SAP BI 4.2 SP4: What’s New in Web Intelligence and Semantic Layer
This document summarizes the planned enhancements in the next SAP BI4.2 Support Package 4 for Web Intelligence, Semantic Layer and some BI Platform Tools.
Following the enhancements introduced in SAP BI 4.2 and SAP BI 4.2 SP3 (see here for more details), we continue to enhance and innovate in Web Intelligence and the Semantic Layer for the next SAP BI 4.2 SP4. Currently, several customers and partners have entered the SAP BI 4.2 SP4 Beta program and shares positive feedbacks on the planned capabilities:
- Web Intelligence
- New Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer
- Parity in Web Intelligence dHTML and Web Intelligence Java Applet
- New Charts Type (Gauges, Tiles) and Charts Properties
- BI Variant: Exclude Prompts from BI Variant
- Cumulative Enhancements for Objects, Variables and Functions
- New FHSQL Security Right
- Semantic Layer
- BI Sets
- Information Design Tool: Usability Enhancements and Check Integrity New Options
- SAP variables for SAP HANA and SAP BW
- New Supported Data Sources Support
- Web Intelligence and Semantic Layer SDK
- Web Intelligence REST Web Services
- Web Intelligence Custom Elements
- Web Intelligence Calculation Extensions
- Semantic Layer Java SDK
- Subset of BI Platform Tools enhancements
- Search: Performance Enhancement
- Promotion Management
- BI on BI Universe and Web Intelligence Documents Sample
- Web Intelligence Change Source Utility
You might also look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUI-LrJlnBI
New Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer
To propose a simplified experience, new modernized interfaces are now proposed for both Web Intelligence and BI Launch pad:
- A new BI Launch Pad that can be accessed through the http://<server>:<port>/BOE/BILaunchpad URL
- For Web Intelligence, a new interface named Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer.
These new interfaces have adopted the new FIORI style; FIORI is the graphical library used in SAP to standardize all its applications. It is agnostic, designed to work on mobile device (like a tablet) for touch application or on classic desktop.
Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer
Both these classic and new versions can co-exist on the same repository. They are only front-end user interfaces and there is no CMS or document conversion required to use these new interfaces. The Web Intelligence back-end services remain the same; all your existing Web Intelligence documents can be opened in this new interface and will continue to behave as in the Web Intelligence dHTML, Applet or Rich Client.
With the new Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer, you can open and refresh any existing documents and benefit of these features:
- Navigation by report, section or page
- Refresh documents with the support of all types of parameters and BI variants
- Display comment
- Zoom
- Drill, if the document has been saved in drill mode
- Element linking
- New integrated Filters bar integrating:
- Prompt summary
- Input controls and group input controls
- Element linking
- Drill
- Sort and rank report elements dataset
- Collapse/elapse hierarchies
- Save as, export as PDF, export as Excel, send to
Filters Bar
Comment Displayed in Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer
Interactive Commands: Sort and Rank
In this first version, the Web Intelligence Interactive View won’t be at parity with its classic versions (dHTML, Java or Rich Client):
- Some features are not supported in the interactive viewer: Fold/unfold, frozen headers, reply/create comments …
- This interactive viewer does not allow you to create or edit a document. For design mode, you’ll have to use the classic Web Intelligence dHTML, Applet or Rich Client versions.
This parity is planned in future versions.
Notes:
- The new BI Launch Pad and Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer rely on REST Web Services. In the CMC, make sure the Access URL is properly set in Applications > REST Web Service > Properties.
RESTFul REST WS Properties
- To log into the new BI Launch pad, you need to have the BI Launch Pad’s “Logon to new Fiorified BI Launch pad” security right.
Parity in Web Intelligence Java and Web Intelligence dHTML
Following the effort done in SAP BI 4.2 SP3 to achieve parity between Web Intelligence dHTML and Java, two new features are now also supported in dHTML:
- Free-Hand SQL support: It is now possible to create a document based on Free-Hand SQL and to edit the query in the Query Panel. For both dHTML, Applet and Rich Client, the ability to use Free-Hand SQL is now controlled via a security right set at connection level—see “Relational Connections: FHSQL Security right” below for more details.
- Right to Left Display: For languages that require right to left display, the document content is now displayed in the proper direction.
Free-Hand SQL Editor in Web Intelligence DHTML
Right to Left Display in Web Intelligence dHTML
As this is the case since SAP BI 4.2, to avoid creating new gaps, all new features introduced in Web Intelligence are supported in both dHTML and Java.
Web Intelligence New Charts Types and Properties
New charts are now available out of the box:
- Gauge, through 3 sub-types:
- Speedometer to represent data on a radial scale between a lower and upper limit.
- Angular gauge, to represent data on a radial scale, compared to other values: mandatory maximum and optional target and minimum.
- Linear gauge, like the angular gauge but on a linear scale.
- Tile, through 2 sub-types:
- Tile, to display a measure value.
- Tile with deviation, to display a measure value and its evolution compared to a previous value. The value can be colored compared to a target.
Gauge Charts
Tile Charts
Some new options have been added to existing charts:
- For Waterfall charts, you can modify the Total Value label
- For Bar and Column charts, new options are available for bar width
- You can change the color of the data labels in each data series
- You can display stacked dimensions as a grid (default), a tree or flat list
Customize Total Label in Waterfall Charts
New options for Bar Width
Flat Layout for stacked dimensions
Finally, to display data series, a new palette, called Pastels, has been added.
Pastels palette
BI Variant
BI Variants have been introduced in SAP BI 4.1 SP6 and are very useful to pre-fill prompts answers. However, if you have dynamic prompts values, you do not want to save these values in the BI variant.
In SAP BI 4.2 SP4, it is possible to explicitly exclude some prompts answers when saving a BI variant. When you select this BI variant, the prompts that have not been saved in the BI variant are not modified.
When you create the BI variant, in the Create Variant dialog box, you can unselect the prompts values to not save in the BI variant.
BI Variant Creation Dialog Box
Web Intelligence: Objects, Variables and References
Description
To simplify variables and references management, a new Description text field has been introduced where the report creator can add its own comment. This text field is available in variables, references and grouping variables.
Variable Description
In the Available Objects side panel, when you hover your mouse over one of these, this description pops up.
Variable Description in Available Objects
Functions
New functions are introduced in the formula language:
- DatesBetween: Returns the number of periods (DayPeriod, WeekPeriod, MonthPeriod, QuarterPeriod, SemesterPeriod, YearPeriod) between two dates, irrespective of the time
- TimeBetween: Returns the number of periods (DayPeriod, WeekPeriod, MonthPeriod, QuarterPeriod, SemesterPeriod, YearPeriod, , HourPeriod, MinutePeriod, SecondPeriod, MillisecondPeriod) between two dates taking the time into account
The PromptSummary gets two new arguments:
- sorting_order (default|ascending|descending): to define how to sort the prompt list
- show_definitive_prompt (Boolean): to show or not SAP BEx definitive prompts/parameters.
Flatten SAP BW Hierarchies
The automatic creation of level dimensions for hierarchies is now supported for SAP BW.
This was previously possible on MSAS through drag and drop or through the MemberDepth ( Name, level ) function that is available for all data sources.
Levels Automatically Created for SAP BW hierarchies
In 4.2 SP4, it is now possible to do it through drag and drop for SAP BW.
Hidden Objects
When designing the report, some enhancements are available for hidden objects:
- It is possible to hide a measure in a table. This can be useful to apply a sort or a rank based on this measure, without displaying it.
- It is possible to create a reference on a hidden cell
- When you hide an object, its formatting is kept and is restored when the object is unhidden
Secured Objects
If you have created a variable based on an object that has been secured for a user in the universe, when you display this variable in a document, the corresponding cells are now filled with #SECURITY instead of #SYNTAX or #ERROR. With #SECURITY, the IsError() function returns true, instead of nothing for #SYNTAX.
Relational Connections: FHSQL security right
To prevent user to create FHSQL queries in Web Intelligence, a new security right “Use connection for Free-Hand SQL scripts” has been created for relational connection. By denying this security right, you prevent your users to create new Web Intelligence document using Free-Hand SQL on top of this connection or to edit the queries of the existing ones.
Until now, it was possible to deny the security right “Edit SQL” at Web Intelligence application level, but it was too strict since this right also disables editing queries created on universes.
BI Sets
Introduced in SAP BI 4.2 SP3, sets are list of business entities (e.g. Customer, Products, Services) based on relational universes created in Information Design Tool (UNX).
They are exposed as filters in Query Panel to identify members, leavers, joiners or stayers out of the box.
BI Sets are persisted back (aka materialized) to the data source; which accelerates complex database queries. BI Sets materialization can be scheduled.
BI Sets Authoring
The main enhancements in BI Sets have been done in BI Sets creation.
Sets Editor
- Support segmentation per measures and per attributes Use aggregation across the board to focus on most strategic business items.
Segmentation based on a Measure
- Support query panel to select subject Use business terms to quickly identify targets
- Support prompts/contexts in query panel step.
Enhance Visual Data Steps
- Ability to reorder steps
New Icons in Toolbar to Reorder Steps
- Insert custom values
- Limit distinct values
- Option to display count by step
- By default, propose formula editor for scalar dimension
Materialization
- Create Processing Group to schedule several sets materialization at once and following dependency chain
Processing Group for 4 BI Sets – NextCampain has a dependency on DormantCustomers (SAP Labs preview)
- A new display is proposed for Venn diagram.
New Venn Diagram display
BI Sets Change Source
Web Intelligence Change Source now supports both static and temporal BI Sets. You can map:
- A BI set to another BI set
- A BI set to a predefined filter
- A predefined filter to a BI set
Information Design Tool
Usability
In Information Design Tool, some usability enhancements have been released to simplify working with the tool.
- When creating a session, you can display the password being typed by clicking the button beside the Password text field.
- The system name of a session can be copied to more easily create another session with the same system name:
- In the Repository Resources, you can right click a session name and select Copy System Name.
- In the Open Session dialog box, the System Name can also be copied.
Copy Session System Name
Check Integrity
In Information Design Tool Preferences, several new options are now available to fine-tune check integrity processing:
- In Preferences > Information Design Tool > Publish, you can select to not display the Check Integrity panel when publishing a universe. This can be useful when you just drag and drop a business layer from Local projects into a Repository Resources to publish the universe. The publication becomes smoother since the check integrity screen is no more displayed.
- In Preferences > Information Design Tool > Check Integrity, you can disable the checks done on disabled or hidden objects, through the Do not check Deprecated elements and Do not check Hidden elements checkboxes.
- The previous “Check Query” rule has been splitted into two rules, that can be independently enabled or disabled:
- “Check Query”: to check the overall query.
- “Check object execution (DB) “: to individually check that the objects can be run on the database.
Check Integrity Properties in Preferences
SAP Variables for SAP HANA and SAP BW
In 4.2 SP3, the support of complex variables has been introduced for SAP HANA views in SAP HANA Direct Access.
In SAP BI 4.2 SP4, these variables are now supported for:
- SAP BEx queries through SAP BEx Direct Access
- SAP BEx queries through an authored universe
- SAP HANA, through an authored universe
If you access an SAP HANA view through a relational universe created in Information Design Tool, you can set predefined answers to their variables and save them in the universe. You can also define if you want these variables to be prompted in the client tools, or not.
Variables Tab on a SAP HANA View Displayed in Data Foundation (Information Design Tool)
Supported Data Sources
SAP BI 4.2 SP4 supports new relational data sources for:
- DB2 for i7.3
- MySQL 5.7
- Oracle Exadata 12
- SQL Anywhere 17
- SQL Server 2016
For “big data” sources, SAP BI 4.2 SP4 also introduces support for:
- SAP HANA SPS12
- SAP HANA 2
- SAP HANA VORA
- Horton Works HDP 2.3.4
- Apache Spark 2.0
SAP HANA 2 relies on multi-tenancy and you need to know the port used by your tenant. In information design tool, when creating a:
- JDBC relational connection to SAP HANA 2, use Multiserver to enter the server name and this port
- OLAP connection to SAP HANA 2, enter the server name and this port in the Datasource field.
Web Intelligence and Semantic Layer SDK
Web Intelligence REST Web Services
In Web Intelligence REST Web Services, several new APIs have been introduced to support:
- Group input controls
- New options for List of values
- New Save/Save As options
- New options to export doc content and data
- Report navigation enhancements
- Element linking
- Read comments
- More details on report element
- Get security rights for the session
Web Intelligence Custom Elements
In Web Intelligence Custom Elements:
- The Custom Elements service can return a thumbnail to better identify the custom elements in the charts dialog box
Custom Elements Thumbnails
- The render API can identify the custom element instances that call it
- In the CMC, you can deploy a Custom Elements service as a Web Intelligence extension
- Custom elements are better integrated with Web Intelligence extension:
- You can use Web Intelligence extension APIs from Custom Elements
- In Web Intelligence dHTML: Custom Element and its extension can communicate and exchange data
Deployment Mode for Custom Elements Service
Web Intelligence Calculation Extensions
In Web Intelligence, the calculation extension has been updated. Calculation extensions are used to create your own functions in the language formulae.
Web Intelligence Function Extension
A new Visual Studio 2015 project is provided as a sample.
Semantic Layer Java SDK
In Semantic Layer Java SDK, a new class has been introduced to accelerate Data and Business Security Profiles access: UniverseSecurityCache. This cache allows you to work locally on the Security Profiles changes to do before committing them into the CMS repository. This cache is intended to reduce back and forth with the CMS repository that are time-consuming.
SL Java SDK: UniverseSecurityCache Object Model
Search
The Search algorithm has been reviewed and its performances have been highly improved for metadata indexing (from days to minutes basically).
These improved performances are not set by default and you must set the level of indexing to “Platform Metadata”. To do so, follow these steps:
- Go to CMC and logon as Administrator.
- Go to the Applications
- Open the Platform Search application properties.
CMC Applications Tab
- In the Scope of indexing area / Level of Indexing, ensure that Platform Metadata is selected. Be aware that if this option was not previously selected, when you modify the level of indexing, the indexing is initialized for the entire BI platform repository refresh.
Platform Search Application Properties Page
- In this page, click the Stop Indexing
Platform Search Application Indexing
- In the Error Recovery section, select Rebuild index.
Platform Search Application Error Recovery
This option deletes the existing index, and re-indexes the entire repository. You can select the Rebuild index option whether indexing is running or stopped. The existing index is deleted when you save your changes to the properties page. However, if indexing is currently stopped, the index does not start rebuilding until you restart indexing.
If you do not select the Rebuild Index option, and change the level of indexing or selects/unselects extractors, then the index is incrementally updated without deleting the existing index.
- At the top of the properties page, click the Start Indexing
BI on BI Universe and Web Intelligence Documents Samples
In SAP BI 4.2 SP3, a new driver has been introduced for relational connection—CMS repository—that allows you to connect to your CMS repository and query its content.
In SAP BI 4.2 SP4, universe and report samples that take advantage of this connectivity are now installed on your file system as a BIAR file, but they are not deployed on the CMS repository. You need to import them using Promotion Management.
This BIAR file (BI Platform CMS System Database Sample.lcmbiar) is installed in the Samples/bionbi folder in your installation folder.
Web Intelligence Change Source Utility
A sample utility is provided to change the source of a batch of documents from UNV to UNX. This can be useful after you have converted a UNV into UNX and want the documents that were using the UNV to query the converted UNX.
This utility is provided as a set of Web Intelligence and an Excel files contained in a BIAR file. You must import this BIAR file into the CMS repository using Promotion Management. The Web Intelligence document pilots a dedicated component that can:
- Simulate the change source and return expected results
- Perform the actual change source.
This sample utility is available in your installation folder, in the Samples/wics folder that contains:
- The BIAR file named BIAdminWebIChangeSource.lcmbiar
- The PDF documentation. Refer to this documentation for more details about how to use this utility.
Thank you for this detailed review ! At last hints on future enhancements.
The new features are exciting.
Any clue on the exact release date (next month hopefully) ?
Thanks again.
Hi Steeve,
Ideally, the release should be indeed in May, but for safety, we say Q2 2017.
Regards
Christian
Thank you Christian.
Webi is more and more dashboard like, which is good. Any enhancements on having a fixed block , with the possibility of scrolling down the rows? With the ability of fixing the width and height of a block, we would handle the look and feel of the report, especially when we can now hide one block (a table) with another (a chart). A chart is fixed, but not the table...
The ability to be sure that one block will be the exact wanted size, regardless of the number of rows, is a must have in building a decent dashboard.
As you asked to Aaron for SP5 enhancements, here is my (little) whishlist :
I have some more, but let's leave some for SP6 😉
Hi Steeve,
Thank you very much for this wishlist.
Some requests were already known and in our backlog. I've passed the ones for CMC to my colleagues working on the BI Platform. Today it's too early to commit what we can deliver in SP5, but be assured we have already a lot of things in our plans.
Regards
Christian - SAP
Very good points, some of your point are problably easy to-do.
Thank you Christian and Patrick. Indeed, this seems not to be too complicated, and so useful...
Great to know that many request are already processed !
Awesome!!
I thought there were supposed to be some new features for scheduling webi's - have you seen info on this?
Hi Aaron
We are discussing some enhancements for 4.2 SP5.
Were you expecting anything specific?
Thank you
Christian
Hi Christian,
Is the support for HANA 1.0 SPS 12 the only new version of HANA supported? I was lead to believe by SAP support that BI 4.2 SP04 was to be certified for use with HANA 2.0 SPS01.
Are you able to confirm, please?
Many Thanks
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I've indeed forgotten to mention SAP HANA 2.
I'll edit the article to mention it.
Thank you for raising it.
Christian
Hi Christian,
Thank you very much for confirming HANA 2 support.
Much appreciated
Andrew
Very Good !
I am looking forward to install this new version !
Hi Christian,
Thank you for the detailed notes on the new SP. Looks super interesting! Can you please shed more light on this please:
Does this mean that we will be able to unselect Mandatory Bex Prompts in Webi to make BEx queries more reusable? If not, what is meant by definitive prompts in this case?
Thanks!
Nikki
Hi Nikki,
The PromptSummary simply returns the list of prompts.
The definitive prompts are prompts that you need to answer only once. The BEx query is able to keep your answers and do not prompt you them anymore next time you refresh your queries.
This show_definitive_prompt option allows you to display or not these prompts in the summary list.
Regards
Christian
Hello Christian,
Do you have a official week release of 4.2 SP4 ? Any list of bugs that got fixed in Sp4 from SP3.
Is there any major change from SP3 to SP4 ?
Thanks
Prasad
Hi Prasad,
SAP BI 4.2 SP4 has been released last week. So you should be able to download it now.
As described in the article, the main changes are the new Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer and new BI Launch Pad you can deploy in addition of the current Web Intelligence DHTML, Applet and BI Launch Pad.
From the Semantic Layer side, we also continue to extend the BI Sets capabilities.
You may also have a look at this article https://blogs.sap.com/2017/04/20/sap-businessobjects-bi4.2-sp04-whats-new/ for the other changes in the overall 4.2 SP4 suite.
Regards
Christian
I have updated my businessobjects system to 4.2 sp04, and can get onto the new launchpad, but none of my web intelligence reports work, the old ones and even is i create a new one. all i get back is error(). with no error what so ever, so not sure why it would do this.
has anyone else experienced this at all? if so how and what did you do to overcome this, please?
I have changed the restful web service url to the correct url as per instructions.
HI Rebecca
This is not a known issue. Would you please enter a ticket to SAP support with the following details:
Thank you
Christian
Hi Wagner,
This is a known requirement. There is an idea about it in SAP Idea Place.
https://ideas.sap.com/D7620
You can vote on it it is important to you.
Regards,
Christian
Hello Christian ,
Thank you for this useful post. We use SAP BI 4.1 SP6 and we are planning to update to BI 4.2 SP4 next week. But, we are looking for some feedback for this version especially it is just released and stability is very important for us.
Could you please share with me some known issues after upgrade to this latest version?
Hello Christian,
We have recently upgraded from 4.1 SP3 to 4.2 SP4. Everything works fine except our java application which while fails trying to connect with BOE server. Exception in log file is:
com.crystaldecisions.sdk.exception.SDKServerException: Internal error.
cause:com.crystaldecisions.enterprise.ocaframework.idl.OCA.oca_abuse: IDL:img.seagatesoftware.com/OCA/oca_abuse:3.2
detail:Internal error.
The server supplied the following details: OCA_Abuse exception 22273 at [channelmgr.cpp : 153] 42254 {}..setPeerPublicKeyFromBlob failed (keyagree.cpp,76)
We can successfully login using admin dashboard and there seems to be no other issue. We will greatly appreciate if you can help us with this.
Warmest Regards,
Mohit Bansal
Hi Mohit,
I had a similar issue when I tried to connect to the server with my custom application. After some investigation I found out that the version has some security updates. There is a SAP Note #2433337 - Security enhancements in SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform 4.2 SP04 which describes the changes.
This note contains a paragraph for custom SDK applications. Maybe this will help you. My issue was solved after I've replaced the referenced jar files with latest versions.
Regards
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
I have the same issue and I am already replaced the referenced jar files with new versions, but it is still not work. I have no idea how to configure the manifest file, could you offer me some advises? Thanks a lot.
Hi William,
Same issue as you, have you managed to solve it ?
Thanks.
EDIT
I copied the newest .jars from .../BOEinstall/SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\java\lib
the redeployed the application - and that did the trick i could log on without issues.
Thank you Daniel for the relevant note.
Hi,
I am still a beginner, first time trying on SAP products, and encountered the same problem while generating a report with Crystal Server 2013 SP12.
Can i know how do you resolve this issue in details?
"I copied the newest .jars from .../BOEinstall/SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\java\lib"
Did you copy all the jar files from this folder to your application project folder? How do you verify that it is working successfully?
Thanks.
Hello Daniel ,
Thanks very much for this !!
I faced the similar issue whilst migrating BI platform 4.2 from SP03 to SP05 and the issue was resolved when the latest versions of the jars were used in the custom application.
Regards,
Vinayak
Hi Christian,
I've update to 4.2 SP4 (patch upgrade). I can not find the samples (BIAdminWebIChangeSource.lcmbiar and BI Platform CMS System Database Sample.lcmbiar).
Are the samples only available in the full install of 4.2 SP4?
Same problem patched from 4.2 SP02 to 4.2 SP04 on a Single-Node Windows deployment.
Package was -
The new CONNECTION was not added - and the sample BIAR is not in the install-directory..
C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\Samples
Is something "missing" from the Upgrade Package..? Is there an alternate place that we can download the samples and the connections..?
I've read somewhere that the cms-database driver was introduced in SP3 and that certain patches on top of SP3 (patch 3) uninstalls the cms database driver by accident. Just the 'simple' upgrade from SP2 to SP4 doesn't add the cms database driver and also doesn't add the samples (2 new folders in the samples folder). I just did a full install of BI4.2 SP4 and the driver and samples are there.
You have to get the samples from the full install (maybe the the lcmbiar-files will be available as a separate download too in the future?). There's a SAP note (2405568) to manually copy the files for the cms database driver of a working environment (my full install for example) to the environment where the files are missing. I still have to try this in my upgraded environment.
Not a fancy way of getting this to work, so hopefully this will be fixed in future patches.
Hi,
During an upgrade, Windows Installer upgrades only the already installed components. As the samples are new components, they do not exist in previous version and Windows Installer cannot upgrade them.
So after the upgrade, you need to go to the Add/Install program, select the BI 4 installation, select Modify and then explicitly select to install these samples.
Regards,
Christian
Hi Christian!
Thx. This works! Never thought a change/uninstall of a previous install will trigger the setup and all (new) options for the update.
Hi Christian,
Thanks a lot for the post.
Thanks for help.
John
Hi
The 4.2 SP4 Patch 1 has just been released. You can refer to SAP Note 2488202 for the list of corrections it contains.
The new data sources listed here are for the Semantic Layer, meaning Information Design Tool universes.
Regards,
Christian
Hi Christian,
Thanks a lot for the issue. New features are usefull, especially Change Source Utility.
But I faced up with the problem when I tried to change my current UNV to needy UNX. When I refresh the document 'WebIChangeSource_Worklist' there are no one of my own UNV and webi reports based on this UNV in the list of WebI and UNV. I tried to edit the queries to get these docs but I couldn't get them in no way.
Could you propose me what I may try? I couldn't find topics about Change Source Utility.
Thanks for help.
Katerina
Hello,
In order to build the list, the documents need to be available in the Public Folders. As the WebIChangeSource_Worklist is using the CMS DB DRIVER, you can publish the sample located in samples/bi on bi and see if the documents are listed.
Hope it helps
Alexandre FORTIN
Thanks for reply!
I found the answer. The docs based on UNV just were needed to be saved at least once.
With 'WebIChangeSource_Worklist' everything is OK. I got the desired WebI-Change-List. Saved the document and opened and refreshed for testing/changing 'WebIChangeSource_Update'. As a result, I didn't get the desired result. Result-Overview is empty, Result-Details contains only one webi doc among 8. Moreover the data source of this webi document wasn't changed.
I would be pleased if you provided more information of the doc 'WebIChangeSource_Update' and how to complete update, the description of change information fields, will be a source changed in the properties of the query.
Thanks for help.
Katerina
I'm looking for details on thumbnails for Custom Elements. I found the documentation for api/visualizations/<vizID>/sample . It isn't clear where api/visualizations/<vizID>/sample is used. Is this what is called for a thumbnail, or is it something different? What image size should be used for a thumbnail? Can you provide me more details on how to implement a thumbnail in the Custom Elements charts dialogue box?
Hi Craig
The /sample URL allows the service to return a picture that illustrates the custom element. It takes width and height as parameters.
For the moment, it is used in the Turn into dialog box to display the custom element thumbnail (see the screenshot in the article). In this case, the requested thumbnail size is 50x50.
Regards
Christian
Great. Thank you. If possible, could you please add this information to the documentation so it is clear where it is currently used and the pixel dimensions it is requesting? Thank you!
Hi
I'll indeed pass the request so it is updated in the online documentation.
Thank you
Regards
My assumption would be that this is also used when a custom element is inserted into a doc? The window looks nearly identical to the "Turn into" window?
Yes, you are correct. Technically, the code is similar.
I'm more used to create a table, check its content and then turn it as a chart than directly inserting a chart.
Christian
I'm looking for HANA HTTP connection support from WEBI and IDT. I had read a "What's New" presentation from SAP on version 4.2 SP4 and it stated that both of these tools now have support for HTTP connections. For WEBI it specifically states that it includes Hierarchy support, Direct Access using HTTP and universes based on HTTP.
The following link is the document where i found this information: https://assets.cdn.sap.com/sapcom/docs/2017/04/5e2249b3-b57c-0010-82c7-eda71af511fa.pdf
However, we have recently applied the 4.2 SP4 upgrade and I'm unable to see these capabilities anywhere in WEBI or IDT...it also is not stated in this blog posting. Do you know if these features were pulled out of the final release of SP4? If so, does anyone have any idea when we might see these included? If the features are in SP4, perhaps someone can point me in the direction to utilize them.
Thanks.
Hi Stacey,
The support of the SAP HANA HTTP connector was indeed planned in SAP BI 4.2 SP4.
It has however been removed before the SAP BI 4.2 SP4 release. The slidedeck has not been updated. I'll ask its owner to correct it.
Thank you for raising it.
Christian
Thanks for your quick response Christian. Sorry if you get two replies from me...I accidentally posted in the wrong spot, then deleted, so now I am re-posting.
Do you happen to have any idea if this feature is still planned for a future version (either a patch to SP4 or a future SP)? We were really looking forward to this feature as we have found (in our experience so far) Direct HANA OLAP connections to perform too slow in WEBI to build effective reporting solutions with full hierarchy support. I was hoping from what I see of the HTTP connection in Design Studio, that it would bridge that gap.
Stacey
Hi
I cannot publicly commit on any date but we are working on it.
In fact, there is a preview version that is currently tested by a couple of customers. If you are interested to test it, you may contact me at christian.ah-soon[@]sap.com so we can discuss the engagement rules.
Regards
Christian
Hi,
Is there any plan to provide flexibility in graph/chart option in Webi?
I.e. -
etc.
Currently we are on BI4.2 SP02 and struggling with Graph limitations. Also is there any chance that in future releases, Graph can be exported to excel as is instead of image?
Thanks.
Sam
Hi Christian,
Is fiorified bi launchpad support passing parameters to web intelligence using open document?
Cause i got issue when launch and passing paremeters to webi in new launchpad, but work well when launch in old launchpad
Thanks
Regards,
Okta
Hi Okta,
Indeed, parameters using opendoc are not supported in SP4 in the new Web Intelligence Interactive Viewer. It should be supported in SP6.
Regards
Ch. Ah-Soon
Hi Christian,
Thanks for reply.
When release shedule for SP6?
Thanks.
Regards,
Okta
Hi Okta,
SAP BI 4.2 SP6 is planned for this summer 2018.
It will also contain very nice features for Web Intelligence and Semantic Layer.
Stay tuned!
Christian
Hi Christian,
Can we use Element linking and Drill in the same webi report in SAP BI 4.2 SP4?
We are using SAP BI 4.2 SP2 and we want to use both element linking and drill in same webi report. But after starting drill, Block input control gets disabled.
Is it possible ?
Thanks
Shilpi
Hi Shilpi,
No it is indeed not possible.
Adding drill disables element linking.
Regards
Christian