SAP NetWeaver

IT Scenario Overview
<insert scenario name>

Enterprise Reporting, Query & Analysis

Version I in NW 2004s
Variant: Modeling BI with
Visual Composer
SAP NetWeaver Product Management,
SAP AG
Overview

NetWeaver BI Capabilities in VC 2004s

(SP8)
 Enterprise Reportin, Query & Analysis: Strategic Focus (NW04s)

ERQA will facilitate to extend the reach of BI by providing:

An integrated and state-of-the art modeling environment

¾ for all types of queries, reports, and analytics
¾ for business users and IT
BI Experts ¾ BI data & external data
for authoring

sis g,
BI for the masses:
e

& deployment
typ

aly tin
¾ High Visual Appeal & Usability
er

¾ High performance use of BI

An por
us

Business Users
y
An

y & Re

(AdHoc,
Excel Integration
Visual Composer Integration)
er se

Seamless integration into

Qu pri

¾ Portal
¾ Knowledge Management
ter

Information Consumers
¾ Collaboration
En

Highly intuitive BEx Web

KM & Collaboration ¾ Visual Composer
Services ¾ MS Excel

© SAP AG 2006, 3
 Enterprise Reporting, Query, & Analysis – scenario variants

Query, Reporting & Analysis

„ Describes the design, deployment & execution of
„ BEx Queries with the new .NET based Query Designer in state-of the art .NET Windows
UI
„ Formatted Reports with the new .NET based Report Designer using comprehensive
design capabilities
„ BEx Web Applications with the new .NET based Web Application Designer in WYSIWYG
mode

AdHoc Query & Analysis

„ Describes how a Business User can use the BEx Web Analyzer to analyze ad-hoc queries
and create views on various data providers

Excel Integration
„ Describes how a Business User can use BEx Analyzer in order to design and interact with
MS Excel based BI Apps & workbooks

Information Broadcasting
„ Describes the design, deployment & execution of Information Broadcasting Settings
„ Describes how the BI and KM end-user experience can be completely blended together.
Seamless integration of BI capabilities with Enterprise Portal, Collaboration and KM

Modeling BI Data with the Visual Composer

„ Enables Business Process Expert to easily embedd BI data into Composite Applications
within a visual modelling environment and to deploy the results into the NW Portal

© SAP AG 2006, 4
 Challenge

What are the most urgent improvements, that need to

be made in your IT to better support your business?

Source: IDC Making Business Processes

Dynamic by Embedding Intelligence, Dec. 2004

© SAP AG 2006, 5
 Dilemma: Disconnect Between Processes and Information

„ Automated business processes are efficient but lack contextual

information and guidance!
„ Disconnect between transactional processing and decision support
=> operational decision making is sub-optimal

People /
Roles
Account Sales Credit Business
Manager Manager Manager Analyst

Processes
–Transactional
Processing

–Decision
Support

© SAP AG 2006, 6
 Convergence of Information Management and Business Applications

„ Business processes are composed

to integrate transactional, analytical
and collaborative steps

„ BI can be modeled into Applications Transactional Insights

(typically XApps such as Analytics Processing
or Composites) In this case we talk
about Embedded BI

„ Embedded BI drives the course of Collaborative

action and adapts business Steps
processes to context and strategic
guidelines

„ Increased adaptability to changed

conditions
Processes
„
© SAP AG 2006, 7
 Definition of Application Types

Embedded BI Applications (BI modeled into XApps), Tool: Visual

Composer
Composite Applications are a new breed of business applications that are
service enabled, combining analytics, business and collaborative processes
(portal, workflow, email, universal work queue...) leveraging SAP and non-
SAP building blocks.

Analytic Applications are business-user applications based on historical

(trend-setting) and OLTP data that provide our customers with the ability to
define strategic objectives and measurements that take appropriate action.

Classic BI Web Applications, Tool: Web Application Designer

BI Web Applications are classic business-user applications based purely

on BI data (e.g. pure-play BI dashboards). They allow multidimensional
analysis of BI data (e.g. via pivoting, drill-downs) and provide a holistic view
on BI data of an enterprise. They do not include OLTP data but it is possible
to jump from there into OLTP data. BI Web Applications can be called from
Composite or Analytical Applications.

© SAP AG 2006, 8
 Embedded BI with Visual Composer

High-End User Experience through

Flex Technology
„ Enable high-end visualisation of
Information
„ High usability and flexibility through
advanced modeling capabilities

Model-Driven Application Design

„ Visual Composer is a web-based visual
modeling tool.
„ It allows Business Users to create
analytical applications, which cover
analytical, transactional and collaborative
steps.
„ It offers the integration with BW content as
well as with heterogeneous data sources
(including OLAP and relational data
sources)

© SAP AG 2006, 9
 Embedded BI

Data directly
from an
operational
Actions based system (via
on informed BAPI)
decisions

Seamless
interaction Context
between sensitive
transactional embedded BI
and BI data data (via BI
Connector)

© SAP AG 2006, 10
 Data Connectivity via the BI VC Extension Kit

Connectivity to BI systems
defined in the portal,
based on
Æ BI Java Connectors:
„ BI XMLA Connector (OLAP data
sources such as SAP BW 3.x)
„ BI ODBO Connector (ODBO-
compliant OLAP data sources)
„ BI JDBC Connector (relational
JDBC-compliant data sources)
„ BI SAP Query Connector (a
component of the SAP Web
Application Server Basis)

Æ The SAP BI Connector against an SAP BI system

„ The "BI connector" gives you direct access to services needed for the SAP BI
specific integration.
„ This comprises services for Designtime as well as Runtime, e.g. Object access
(incl. History and Favorites), Meta Data access, Data Access.

© SAP AG 2006, 11
 Business Explorer Suite & VC Integration

Enterprise Portal
Visual
Composer BI
Integration
Information Broadcasting
BEx Web BEx Analyzer
BI Pattern
BI
Web
Connector Web Business Report
Explorer Suite (BEx) MS Excel
Application
Analyzer Designer Add-in
Designer
BI Consumer Services

BEx Query Designer

BI Platform Analytic Engine Meta Data Mgr

UDI
SAP DB Service
JDBC XMLA ODBO Data Warehouse BAPI File XML/A
Query Connect API

© SAP AG 2006, 12
 Overview – Relational Connectors

Technology System
Connector Access to based on Requirements
BI JDBC Relational data sources: Sun's JDBC (Java JDBC driver
Connector over 200 JDBC drivers Database
Connectivity) -- the
Examples: standard Java API
Teradata, Oracle, for Relational
Microsoft SQL Server, Database
Microsoft Access, DB2, Management
Microsoft Excel, text files Systems (RDBMS).
such as CSV
BI SAP Query SAP operational SAP Query -- a SAP JCo
Connector applications component of SAP's
Web Application
Examples: Server that allows
data in transactional you to create
systems such as R/3, Ad- custom reports
Hoc, and Operational without any ABAP
Reporting programming
knowledge.

© SAP AG 2006, 13
 Overview – Multi-Dimensional Connectors

System
Connector Access to Technology based on Requirements
BI ODBO OLAP data sources: OLE Microsoft's OLE DB for Microsoft
Connector DB for OLAP-compliant OLAP -- the established Windows 2000 / NT
data sources industry-standard OLAP API / XP
for the Windows platform.
Examples:
Microsoft Analysis
Services, SAS, Microsoft
PivotTable Services
BI XMLA OLAP data sources Microsoft's XMLA (XML for none
Connector Analysis) -- Web services-
Examples: based, platform-
MS Analysis Services, independent access to
Hyperion, MicroStrategy, OLAP providers. Exchanges
and BW 3.x analytical data between a
client application and a data
provider working over the
Web, using a SOAP-based
XML communication API.

© SAP AG 2006, 14
 Overview – SAP BI Connector

Technology System
Connector Access to based on Requirements
SAP BI SAP NetWeaver BI BI Web API (3.5 SP, BW 3.5 SPS 14
Connector NW04s)
BI NW04s
BICS (releases after
NW04s)

NOTE: The BI source system is created 1. Dedicated Application Server for R/3
using the standard SAP R/3 system System (used in our example)
types the system type needs to be 2. R/3 System via Connection String
specifically labeled as an SAP BW 3. R/3 System with Load Balancing
system type.

© SAP AG 2006, 15
 Flexible & Easy Model Deployment

Multiformat Rendering & Easy Deployment

„ When the Visual Composer model of your BI Model is complete, the
code can be converted to Flash
„ The model can be seamlessly deployed into the EP and immediately
used as an iView

© SAP AG 2006, 16
 BI Integration Wizard

BI Integration Wizard
„ The BI Integration Wizard (formerly known as BI Query Wizard) gives you access
to multiple data sources either via the Java connectors or the BI Connector
„ The BI Integration Wizard is used to create query templates (e.g. percentage
share, Top N, Freestyle…)
„ The set of templates available depends on whether the data service you have
selected is an OLAP or a relational data service
„ Depending on the Java Connector that is used you can also work with an MDX
editor directly

SQL & MDX Editor

only availabe after
specific customizing

© SAP AG 2006, 17
 Architecture of the VC BI Integration

Design SVG plugin Web browser Runtime

time /MSXML parser /Client

Portal page

J2EE
Visual Composer Portal Addon
EP

Connector Framework System Landscape

Deploy
iView
Visual Composer Server
SAP SAP BI
Connector XMLA ODBO JDBC
Connector Query

SAP SAP non

Model Enterprise BI & BEx SAP
Repository
J2EE DB

© SAP AG 2006, 18
 SAP NetWeaver VC & BEx Web Application Designer

Tool Positioning
The Visual Composer allows Business Process Experts to embed BI data
into operational processes via XApps (Composite Applications & Analytic
Applications)
The BEx Web Application Designer is tailored to Business Process
Experts focused on a pure BI & Planning context. With WAD you build BI
Web Applications but it is not possible to build XApps with BEx Web
Application Designer.
Both tools allow the design of applications in a code-free and WYSIWYG
environment. Visual Composer is web-based, BEx Web Application
Designer is a MS Windows Application. VC can compile its models into
Macromedia Flash as well as other formats in the future. BEx WAD
renders Web Applications in HTML.
The Visual Composer BI Kit that is shipped with the Visual Composer
provides functionality that helps to embed BI data into your Visual
Composer models. These models can run as iViews in the SAP Enterprise
Portal.

© SAP AG 2006, 19
 The Different Stages of Insight Driven Decision-Making

XApps enable business processes covering analytic,

collaborative and transactional steps with embedded BI
( access to analytical and transactional data ). Visual Composer
to build integrated
insight driven
Applications
BI Web Apps enable highly interactive
exploration and planning using advanced Web Application Designer
analysis & planning engine capabilities to build advanced BI-based
Analysis & Planning
Applications

Enable Analysis and

Reporting via BEx Tools such as Query
• Excel Integration Designer, Report Designer,
Analyzer, Web Analyzer
• Enterprise reporting
• Multidimensional
Analysis
today time
• Ad-Hoc Analysis

© SAP AG 2006, 20
SAP1
VC & BEx Design Tools in a BI context

Tools: NW2004s: Web App Designer, A1S: VC

BI Patterns
zero training, ready to use, easy configuration, any context: from pure BI to BI embedded into a
transactional context

Ad-Hoc Tool: BEx Web Analyzer

Analysis allows web-based adhoc query & analysis on BI & 3rd Party BI data
Tool: BEx Analyzer
Excel-based allows MS Excel Users to fully leverage SAP BI‘s Analytical services and
Analysis seamless integration with Excel Formulas and Formatting

Tools: Today: Visual Composer & BEx WAD

Analytical VC focus: high visual appeal, composite apps
Composite
WAD focus: BI only context, High integration with SAP BI,
Apps
fully leveraging BI planning & analytical services
Enterprise Tool: BEx Report Designer
Reports allows the creation of highly formatted Enterprise Reports

Queries BEx Query Designer

BI Expert Business Process Business Information

Expert User Consumer

© SAP AG 2006, 21
Folie 21

SAP1 Pattern Design in 2007 ist nur für A1S. in NetWeaver Standalone haben wir den WAD-basierten Pattern Designer. Falko, Gerd, please confirm.
d027273; 19.04.2006
 BEx / Visual Composer Roadmap (pre-liminary)

Shortterm (NW2004s)
„ The Visual Composer BI Kit lets you integrate SAP NetWeaver BI data via
‹ XML/A, a generic MDX-based Web Service
‹ a Web Service based access to BEx Queries and Views
‹ embedding a complete BEx Web Application

„ The Visual Composer BI Kit leverages important SAP NetWeaver BI features

‹ E.g. variable support
„ The Visual Composer BI Kit supports BI integration wizard-based as well as a
freeform modeling of queries

Midterm (Fasttrack plus NY)

„ BI Pattern (Information Consumer Pattern etc.) can be configured with Visual Composer
„ Visual Composer will be able to leverage services of the BEx BI Consumer Services Layer

Longterm (2008+)
„ Finally the BEx Web Application Designer capabilities will merge into the Visual Composer
„ Other BEx Tools (Query Designer, Analyzer, Web Analyzer, Report Designer) remain as
stand-alone tools in the BEx suite but can also be plugged into the VC and the NW
Developer Studio

© SAP AG 2006, 22
Overview

NetWeaver BI Capabilities in VC 2004s

(SP8)
 Agenda

Overview
New BI Integration Capabilities
Æ BI Integration Wizard
Æ BI Favorites & History
Æ BI InfoObject Data service
Æ BI Value Help for Variables
Æ BI miscellaneous features
 BI Integration Wizard

BI Integration Wizard
„ The BI Integration Wizard (formerly known as BI Query Wizard) gives
you access to multiple data sources either via the Java connectors
or the BI Connector

„ The BI Integration Wizard is used to create query templates (e.g.

percentage share, Top N, Freestyle…)

„ The set of templates available depends on whether the data service

you have selected is an OLAP or a relational data service

© SAP AG 2006, 25
 Freeform Modeling for XMLA

BI Integration Wizard - Freeform modeling for XMLA

connector
The new BI Integration Wizard offers a freeform modeling template for the XMLA
connector. With this you can take an existing scheme and select the members that
shall be displayed. It allows to sort and set filters on the query.

© SAP AG 2006, 26
 Freeform Modeling

Step 1: Select the Freeform Template

© SAP AG 2006, 27
 BI Integration Wizard – Freeform template

Step 2 –Select an XML/A data source and dimension

© SAP AG 2006, 28
 BI Integration Wizard – Freeform template

Step 3 –Select the measures

© SAP AG 2006, 29
 BI Integration Wizard – Freeform template

Step 4: Preview the result

© SAP AG 2006, 30
 BI Integration Wizard – Freeform template

Step 5 – Use the generated model in the VC

storyboard

© SAP AG 2006, 31
 Agenda

Overview
New BI Integration Capabilities
Æ BI Integration Wizard
Æ BI Favorites & History
Æ BI InfoObject Data service
Æ BI Value Help for Variables
Æ BI miscellaneous features
 BI Favorites & History

Favorites and History for BEx queries and query-

views
Accessing BI queries and query-views allows from the Visual
Composer story board is reflected in the history. In addition the
favourites in BI can be maintained from the Visual Composer.

© SAP AG 2006, 33
 BI Favourites

You can maintain your

favourites in BI via the
Visual Composer.

© SAP AG 2006, 34
 Agenda

Overview
New BI Integration Capabilities
Æ BI Integration Wizard
Æ BI Favorites & History
Æ BI InfoObject Data service
Æ BI Value Help for Variables
Æ BI miscellaneous features
 InfoObject Data Service (for master data)

InfoObject Data service

„This service allows you to access master data of an InfoObject
„you can use the InfoObject Data service in your models like the Query-
Datasource service.

© SAP AG 2006, 36
 Agenda

Overview
New BI Integration Capabilities
Æ BI Integration Wizard
Æ BI Favorites & History
Æ BI InfoObject Data service
Æ BI Value Help for Variables
Æ BI miscellaneous features
 BI Value Help

BI Value help for Variables

„You can create input fields with value help for your BI variables. This allows
endusers to search for values in the runtime.
„The value help offers full search capabilities and the selection of single and
multiple values and ranges.

© SAP AG 2006, 38
 BI Value Help
After you created your Variables Form you can add a
value help, e.g via the context menu within the form

© SAP AG 2006, 39
 BI Value Help
For each field in your variable screen you can create a
value help with the „Value Help Configuration Wizard“

The Wizard gives access to the InfoObject Data Service that allows to use
masterdata from InfoObjects. This way the variable form can be filled
with masterdata.
For each input in your form the system will present the following screen
where you can generate the runtime value help for end-users
Select the appropriate BI system, browse for the appropriate InfoObject
and generate the value help
© SAP AG 2006, 40
 BI Value Help

2. You can decide

which values to
show in the value
help

1. You can choose

a system and
navigate to the
right InfoObject
3. You can select
the display format

© SAP AG 2006, 41
 BI Value Help – End User View

End User selects value…

© SAP AG 2006, 42
 Agenda

Overview
New BI Integration Capabilities
Æ BI Integration Wizard
Æ BI Favorites & History
Æ BI InfoObject Data service
Æ BI Value Help for Variables
Æ BI miscellaneous features
 Workaround for BI Hierarchies

Workaround for BI Hierarchies

As of the current release of Visual Composer in NetWeaver 2004s SPS07,
Visual Composer’s table view element does not support a tree display, which is
typically required for interactive hierarchy navigation. However there is a
workaround available described in documentation.

Hierarchies are supported only using the SAP BI Connector to access an SAP BI
system. SAP BI systems configured on the portal with the BI XMLA Connector or
the BI ODBO Connector don’t support this hierarchy workaround.

© SAP AG 2006, 44
 BI Exceptions

BI Exceptions
The BI Connector returns in the resultset exception information, if the
query or query-view has exceptions defined. Those exceptions can be
displayed in the grid control through colouring. Per default the same
colour coding is used as in BI.

Exception Definition in BEx

Query Designer

Query in Visual
Composer

© SAP AG 2006, 45
 BI Infos & Messages

Infos & Messages

BI data services offer additional output ports for

„ BI infos (e.g. information about the last update of the data in the underlying
InfoCube, the person who changed the data last)

„ BI messages (e.g. warnings and system messages)

© SAP AG 2006, 46
 Suppress Totals

Suppress Totals to create meaningful charts

© SAP AG 2006, 47
 Alert Data Service

Alert dataservice and Alert Monitor

Based on the alert framework the new alert dataservice offers all alerts. They can be
filtered to BI alerts only and displayed in a grid control as alert-list.

© SAP AG 2006, 48
 Further Information: SDN

© SAP AG 2006, 49
 Further Information: http://service.sap.com/rkt

Æ SAP NetWeaver 2004s Learning Maps for Consultants

© SAP AG 2006, 50
 Further Information: http://service.sap.com/rkt

© SAP AG 2006, 51
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© SAP AG 2006, 52