[

A Comparison of Enterprise Reporting Tools

(SAP Crystal Reports and SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence)

Adam Getz
Manager, Business Intelligence & Reporting TMA Resources

[ About TMA Resources

Software and Professional Services TMA Resources provides solutions to member-centric organizations National Headquarters in Vienna,VA (Washington DC Area) Midwest Office in Rosemont, IL (Chicago Area) Named #288 on the 2010 Software 500 listing Clients include many of the most prestigious professional societies, trade associations, labor unions, and other member-centric organizations

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ What is Business Intelligence?

Business Intelligence is focused on reporting and analysis of data residing in either enterprise data warehouses (EDW) and/or data marts. Operational Reports
Displays data with rich presentation and within a structured layout (i.e. rows and columns). Primary Tool: Crystal Reports

Crystal Reports

Query and Analysis

Interactive methods to query data, present data in an adhoc manner, and to find information on an as-needed basis. Primary Tools: Web Intelligence

Web Intelligence

Dashboard Management
Graphical interfaces and real-time methods to provide guided analysis and to intuitively monitor organizational metrics. Primary Tool: Dashboards (formerly Xcelsius)

Dashboards (formerly Xcelsius)

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Crystal Reports vs Web Intelligence (WebI)

Crystal Reports 4.0 can access data directly from a data source or through a Universe Web Intelligence 4.0 must access data through a Universe

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Crystal Reports
Crystal Reports: Operational Reporting Tool

Crystal Reports Designer

Perfect solution for canned or published reports Create high-fidelity, pixel-perfect reports Access almost any data source End users view, print, and export reports Multiple deployment options:

Crystal Reports Designer: Client developer tool (Most Common) Crystal Report Server: Web-based environment for organization-wide use

Crystal Reports Preview

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Crystal Reports - Features

Intuitive Report Development
Template Expert

Report Templates Design Wizards Experts

Formatting Grouping / Sorting Section Data Access

Group Sort Expert

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Crystal Reports - Features

Numerous Methods for Report Viewing and Interaction Advanced / Hierarchical Grouping Running Totals
Hierarchical Grouping

Parameters Alerting Guided Navigation Sorting Controls Hyperlinks Drill-Downs

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Crystal Reports - Features

Data Access to Most Common Data Sources Relational Databases

Oracle Sybase MySQL Informix

IBM DB2 MS SQL Server MS Access

Common Business Applications

ACT!

Salesforce.com

Spreadsheets

MS Excel

Lotus 1-2-3

Groupware / Email

Exchange

Lotus Notes

Text files, XML files, and OS Event Logs ODBC, OLE DB, and JDBC Sources Web Services Business Objects Universes and Repositories
Crystal Reports provides a long list of available data sources

In addition report authors can write their own SQL commands.

Real Experience. Real Advantage.
8

[ Crystal Reports Developer Features

Powerful Formula Language and Custom Code Environment Crystal or Basic syntax (very similar to Visual Basic) 240 Functions that Control

Calculations: Median, Mode, Standard Deviation, etc. Reporting Formatting Complex Logic

Custom Functions Formula Expert

Through Code, Developers can Control Formatting, Selection, Calculations, and Logic

Developers can Program Using Either Basic or Crystal Syntax

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Crystal Reports Developer Features

Advanced Programming Capabilities Interface Solution Deployment Kits (SDKs):

J2EE

.Net

COM

Integration of Reports

Web Applications Client / Server Apps Portals

Embedded Reporting Components Custom Add-ins

Create custom add-in modules Shows up under Add-ins menu in Crystal Reports Implement custom workflows

Develop and Integrate Custom Add-Ins

Advanced Charting Report Distribution Web Publishing Version Control Custom Workflow

User Function Libraries (UFL)

Extend function library of Crystal Reports Call external executable (exes) from inside the report

Integrated Development Environments (IDE)

MS Visual Studio BEA WebLogic Workshop Borland JBuilder Borland C# Builder

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

10

[ WebIntelligence (WebI)
WebI: Web-Based Query & Analysis
Web URL

No Installation Necessary for WebI Leveraged through Internet Browser Users ask business questions Users develop reports / charts / ad-hoc queries Ability to drill-down, drill-up, drill-through Filter and prompt data Intuitive to end-users Data source must be a Universe!
New Web Intelligence Document

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

11

[ Web Intelligence - Rich Client

WEBI Rich Client: Off-line Query & Analysis Same Functionality as Web Intelligence

WebI Rich Client Full Client Installation Off-line Logon

Users develop reports / charts / queries Users ask business questions of data Ability to drill-down, drill-up, drill-through Filter and prompt data Intuitive to end-users
Same Reporting Interface as WEBI

Client Installation on Desktop

Installed from Infoview Portal

Off-line Access of Data Access to Universes and Excel Files

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

12

[ BusinessObjects Universe
Universe: Semantic Middleware Layer / Metadata Business Representation of a Database

Resides between a database and reports/queries Provides an interface to create ad-hoc queries

Foundation of Web Intelligence (WebI) Reports Optional Data Source for Crystal Reports

Universe Translates Databases into Business Terms

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

13

[ WebIntelligence - Designer
Self Service Reporting Ad Hoc Query Creation Generates Answers to Business Questions Ideal for Business Users and Analysts Intuitive Drag & Drop Interface
Run Query to View Results

Web Intelligence Designer Drag & Drop Data Fields and Filters to Document

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

14

[ WebIntelligence - Features
Highly-Interactive Charts and Data Convert Data into Charts and Graphs View Data Graphically or in a Table

Data Displayed in a Chart

Data Displayed in a Table

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

15

[ WebIntelligence - Features
Flexible Design of Documents Flexible Design & Layout Options Free Form Placements Report Users Have Power to

Format Documents Change Tables & Charts Add a Filter, Sort, Order, Swap Axis, etc

Add a Filter

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

16

[ WebIntelligence - Features
Drilling Results Analyze the Detailed Data behind the Displayed Results Performing On-Report Analysis Types of Drilling

Drill-Down Drill-Up Drill-Through

Drill Results to a Lower Level of Detail

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

17

[ Crystal Reports
When to Use Crystal Reports?

Ideal Tool for:

Complex, highly-formatted report design Creating canned report templates High volume report distribution (publications) Tight web / application / portal integration Offline/online report viewing

Less than Ideal for:

Out-of-the-box web-based report design Ad-hoc query & analysis Self-service reporting

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

18

[ Web Intelligence (WebI)

When to Use Web Intelligence?

Ideal Tool for:

Web-based report design Ad-hoc query & analysis Offline/online report viewing Answers unpredictable questions Providing access to novice/casual users

Less than Ideal for:

Highly-formatted reports High volume report distribution (publications) Tight web / application / portal integration

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

19

[ Crystal vs. WebI Product Comparison

Crystal Reports
Primary Function Report Author Report Consumer
Operational Reporting

Business Objects Web Intelligence

Query & Analysis

IT, Developer

Business User, Data Analyst

Information Consumers

Information Analysts

Report Design Tool

Wim32 Desktop Client

Web-Based Desktop Rich Client

Formatting

Precise, Pixel Perfect Formatting

Basic Formatting

Data Access

Direct to Data Source Universe

Universe Only

Operational reporting

Typical Use(s)

Pre-built report templates High-volume publishing Predictable questions

Ad-hoc query & analysis Self-serve reporting Unpredictable questions

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

20

[ Questions

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

[ Contact Information
Adam Getz
Manager, Business Intelligence & Reporting TMA Resources Office: 703-564-5333 E-mail: agetz@tmaresources.com

Check out www.bi-insider.com

Real Experience. Real Advantage.

Thank you for participating.

Please remember to complete and return your evaluation form following this session. For ongoing education on this area of focus, visit the Year-Round Community page at www.asug.com/yrc

]
23

SESSION CODE: 0101

Real Experience. Real Advantage.