Yesterday eric.schemer and jie.deng of SAP provided a roadmap webcast on Design Studio.
Note the usual disclaimer applies, that things are subject to change, especially regarding future plans and roadmaps.
Figure 1: Source: SAP
Figure 1 explains the purpose of product roadmaps.
Figure 2: Source: SAP
SAP Design Studio is built to be premium successor to BEx WAD and BEx Web run time in BW
SAP plans to merge XCelsius /Dashboards into Design Studio mid-term
The value proposition is that Design Studio is a product for designers, content developers and application developers, to centrally build analytical content for desktop/mobile integrated into SAP lifecycle management
One of the benefits is the technology is based on Eclipse plug, rendering based on HTML5 that is device and browser agnostic
At design time it has integration with Eclipse; some of the more recent SAP developer tools in Eclipse include HANA and Predictive.
It is WYSIWYG – work with live data as soon as you build, and you see how presentation will look to end user.
It offers sophisticated scripting via Java Scripting
It offers good integration in BOE/HANA, central supportability and theming.
It was built with mobile-first approach
Its key engines, HANA & BW, supports the data and capabilities of calculation engines
Figure 3: Source: SAP
2 necessary installs
1) Client for eclipse plug in on desktop – also includes run time – designers to directly communicate with BW and HANA – prototyping – not required for BI platform
- Deploy & share application use BI Platform – large numbers of users
- BI4, SP4/5
2) Platform install
Figure 4: Source: SAP
Figure 4 shows the ability for rapid prototyping for mobile application
Figure 4 shows you build apps in Design Studio and then do QR scans to the mobile device
As you build application, you can test application on mobile device
Figure 5: Source: SAP
Figure 5 shows the built-in data editor for HANA & BW infoproviders
You can change the data source or view of BEx
You can do this inside Design Studio; you do not need to go into HANA modeler
Figure 6: Source: SAP
Figure 6 shows the hierarchy feature in Design Studio. Both BW/HANA come with sophisticated on hierarchies
It provides native support for BW/HANA OLAP capabilities, esp. for hierarchies
Figure 7: Source: SAP
Figure 7 is showing the filter panel, available at general availability. It will have filter and dimension panel that works seamlessly on browser /iPad based apps
Figure 8: Source: SAP
Figure 8 shows the features of WYSIWYG and pixel layout options
Figure 9: Source: SAP
Figure 9 shows the predefined themes and templates to allow customers to build their own themes/templates
Figure 10: Source: SAP
Figure 10 shows the editor gives you calculation capabilities of Zen engine using calc capabilities of Hana and BW
Figure 11: Source: SAP
Figure 11 shows the integration with the BI Platform.
BI4 SP4 or SP5 will be required for SAP Design Studio – this will be known closer to general availability
Figure 12: Source: SAP
Figure 12 shows planned innovations for version 1.1 – general availability planned for 2Q next year
Design Studio is targeting GA 3rd week of November.
Version 1.1 is planned to have a “BOE free version” for HANA
SAP Design Studio 1.2 planned release in Q4 release next year
Future SAP Design Studio will support BW-IP and PAK support
SAP Design Studio is on client side and server
Subset of Question & Answer
Q: Great stuff. How do you ship the templates and themes?
A: templates and themes are shipped with Design Studio installer
Q: Is the java stack required to use Design Studio?
A: Java stack is required when you want to share the applications with end users. IT's required for enterprise ready solution.
For designers to build and test and run the applications, java stack/BOE is not required
Q: When will integration with WebI, Crystal Reports, Dashboards etc. provided.
A: analysis views can be defined as datasource. This is planned for the timeframe of 2013/2014
Q: Will RRIs (report-to-report interface) be supported?
A: RRI is planned for 2013
Q: The Server has to installed on top of BOBJ? If so what release of BOBJ
A: It is an add-on to BI (BOE) 4, SP level tbd
Q: Can the client connect to BW directly?
A: yes
Q: without BOE just with the client?
A: it requires BOE for now, a (BOE-free) HANA delpoyment is currently planned for the next release
Q: Is there a property for chart to allow users to change to different type of charts ?
A: chart properties: yes
Q: Is there option to change the chart color?
A: chart color: limited features available, more to come with 1.1
Q: Will there be PDF Export support and Print friendly views available?
A: PDF/Print: planned for future release
Q: What is the primary advantage of this over the Xcelsius
A: advantage: supports all engine capabilities of BW/HANA out of the box, no performance limits on big data, out of the box mobile design
Q: Is there any option to save the data offline?
A: offline: not yet
Q: Support for BO Universes as a data source in late 2013?
A: universes: planned for Q4 2013
Q: That is huge. Xcelsius has big scalability issues for the enterprise. Am I correct in saying Zen will offer a strong enterprise alternative?
A: You are right
Q: I joined a bit late..is is also called ZEN?
A: Zen: yes, that's the project name
Q: Are BW Variables supported?
A: at designtime, in 1.1 also at runtime
Q: + Seems as a combination from Xcelsius and BO Explorer, with more developer capabilities
A: Eric Schemer: (11:41) we have plans to add a control for ''facettes'', than you can build your own ''Explorer'' with it...
Q: DO Android device supported ?
A: Android--> HTML5--> so yes
Q: Do I need Java Stack in BW if I have users consume reports via BOE ??
A: no
Q: Will OpenDoc be supported? Calling Zen Application from other reports or apps passing parameters
A: yes, it's on the 1.1 plan
Q: Is the java stack required in BW, or does the java stack in BOBJ sufficient to use Design Studio?
A: no Java stack on NW required
Q: when is the General Release planned for this product
A: GA planned mid November
Q: Any timeline for IP/PAK support?
A: planned for 1.2 (Q4 2013)
Q: Will there be any new Service on BOE Side specificto ZEN ??
A: it's an add-on and you can manage ZEN content on BOE as nny other BI tool
Q: is the ScriptEditor a language on its own..looks like what we use in BPC but little different
A: it's a subset of JavaScript; Script Editor is using the sub set of Java script, called xtext
Q: Since replacement for dashboards is it covered if you are licensed for Xcelsius/Dashboard Builder?
A: you need to check with your account manager
Q: How will this work with Mobile BI?
A: Save design app on server, add MobI tag, then become visible on MobI application
Attend Eric Schemer's SAP TechEd lecture on SAP BusinessObjects Analysis and Design Studio for SAP NetWeaver BW
next week in Las Vegas.
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