Former Member

August 30, 2013 3 minute read

BI4.1: Creating a universe on top of a Web Service

New with BI 4.1 is the possibility of creating a universe on top of a Web Service. In this blog post I would like to show you how to create your first universe based on a Web Service. For this example I am using a Web Service that takes as Input two currencies and delivers as output the actual conversion rate.

In order to create a universe with all its components, you can take advantage of the new “Universal Wizard” that was introduced in BI 4.1:

You can re-use one of your existing projects or create a new one, I choose to create a new project:

After entering a name for the local project ( e.g. “_WebService”) hit next.

The wizard will start guiding you now with the creation of a connection. In order to create a connection to a Web Service, you need to select Relational data source:

Enter now the name of the connection (e.g. “WebService1_Connection”)

You are asked now to select a driver, select here the Web Service Connector in the category Generic:

In the following screen you enter Web Service Description (WSDL) in the Web Service URL box:

Now you can test the connection and hit Finish.

The Universal Wizard proceeds now seamlessly into the process of creating a Data Foundation. Enter a name (e.g. WebService1_DataFoundation) for the Data Foundation and click Next:

Select the table from the Web Service and hit Next:

The Universal Wizard proceeds at this point seamlessly into the process of creating a Business Layer (im starting to really like this wizard!). Enter a name (e.g. WebService1_BusinessLayer) and hit Finish:

Because this Web Service takes two inputs, the Edit Input Columns dialog appears. For now I am not binding the input columns to a parameter, simply because we do not have any parameters at this point in time. Go ahead and hit OK:

By now, the Universal Creation Wizard has finished its task by creating all basic objects that a universe needs. In our case, the web service has two mandatory inputs, so we need to take care about those in order to get some data back from the web service.

I have a list of world currencies in a CSV file, so I am creating two parameters in the Data Foundation that will get their List Of Values from the CSV file:

Go to the data foundation and right-click on the table, hit Edit Input Columns:

And map the newly created parameters in the Data Foundation with the Web Service input parameters:

After mapping the parameters you are good to go!

Now lets create a test query in the business layer and enter two currencies:

the conversion rate is delivered by the Web Service (nice!):

You could use this Information in your BI reports and e.g. offer your users the possibility of changing the currency dynamically. Now image the amount of Web Services available in the Internet and how you can enrich your BI Reports.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this blog.

52 Comments

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Former Member

August 31, 2013 at 4:21 am

Thanks for sharing new information

Former Member

January 17, 2014 at 3:58 pm

Than ks for the clear description with nice screenshots to make able to depict the approach of Universe creation

Former Member

August 31, 2013 at 5:48 pm

Hi Victor,

very use full information with best example.... 🙂

thanks for sharing...

Suhas Chowdary

February 8, 2018 at 2:39 pm

Hi,

I am new to this wsdl and can you please tell me what is the exact use of web services (wsdl 1.1 ) In IDT.

please explain me the exact syntax of webservice wsdl in idt.

My requirement is to create universe based on web service wsdl 1.1..

Former Member

October 30, 2013 at 8:34 pm

Victor,

Thanks for this tutorial.

However I am struggling to find where the Generic "WSDL 1.1" driver is for IDT...I don't have it on my install LOV for connection options. Any suggestions on were to download the driver for WSDL 1.1?

Thank you

Former Member

Blog Post Author

October 30, 2013 at 9:31 pm

Hello Ryan,

You can go to your client tools base install (I guess not 4.1 in your case) and check the installation options, probably you will find something is missing. Else give it a try and open a new thread for other ideas.

Best regards,

Victor

Former Member

December 12, 2013 at 11:36 am

Hi Ryan, I have exactly same pb as you, i.e. we have just upgraded to 4.1 but can NOT see

the new WSDL Webservice connector. How have you managed to install it eventullay? Thanks, Joseph

Former Member

December 12, 2013 at 4:05 pm

Hi Joseph,

Unfortunately we had to find workarounds to using web service Universe connections for Universe data sources since our corporate infrastructure team will not upgrade our Bobj 4.0 to environment to version 4.1 until next year.

Let me know if you get WSDL Webservice data sources to work in 4.1 please...it should be very helpful.

Clay Keller

December 12, 2013 at 4:29 pm

Joseph, Ryan - I have same prob & recently "updated" from 4.0 to 4.1 SP2. After some sleuth attempts, I opened a case with SAP Support. I'll let you know. Ryan - did you resolve?

Victor - Thanks for article revealing where to find web services & xml drivers! Sorry to hijack.

Former Member

Blog Post Author

December 12, 2013 at 6:31 pm

Hi Clay,

did you make sure to "modify" the installation in case that you did a patch upgrade (not clean full installer from scratch after removing 4.0)?

Clay Keller

December 12, 2013 at 8:42 pm

Thanks Victor. Unfortunately, no "change/modify" ability on the 4.1 SP2 Client Tools "Update". ... and since web services & xml drivers are new to 4.1, no use trying to change/modify" 4.0 SP6 base/full install. I've had a talk with Support & am now uninstalling 4.1 SP2 Client Tools Update, 4.0 SP6 full/base, and installing 4.1 SP2 Client Tools full/base. :>(

I'll ask Support to consider an ADAPT b4 closing the case. thx, Clay

Clay Keller

December 20, 2013 at 4:04 pm

Victor - you were right. Even though I installed 4.1 SP2 Client Tools Update, if one were to "change/modify" the the 4.0 base install (in Control Panel/Pgms), the pops-ups will allow one to check/add Web Service & XML drivers. ... assuming the self extracted installs are still in temp directories. Saves time over uninstall/reinstall. Clay

Manikandan Elumalai

November 1, 2013 at 6:44 pm

Thanks for sharing.

Suhas Chowdary

February 8, 2018 at 2:42 pm

Sir,

I am new to this wsdl and can you please tell me what is the exact use of web services (wsdl 1.1 ) In IDT.

please explain me the exact syntax of webservice wsdl in idt.

My requirement is to create universe based on web service wsdl 1.1.

Arjun Pawar

November 1, 2013 at 7:02 pm

It's very nice article and thanks for sharing! 🙂

Former Member

December 19, 2013 at 7:54 pm

Thank you for sharing .

Jerome Dal

February 21, 2014 at 12:03 pm

I succeeded using a web service with that tutorial on a SAP BI 4.1 SP2 platform (and using soapui software to simulate a web service). Great!!

One question: you said "You could use this Information in your BI reports and e.g. offer your users the possibility of changing the currency dynamically.". By dynamically, you implied the use of refresh button and filling prompt filters?

Actually, I'm interested in changing the web service parameters through values inside the report, such as input controls for instance. Is that possible?

Former Member

Blog Post Author

February 21, 2014 at 2:48 pm

Thanks for commenting Jerome.

That fully depends on the frontend that you use, I think your question is about Web Intelligence: Input Controls are per definition report filters that are not sent to the datasource, so you need to refresh the query with the web service in order to change the parameters.

Suhas Chowdary

February 8, 2018 at 2:38 pm

Victor,

I am new to this wsdl and can you please tell me what is the exact use of web services (wsdl 1.1 ) In IDT.

please explain me the exact syntax of webservice wsdl in idt.

My requirement is to create universe based on web service wsdl 1.1..

Former Member

March 14, 2014 at 6:53 pm

Victor,
I am trying to make a connection to secure Web-service but i am getting the
following error

"WSDLException: faultCode=PARSER_ERROR: Problem parsing '- WSDL
Document -'.: org.xml.sax.SAXParseException: The element type "BR"
must be terminated by the matching end-tag "</BR>"."

The error states it finds an element <BR> in the WSDL, but there is no such
element in the WSDL

Tool: IDT
Version: 4.1 (SP2)

Note: I am able to view web service data via crystal and web browser but need
to build a universe and i am trying this is IDT 4.1 (SP2)

Former Member

Blog Post Author

March 17, 2014 at 9:16 am

Hello Namit,

I have not experienced that issue, I suggest to open a thread for others to comment.

Best regards,

Victor

Suhas Chowdary

February 8, 2018 at 2:40 pm

Hi,

I am new to this wsdl and can you please tell me what is the exact use of web services (wsdl 1.1 ) In IDT.

please explain me the exact syntax of webservice wsdl in idt.

My requirement is to create universe based on web service wsdl 1.1..

Madheswaran P

July 11, 2014 at 6:48 am

Hi Victor,

I have a requirement to create a dashboards using web services from BO universe (little bigger universe having around 3000 objects with lots of calculation). Is there a way to create a web services from the entire universe? I am aware we can create a web services using QaaWs for some part from the universe as a Query. We dont want to create separate query for each and everything instead want to create a single web services for entire universe. please let me know is there any option to achieve the same.

Thanks & Regards

Madhes

Former Member

Blog Post Author

July 11, 2014 at 7:42 am

Hi Madhes,

qaaws creates a web service from an universe, so I am not sure how to create a better fit to your requirement (create a web service from universe). I think you should create a new thread to hear hopefully other opinions from the community.

Best regards,

Victor

Madheswaran P

July 11, 2014 at 10:03 am

Thanks Victor. I will create a separate thread to discuss the same.

Thanks & Regards

Madhes

Mian Kaukab

July 30, 2014 at 6:36 pm

Great Post Victor.

I am trying to utilize a web service on top of a Function Module. I am using the same web service in dashboard but when made business layer along with all the INPUTS as Parameters upon testing i am getting "Attempted read from closed stream". Any idea whats happening and how to resolve this error.

Thanks again.

Former Member

Blog Post Author

July 31, 2014 at 8:51 am

Hi Mian,

thanks for leaving a comment.

I have not seen that error message myself, but I searched in notes and it seems that specific error is currently under investigation by support:

1998298 - BI4.x : WSDL sharepoint failure in Information Design Tool

Best regards,

Victor

Former Member

January 15, 2015 at 3:59 pm

Hi Victor,

Thanks for lucid explanation,

however there is some clarity needed while creating relational connection.

In the screen shot above the HTTP Proxy: Proxy Address , intentionally blurred.

1) Is this the proxy of the WSDL web service or

2) the proxy of the local internet within our office ?

Please advise.

Regards,

Venu.K

Former Member

Blog Post Author

January 15, 2015 at 10:45 pm

number 2.

Former Member

September 18, 2014 at 1:17 pm

This was very informative.

Do you know if there are any plans to support REST-complaint web services as a basis for a relational universe?

Former Member

April 29, 2015 at 6:29 pm

Hello,

Helpful tutorial. Have you been able to create a parameter that allows multiple values in the IDT data foundation and map it to the Edit Input Columns part of the webservice?

I have been unable to assign a multiple value to a web service prompt yet.

Thanks!

Nick

M Mohammed

May 21, 2015 at 3:06 pm

Hi Victor,

I have BO 4.1 SP5 client tools installed on my machine (installed update on BO 4.0 SP9). I want to create a universe on top on Web Service as you've done, but I don't see the Web Service (WSDL 1.1) Web Service Connector under Generic when I'm creating a connection. How do I install that driver?

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Mahboob Mohammed

PS: The post is amazing, looking forward to address some of my users' requests using the knowledge from your post.

Former Member

Blog Post Author

May 21, 2015 at 5:20 pm

Thank you.

Go to the base Installation of your Client Tools and hit "modify", there you should be able to add the Driver (see Response above from Clay Keller on Dec 20, 2013 5:04 PM)

M Mohammed

May 21, 2015 at 5:33 pm

Thanks Victor. Working on it now.

Former Member

May 26, 2016 at 6:55 pm

Where Can I find this???

Former Member

May 26, 2016 at 6:56 pm

It is not working after publishing it as a universe but I am able to query it.

Clay Keller

May 21, 2015 at 5:21 pm

Hi Mahboob - I had ~same problem. see comments above dated 12/12 thru 12/20/2013. Clay

M Mohammed

May 21, 2015 at 5:34 pm

Thanks Clay.

Suhas Chowdary

February 8, 2018 at 2:41 pm

I am new to this wsdl and can you please tell me what is the exact use of web services (wsdl 1.1 ) In IDT.

please explain me the exact syntax of webservice wsdl in idt.

My requirement is to create universe based on web service wsdl 1.1..

Suhas Chowdary

February 8, 2018 at 2:43 pm

Hi,

I am new to this wsdl and can you please tell me what is the exact use of web services (wsdl 1.1 ) In IDT.

please explain me the exact syntax of webservice wsdl in idt.

My requirement is to create universe based on web service wsdl 1.1.

Former Member

May 28, 2015 at 9:25 pm

Thank you for outlining this functionality, this is very helpful.

Former Member

May 28, 2015 at 9:27 pm

Hi Victor,

I was able to successfully connect to the HTTP web service in your example. However when I try to connect to a HTTPS web service it is not successful.

My company proxy-pac is blocking the connection test from IDT because of an open proxy rule set. It is not being blocked when I try accessing the web service through my browser, making me think it is IDT specific.

Do you know how IDT interacts with HTTPS web services differently than HTTP?

Thanks,

Jonathan

M Mohammed

August 18, 2015 at 4:01 pm

Hi John,

I've a similar issue.

FYI: I've installed BO 4.1 SP5 Client tools on Dev Server (base install) for some reason.

So, I can open this test WSDL from the browser, but when I try to create a connection, it gives me an error.

Please let me know how you resolved it. Also, did you ever try to connect to an External Restful webservice?

Thanks,
Mahboob Mohammed

M Mohammed

August 27, 2015 at 3:06 pm

Hi Victor,

When I try to Edit Input Columns and map them to the newly created Parameters, the OK button is grayed out for some reason. Can you please help? I'm at BO 4.1 SP5 Patch 3.

Thanks,
Mahboob Mohammed

Dilip B

December 9, 2015 at 4:38 pm

Hi Mahboob,

While creating the Parameters make sure that "Allow Multiple values" option is unchecked on the Parameter options (see below image).

M Mohammed

December 9, 2015 at 4:56 pm

Thanks Dilip. I haven't worked on this for months as that project is low priority as of now, will let you know when I get back to working on it.

Mahboob Mohammed

Former Member

May 26, 2016 at 5:07 pm

How do I set up the Web Services (WSDL 1.1) in the server side ?

I keep getting network Error.

Former Member

July 30, 2016 at 11:06 am

Hi Victor,

Thanks for sharing this information.

This is quite useful in my scenario, however when I am following the same approach, I am getting the response as -1.0. Please see the below screenshot:

Can you please let me know, where I am wrong?

Thanks,

Shailendra

Former Member

October 25, 2016 at 5:28 pm

Hi Victor

Thanks for very nice write up

I tried to follow all the instructions. I created the Universe. My connection was successful in Information Design tool. I built the data foundation layer and Business layer as per your instruction. I published the universe. The only difference is i used a different web service (http://www.webservicex.net/ConvertTemperature.asmx?WSDL)

I am getting an error in my BO Webi when i tried to create reports from that universe. Please let me know if i am missing any other configuration in Business objects. I am able to use the webservice successfully in SAP dashboard.

BO - WebiRichclient Error trace Log:

**ERROR:C3_DSL_LOVIterator:(A) *** TODO : c3DslStaticLOVIter::Save : the rest ... *** : (false) [kc3dslds_lov.cpp;3701]
kc3CoreEngineImpl.cpp:10541:long __thiscall IECore::kc3CoreEngineImpl::int_GetListOfValues(struct IECore::ic3LovManager::dgLOVObject &,class ibo_ptr<struct ic3DataProvider> &,const class ucs2string &,enum IECore::kc3CoreEngineImpl::tag_LovState,bool,bool,bool,const char *,class std::basic_ostream<char,struct std::char_traits<char> > &,const class ucs2string &,const class std::vector<struct RESTRICTIONPATH,class

Thanks
Maharaj

Former Member

October 25, 2016 at 5:55 pm

I have resolve my issue by unchecking Multiple values for the parameters in data foundation layer.

regds
Maharaj

Suhas Chowdary

February 8, 2018 at 2:43 pm

Hi,

I am new to this wsdl and can you please tell me what is the exact use of web services (wsdl 1.1 ) In IDT.

please explain me the exact syntax of webservice wsdl in idt.

My requirement is to create universe based on web service wsdl 1.1.

Former Member

March 1, 2017 at 2:58 pm

We are trying to access a SOAP WSDL generated from a cloud application.We are supplying the username and password when establishing the relational connection initially. It connects and tests out to without issues.

The structure of the WSDL is returned in hierarchical format. Now we build a data foundation using one of tables inside this hierarchy.

The WSDL prompts us to enter a user name under input columns, but it does not prompt for a password. Now when trying to view the data from here it throws an error saying premature end of file. The WSDL generated by the cloud application is HTTPS format.

Has anyone successfully used a could based WSDL to build a UNX?

Any guidance is appreciated.

BI4.1: Creating a universe on top of a Web Service

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