Enabling Comments in Web Intelligence Reports using Input Controls
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.
I assume this comment is not getting persisted ?
Or did i miss something ?
The comment is stored in your document. When you save the document, the comment stays until you change the value in your Input Control.
To make persistent comment, you've to enter value in your Input Control and then hide the left panel with "personnalization" in CMC.
Hi William,
I do understand that we can personalize "report map", "Doc Summary" , "input ocntrol" at left panel for custome user group in CMC.
Can I set default that whenever a user open webi document . only "Input control panel " should display first (by default).
Any work around ?
Parul
Hi Parul,
You can hide parts of side panel to show only Input Controls using "Personnalization" with right clic on an user group in CMC !
yes , that's true. Customisation is possible we can chosse various panels in CMC for particular user group.
Can we make any of the panel to show by default for particular user\user group.
When ever user open report in view mode they can see that panel first instead of doc summary.
regds
parul
Good Idea! Thanks for sharing ....Keep posting
Hi William,
This is very innovative solution.
One query that I have here is, can we have multiple users put their comments in this and have it appear like a chat transcript on the report. We can have user enter date and name while putting comments but can we show that chat transcript (showing new comment on new line)?
Thanks,
Abhijit
Hi William,
we would be pleased if you could tell us in case of multiple users posted their comments/opinions on a Webi 4.0 document and can save all of them.
Hi,
Unfortunately no. Webi can't save the comment for a specific user like a "favorite".
However, if you want to use personal comment dedicated to one user on one and single document, you can use SAP Design Studio.
Design Studio can save personal data and personal view included comment area with "Favorite" option or "bookmark".
Hi William,
Nice Trick to Show Commentary !! in the webi reports.
Do we have anything similar in SAP Design Studio ?, I shall need to explore
Regards,
Venu.K
Comments will come in next release of SAP BI Platform 4.2 at the end of the year according to SAP.
In future SP of BI 4.2, we'll be able to set comments on a specific cell for a specific user or view with an "Excel like" capability.
Nice thank you,
do you have also a solution that how users can add a comment for each line items individually in a given table report?
Thx,
B