicator
Output me dium
~ Batch billing indicator
Debit/cre dit re ason code
Biling category
Reference document
Payment terms
Cancelle d billing docume nt
Divison for the order header
Pricing proce dure
Document details
Sa les order docume nt type
Sales deal
Sales docuement
Time
Calendar
Calendar
Calendar
Calendar
year
month
week
day
LEGEND
Delivered in standard extractors
Delivered in LO extractor
Not in delivered Content -but in R-3
36
What We’ll Cover
•
Overview – BEx, Query designer, WAD, APD, Crystal, Broadcaster & Visual composer
•
How to fix some issues in BW reporting
•
Picking the right methodology for your next BW project
•
Report dispositioning –what tool to use
•
Use of standard content
•
Wrap up
37
7 points to take home
1. Pick the right tools based on what you want to accomplish.
“everything in the world is a nail, when you only have a hammer”…
2. The basic web print features are not sufficient
3. The BW tool set has evolved substantially over the last 2 years
–have you?
4. There are more than one way to continue BW development – take a
serious look at RAD.
5. On-line definitions on the context menu are very popular, but you will
have to add this as an enhancement (not SAP standard)
6. Today’s presentation developer is much more than a query developer.
More than one skill set is needed.
7. Leveraging standard content will give you access to higher level
objects as well.
38
Resources
•SAP
Project Management 2005
Pick
Your Poison – a look at methodologies for SAP NetWeaver” Bjarne Berg
•TechEd
/ ASUG- 2005 - Boston
Session
ID: IM100 – “Creating a Web Reporting Center at International Paper using SAP
Business Information Warehouse” George Brothers and Bjarne Berg
•SAP.com
“How To…Reconcile
Data Between SAP Source Systems and SAP NetWeaver BI”, SAP
June 2005
•Web
Template Enhancements:
•IFRAMES
: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/javascript/2002/02/08/iframe.html
•Expressions: http://www.regular-expressions.info/javascript.html
•Getting Started with BSP Applications: http://tinyurl.com/642c4
•CSS for Printing : http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_ref_print.asp
•CSS Media Types: http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_mediatypes.asp
39
Your Turn!
Questions?
Dr. Bjarne Berg
bergb@lrc.edu
40