This blog covers some of the latest new features and enhancements in SAP Analytics Cloud* and SAP Digital Boardroom release 2017.16. Please note that the Analytics Cloud Help documentation is updated at the same time as the upgrade to this release, so the links here may not yet reflect what is described below until after the upgrade is complete.
SAP Analytics Cloud agent version required for data acquisition with this release:
For more information, see System Requirements and Technical Prerequisites.
Highlights of this release:
Learn with our latest video tutorials
The SAP Analytics Cloud mobile app now supports calculation input controls.
Previously, you could enable data access control and specify read and write permissions for individual members via the read and write columns. In this release, you can now specify which users can delete public versions for the model using the new delete column.
Previously for time series trend charts, you had the ability to run automatic and advanced forecasts. In this release, we’re excited to bring you a third option - triple exponential smoothing. This algorithm considers seasonal changes that are repeated over some period.
In release 2017.09, we introduced the ability for you to integrate R visualizations into your stories. Up until now, you needed to have your own R server to use this feature.
Starting with release 2017.16, we are bringing online a new managed R environment that will allow you to build R visualizations without having to set up your own R server. Our EU1 data center is the first to have this R environment, and we will be rolling out to additional data centers over time. This managed environment also comes with pre-installed R packages.
In previous versions, with Linked Analysis, you could create a filter that would simultaneously update multiple charts. The “sender” of the action could be either a chart or a geo map. Now in this release, we’ve extended this capability for tables as well.
You can now filter other visualizations on a canvas page with a table using Linked item set + This table. If you have multiple dimensions in the table, inner dimension members will be included when you apply Linked Analysis to an outer dimension.
You can now dynamically create a time filter for a single widget without impacting other visualizations. In addition, chart and table filters expose the option to adjust the time filter range from fixed to dynamic.
A new content library has been added to the Files area. From this page, you can now add sample content and prebuilt business content to your system from within the application. This will save you from having to download the content locally first and then importing it. You can now also update the data sources and other related dependencies on your own.
As an administrator, you can now configure a live data connection to SAP BW via HTTP server with SSO.
You can now create a live data connection to an on-premise SAP S/4HANA system using an HTTP server.
You can now specify how often SAP Analytics Cloud checks the connectivity of a live data connection. You will find this option under System > Administration. This new feature will help you adjust the timing to prevent intermittent session timeouts when users are viewing charts/stories.
*SAP Analytics Cloud was previously known as SAP BusinessObjects Cloud
**Legal disclaimer
SAP has no obligation to pursue any course of business outlined in this blog or any related presentation, or to develop or release any functionality mentioned therein. This blog, or any related presentation and SAP’s possible future developments, products and or platforms directions and functionality are all subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. The information in this blog is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code, or functionality. This blog is provided without a warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. This blog is for informational purposes and may not be incorporated into a contract. SAP assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document, except if such damages were caused by SAP’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.
SAP Analytics Cloud agent version required for data acquisition with this release:
- Version 1.0.69 for SAP BusinessObjects Universes (UNX)
- Version 1.0.63 for the “export models to a file-server location” feature
- Version 1.0.59 for SAP Business Warehouse (BW)
- Version 1.0.57 for SAP ERP / SQL databases
- Version 1.0.51 for all other data source types
- Note: Although it is not required, you can upgrade to the new agent version 1.0.71, no matter what data acquisition type you use. Do this to take advantage of updates made to SAP Analytics Cloud agent.
For more information, see System Requirements and Technical Prerequisites.
Highlights of this release:
- Mobile support for native calculation input controls
- Permissions for deleting public versions
- Create a forecast using triple exponential smoothing
- New managed R environment
- Linked Analysis: Table as a sender
- Dynamic time filter: Chart/table filters and calculation input control
- Content library added to files area
- Live data connection to SAP BW via HTTP server with SSO
- Live data connection to on-prem S/4HANA via HTTP server
- Keep-alive options for live data connections
Learn with our latest video tutorials
- Add an R visualization to a story
- Use Smart Discovery and Smart Insights in a story
- Create a direct live data connection to work with SAP universes
- Full tutorial playlist >
Mobile
Mobile support for native calculation input controls
The SAP Analytics Cloud mobile app now supports calculation input controls.
- Please note the range single slider calculation input control is currently not supported.
- Download the SAP Analytics Cloud mobile app for iPhone and iPad
Modeling
Permissions for deleting public versions
Previously, you could enable data access control and specify read and write permissions for individual members via the read and write columns. In this release, you can now specify which users can delete public versions for the model using the new delete column.
Create a forecast using triple exponential smoothing
Previously for time series trend charts, you had the ability to run automatic and advanced forecasts. In this release, we’re excited to bring you a third option - triple exponential smoothing. This algorithm considers seasonal changes that are repeated over some period.
New managed R environment
In release 2017.09, we introduced the ability for you to integrate R visualizations into your stories. Up until now, you needed to have your own R server to use this feature.
Starting with release 2017.16, we are bringing online a new managed R environment that will allow you to build R visualizations without having to set up your own R server. Our EU1 data center is the first to have this R environment, and we will be rolling out to additional data centers over time. This managed environment also comes with pre-installed R packages.
- Learn how to use R in SAP Analytics Cloud
- Add an R visualization to a story (video tutorial)
- Learn how to add R visualizations to stories
- Please note you can still use your own R server if you prefer. Please refer to the whitepaper: Using R with SAP Analytics Cloud: Best practices for connecting and running your R environment
Data Analysis, Stories, and Tables
Linked Analysis: Table as a sender
In previous versions, with Linked Analysis, you could create a filter that would simultaneously update multiple charts. The “sender” of the action could be either a chart or a geo map. Now in this release, we’ve extended this capability for tables as well.
You can now filter other visualizations on a canvas page with a table using Linked item set + This table. If you have multiple dimensions in the table, inner dimension members will be included when you apply Linked Analysis to an outer dimension.
- Please note that filter on data point selection will be automatically selected without the option to disable when you use Linked item set + This table.
- Selection of non-data cells will not trigger a linked analysis.
- Learn more about Linked Analysis
- Learn how to set up Linked Analysis between charts and tables in a story (video tutorial)
Dynamic time filter: Chart/table filters and calculation input control
You can now dynamically create a time filter for a single widget without impacting other visualizations. In addition, chart and table filters expose the option to adjust the time filter range from fixed to dynamic.
You can also now create a dynamic time calculation input control to determine the result of a calculation.
- Please note that there are existing limitations for this feature which were outlined in release 2017.13.
- Learn more about story and page filters
- Learn how to apply filters to objects, pages, and stories (video tutorial)
Infrastructure
Content library added to files area
A new content library has been added to the Files area. From this page, you can now add sample content and prebuilt business content to your system from within the application. This will save you from having to download the content locally first and then importing it. You can now also update the data sources and other related dependencies on your own.
Live data connection to SAP BW via HTTP server with SSO
As an administrator, you can now configure a live data connection to SAP BW via HTTP server with SSO.
Live data connection to on-prem S/4HANA via HTTP server
You can now create a live data connection to an on-premise SAP S/4HANA system using an HTTP server.
Keep-alive options for live data connections
You can now specify how often SAP Analytics Cloud checks the connectivity of a live data connection. You will find this option under System > Administration. This new feature will help you adjust the timing to prevent intermittent session timeouts when users are viewing charts/stories.
Additional resources:
- Video tutorials
- Events and recordings
- SAP Analytics Cloud help resources
- Official roadmap contains more info on future plans, subject to change.
Previous feature summary blogs:
- SAP Analytics Cloud release 2017.15
- SAP Analytics Cloud release 2017.14
- SAP Analytics Cloud release 2017.13
- More >
*SAP Analytics Cloud was previously known as SAP BusinessObjects Cloud
**Legal disclaimer
SAP has no obligation to pursue any course of business outlined in this blog or any related presentation, or to develop or release any functionality mentioned therein. This blog, or any related presentation and SAP’s possible future developments, products and or platforms directions and functionality are all subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. The information in this blog is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code, or functionality. This blog is provided without a warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. This blog is for informational purposes and may not be incorporated into a contract. SAP assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document, except if such damages were caused by SAP’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.
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