George Wickey: RZ Solutions

Combining Multiple Data Sources in BusinessObjects Reports
George Wickey
RZ Solutions
October 2002
Presentation Information

Author: George Wickey Company: RZ Solutions Presentation title:

Combining Multiple Data Sources in BusinessObjects Reports Gain a deeper understanding of the processes necessary for incorporating data from different sources into BusinessObjects reports. Hear an overview of the data sources available for access via BusinessObjects including stored procedures, Visual Basic (VB) procedures, OLAP server data, and personal data files. Learn how to combine data from different sources into a single report to the block level, and valuable rules for data synchronization. See a live demonstration of how to combine data from multiple universes, and how to combine universe data with data from other sources. Explore helpful techniques for resolving date and data format issues when accessing data from Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 2
Presentation abstract:

Topics

Overview of available data sources Combining data from multiple sources in the same document Combining data from multiple sources to the block level (Synchronizing by Linking) Resolving common issues with Excel spreadsheets as a data source Q&A
Available Data Sources in BusinessObjects

Universe Free-Hand SQL/ Stored procedures OLAP servers

SELECT Name, Title FROM Employees
Personal data files VB procedures

4
VBA
Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved
The Universe

1/3
The universe is the semantic layer that protects the end user from the database (and vice-versa)

Each universe is a partial representation of a database presented in terms with which users are familiar
Sales/Marketing
Sales Revenue Sales Executive Customer Product Price Order Date ...
Human Resources
Employee Salary Benefits...
The Universe

2/3
Business Objects designers create universes against the database Users are given universe access in the BusObj repository Using a simple front-end, users perform complex queries without database knowledge or an understanding of SQL
The Universe
build queries against the universe in the Query Panel
Users BusObj
3/3
infers the SQL and returns correct results in report format then massage the presentation layer of the data locally
Users
Free-Hand SQL

1/2
Data provider that allows users to utilize SQL scripts in BusinessObjects BusObj supports different types of SQL orders

PL/SQL Transact SQL

Users must be granted access by the Supervisor to utilize their own SQL/edit existing SQL SQL statements can include prompts and LOVs Restrictions on free-hand SQL

COMPUTE and ORDER BY statements are not executed in BusinessObjects In order to apply sorts, the columns must be either ordered in the SQL statement or in the BusObj report
Free-Hand SQL
Specify
2/2
free-hand SQL as the data source Select or create a connection; create or browse to a SQL script Parse the SQL script (optional) View or run the query Analyze and massage the presentation layer of the data locally
Stored Procedures

1/2
Sets of SQL statements saved as executables in a database Often created by DBAs but can be created by users with appropriate access

Users can create and edit stored procedures in BusObj using free-hand SQL Access is granted to the database or account where stored procedures are located via Supervisor BusObj does not support stored procedures for all dbs

Restrictions on stored procedures

Consult the Database Guide for your RDBMS
COMPUTE, PRINT, OUTPUT and STATUS statements are not executed in BusinessObjects
Stored Procedures
Specify
2/2
stored procedure as the data source Select or define the db connection Choose the stored procedure Define parameters Analyze and massage the presentation layer of the data locally
OLAP Servers

What is OLAP?

On-Line Analytical Processing
Software that provides a multidimensional view of data for the purpose of business analysis

Data is stored for optimized data retrieval and ease of use Tracks business performance based on dimensions and measures Marketing: Top five demographic groups who buy product X Financial: Top 5 expense items by department Manufacturing: % Reject Rates Analysis Sales Analysis: Top five sales reps by region who sold Product X and Y
Sample OLAP reports

Supported OLAP Servers

BW Connect MDX Connect Hyperion Essbase Oracle Express IBM DB2 OLAP Server
Sample OLAP Panels
1/2
BusinessObjects IBM DB2 OLAP Access Pack

Sample OLAP Panels
2/2
BusinessObjects BW Connect
Personal Data Files

1/2

Data provider that allows users to access data in Excel spreadsheets, dBase files and text files Allows access to data source without a database connection Users can compare corporate data with personal data When going against text files, users can indicate the way data is delimited

| (.asc) space (.prn) tabulation (.txt) semi-colon (.csv)

Personal Data Files

Specify
2/2
personal data file as the data source Specify the file format; browse to the file For Excel files, specify the range; for text files, specify the delimiter Run the query Analyze and massage the presentation layer of the data locally
VB Procedures
1/2
Using the VBA environment in BusinessObjects, users can write a Visual Basic for Applications procedure to access external data VBA procedures in BusinessObjects take the DpVBAInterface as a parameter

DpVBAInterface is the interface to the VBA data provider Automation object This is described in detail in the BusinessObjects SDK Reference Guide
VB Procedures
Specify
2/2
VB procedures as the data source Name and create the subroutine In the VB Editor, compile the project and then close the editor and return to BusinessObjects Select the subroutine and run the query Analyze and massage the presentation layer of the data locally
Demo 1
SHOW ME
Another Data Source: Web Connect

Add-on VBA data provider Requires separate installation and product key Allows users to query and analyze live Internet data Users can create ad-hoc queries as well as store and access predefined queries in/from catalogs

Both catalogs and queries are stored in XML format
Data can be combined with data from other data sources in BusObj reports Users can apply formatting, perform calculations, etc.
Web Connect
Specify
Web Connect as the data source Specify how Internet data is to be accessed Drag and drop from a web page onto the selection box Run the query
Demo 2
SHOW ME
Topics

Combining Data from Multiple Sources

Data from multiple data sources can be combined in the same document effortlessly Multiple data providers are created and displayed in their own block .xls
1
Universe
2
BusinessObjects document
Demo 3
SHOW ME
Topics

Synchronizing Data Providers by Linking

Data from multiple data sources can be combined in a document to the block level
BusinessObjects document
Block
VBA
Synchronizing Data Providers by Linking

To successfully combine data from multiple sources in the same block, data providers must be synchronized by linking Linking is the process of creating a join between data providers based on common objects
LINK
How to Link
Linking
is performed in the Data Manager Highlight one of the objects to be linked and press the link button Select the other object to be linked in the new window Close the Data Manager
What Happens If We Dont Link
BusinessObjects
will yield a Cartesian product One of the columns containing measure data will display the sum of all values in each row
Rules for Data Synchronization

1/2
Only dimension objects can be linked (e.g. Store, Year, Client, Customer) Any number of dimension objects can be linked Any number of data providers can be linked by common dimensions The dimension objects do not have to have the same name (e.g. Client, Client Name)
Rules for Data Synchronization

2/2
The dimension objects must have a common data format (e.g. character, numeric, etc.) Common values must be in the same case (Jones, jones treated as unique values) The format of the values must be the same (e.g. 1999, FY99, values with spaces treated as unique values) A measure can only be aggregated to the lowest level of data based on the linked data providers (e.g. aggregation at both the year and quarter level)
Demo 4
SHOW ME
Topics

Resolving Excel Date/Data Format Issues

BusinessObjects often has problems with dates when accessing Excel data (e.g. year)

BusObj treats numeric data as if it should be aggregated As such, when the Year column is brought into the document it is treated as a measure object and is displayed incorrectly To resolve the issue, the object qualification must be modified in the Data Manager so that Year is treated as a dimension
According to the rules for linking data providers, common objects must have the same data format

In the event they do not, there is a workaround that can be used so that the data providers may be linked This involves modifying the format of one of the objects This may not be as simple as it seems
Workaround for Resolving Format Issues

If the data provider has not yet been created in BusinessObjects

Simply change the format in Excel and save Create a new data provider against the spreadsheet and link without any issues
If the data provider was already created in BusinessObjects

Change the format in Excel and save Delete the existing data provider from the document in the Data Manager Save the document and close BusinessObjects Log back into BO and open the document Recreate the data provider against the spreadsheet and link without any issues
Demo 5
SHOW ME
Topics

Q&A
Send post conference correspondence to: gwickey@rzsolutions.com

George Wickey: RZ Solutions

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Combining Multiple Data Sources in BusinessObjects Reports

Author: George Wickey Company: RZ Solutions Presentation title:

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 3

Available Data Sources in BusinessObjects

Universe Free-Hand SQL/ Stored procedures OLAP servers

Personal data files VB procedures

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved

Employee Salary Benefits...

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 5

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 6

PL/SQL Transact SQL

Restrictions on stored procedures

Consult the Database Guide for your RDBMS

On-Line Analytical Processing

Sample OLAP reports

Supported OLAP Servers

Sample OLAP Panels

BusinessObjects IBM DB2 OLAP Access Pack

Sample OLAP Panels

Personal Data Files

| (.asc) space (.prn) tabulation (.txt) semi-colon (.csv)

Personal Data Files

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 18

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 20

Another Data Source: Web Connect

Both catalogs and queries are stored in XML format

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 21

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 22

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 23

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 24

Combining Data from Multiple Sources

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 26

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 27

Synchronizing Data Providers by Linking

Synchronizing Data Providers by Linking

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 29

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 30

What Happens If We Dont Link

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 31

Rules for Data Synchronization

Rules for Data Synchronization

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 34

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 35

Resolving Excel Date/Data Format Issues

Workaround for Resolving Format Issues

If the data provider has not yet been created in BusinessObjects

If the data provider was already created in BusinessObjects

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 38

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 39

Send post conference correspondence to: gwickey@rzsolutions.com

Copyright 2002 Business Objects - All Rights Reserved 40

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