What is Business Objects?

BUSINESSOBJECTS is an integrated query, reporting and analysis solution for business

professionals that allow them to access the data in their corporate databases directly from their
desktop and present and analyze this information in a BUSINESSOBJECTS document.

 It is an OLAP tool that high-level management can use as a part of a Decision Support
Systems (DSS).
 BUSINESSOBJECTS makes it easy to access the data, in the business perspective accent
rather than technical database terms as in SQL.

Business objects are objects in an object-oriented computer program that represent the
entities in the business domain that the program is designed to support. For example, an order
entry program might have business objects to represent each order, line items, and invoices.

Business objects are sometimes called domain objects; a domain model represents the
set of domain objects and the relationships between them.

A business object often encapsulates all of the data and business behavior associated with
the entity that it represents.

Business objects don't necessarily need to represent objects in an actual business, though
they often do. They can represent any object related to the domain for which a developer is
creating business logic. The term is used to distinguish between the objects a developer is
creating or using related to the domain and all the other types of object he or she may be working
with such as user interface widgets and database objects such as tables or rows.

Business Objects (a.k.a. BO, BOBJ) is a French enterprise software company,

specializing in business intelligence (BI). Since 2007, it has been a part of SAP AG. The
company claimed more than 46,000 customers worldwide in its final earnings release. Its
flagship product is Business Objects XI, with components that provide performance
management, planning, reporting, query and analysis and enterprise information management.
Business Objects also offers consulting and education services to help customers deploy its
business intelligence projects. Other Business Objects toolsets enable universes, and ready-
written reports, to be stored centrally and made selectively available to communities of
password-protected usernames.
Products

 BusinessObjects XI (XI 3.1 is the latest version)

 common services simplifying deployment and management of BI tools
 reporting
 query and analysis allows for self-service reporting.
 Enterprise Information Management (EIM) integrates and improves data to create a
trusted foundation for business decisions. Creates a basis for querying and analysis
through ETL or EII.
 Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) helps users align with strategy by tracking
and analyzing key business metrics and goals via management dashboards, scorecards,
analytics, and alerting.
 Enterprise Reporting (Crystal Reports) access, format, and deliver information to large
populations of users.
 Infoview
 Data Visualization (Crystal Xcelsius) turns static data (from Business Objects XI,
databases, Excel spreadsheets) into dashboards and presentations filled with dynamic
charts and graphics.
 Business Intelligence OnDemand — on-demand (or SaaS) BI software that is hosted on
the web by Business Objects.

Business Objects XI Enterprise Architecture

Client Tier

Browser Packaged Apps

Infoview / CMC CCM/Publishing Wizard/Import Wizard

The client tier is the only part of the Business Objects Enterprise system that Administrators and
end users interact with directly. Client Tier mainly consists of the following components:

 Infoview: A web-based interface that end users access to view, schedule, and
keep track of published reports.

 Central Management Console (CMC): The CMC web interface allows you to
perform user management tasks such as setting up authentication and adding users
and groups. It also allows you to publish, organize, and set security levels for all
of your Business Objects Enterprise content and enables you to manage servers
and create server group.

CMC Home Page:

Central Configuration Manager (CCM): The CCM is a windows server management tool that
allows you to configure each of your Business Objects Enterprise server components. Using
CCM, you can start, stop, enable and disable servers. It also allows you to view and configure
advanced server settings.

Publishing Wizard: A locally installed windows application that enables both administrators
and end users to add reports to Business Objects Enterprise. It can be used for mass publishing of
reports.

Import Wizard: A locally installed Windows application that guides administrators through
the process of importing users, groups and folders from an existing Business Objects Enterprise,
Crystal Enterprise or Info Implementation to another Business Objects Enterprise. It also allows
you to import users, groups, folders and objects, events server group, repository objects, and
calendars in Business Objects Enterprise.
Application Tier

Java Windows .NET

Platform Platform

Business Objects Enterprise uses web technologies to deliver its functionality to users
and administrators:

 .JSP application using the Java Web Application Server and Web Component
Adapter through Java Classes.

 .Net application using a Web Application Server and Web Component Adapter
through .NET SDK

The Web architecture will depend on a number of factors such as server operating
system, preferred web servers or web application servers and preferred application development
environment.

The Business Objects Enterprise web services are responsible for:

 Delivering the functionality contained within the business Objects Enterprise

SDKs.

 Viewing Reports using the DHTML ActiveX or Java Viewers.

 Creating and Modifying Web Intelligence documents through the Java and HTML
report Panels and viewing the Web Intelligence documents through the HTML or
interactive viewers.

 Accessing the Web Based administrative tool Central Management Console

Intelligence Tier

Central File
Cache Event
Managem Repository
Server Server
ent Server Server

The intelligence tier manages the Business Objects Enterprise system. It maintains all of
the security information, sends requests to the appropriate servers, manages audit information,
and stores report instances.

 Central Management Server: The CMS performs the following main tasks:

 Managing authentication by maintaining database of users and

their object rights as well as supporting NT, Enterprise, LDAP, and
Active Directory (AD) authentication.

 Managing the report scheduling process

 Managing content by tracking the location of reports, report

instances, and maintaining folder hierarchy.
  Managing auditing by collecting information about the user actions
from Business Objects Enterprise servers, and then writing these
records to a central auditing database.

 Managing Business Objects Enterprise servers by maintaining a

server list that contains the server’s role and IP address.

 Cache Server: The Cache server is responsible for:

 Handling report viewing requests from the DHTML, ActiveX and

Java viewers.

 Maintaining a folder of cached Report EPF files.

 Determines if a request can be fulfilled with a cached report page.

 If the Cache Server finds a cached page that displays exactly the
required data, with data that has been refreshed from the database
within the interval that you have specified as the default, the Cache
Server returns that cached report page.

 If the Cache Server cannot fulfill the request with a cached report
page, it passes the request along to the Page Server. The Page
Server runs the report and returns the results to the Cache Server.
The Cache Server then caches the report page for future use, and
returns the data to the viewer.

By storing report pages in a cache, Business Objects Enterprise avoids accessing the
database each and every time a report is requested.

 Event Server:

 The Event Server manages file-based events.

 When you set up a file-based event within Business Objects

Enterprise, the Event Server monitors the directory that you
specified.

 When the appropriate file appears in the monitored directory, the

Event Server triggers your file-based event i.e., the Event Server
notifies the CMS that the file-based event has occurred, The CMS
then starts any jobs that are dependent upon your file-based event.

 After notifying the CMS of the event, the Event Server resets itself
and again monitors the directory for the appropriate file.
  File Repository Server: A file Repository Server is a central location for storing objects
in Business Objects Enterprise. Objects are Deski Reports, Crystal Reports, OLAP
Intelligence Report, Web Intelligence documents etc. There are two types of File
Repository Servers:

 Input File Repository Server: The input File Repository server manages all
of the report and program objects that have been published to the system.
When a report is added to the system, all data is removed from the report, due
to which these reports are referred as “Report Templates” or “Report
Definitions”
 Output File Repository Server: The output File Repository Server manages
all of the Report instance generated by the Reports Job server and the program
instances generated by the Program job server. Instances are the result of an
object being scheduled. A report instance is a saved report with saved Data (as
of the time that it was processed). A program instance is a text file to which
any output of the program is written.

Data Tier

Relational: Other: XML,

OLAP: SAP ODBC, OLE
BW, SQL,… ERP, CRM,…
DB,…

 The data tier is made up of the databases that contain the data used in the reports.

 BusinessObjects Enterprise supports a wide range of corporate databases.

 Business Objects Designer
Designer
“BusinessObjects Designer” is a software tool that allows you to create

BusinessObjects universes for BusinessObjects and Web Intelligence users.

Universe
A “universe” is a file that contains the following:

 Connection parameters for one or more database middleware.

 SQL structures called objects that map to actual SQL structures in the database such as
columns, tables, and database functions. Objects are grouped into classes. Objects and
classes are both visible to BusinessObjects and WebIntelligence users.
 A schema of the tables and joins used in the database. Objects are built from the database
structures that you include in your schema. The schema is only available to Designer
users. It is not visible to BusinessObjects and WebIntelligence users.

Universe Role
The “role of a universe” is to provide an easy to use and understand interface for non technical
BusinessObjects and WebIntelligence users to run queries against a database to create reports
and perform data analysis.

A universe contains the following structures:

 Objects

An “object” is a named component that maps to data or a derivation of data in the

database.

 Classes

A “class” is a logical grouping of objects within a universe. It represents a

category of objects. A class can be divided hierarchically into “subclasses”.

Types Of Objects

In Designer, objects are qualified as one of three types: dimension, detail, or

measure.
  Dimension :
Dimensions are the parameters for analysis.
 Detail :
Detail provides a description of a dimension, but are not the focus for analysis.
 Measure :
Measures are the statistics that are used to quantify dimension object.

CREATING UNIVERSE and Necessary STEPS TO Do It:

STEPS 1: open start menu→ allprograms→ Business Objects XI R2 Release → Business

Object Enterprise → Designer. Then a windows appears for user Identification.

STEP 2:In the making of Universe all we need to do is set the connection parameters.
Designer à File à New
STEP 3: Name the new Universe & Click on “New” to create a new connection .
STEP 4:After clicking the “new” button then the corresponding window opens which guide us
through the creation of a new connection.

STEP 5: Then we need to select the Database Middleware and select necessary data Access
Driver for new connection. We Will select database as Oracle→ Oracle 10g.
STEP 6: Defining a new connection i.e defining the login parameters for Accessing the
DatabaseLike mentioning the Type, Name, Service, User Name And Password. Once the
Universe connection is defined we need to set it’s type ..that’s the level in connection is to be Personal,
Secured or Shared.

In the Universe i.e., a Designer can we 3 types of Connections

1) Personal Connection: This restricts access of the data to the Designer on the system that
he/she created. It gets stored as PDAC.LSI

2) Shared Connection: It allows access of data to all the users. It is stored as SDAC.LSI

Secured Connection: It basically centralizes & Controls access to the data. It is helpful to
distribute the universe through CMS.

Personal & Shared are in-secured in terms while, Secured as the name is given this connection is
secured.
STEP 7:Now we have to perform a test, i.e., to verify the data source server .Then the below
window appears showing that the server is responding.

STEP 8: Universe Parameters à Definition

Universe name, description, and connection parameters and information. These are the
parameters that identify the universe.
STEP 9: Once the Universe has been named & connection parameters have been set, all that
needs to be done is creating the universe.

Two ways in which table insertion can be directed, either “Insert à Tables” or Right Click on the
Universe Pane a window appears select the option “Insert Table…”
STEP 10:A “Table Browser “ appears which represents various schemas in the db that the
Universe is connected thru it’s parameters.

Drill down the Schema where in we need to add the tables into the Structure Pane.

Select the list of Tables that need to be inserted into the Structure Pane, from the expanded
schema & click on the “Insert” tab.
STEP 11: Tables that being inserted into Structure Pane need to manually selected & dragged to
the Universe Pane. Once the Tables being dragged they appear to be folders each of a “Table”
appearing as “Class”, with “Columns” being as “Objects”
 STEP 12:

STEP 12 : Now we will create joins for all the classes and objects that are necessary.
STEP 13:Performing The Integrity checking test to see any problems during joins and any other
errors.

STEP 14:Save the Universe as RIT_UNIVERSE. We need to save all files as (.unv).
STEP 15:Now go to file→ Export. To export the files to desktop intelligence.
STEP 16:When exporting the Universe we need to select the Groups ,i.e., everyone,
Administrator then click on Ok as shown in the below image.

STEP 17:After exporting the files then there will be dialog box opens by showing “Universe
Exported Successfully” .
STEP 19:

Then After universe has been successfully exported we need to go Tools→ Desktop
Intelligence.

l.ujkuy n
 DESKTOP INTELLIGENCE
Step-1: Click the BUSINESSOBJECTS icon in the BUSINESSOBJECTS group in the Programs
menu. The User Identification dialog box appears.

Step-2: Enter your user name and password, and choose your security domain, if applicable, and
click OK. The user name, password and security domain are assigned by your
BUSINESSOBJECTS supervisor or system administrator.

To create a new report, BUSINESSOBJECTS has the New Report wizard. When
BUSINESSOBJECTS is opened, the New Report Wizard is displayed automatically, if not then
Click the New Report button on the Standard toolbar.

Step-1: Choose Generate a Standard Report and click Begin.

Step-2: Choose Universe and click Next.

Choose from the different available methods of accessing data. Ex: Universe, free hand SQL,
Data Files (.CSV, Excel) etc…
Step-3: Choose RIT_Universe from the list of available universes and click Finish.

Step-5: Open the Time Period folder and drag This Year into the Conditions section. You have
now specified which data you want from your database and are ready to run the query.

Step-6: Click Run. BUSINESSOBJECTS connects to the database and gets the requested data.
The data is displayed in a new Standard report.

Save The Report

Step-1: From the File menu, choose Save. The Save dialog box opens.

Step-2: Choose where you want to save the document and type in a name. By default,
BUSINESSOBJECTS saves BO documents in the UserDocs folder in the BUSINESSOBJECTS
folder. The document is saved as a .rep file.

Calculating Totals for a Column

Method-1: Select the column whose values should be added up, by clicking on it. Then click the
sum button on the Report Toolbar. The total of the column value will be displayed in a new row
at the bottom of the table.
Method-2: Select the column whose values should be added up, by clicking on it. Right click on
it and go to Calculations à Sum. The total of the column value will be displayed in a new row at
the bottom of the table.

Displaying Data in Chart Form

Method-1: Select the Table. Click the Chart button on the Report toolbar. A menu of chart types
is displayed. Select a chart option and the data displayed in the table gets displayed in a chart.

Method-2: Select the Table. Right click on it and click on “Turn to Chart”. A menu of chart
types is displayed. Select a chart option and the data displayed in the table gets displayed in a
chart.

Organizing Data in Sections

In order to make the data displayed in a table, more easier to read and analyze, we can organize
them by creating sections. For Example: Create a table displaying City, Lines, Quarter and Sales
Revenue. By creating a section in the report for each city you will see more easily the sales
revenue for each city per quarter. To do this:

Step-1: Click once in the City column. The City column is highlighted.

Step-2: Click again in the City column and, holding down your left mouse button, drag the
cursor out of the table and position it over the top left of the table. As you move the cursor out of
the table, the cursor changes to the create section cursor.

Step-3: When the cursor changes to the create section cursor and the status bar displays Drop to
move contents and create a section, release the mouse button. The City column is removed from
the table and a section for each of the eleven values of City is created. Scroll down the report to
look at the different City sections. This type of report is called a master/detail report.

Creation of Formulas

Setting of Alerter in the Report

Lets highlight all the cities that made above average margin in a different font color so
that these cities will stand out from the rest in the table. In BO, this kind of highlighting is called
an alerter. For setting an Alert, create a variable to find out the average of “Margin as % rev”
column. Then to set an alerter:
Step-1: Click once in the City column.

Step-2: Click the Alerter button on the Report toolbar. The Alerters dialog box opens.

Step-3: Click Add. The Edit Alerters dialog box opens.

Step-4: Type in a name for the Alerter, "Above Average Margin" in the name box and

then type in a description of what the alerter does.

Step-5: Click on the Conditions tab. This is where you define how the alerter will be displayed
and when it will be displayed.

Step-6: From the Variable to Compare listbox, choose Margin as % revenue.

Step-7: From the Operator 1 list box, choose > (greater than symbol). The Value 1 box appears.

Step-8: Click once on the down arrow next to the Value 1 box and choose Variables from the
menu. The Variables dialog box opens.

Step-9: Choose Average margin from the list and click Insert.

Step-10: Click on the arrow next to Cell Content and choose Format from the menu. The Cell
Format dialog box opens.

Step-11: Click the Font tab and set the color to red, the font style to bold and click OK. The
Conditions tab now looks like this:

Step-12: Click OK to close the Edit Alerter dialog box. The alerter is displayed in the alerters
list.

Step-13: Click OK to close the Alerters box. The names of those cities that have produced above
average margin this year are now formatted in bold, red type.

In the finished report, the cities that produced above average revenue clearly stand out
from the rest:

Changing the Table Orientation

The data in a table can be also presented by displaying the headings in the

left column of the table. This can be done by rotating the table.

Step-1: Select the table.

Step-2: Click Rotate Table button on the Report toolbar. The table is rotated and the headings
are displayed in the left column of the table and you read the data across the rows.

Creating A Chart

For displaying the report data in the form of a chart, we need to follow the below steps:

Step-1: Insert a new report after Product Analysis and rename it Actual - Budget.

Step-2: In the Report Manager Data tab select Quarter(Actual), Sales Revenue, Projected Sales
Revenue and Quantity sold and drag into the Report window create a table.

Notice that you have Quarter twice in the list of variables in the Report Manager, one
from Actual and one from Budget. It doesn’t actually matter which one you choose.

Step-3: Right-click on the table and choose Turn To Chart from the menu. The Chart
AutoFormat dialog box is displayed.

Step-4: Choose Column from the Chart Types list and choose the first option in the Styles for
the Selected Chart Type section.

Step-5: Click OK. The data is displayed in a column chart.