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This article describes how you can support new charts in Web Intelligence using the custom elements capability.

The code relies on charting libraries provided by Highsoft AS (https://shop.highsoft.com/).

To follow along, you need:

  • A Highcharts License for all visualizations except the Candlestick Chart

  • A Highstock License (that contains also Highcharts License) for all visualizations, including the Candlestick Chart

  • Node.js open source runtime to run the service.

  • An SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP3 system (or later version)


These new charts are provided in a ZIP sample. This ZIP contains the corresponding code to generate these charts as HTML or as pictures for printing, PDF generation and other exports.

Use this link to access the sample code and installation procedure :

In this article, we will go over the chart descriptions and what custom elements are.

DISCLAIMER: The SCN, Content, and Services are being provided to You AS IS. To the fullest extent allowable by law, SAP does not guarantee or warrant any features or qualities of the SCN, Content, or Services or give any undertaking with regard to any other quality. Statements and explanations to SCN, Content or Services in promotional material or on SCN and in the documentation are made for explanatory purposes only; they are not meant to constitute any guarantee or warranty of certain features. No warranty or undertaking shall be implied by a User from any published SAP description of or advertisement except to the extent SAP has expressly confirmed such warranty or undertaking in writing. Warranties are validly given only with the express written confirmation of SAP’s management.

 

Charts Description


Sparklines


Sparklines are small, intense, word-sized graphics with typographic resolution. You can place them anywhere words, numbers or graphics can be placed: sentences, maps, graphics, tables and so on.

Sparklines provided in this sample can display up to 3 KPIs.



Specific settings:

  • Sparkline types: Line (regular or with markers), Column, Area, Trend

  • Formatting options: Display average, Min/Max, First/Last, Wins & Losses

  • Axis synchronization

  • Ability to generate columns with significant values: First, Last, Sum, AVG, Max, Min


Sunburst


A Sunburst displays hierarchical data. Each a level in the hierarchy is represented by a circle. The feeding supports hierarchical data as well as relational data. The center represents the root node of the tree.



The expansion level of the hierarchical data can be modified by turning the visualization into a table

Histogram


A Histogram chart is a graphical representation of the data distribution. Histograms create intervals, known as bins, and count how many values fall into each bin.



Specific settings:

  • Bin calculation can be based on the required bin size or number of bins; by default, it is automatically calculated based on Scott's normal reference rule


Sankey


A Sankey diagram is a flow diagram, in which the width of the link between two nodes is shown in proportion to the flow quantity.



The Sankey chart has two types of feeding:

  • Dimensional breakdown of a measure - fully compatible with the standard Web Intelligence Data Model

  • Flow Analysis (like energy balances), expecting Flow Source, Flow Target and Flow Size


Specific settings:

  • Show / hide Total node for Dimensional Breakdown Sankey


Funnel and Pyramid


Funnel charts are often used to represent the different stages of a sales process and show the amount of potential revenue for each stage. Funnel charts can also help with identifying potential problem areas in an organization’s sales processes. A funnel chart is like a stacked percent bar chart and displays values as progressive decreasing proportions. The size of the area is determined by the series value as a percentage of the total of all values.

Pyramid charts help you visualize both the hierarchical structure and quantity of the data in a pyramid-like structure.


Column Range and Area Range


Range Area Charts are same as Area Charts with the only difference that they display one or several areas bound by lower and upper values. This chart type is useful in depicting ranges, differences, and spreads. This chart type is useful in depicting ranges, differences, and spreads.



Range Column charts are same as Column charts except that there are two y values (low and high) because of which columns are floating instead of being attached to a base like in case of regular column charts. These charts are mainly useful in cases where we want to show change in value within a range like high and low temperature in a day, etc.

Both chart types can plot also a line representing for instance an average value

Candlestick


Candlesticks are mostly used to present the open, high, low and close price over a time period. A candlestick is composed of a body and upper and lower wicks. The body represents the opening and closing prices. The body is filled when the opening price is higher than the closing price. If the closing price is higher than the opening price, the body is unfilled. The upper wick represents the highest price over a time period and the lower wick represents the lowest price that same time period.



Specific settings:

  • Coloring based on price trend

  • Series name to be displayed in the tooltip


 

Web Intelligence Custom Elements


One of the great features introduced in Web Intelligence 4.2 is the “Custom Elements” feature. Custom Elements are visualizations that you or third-parties define. You can use them in your documents almost like any standard table or chart.

A Custom Element can be a new type of chart, table, or any other kind of visualization as long as it complies with the following rules:

  • Supports at least one media type output – text/HTML is the preferred media type. We also recommend the bitmap format to be able to export the Custom Element to PDF or Excel files.

  • Supports the Web Intelligence metadata and data feeding model

  • Supports the Web Intelligence settings model


Multiple Custom Elements can be delivered by a same service.  This service is accessed through a simple HTTP URL, managed from the BOE Central Management Console and is hosted by a third-party server.

Public APIs have been defined to support the communication between the Web Intelligence clients and the Custom Elements service.

For more details on Custom Elements, refer to the SAP BusinessObjects BI Developer’s Guide for Web Intelligence and the BI Semantic Layer on SAP Help Portal.

 

 
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