Enabling Comments in Web Intelligence Reports using Input Controls

[wmarcy]

Applies to

Web Intelligence

SAP BusinessObjects XI 3.1 SP3 Minimum

SAP BI Platform 4.x

Summary

Available for all versions of SAP BI Platform, Web Intelligence Input Controls allows users to create their own functionalities for the user interface. In order to demonstrate the power of this feature, we found a workaround requested by a lot of our customers : the ability to add comments to a Web Intelligence report. This tutorial describes how to use the “Add Comment” Input Control.

Steps to reproduce

This demonstration was made with Web Intelligence 4.1 SP1. It assumes that you've already log in BI Launch Pad and launch Web Intelligence application.

1 - Create an empty variable in your document to write and store your comment as below.

2 - Create an empty cell and fix it into your report where you want to insert your comment area.

Tips : Be careful to your cell format if the comment is too long, you must enable wrap text. Choose also a specific format to identify the comment area.

3 - Insert your new variable into the cell

4 - Create an Input Control in order to write comment. This control will be a text area, it means there's no dependancy inside : just a result.

Final Result

When you show the left panel and add text to your Input Control, then click "OK" or "Enter" key and the comment area xill be updated ! You can also use this workaround to manage targets in your Web Intelligence document at the end of any tables. Each target will be linked to an empty variable wich will be updated by an Input Control displyed on the left panel fur the end-user.

So, when a customer tells you that Web Intelligence cannot support comment, you'll answer : YES WE CAN !

Next time, you'll see blog entries about "How to" guide to better manage your BI deployment and better use your BI applications. Stay tuned !

William.