Unit 8

Dashboards
SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards is data visualization software that enables users to create dynamic and interactive models that can be added to dashboards or exported for delivery in a variety of formats such as PowerPoint, Flash, PDF, AIR, Outlook, and the web (using HTML). These models retain their full interactivity and require only Adobe Flash Player to run. The Dashboard Designer and Microsoft Excel are required only during the design Phase. You can configure your model to work with live data updates from external sources, such as XML, Portals, Web Services, SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise (LiveOffice and Query as a Web Service), and SAP Business Explorer Queries. The software includes a fully-functioning Excel spreadsheet. Data and formulas can be imported or entered directly into the embedded spreadsheet and then modified, as required, without re-importing the spreadsheet.

These are the main prerequisites to use SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards The EPM Connector Add-On The BPC Data Grid Add-On The model must be set to Use as Source of Data In administration, the model must be set to Use as Source of Data. Here are few of the other requirements for Planning and Consolidation, version for SAP NetWeaver platform. To run the dashboard based on flash files: Adobe Flash Player installed on client PCs To build the dashboard: SAP BusinessObjects Dashboard Design SAP EPM Add-In for Microsoft Excel

 SAP BW OLE DB Provider To run the dashboard outside of BPC web client (standalone or in Excel) The Cross domain file must be created at http(s)://server:port/sap/crossdomain.xml Details can be found in the EPM Office Add-Ins Master Guide XMLA service in ICF must be activated /sap/bw/xml/soap/xmla/ node can be activated via Transaction SICF Details can be found in the SBOP PC 10.0 Installation Guide

Here are the server configuration requirements for Planning and Consolidation, version for SAP Microsoft platform Configure XMLA Provider from the SBOP PC installed folder Choose Web XMLA WebSrvr Choose Edit Datasource.xml Check or modify the server name in the blow xml tag: DataSourceInfo Data Source=servername /DataSourceInfo Restart the .Net Server Note: The XMLA allows the end user to receive a .swf flash file and to retrieve live data without the need for an SBOP PC installation. Configure the three Flash, crossdomain.xml files Websrvr Note: Under Websrvr, the crossdomain.xml file should look like this: cross-domain-policy site-control permittedcross-domain-policies=all / /cross-domain-polilcy Websrvr Web Note: Under Websrvr Web and Web xmla, the crossdomain.xml file should look like this: cross-domain-policy allow-http-request-headers-from domain=* headers=* secure=false / allow-access-from domain=* secure=* / /cross-domain-polilcy Websrvr xmla Note: To enable flash files to connect to SBOP PC XMLA provider, or SBOP PC web services, these three crossdomain.xml files are installed. You should never delete the crossdomain.xml files You configure these files in the .net server in the installed folder. To read data from the Excel Interface of the EPM add-in, you must create a design time connection which will be used to access data during the construction of the dashboard. The data in the cube/model is accessed via the transient query generated for models that are set as an ODBO Provider. The EPM - Report Editor when used in the Dashboard Designer has the following unique features: Each dimension with a hierarchy shows a PARENTH# selection item. The Measures dimension does not appear. Key Figures shows under dimensions and is used to select PERIODIC for example. Note: Filter selections do not appear in the EPM - Report Editor.

To use the EPM Connector, the report definition is made available in the excel sheet. The EPM Connector allows you to interact with SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation while viewing a dashboard. EPM Connections are created via Data Connections.

Dashboards can also be uploaded into the SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation Library. The dashboard can be uploaded as either a SWF file. SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards can also be used to input small amounts of data back to Planning and Consolidation. When creating the connection, choose the Input Data operation, then specify the base level members for each dimension.

The Input Data connection can only be configured for exactly one cell of the report. If you have multiple cells to update, you must create a connection for each cell. Every dimension must be assigned a base level member. An alternative would be to create member list boxes for each dimension, and have the end user select the members at runtime. Still, the end user can only update one cell at a time.