Xcelsius Gurus: Part 2 - Data Connectivity Series

Transcription

1 Xcelsius Gurus: Part 2 - Data Connectivity Series When NOT to Utilize SAP Business Objects Enterprise for your Dashboard? Presented by: Mico Yuk & Ryan Goodman Date: June 10 th, 2009

2 Who are We? Mico Yuk Founder (popular weblog) Founder - Xcelsius Guru Network Xcelsius Trainer / Developer / Architect / Blogger/ Fanatic Ryan Goodman Founder (SAP Software Solution Partner) Xcelsius Evangelist / Blogger (ryangoodman.net/blog) SAP BOBJ Alumni

3 Quick Agenda Preview & Links Mico Introduction Recap of Part 1: Utilizing BOE Connections for Xcelsius Review Xcelsius 12 Connectivity Options (BOE vs. Non-BOE) Ryan Discusses XML Maps vs. XML Data Button vs. SOAP Web Service Connection Soap Web Services Mico discusses Excel XML Maps XML Data Ryan Closes Application Integration (Flash Vars, Custom Components) Custom Components (New data connectivity Option!) Stay Connected to the Xcelsius Gurus Network Slide 3

4 Part 1: Recap Webinar Highlights Webinar Part 1 (click to view) Use Live office when connecting to Webi and/or Crystal Reports as a Data Source Use Query as a Web Service when connecting to one or more Universes Live screenshots showing how to use both connections! Dashboard Builder provides new exciting options for Xcelsius Download the Presentation Slide 4

5 Xcelsius Data Manager Data Manger Houses Xcelsius 12 live data connectivity options. Users with Engage and Enterprise licenses are allowed to mix connection types in a single dashboard! Slide 5

6 Xcelsius 12 Connectivity Options Non-BO Enterprise vs. BO Enterprise Non - BO Enterprise Web Service Connection XML Data Portal Data LCDS Connection (Adobe) External Interface Connections Excel XML Maps (Add-on) Google Spreadsheet Connector BO Enterprise Query as a Web Service Live Office Crystal Report Data Consumer Flash Variables FS Commands Slide 6

7 Excel XML Maps vs. XML Data vs. Web Service Connections Side-by-Side Comparison Architecture Overview Developer Caveats Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports - Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus

8 XML Connectivity - Comparison Web Service Invoke SOAP web services Configuration through WSDL XML Data Send or Load XML Specific XML schema Excel XML Maps Read Only XML Connection Use of Excel XML Maps feature Slide 8

9 XML Connectivity Design Time Data Middleware HTTP Client Development Published SOAP Web Service.NET/ J2EE Any XML structure Excel XML Maps Xcelsius SWF <row><column> structure XML Data Slide 9

10 XML Connectivity Run Time Data Middleware HTTP Published Web Service SOAP.NET/ J2EE Excel XML Maps Any XML Structure SWF XML Data <row><column> Structure Slide 10

11 XML Connectivity - Caveats Developer Caveats Both have the same data volume restrictions for Xcelsius Require additional skill sets to and knowledge of J2EE/.NET and web services SOAP Web services are difficult to write Xcelsius will not support all SOAP web service configurations. XML Data Button has non-flexible, flat <row><column> structure. Excel XML Maps requires lots of steps to set up, though XML structure is extremely flexible Database write back capabilities can only be accomplished with XML Data and Web Service connections Xcelsius Engage only allows 1 data connection Use Fiddler for troubleshooting: Slide 11

12 Ryan discusses Web Services Example Benefits DO s / DONT s (Scenarios) Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports - Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus

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24 Web Service Connector Benefits 4 Reasons to use Web Service Connections. 1. Non-technical Xcelsius designers can easily configure services using WSDL input and output nodes. 2. More structure and control over data output 3. Potential use for data base write-back 4. flynet Viewer eliminates writing web services from scratch (Included with Xcelsius 2008 Engage Server) Slide 24

25 flynet Viewer - Architecture Data Middleware IIS (.NET) HTTP Client Development Published WSDL Web Service Xcelsius SOAP Web Service SWF Publish Slide 25

26 flynet Viewer - Architecture Data Middleware IIS (.NET) Published SOAP Web Service Web Service SOAP SWF Slide 26

27 flynet Viewer Data Sources Connects to 30+ data sources Slide 27

28 Web Service Connection DO s 5 Scenarios 1. DO use separate tabs for each data source 2. DO use the Microsoft SOAP standard for building web services for Xcelsius 3. DO Use String data types 4. DO Use arrays 5. DO Take advantage of Flynet viewer Slide 28

29 Web Service Connection DON Ts 5 Scenarios. X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %,, ) X DO NOT trigger all queries to Refresh on Load X DO NOT place formulas in data output cells X DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time X DO NOT use complex data types in SOAP web services Slide 29

30 Mico discusses using Excel XML Maps Example Benefits DO s / DONT s (Scenarios) Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports - Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus

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42 Excel XML Map Benefits 3 Reasons to use the Excel XML Map. 1. When you need to load an XML or XML stream directly into your dashboard 2. Already familiar with technology 3. Excel based and can be configured in Excel externally before importing spreadsheet into Excel Slide 42

43 Excel XML Map DO s 5 Scenarios 1. DO enable the task pane in Excel 2003 to access XML Maps window 2. DO enable the developer toolbar in Excel 2007 to access XML Maps window 3. DO Use XML Maps for read-only connectivity requirements 4. DO Delete Re-import your Excel XML Maps connection in Xcelsius when your XML structure changes 5. DO reference Xcelsius 2008 Best Practice Book, chapter 15 for more information (includes sample files) Slide 43

44 Excel XML Map DON Ts 6 Scenarios... X DO NOT use the home and student versions of Excel X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %,, ) X DO NOT create an excessive amount of queries X DO NOT trigger all queries to Refresh on Load X DO NOT place formulas in data output cells X DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time Slide 44

45 Mico discusses the XML Data Connection Example Benefits DO s / DONT s (Scenarios) Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports - Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus

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47 XML Data Connection Benefits 3 Reasons to use the XML Data Connection. 1. Utilize the ASP.NET script in guide to connect 2. Simple and provides ability to write back to database 3. Ability to query database based on filters Slide 47

48 XML Data Connection DO s 5 Scenarios 1. DO specify XML version in header of output XML 2. DO use the Preview button to obtain exact XML structure 3. DO change IE setting to avoid caching of data or us a RAND() variable at the end of the URL 4. DO preview the service in the browser before importing into Xcelsius 5. DO Use Fiddler for troubleshooting Slide 48

49 XML Data Connection DON Ts 7 Scenarios. X X DO NOT include any data in the XML header DO NOT deviate from the specific <ROW><COLUMN> xml structure X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %,, ) X X X X DO NOT create an excessive amount of connections DO NOT trigger all connections to Refresh on Load DO NOT place formulas in data output cells DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time Slide 49

50 Ryan discusses Application Integration Crossdomain.xml Portal Data LCDS Connections (Adobe) Flash Variables External Interface Connection Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports - Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus

51 Crossdomain.xml Data Application/ Web Server Portal or Web Site.NET/ J2EE Web Service SWF Cross Domain.XML <?xml version="1.0"?> <!DOCTYPE cross-domain-policy SYSTEM " <cross-domain-policy> <allow-http-request-headers-from domain="*" headers="*" secure="false" /> <allow-access-from domain="*" secure="false" /> </cross-domain-policy> Slide 51

52 No Crossdomain.xml Data Application/ Web Server.NET/ J2EE No Crossdomain.xml file is required if: 1. If the SWF and service are located on the same application/web server 2. The URL for the web service is relative to the SWF 3. If the SWF is launched from your desktop SWF Slide 52

53 External Interface Connection Additional Features to take advantage of 1. Loading data into an Xcelsius SWF using JavaScript 2. Communicate with Java or active X controls in real-time HTML <SCRIPT language="javascript"> Dashboard (SWF) External Interface Connection Slide 53

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55 Flash Variables Pass parameters to into a SWF on-load HTML FLASHVARS= abc123 Dashboard (SWF) abc123 Slide 55

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57 Portal Connections SWF to SWF communication in WebSphere and Sharepoint Xcelsius Portal Integration Kits are available with the Engage Server and Enterprise products WebSphere or SharePoint Portal Dashboard (SWF) Provider Dashboard (SWF) Consumer Slide 57

58 Ryan discusses Custom Connections Centigon NEW CSV Connector No more XML Add- on: Google Spreadsheet Connector Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports - Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus

59 CSV Connector Connect directly to CSV files from Xcelsius Dashboard (SWF) CSV Connector Slide 59

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61 Google Spreadsheet Connect directly to Google spreadsheets Dashboard (SWF) Slide 61

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63 Stay connected For more Guru tips, tricks, news, videos, etc. Visit: Mico Yuk Company: Everything Xcelsius Ryan Goodman Company: Centigon Solutions Join our popular Xcelsius Guru social communities &trk=hb_side_g Slide 63