BI Workspaces User Guide SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform 4.0
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Contents Chapter 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 Welcome to SAP BusinessObjects BI workspaces...5 About this document...5 Who should read this document?...5 Overview...5 Chapter 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.5.5 2.5.6 2.5.7 2.5.8 2.5.9 2.5.10 2.6 2.7 Working with BI workspaces...7 Overview...7 Creating a BI workspace...8 Copying or saving a BI workspace...9 Renaming a BI workspace...9 Editing a BI workspace...10 Adding tabs and sub tabs to BI workspaces...11 Renaming a BI workspace tab or sub tab...12 Moving BI workspace tabs and sub tabs...12 Duplicating a BI workspace tab or sub tab...13 Scrolling BI workspace tabs and sub tabs...13 Deleting a tab or sub tab in BI workspace...14 BI workspace properties...14 Adding security to BI workspaces...14 Modifying the layout in a BI workspace...16 Module Library in BI workspace...20 Printing a BI workspace...21 Deleting a BI workspace...22 Chapter 3 3.1 3.2 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 3.2.4 3.2.5 Working with modules...23 Overview...23 Types of modules...23 BI launch pad modules...23 Compound module...24 Text module...24 Web Page module...25 Using a Navigation List on a BI workspace tab...25 3
Contents 3.2.6 3.3 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.3.4 3.3.5 3.3.6 3.3.7 Viewer module...26 Creating and configuring modules...28 Working with modules...28 Data sources for modules...32 Configuring a Crystal report's display settings in a BI workspace...32 Configuring the Web Intelligence report display settings in a BI workspace...33 Viewing the latest report instance...34 Linking modules and documents...35 Content linking...35 Appendix A More Information...39 Index 41 4
Welcome to SAP BusinessObjects BI workspaces Welcome to SAP BusinessObjects BI workspaces 1.1 About this document This document provides information and procedures for using SAP BusinessObjects BI workspaces. BI workspaces is a web application, which is integrated to function within the BI launch pad application. BI launch pad provides the interface for working with objects in SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform. The various data sources in the form of different types of objects, Crystal reports, BI workspaces, Analysis edition for OLAP, Web Intelligence documents, and Dashboard Design models are deployed and integrated into the application as plug-in components from SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform. This document contains topics that provide information about the new features and enhancements in BI workspaces, types of BI workspaces and modules, how to create BI workspaces and modules, and content linking between various data sources using BI workspaces. 1.2 Who should read this document? This document is intended for users, such as a business report creator, professional report creator, or BI workspace administrator working on the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform and BI workspaces applications on Microsoft Windows, Unix, or Linux operating systems. Familiarity with report generation, other types of data sources, various methods of content linking for deeper data analysis, and performance statistics is essential. For more information about the product, refer to the Getting Started Creating BI workspaces Guide and SAP BusinessObjects BI workspaces Online Help Guide. 1.3 Overview BI workspaces is an SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform BI workspaces and Modules application that helps you manage, understand, monitor, and track your business activities and performance using modules and BI workspaces. Management of corporate BI workspaces allow organizations to gain insight from underlying analysis and alter business rules as conditions change. BI workspaces provides consistent, up-to-date means for monitoring business areas. It also provides 5
Welcome to SAP BusinessObjects BI workspaces tab-based navigation and page creation capabilities for all users. You can build applications quickly, without programming, and customize existing applications with a point-and-click assembly. With BI workspaces, you can: Structure your web-based application menus and hierarchy Assemble your application by selecting modular components and dropping them onto the desired pages Select a template from a catalog of predefined module templates Apply these reusable, prebuilt module templates to a broad range of business scenarios Customize the application BI workspaces provides a simple web interface that lets you define the look and feel of the content. You can easily incorporate existing content in applications, such as Crystal reports, Web Intelligence documents, and Dashboard Design models. Users can create their own application views, while retaining administrative control. This document helps you: Understand the basic features of BI workspaces Understand the different types of BI workspaces and modules Create BI workspaces and modules Learn about content linking between modules The Performance Manager, Set Analysis, Predictive Analysis, Process Control components, and the Dashboard and Analytics setup have been removed. The tracing option has been moved to the Central Management Console (CMC) server summary and unified tracing sections respectively. For information about configuration, summary, and tracing details, refer to the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform Administrator 's Guide, SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform 4.0 Installation Guide, SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform 4.0 Deployment Planning Guide, and SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform User's Guide. Related Topics Overview Creating a BI workspace Creating a module 6
Working with BI workspaces Working with BI workspaces 2.1 Overview A BI workspace allows you to organize and display different SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform data sources, such as Web Intelligence documents, hyperlinks, Crystal reports, non-visual modules, or external pages such as web pages via URL, in a single view. You can analyze and manage complex data effectively, and share the information across organizations. BI workspaces provides high visibility of your organizational goals and enables you to monitor your organization's performance and growth. BI workspaces provides a single view of all the elements of business that you need to track on a daily basis as well as interportlet communication capabilities for enabling page components to talk to each other and exchange information. You can build your own portfolio of reports and categories and create one or more BI workspaces and display them as needed. BI workspaces can contain the following types of objects: Modules Web Intelligence documents, Analysis edition for OLAP documents, and Dashboard Design models Crystal reports Adobe Reader PDF documents Microsoft Excel spreadsheets Microsoft Word documents Text files Rich text (RTF) files Microsoft PowerPoint presentations Hyperlinks You can store your BI workspaces in the folders of the "Documents" tab: Public Folders, My Favorites, and Personal Categories BI workspaces saved in "Public Folders" contain BI workspaces and modules created for public viewing. These BI workspaces can be accessed and viewed by everyone. BI workspaces saved in "My Favorites" or "Personal Categories" contain BI workspaces and modules created for personal viewing. They store information about modules whose parameters can be extended and modified personally. These BI workspaces cannot be accessed and viewed by everyone. A BI workspace, whether saved in "Public Folders" or "Personal Categories", can contain one or more tabs and sub tabs. 7
Working with BI workspaces For example, you can create a BI workspace that contains a website, a Crystal report or a Web Intelligence report that you frequently access. You can store this BI workspace in "Personal Categories" or" My Favorites" folder and set it as your default view, or click its link in the navigation panel. The default location for a BI workspace is your favorites folder. Related Topics Creating a BI workspace Editing a BI workspace Deleting a BI workspace 2.2 Creating a BI workspace A BI workspace can contain useful, informative, and motivating content based on analyzed data. BI workspaces also help to define strategies. BI workspaces and compound modules can be created or edited only inside BI launch pad. This includes OpenDocument and PIK as well, even if the user can edit them by permission. The BI launch pad home page is read-only. You cannot edit BI workspaces or compound modules that were chosen to be home pages. To create a BI workspace: 1. Gather the following information: A list of information that you want the BI workspace or BI workspace tab to transmit. When creating a corporate BI workspace, analyze your audience to determine the information they need. If you have a lot of information, consider creating categories of information and creating a tab in the BI workspace for each category. A list of content that you want to use. Modules can include Web Intelligence reports, Dashboard Design models, or Crystal reports. A rough sketch of how you want to organize modules on the BI workspace tabs and sub tabs. More information is not always best, and a cluttered, crowded BI workspace is counter-productive. A list of data security issues for corporate BI workspaces. What data is appropriate for your audience? How much detail do you want them to see? 2. In BI launch pad, do the following to create a BI workspace: Click Applications > BI workspace. 3. Click Save or Save As, provide a name and location for the new BI workspace, and then click OK. The "Save As" dialog box is displayed. 4. Select a location to save the BI workspace, assign a category and click OK. Specify the folder in which you want to save the BI workspace. Store BI workspaces into either the "Personal Categories" or "Public Folders". 5. To edit the BI workspace, click Edit BI workspace. 8
Working with BI workspaces The BI workspace opens in the edit mode. Related Topics Editing a BI workspace Overview Adding tabs and sub tabs to BI workspaces BI workspace properties 2.3 Copying or saving a BI workspace You can save new BI workspaces or open existing BI workspaces using the menu options provided on the BI workspace toolbar. The "Save As" option performs a copy function besides saving new BI workspaces. It also allows you to save an existing BI workspace with a new name. When you save a BI workspace, the original or existing BI workspace is not altered. The "Save As" option displays a dialog box where you can enter a new name for the BI workspace. If the new name you enter exists in either of the personal category or public folders, a message appears indicating that a BI workspace of that name already exists in the location selected, and you will not be allowed to save the BI workspace. If a BI workspace with a duplicate name does not exist in either of the Public Folders, My Favorites, or Personal Categories, you will be allowed to save the BI workspace in the location selected. 2.4 Renaming a BI workspace To rename a BI workspace: 1. From the "Documents" tab, browse the "Public Folders", "My Favorites" on the left pane to locate the BI workspace that you want to rename. 2. Right-click the BI workspace and select Properties. The BI workspace "Properties" dialog box is displayed. 3. On the "General Properties" page, in the "Title" field, enter a new name for the BI workspace. 4. Click Save & Close. You can also click Save and X the "Properties" dialog box. The BI workspace is saved with the new name. 9
Working with BI workspaces 2.5 Editing a BI workspace You can customize a BI workspace in edit mode using the menu options available on the BI workspace toolbar. To edit the BI workspace using BI workspace toolbar: 1. Select a BI workspace from "Public Folders", "Personal Categories", or browse categories in "Documents". The selected BI workspace opens. 2. Click Edit BI workspace. The edit BI workspace toolbar with menu options and Module Library are displayed. The administrator assigns the right to edit a specific BI workspace in CMC. You need to have the appropriate edit rights to edit BI workspaces. If you edit a BI workspace saved in a public folder, the changes are visible to everyone viewing it. If you edit a BI workspace saved in a personal category, the changes are visible only to you. 3. To configure the properties, click the arrow next to the BI workspace tab or sub tab title and select Properties. The "Properties" window is displayed. 4. Select the layout style and click OK to close the "Properties" window. The layout style you select from the BI workspace properties is applied to the entire BI workspace, including the tabs and sub tabs in that BI workspace. However, the layout style you select from the tab or sub tab properties window applies only to that particular tab or sub tab and not the entire BI workspace. 5. In the "Module Library", select and drag module objects to the layout area. Resize and fit them according to the preferred BI workspace design. Modules that you drag and drop into BI workspaces from the Module Library and edit in the BI workspace tabs are stored as embedded objects within a BI workspace. The text and compound modules created through Applications > Module option are saved and stored as independent InfoObjects in the CMS. 6. Add tabs or sub tabs to the BI workspace. 7. Click one of the following on the BI workspace toolbar: New Open Save to create a new BI workspace. to open an existing BI workspace stored in "Public Folders" or "My Favorites" category. to apply the latest changes you made to the BI workspace. 10
Working with BI workspaces Save As to save the new BI workspace in the "Public Folders" or "My Favorites" category. Show Module Library to open the module library. Revert Changes to cancel any changes entered in the BI workspace and return to the previously saved version. Content Linking to enable content linking between modules. This option is available as a button instead of a link. Exit Edit Mode to leave the edit mode. If you did not save your changes, this action cancels the modifications made since the last save action. When you choose to exit the edit mode, the "You are now leaving edit mode, would you like to save" dialog box appears prompting you to either save or cancel the changes made to the BI workspace. Related Topics Adding tabs and sub tabs to BI workspaces Modifying the layout in a BI workspace Creating a BI workspace BI workspace properties 2.5.1 Adding tabs and sub tabs to BI workspaces You can create tabs and sub tabs in BI workspaces that you store in public folders, which can be accessed by anyone, and in My Favorites or personal categories, which can be accessed only by you. To add tabs and sub tabs to BI workspaces: 1. Select an existing BI workspace from either the public folders or personal categories or create a new BI workspace. The BI workspace opens. 2. Click Edit BI workspace. The BI workspace opens in edit mode. 3. To create a tab in BI workspace, click Add a new tab. A cursor appears. 4. To create a sub tab in BI workspace, click Add a new sub tab. A cursor appears. 5. Type a name and press Enter. You can change the name at any time in edit mode by clicking the arrow next to the tab name and selecting Rename. 11
Working with BI workspaces 6. Configure the tab or sub tab. 7. Click Save to save your edits. 8. After you have finished modifying the BI workspace, click Exit Edit Mode. A scroll button appears only when there are several tabs and sub tabs. You can use the scroll button to switch between tabs and sub tabs and view the complete list of tabs and sub tabs that you created. The BI workspace is saved when you click "Save" on the BI workspace toolbar. However, you will not lose the changes and do not need to keep clicking Save when you switch between tabs or sub tabs. Related Topics Editing a BI workspace Module Library in BI workspace 2.5.2 Renaming a BI workspace tab or sub tab You can rename a BI workspace tab and sub tab using options provided on the BI workspace toolbar. To rename a BI workspace tab or sub tab: 1. From a BI workspace, select the tab or sub tab that you want to edit. 2. Click the arrow next to the tab or sub tab title. 3. From the menu, select Rename. The name field is activated. 4. Type the new name and press Enter. The tab or sub tab is saved with the new name. 2.5.3 Moving BI workspace tabs and sub tabs To move BI workspace tabs and sub tabs: From a BI workspace, select the tab or sub tab that you want to edit and drag it to the new location. To move a sub tab to another tab, drag and drop it on the BI workspace tab. The tab or sub tab is placed in a new location on the BI workspace toolbar. 12
Working with BI workspaces 2.5.4 Duplicating a BI workspace tab or sub tab You can duplicate a tab or sub tab of an existing BI workspace to create a new BI workspace tab similar to an existing one. You can also rename and modify the copied BI workspace tab or sub tab. For example, you can create a standard corporate BI workspace "welcome" tab that includes the corporate logo, documents, and some common indicators. When you duplicate BI workspace tabs and sub tabs, all the modules in the BI workspace are also copied. The sub tab hierarchy in a duplicated tab is also duplicated. To duplicate a BI workspace tab or sub tab: 1. Select the BI workspace tab or sub tab that you want to duplicate, click the arrow next to the title and select Duplicate. A duplicate of the object appears to the right of the existing objects with the title appended with an edition number. For example, if you make a duplicate of the 'Sales' tab, the title of the new tab is 'Sales(1)'. 2. Optionally, rename the tab or sub tab. The BI workspace with the duplicated tabs or sub tabs is displayed. You can recreate a BI workspace tab using BI workspace objects in the "BI workspaces " category in the module library. Select the item and then drag and drop it in the BI workspace layout. Related Topics Renaming a BI workspace tab or sub tab Module Library in BI workspace 2.5.5 Scrolling BI workspace tabs and sub tabs To scroll BI workspace tabs and sub tabs: 1. From a BI workspace, select the tab or sub tab that you want to edit. 2. Click on the BI workspace toolbar to scroll through the BI workspace tabs and sub tabs. You can navigate between various tabs and sub tabs by clicking the complete list of tabs and sub tabs by clicking the drop-down list. icon or you can view the 13
Working with BI workspaces 2.5.6 Deleting a tab or sub tab in BI workspace You can delete the tabs and sub tabs that you created in a BI workspace stored in either the public folders and personal categories. To delete a tab or sub tab in BI workspace: 1. Select the tab or sub tab in the BI workspace that you want to delete. 2. Click the arrow adjacent to the tab or sub tab that you want to delete and select Delete. 3. In the "Remove tab" window, click Yes. The tab or sub tab selected for deletion disappears. 2.5.7 BI workspace properties To display the properties menu for a BI workspace tab or sub tab in the BI workspace edit mode, click the arrow adjacent to the BI workspace tab or sub tab title. Configure the following properties: The help URL Type or paste the default help URL in the text box. Style sheet You can select a style sheet for a BI workspace. You set the default option in the BI launch pad preferences. BI workspaces inherit their style from the style sheet selected in the BI launch pad preferences. BI workspace sub tabs inherit their style from their parent BI workspace tabs. 2.5.8 Adding security to BI workspaces BI workspaces saved in public folders share vital information across a large community or to specific groups of people. These BI workspaces can be used for information-sharing. You can set additional security options on the public BI workspaces, which cannot be shared with a group of people for business confidentiality or any other purpose. You can set security rules on any BI workspace through the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform Central Management Console (CMC). Some ways to control access to data in a corporate BI workspace: 14
Working with BI workspaces At the folder level: BI workspaces are stored in the BI launch pad "Public Folders". Administrators can limit access to a folder in the folder's access settings or in account settings in the Central Management Console (CMC) for individual users or user groups. Via user rights: Only those with specific edit rights can edit BI workspaces. To add security features to a BI workspace through the CMC. 1. In the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform Central Management Console (CMC) expand the list of BI workspaces from the folder view and select a BI workspace. 2. Select the BI workspace for which you want to set security options. 3. Right-click the BI workspace and choose User Security. The "User Security" window opens. 4. Click Add Principals. The "Add Principals" window page opens with the available list of users and groups. 5. Select a user from "Available users/groups" area and click the > arrow to move the user to "Selected users/groups" area. 6. Click Add and Assign Security. The "Assign Security" window opens with the available access levels. 7. Select one of the following security options from the "Available Access Levels" section and click the > arrow: Title Full Control Schedule View View On Demand Description Grants full access Grants view rights for objects and view-on-demand content Grants view rights for objects Grants view rights for objects and view-on-demand content The selected access level is moved to the "Assigned Access Level" section. 8. Click Apply and OK. The "User Security" window opens with the selected access level displayed in the "Add Principals" page. 9. Click Close to go back to the folder view in CMC. When you select a view access level, the Edit BI workspace button will not be displayed to the user for any BI workspace that he or she selects. For more information about setting rights for BI workspaces, refer to the Rights Appendix topic in the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform Administrator's Guide. 15
Working with BI workspaces 2.5.9 Modifying the layout in a BI workspace You can modify the layout of BI workspaces tabs and sub tabs created in BI workspaces and saved in the personal categories or public folders. To modify the layout in a BI workspace: In the BI workspace you are editing, select the layout style: To place objects on a BI workspace without using any specific layout format, select the "Freeform" layout. To use a pre-defined layout, select the "Template" layout. You can select column, row, or a mixed column or row layout. To construct a column-structured BI workspace, select the "Columns" layout. When you change the layout of a BI workspace that contains modules, the modules are rearranged to fit into the new layout mode. Related Topics Editing a BI workspace Configuring the display options of a BI workspace module Working with a BI workspace or compound module in Freeform layout mode Working with a BI workspace in Template layout mode 2.5.9.1 Configuring the display options of a BI workspace module To configure the display options for a BI workspace: 1. Select a BI workspace tab or sub tab and click Edit BI workspace. 2. In the title bar of the BI workspace module you want to edit, on the context-sensitive menu, click edit. 3. Select the Layout tab. 4. Choose from the following options: 16
Working with BI workspaces Option A window inside of a tab Description Activate this option to have the module appear as an object in the tab. A link, so only the name is visible Activate this option to have the module appear as a linked object that when you click it appears in a new tab. When you select this option, the Show window border option becomes unavailable. When you click on the link in a BI workspace that contains a "Viewer" module, the link's destination opens in the "Viewer". Show window border Activate this option to add a border around a module. 5. Click OK to save your configuration and return to the BI workspace layout. 2.5.9.2 Working with a BI workspace or compound module in Freeform layout mode The "Freeform" layout mode allows you to place objects in a BI workspace tab or sub tab or compound module without using any specific layout format. In the "Freeform " mode, you can use the grid options to align objects. To modify the BI workspace in a "Freeform" layout mode: 1. In the BI workspace or compound module edit mode, select Freeform from the "Layout" list. The "Module Library" appears on a blank layout area. Click Library to deactivate or activate the "Module Library". If you switch to "Freeform" from another layout mode, any objects on the layout area remain in their original positions. 2. To activate a grid, select one of the following grid sizes from the "Grid size" drop-down list: Small Medium Large When you select a grid size, grid lines appear on the layout area. If you do not want a grid, select None. 3. Activate Snap to grid to make objects in the layout area adhere to the grid lines. 17
Working with BI workspaces 4. To select objects, drag them from the "Module Library" to the layout area. You can resize and move the objects. 5. When you finish working on the layout, do the following: If you are creating a BI workspace tab or sub tab, click Save. If at any time during the process you decide that you do not want to keep the BI workspace changes as of the last save action, click Revert Changes. The BI workspace appears in edit mode without the modifications. If you are creating a compound module, click OK. Related Topics Module Library in BI workspace Adding tabs and sub tabs to BI workspaces Configuring the display options of a BI workspace module 2.5.9.3 Working with a BI workspace in Template layout mode The "Template" layout mode offers several layout formats for BI workspace objects. To modify a BI workspace in "Template" layout mode: 1. In the BI workspace edit mode, select Template from the "Layout" list. 2. Select a template from the "Predefined Templates" list. Switching to "Template" from another mode affects the BI workspace in the following manner: When you switch from "Freeform" mode, if the BI workspace objects are not in any particular order, they get separated into columns. When you select a template, the BI workspace objects are moved to fit rows and columns in the template you select. If you switch from "Columns" mode and select a template, the BI workspace objects shift to fit the cells in the template. If you have more objects than available placeholders in the selected predefined template, the extra modules are appended to the bottom of the BI workspace. Empty spots can occur when you switch to a template, or between templates. Rearrange the modules as necessary. 3. To have the BI workspace rows adjust to the height of the browser window when it is enlarged or reduced in size, activate Scale height. 4. To have the BI workspace columns adjust to the width of the browser window when it is enlarged or reduced in size, activate Scale width. 18
Working with BI workspaces Scale width and Scale height are available only in Template mode. 5. If you want to split cells, click one of the following icons from the cell toolbar: Option "Split component vertically" "Split component horizontally" Description If you select this option, the cell splits into cells that are side by side. If you select this option, the cell splits into cells that are one above the other. These options are available in the Template mode only. 6. When you have finished working on the BI workspace, click Save. If at any time during the process, you decide that you do not want to keep the BI workspace changes as of the last save action, click Exit without saving or click " "Revert Changes". The BI workspace reverts to the last saved version of the BI workspace. Related Topics Module Library in BI workspace Working with a BI workspace or compound module in Freeform layout mode Configuring the display options of a BI workspace module 2.5.9.4 Working with a BI workspace in Columns layout mode The "Columns" layout mode allows you to add, remove, and resize the columns by adjusting the length and width for BI workspace objects. You can drag each column to adjust the BI workspace in the layout to resize columns. This enhances viewing and usability of BI workspaces. To modify a BI workspace in the "Columns" layout mode: 1. In the BI workspace edit mode, select Columns from the "Layout" list. 2. Click "Add Column" to add columns in the BI workspace. 3. Click "Remove Column" to remove columns in the BI workspace. 4. Click the BI workspace object and drag the edges of the BI workspace object to resize the BI workspace layout. Related Topics Module Library in BI workspace 19
Working with BI workspaces Working with a BI workspace or compound module in Freeform layout mode Configuring the display options of a BI workspace module 2.5.10 Module Library in BI workspace The "Module Library" offers the following module categories from which you can drag and drop modules onto your BI workspace tabs and sub tabs and compound module layout. "Templates" This category contains the following list of pre-defined module templates that you can customize to display your data. Group Viewer Navigation List Text module Web Page module "BI launch pad modules" This category includes modules from the BI launch pad home page. My Inbox My Alerts My Applications My Recently Run Documents My Recently Viewed Documents "Public Modules" This category contains BI workspaces stored in public folders. "Private Modules" This category provides a list of modules currently available in personal categories or (user 's) My Favorites folder. The "Private Modules" tab appears only when you open a personal BI workspace that is stored in "My Favorites" or "Personal Categories". "BI workspaces" This category contains all the existing modules and provides a list of available BI workspaces (by user rights) User can add a tab, sub tab or module from another BI workspace to the currently open BI workspace. "Document Explorer" 20
Working with BI workspaces This category contains modules that will let you see the list of documents contained in the personal categories and public folders and categories available in BI launch pad. It contains a root folder, which displays the document explorer page with various folders and categories. Tip: Enlarge or reduce the size of the module library using the upper-right arrow on the BI workspace layout. To activate or deactivate the module library, click Show Module Library on the BI workspace toolbar. You can also set the module library as docked or floating in the BI workspace layout. You can drag and drop an existing module from the module library to the tab or sub tab level on the BI workspace toolbar. This enables you to reuse the existing modules while creating new BI workspaces. Related Topics Creating a BI workspace Content linking 2.5.10.1 Module Library search A new advanced search feature has been introduced in the "Module Library". The search box contains the text "Search for content "as default. You can search for any document in SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform by typing the keyword in the search box and clicking the Search icon. This will trigger a search and the results will be displayed as a list. If you want to cancel a search, you can click the X icon and this will stop the current search. The close icon allows you to go back to the main page. Clicking any of the tabs will also clear the results page and the selected tab is displayed. The search will filter all documents by name if it matches the keyword. However, it does not provide any metadata search. You cannot search for a module within a BI workspace. The module is not an InfoObject within a BI workspace. The "Module Library" search function does not work for the BI workspaces or modules stored in Public Folders, Templates list, BI launch pad modules list, and Document Explorer. For more information, refer to the Searching in BI launch pad topic in the BI Launch Pad User's Guide. 2.6 Printing a BI workspace The print option allows you to view and print dynamic content in a BI workspace. It displays the current state of the BI workspace view so that you do not have to reload a particular document for printing. 21
Working with BI workspaces Tip: To print a BI workspace containing many objects, it is recommended that you change the printer settings to landscape for the best appearance. To print a BI workspace: 1. In a BI workspace, click Print. The print preview panel appears with print options and a preview of the BI workspace tab or sub tabs that will be printed. 2. In the "print preview" panel, select one of the following options: Current Tab, to print just the tab you are currently viewing. This is the default option. All Tabs, to print all of the tabs and sub tabs in the BI workspace you are currently viewing. 3. Click Print. Each BI workspace tab will be printed on one page. The content of the BI workspace will be adjusted to fit into one page, therefore items can appear smaller. The print preview will reset the BI workspace view to the default view. For example, a BI workspace with a module loads the data for the slice California for year 2007 by default. The user changes the slice to Texas and moves the slider to year 2005. If the user clicks Print, the data of Texas for year 2005 does not get loaded. The data of California in the year 2007 gets loaded. The user can choose to change the slice to Texas in the print page and click Print. 2.7 Deleting a BI workspace Before you delete a BI workspace, you need to ensure that you have appropriate permissions to perform a deletion. Since BI workspaces contain vital information when stored in public folders as corporate BI workspaces, it is important to check with the stakeholders before deleting a BI workspace. You can delete a BI workspace from the "Documents" pane in BI launch pad. You need to browse to the public folder or personal category node in which the BI workspace you want to delete is residing. You can then click Organize > Delete from the drop-down menu to delete the selected BI workspace. 22
Working with modules Working with modules 3.1 Overview Modules are documents into which you insert data that you want to view via a BI workspace. Modules can be based on Web Intelligence documents, Crystal reports, Dashboard Design models, or non-visualization modules, such as Web Page, Text, or Viewer modules displaying data for analysis. You can create and add modules to your BI workspaces to display data in a meaningful and efficient manner. You can create modules in BI workspaces, which are saved as embedded objects in the BI workspace. The information displayed by modules in BI workspaces is protected at the data source. To modify a text or compound module, open the module from the "Documents" tab and click the Edit icon on the module toolbar. Related Topics Configuring the Web Intelligence report display settings in a BI workspace Configuring a Crystal report's display settings in a BI workspace 3.2 Types of modules 3.2.1 BI launch pad modules BI workspace is used as the primary container and BI launch pad leverages the BI workspace tab framework to display different pages. By default, the home page opens and is displayed on the first tab. A common feature is to provide the ability to customize and assign different home pages to different users or groups. BI workspace administrators can create custom home pages and assign them through the customization enhancements. 23
Working with modules BI launch pad leverages the use of modules to bring relevant information forward to users on the home page. This will allow you to quickly find the business information you need without having to drill down through the "My Favorites", "Personal Categories", or "Public Folders" listed in the "Document List". BI launch pad modules included on the home page are: 1. My Inbox 2. My Recently Viewed Documents 3. My Recently Run Documents 4. My Applications 5. Alerts 3.2.2 Compound module The compound module is a mini BI workspace without tabs and sub tabs. It is integrated with the BI workspace creation workflow. You can create a compound module from BI launch pad. You can create one or more of any combination of modules in a page using a compound module. The modules in a compound module are edited individually. The compound module is useful when you have content that you want to be repeated in more than one BI workspace tab. For example, if you want a BI workspace to have a standard title page or header that includes the corporate logo, name, and confidentiality information, you can create a compound module that contains all of this information and save it to a public folder. In another example, if you want to reuse the same modules in a specific layout, you can save them in a compound module. You can then create other compound modules based on this module, but reset the data source in each instance. The compound module can work with the viewer module in a BI workspace, so that when you click a link in a module, the destination appears in the viewer page itself, instead of a separate browser window. A compound module can be reused from a saved location similar to a Crystal report or Web Intelligence document. Related Topics Viewer module Working with a BI workspace or compound module in Freeform layout mode 3.2.3 Text module 24
Working with modules You use a text module when you want to add a block of text to a BI workspace. The text can be a header, descriptive text, HTML or even an OpenModule hyperlink that opens in a BI workspace viewer. You can create a text module from BI launch pad. Configuring a text module The best practice when creating HTML code or link text for use in the module is to create the code in a text editor, and then copy and paste the syntax into the module text box. You can set the following properties for this module: Type of text (plain or HTML) Style sheet used Related Topics Sending information to the viewer module in a BI workspace using openmodule Viewer module 3.2.4 Web Page module The Web Page module is available in the "Templates" category of the BI workspace module library. You use it in BI workspace to display web pages or images. You can use either a URL or a relative path to an image. 3.2.5 Using a Navigation List on a BI workspace tab A "Navigation List " module when used with the Viewer module allows you to maximize the space on a BI workspace tab by acting as an active table of contents. You can choose from the multiple styles available for presentation of content in the "Navigation List" modules. 1. In the BI workspace edit mode, click Module Library. 2. From the "Templates" category, drag Navigation List to the BI workspace layout area. 3. From the "Templates" category, drag Viewer to the BI workspace layout area and resize as necessary using the lower, right-hand corner resize icon. 4. Drag a module from any category in the "Module Library" to the "Navigation List". Remember: If you are editing the BI workspace in "Columns" mode, hold down the Control button to use the mouse for dragging and dropping objects into the "Navigation List". When you select an item in the "Navigation List", it appears in the "Viewer". 25
Working with modules 5. In the "Navigation List" title bar, click the Edit icon. The "Edit Contents" window appears. 6. In the "Content" tab: Optionally, create folders to organize the modules. Organize Navigation List items. Edit the properties of the Navigation List items, including module properties. Delete items from the Navigation List. Change the name of an item. 7. In the "Layout" tab, type a title and description, and select the display options and style sheet. 8. In the "Viewer" tab, select a viewer to be displayed in the Navigation List. 9. Click OK to save the content and layout configuration. Related Topics Viewer module Configuring the display options of a BI workspace module 3.2.6 Viewer module By default, objects called from a module link, open and occupy the entire BI workspace space. The "Viewer" module offers a way to display the objects called from "Navigation List" through module links that use open Module variables. The "Viewer" also provides an option to resize the modules. In previous releases BI workspaces allows you to place only one "Viewer" module per BI workspace page. In this release, you can place multiple "Viewer" modules per BI workspace page and view the reports concurrently for deeper analysis. For example, in a BI workspace tab that contains a "Viewer", when you select a module that contains a report, the destination module appears in the "Viewer". This allows you to see the report itself and the destination module side by side. In another example, you created an Web Intelligence document and you want to select linked items in the document, and have the linked document appear in the "Viewer". The "Viewer" module is particularly useful with the "Navigation List" module. You use the "Navigation List" as a table of contents and the "Viewer" as the viewing portlet. This saves you BI workspace space. You can find the "Viewer" module in the BI workspace edit mode, in Module Library > Templates. To add it to a BI workspace, drag Viewer to the BI workspace layout area and resize as necessary using the resize icon on the lower, right-hand corner. 26
Working with modules 3.2.6.1 Sending information to the viewer module in a BI workspace using openmodule Using the openmodule syntax, you can send information from the following documents saved on the Central Management Server (CMS) to a "Viewer" module on a BI workspace: Web Intelligence documents Crystal reports Text module Web page module Sample syntax: http://<server host>:<server port>/boe/performancemanagement/ jsp/aa-open-inlist.jsp?target="hiddenframe"&url=<encoded URL is displayed as target URL in the viewer> For example: http://ildabvm0012:8080/boe/performancemanagement/jsp/ aa-open-inlist.jsp?target="hiddenframe"&url=http%3a%2f%2fildabvm0012%3a8080 %2fBOE%2fOpenDocument%2fopendoc%2fopenDocument.jsp%3fsDocName%3dComp%26sPath %3d%5bTemp%5d The key items in the sample are aa-open-inlist.jsp and target='hiddenframe'. 1. In a text editor, copy and paste the sample syntax. 2. Replace {<server host>:<server port>} with the web application location after http://. For example: http://<server>:<port>/performancemanagement/jsp 3. Enter the correct information after the variables. 4. Replace {URL} in BI workspace with the name of the {URL} as you want it to appear. 5. Copy and paste the text in the following location: For Web Intelligence document or Crystal report copy the text in the cell of the query and then run a report. For a Text module, go to the edit mode and paste the text in the "Enter text or HTML to display" text box and select html. Save the module in the public folders. For a Web page module, go to the edit mode and in the "Content" tab paste the text in the "Enter the web page URL" text box and click OK. In the "Layout" tab, select from the "Display as" section A link, so only the name is visible. 6. In BI launch pad, go to Applications > BI workspace. 7. Enter the title, select a public folder, and click OK to save the BI workspace. 8. Click Documents and find the BI workspace from the "Public Folders" node. 9. Select the BI workspace and double-click to open it. The BI workspace opens. 10. Click Edit BI workspace. 27
Working with modules 11. From the "Module Library", click the Document Explorer tab to find your report, and drag it to the BI workspace layout. 12. From the "Module Library", click the Templates tab, and drag the Viewer module to the BI workspace layout. 13. Click Save, then Exit Edit Mode. Click any linked item in the report and the destination appears in the viewer. 3.3 Creating and configuring modules 3.3.1 Working with modules You can edit a module based on the type of information or data that you want to analyze and view. You can perform various functions on a module embedded on a BI workspace page. This section provides information on how to: Add modules to BI workspaces. Create a module based on an existing module. Save a module to a BI launch pad folder. Delete a module from a BI launch pad folder. Link modules to documents or other modules. Related Topics Adding modules from Module Library to BI workspaces Deleting a Text or Compound module from a BI launch pad folder Saving a Text or Compound module to a BI launch pad folder Linking modules and documents 3.3.1.1 Creating a module You create modules to visualize performance levels and trends on specific data. The data can originate from single ad hoc queries on a Web Intelligence report, Crystal report, or Dashboard Design models. You can create modules in the following ways: 28
Working with modules Via BI launch pad. Create a module directly in a BI workspace, where it is saved as an embedded object in the BI workspace. Related Topics Creating a Text or Compound module from BI launch pad homepage 3.3.1.1.1 Creating a Text or Compound module from BI launch pad homepage You can create Text or Compound modules directly from the BI launch pad homepage. 1. On the BI launch pad home page, go to Applications > Module or click My Applications > Module. The two types of modules; "Text Module" and "Compound Module" are displayed. 2. Select a module type. The selected module appears. The new module is created. 3.3.1.1.2 Expanded toolbar actions on modules When you open a module from the BI launch pad home page using My Applications > Module or Applications > Module, or from the public folders or personal categories, the module opens and expands to fit the entire page, and the expanded toolbar appears. The expanded toolbar with the Edit, Save, and Save As options is applicable only to Text and Compound modules and not applicable to the modules created using the "Templates "category in "Module Library", such as the Group, Viewer, Web Page, Text, and Navigation List modules, because these are embedded onto the BI workspace layout and the BI workspace along with these embedded modules is saved. Access to the expanded toolbar can be activated and deactivated in the module edit mode. The toolbar appears only when you open a module from "Documents" in a new page. You can perform the following actions on modules: Edit Click this link to display the module in edit mode. When you edit a module that is stored in the CMS, you are editing all occurrences of the module in all BI workspaces in which it appears. Save Click this link to save the module. Embedded BI workspace modules cannot use this action. Because they were created directly in the BI workspace, they are populated with data only when the BI workspace is opened and saved as part of the BI workspace. 29
Working with modules Save As Click Save As to save the module for the first time, or to save it to a different location. 3.3.1.1.3 Editing a Text or Compound module You can edit Text or Compound modules stored in the "My Favorites" or "Public Folders", or "Personal Categories" in the "Documents" tab of BI launch pad. To edit a module: 1. With the module open, click Edit. The "Edit Contents" dialog box appears. 2. In the "Enter text or HTML to display" field, enter some keywords or description and click OK. The description appears next to the title of the module once it is saved in BI launch pad. The description is optional. The module with the edited text appears. 3. Click Refresh on the Module toolbar, if you want to refresh the module. 4. Click Save or Save As. 5. Browse the location where you want to save the module when you click "Save As". The module is saved in the selected folder in BI launch pad. 3.3.1.1.4 Saving a Text or Compound module to a BI launch pad folder You can save Text and Compound modules to "My Favorites", "Public Folders", or "Personal Categories" in the "Document" node of BI launch pad. To save a module: 1. With the module open, click Save As. The Save module page appears. 2. In the "Filename" field, enter a name of the module. 3. Ensure that the "Module" option is selected for the "Save As Type" field. This step is optional. The "Save As Type" field is automatically set to "Module". 4. Browse to the folder location where you want to save the module. Click "Folders" in the left pane. The "Public Folders" node appears. 5. Expand the "Public Folders" node and select a folder from the "Public Folders" list. The selected folder with all the documents saved opens. 6. Click Save The module is saved in the selected folder in BI launch pad. 30