SAP Business Suite How-To Guide How to Integrate SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (Xcelsius) Into Business Context Viewer (BCV) Applicable Releases: Enhancement Package 5 for SAP ERP 6.0 or higher IT Capability: Xcelsius Integration into Business Suite Applications Version 1.2 October 2012
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Document History Document Version Description 1.00 First official release of this guide 1.10 Missing prerequisite (Chapter 2) : Activate ICF node for Xcelsius integration 1.20 SAP Crystal Dashboards 4.0 not compatible (Chapter 1)
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Table of Contents 1. Business Scenario... 1 2. Prerequisites... 1 3. Step-by-Step Procedure... 2 3.1 Configuration in Xcelsius... 2 3.1.1 Design the Required Chart in Xcelsius... 2 3.1.2 Configure Data Connection to BCV... 3 3.1.3 Export the Xcelsius Chart into a Flash File... 5 3.2 Configuration in BCV... 6 3.2.1 Create BCV Query View Based on a BCV Query... 6 3.2.2 Create New Chart View... 6 3.2.3 Upload Flash File (with Xcelsius Chart)... 7 3.2.4 Mapping Xcelsius Fields Against BCV Query Fields... 8 3.3 Running Xcelsius During BCV Runtime... 10
1. Business Scenario Business Context Viewer (BCV) is a framework which was created to allow all Business Suite applications the simple and efficient integration of all kinds of additional (typically context-related) information. The information is retrieved using the data providers (BI queries, InfoSets, BAPIs, Enterprise Search templates, and so on); new data provision technologies can be easily added. The information is displayed as table, business graphics charts, or Xcelsius dashboards, either in a side panel area or in a full-screen analytical view or dashboard. Once BCV is integrated, the access to data providers, the internal data processing (if necessary), and the display options can be easily configured without the need of adding code. In this how-to guide, we will describe the steps needed to integrate an Xcelsius dashboard chart into BCV. 2. Prerequisites SAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius 2008 (SP1 or higher) Attention: SAP Crystal Dashboards 4.0 is not compatible; please use Xcelsius 2008, only. SAP Business Context Viewer 7.01 (Enhancement Package 5 for SAP ERP 6.0) or higher Check, if the service BCV (BCV Flash Island) has been activated in transaction sicf October 2012 1
3. Step-by-Step Procedure The configuration must be done in the Xcelsius application beforehand so that the created content can be used to set up the BCV chart view. 3.1 Configuration in Xcelsius 3.1.1 Design the Required Chart in Xcelsius Start the Xcelsius application and define the required chart view, which should be shown in BCV. Enter the sample data in the corresponding form. This data helps you to adapt the chart settings. Tip When you design your chart in Xcelsius, check that the size of the canvas is similar to the BCV CHIP size. (It will be scaled in BCV, but it should have a similar ratio). October 2012 2
3.1.2 Configure Data Connection to BCV In Xcelsius, you can define data ranges in the corresponding form, which should be filled dynamically during runtime. In this example, you will have two columns with data, where you should enter Country and Annual Sales. 1. Select Data -> Connections from the menu. 2. Select External Interface Connection. 3. Choose + to create a new one. October 2012 3
4. Input a range name, select the range type (row/column), define the Access to Read/Write, and choose the selector icon for defining the range. 5. Define the range. Select as many lines in this column as you expect as a result from your BCV query. 6. Repeat these steps for the second column. Important Use capital letters when defining the Range Name. October 2012 4
3.1.3 Export the Xcelsius Chart into a Flash File 1. Choose File -> Export -> Flash (SWF) to start the export process. 2. Select a location for your Flash file and save it. Your configuration in Xcelsius is now complete. October 2012 5
... How to Integrate SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (Xcelsius) Into Business Context Viewer (BCV) 3.2 Configuration in BCV 3.2.1 Create BCV Query View Based on a BCV Query In the BCV configuration center, you can create a BCV query view that is the basis for the integration of Xcelsius. The BCV query should have all necessary output fields to fill the Xcelsius chart with data. 3.2.2 Create New Chart View 1. Select the tab strip Chart Views to create a new chart. 2. On the screen Create Query View Chart, choose the technology Xcelsius Dashboard to get all required configuration fields. October 2012 6
3.2.3 Upload Flash File (with Xcelsius Chart) 1. Choose Browse to select the Flash file from your hard disk. 2. Choose Upload file to repository. If you do not enter a folder name in the Folder field, the uploaded Flash file will be saved in the standard BCV folder /sap/public/businesssuite/bcv. It is possible to define another MIME repository folder to save the file. October 2012 7
3.2.4 Mapping Xcelsius Fields Against BCV Query Fields 1. Choose Generate XC fields to determine the exposed fields in Xcelsius. 2. Assign the fields from the BCV query to these Xcelsius fields. 3. After saving the new chart view, return to the query view screen, change into Edit mode, select the newly created Chart ID, and deselect the Table ID. October 2012 8
4. After saving the query view, choose Test to check if the new chart view with Xcelsius is running. If there is popup window with required fields, input the relevant data. 5. After these steps you can assign the new query view to the BCV screens: Overview (side panel) Dashboard Query view list October 2012 9
3.3 Running Xcelsius During BCV Runtime A query view based on Xcelsius can be started and integrated as with any other BCV query view. Query views based on Xcelsius run on Adobe Flash Islands. Tip Do not put too many Xcelsius items into a BCV overview or BCV dashboard. Xcelsius items need more memory than business graphics items, because for any Xcelsius item, you need an Adobe Flash Island session. Xcelsius has to store all data coming from the BCV query internally. We recommend that you integrate a maximum of three Xcelsius items into one screen. October 2012 10