430 likes | 638 Views
SAP BO Business Intelligence Platform 4.0 Information Design Tool Overview. Henry Banks. Confidential. Lesson Objectives. After completing this lesson, you will be able to: Information Designer Interface Define Local Projects Create connections to relational databases and OLAP cubes
E N D
SAP BO Business Intelligence Platform 4.0 Information Design ToolOverview Henry Banks Confidential
Lesson Objectives • After completing this lesson, you will be able to: • Information Designer Interface • Define Local Projects • Create connections to relational databases and OLAP cubes • Create data foundations and business layers for relational connections • Create business layers for OLAP connections • Identify the different editors and views available to manage your projects and resources
AGENDA Semantic Layer Projects and Resources Editors and Views Connections
Query and Analysis Dashboards and Visualizations Reporting Data Sources Semantic Layer Full-Spectrum Business Intelligence Semantic Layer Mission • Enable the business users to freely and securely access, analyze, enrich, and share information using familiar business terms • Make business users autonomous • Enable single user experience over all data • Provide trust and consistency • Enable consumption by all applications and BI tools • Allow IT to keep control and ensure security of information
Semantic Layer in XI4.0 New generation design tool All new projects should use this tool. Most existing universes can be opened and converted to the new format by this tool. • Products Information design tool Universe design as XI3.x Still shipped in this version in order to enable the smoothest possible transition. Universe design tool • Components Query & computation Behind the scenes, this is the component that enables querying and computational capabilities to BI clients during report consumption. Information engine Data federation engine This is the component that enables MSU (Multi-Source Universe) functionality. Query server Connection server Connectivity This is the component that establishes the connectivity to data sources.
Moving to the new Semantic Layer and preserving investment XI 3.x Customer Scenario 4.0 Target scenario Existing Universes can be opened and edited in the information design tool to add new functionality Follow normal lifecycle management process to promote changed Universe to documents Using Business Objects relational Universes… Need new Semantic Layer features? Yes No UNX UNV No work necessary – it just works Customers can benefit from all other new BOE & BI tools capabilities. Using Business Objects OLAP Universes… Need new Semantic Layer features? No UNV Yes UNV Create Universe against SAP BW or MSAS and use normal process for creation and publication of universes Using BEx Queries… Yes Want/ready to use the new Semantic Layer features? UNX No BI Clients updated to support BICS direct access allowing customers to retain investment, while taking advantage of new BI clients BEx XI 3.x Universes UNV Client direct access to BEx 4.0 Universes UNX BEx query (*)CSL = Common Semantic Layer BEx
Information design tool concepts:Resources and publishing a Universe Connectivity resource file (.cnx) Data Foundation resource file (.dfx) Business Layer resource file (.blx) Publish Authoring space (local designer client) Consumption space (local or server) Universe file (.unx)
AGENDA Getting Started with Information Designer Semantic Layer Projects and Resources Editors and Views Connections
Create a Local Project • The first core element is the project. • A project groups together a set of local resources, for instance connections, data foundations, business layers. • This notion is open to user business needs. Users can choose to group resources depending on line of businesses (marketing, HR, finance…), internal organization, team classification rules…. • A project can be shared between several designers.
Create a Local Resource • The second core element is the resource. • A local resource can be either a relational connection, an OLAP connection, a data foundation and a business layer. • Create relational connections to connect to RDBMS. • Create OLAP connections to connect to OLAP cubes. • Create data foundations to define table schema on top of relational connections. • Create relational business layers to define business objects on top of a data foundation. • Create OLAP business layer to define business objects on top of an OLAP cube.
Create a Data Foundation (1/3) This is equivalent to the creation of the universe structure – business objects are stored in the business layer. A data foundation models the database schema (tables and joins) used for the business objects support. It also contains advanced modeling entities (derived tables, contexts, prompts…). A data foundation can be shared between several business layers.
Create a Data Foundation (2/3) • Single-source or multi-source enabled? • A single-source data foundation points to a unique relational connection • The SQL syntax is expressed in the database-specific flavor • A multi-source enabled data foundation can point to multiple connections • Additional relational connections: SAS, SAP NetWeaver BW.
Create a Data Foundation (3/3) • References 2 types of connections • Local connections • Connections created locally, for local publications • Universe Designer: encompasses former personal and shared connections) • Secured connections shortcuts (points to secured connections) • Connections created remotely and referenced locally, for CMS publications. • Universe Designer: encompasses secured connections.
Creating a Business Layer • In Information Design Tool, the concept of “Universe” is split into two separate entities at authoring • Data Foundation • Business Layer • The Business Layer represents the metadata that is exposed to the end users through the query panel in different client tools • A relational Business Layer is always based on one Data Foundation • A relational Business Layer can be based on a multisource Data Foundation. Multisource capabilities are implemented in the Data Foundation
Information design tool concepts:Resources and “publishing” a Universe Connectivity resource file (.cnx) Data Foundation resource file (.dfx) Business Layer resource file (.blx) Publish Authoring space (local designer client) Consumption space (local or server) Universe file (.unx)
AGENDA Getting Started with Information Designer Semantic Layer Projects and Resources Editors and Views Connections
General User Interface 1 3 • Menu and toolbar • Local Projects view, presenting projects and resources • Each resource is • edited in a separate tab • The current resource is My data foundation • The Problems view highlights any problems found by the check integrity. • Access the Published Resources view • Access the Security Editor • 8Access the Project Synchronization view 2 4 5 7 8 6
Menu and Toolbar • File menu: New, Close, Save, Exit • Edit menu: Undo/Redo, Cut/Copy/Paste, Delete, Find/Replace • Window menu: display views, Reset UI to default, Preferences • Help menu: Help, about. • New (project, resource), Save • Copy, Paste, Delete • Find/Replace, Check Integrity – commands apply to open resources • Control display of Problems and Local Projects views • Control display of Security Editor, Published Resources and Project Synchronization
The Local Projects View • Resources are grouped by projects • In my example, I have 6 projects grouping more than 20 resources. • Resources can be also stored in folders and sub-folders. • Resources can be moved, copied-pasted inside a project or between projects. • References are exclusively made inside a project.
Resources and Editors • 1 The tab with a light-blue background correspond to the currently displayed resource. • The star (a.k.a. “dirty” state) indicates the resource has been modified and needs to be saved. • To close the resource. 1 2 3
Resources and Editors • Resources can be placed side-to-side for advanced edition (visual comparison, copy/paste of elements). • When we have two panels, this graphical component is used to manage two vertical panels Upper panel-only Lower panel-only Display both panels side by side
The Published Resources View • The Published Resources viewmakes it possible to view connections and universes published on one or several CMS.
The Project Synchronization View • The Project Synchronization viewmakes it possible to share resources with other designers.
The Problems View • The Problems viewdisplays check integrity problems on the resource. • Click on any problem to get the problematic item opened.
The Security Editor • The Security editor makes it possible to create access restrictions (now known as data security profiles and business security profiles) associated to universes & assign them to users.
AGENDA Semantic Layer Projects and Resources Editors and Views Connections
Process Flows diagram Multi Source Universe:Link OLAP Universe: Link
Lesson Summary • After completing this lesson, you are now able to: • Define Local Projects • Create connections to relational databases and OLAP cubes • Create data foundations and business layers for relational connections • Create business layers for OLAP connections • Identify the different editors and views available to manage your projects and resources