Web Intelligence is part of SAP BusinessObjects product suite and is used for analytical and ad hoc reporting to meet an organization’s business requirements. Web Intelligence is a Business Intelligence reporting tool for business users to analyze data in Data Warehouse. It assists business managers in the decision-making process for building future strategies.

Using Web Intelligence, business users can create basic, medium, and complex reports from transactional data in database and by creating Universes using Information Design Tool/UDT. Various SAP and non-SAP data sources can be used to create reports in Web Intelligence. SAP Business Warehouse (BW) system doesn’t require a Universe to connect to Web Intelligence tool.

Web Intelligence tool can work as a client tool of BusinessObjects platform and also as a standalone tool for reporting.

Versions and History

BusinessObjects was first started in 1990 with the tool name Skipper SQL 2.x, and in the year 1994 Business Objects v3.0 was launched.

In 2005, BO XI was released and later on various other versions introduced. Some of the versions are −

BO XI R1
BO XI R2
BO XI R3
BO XI R3.1
BO XI R3.2

In 2007, SAP acquired this company for $6.8 billion and the product has been renamed as SAP BusinessObjects.

Later in the year 2011, BO XI 4.0 was introduced. The latest version of the tool is SAP BO 4.2.

Web Intelligence Architecture

SAP Webi has a three-layered architecture −

Database Layer − This layer defines multiple SAP and non-SAP data sources.
Semantic Layer − This layer defines multidimensional data model.
Presentation Layer − This layer defines where data is presented to end-users.

Various data sources can be used to create analytical and ad hoc reports. You can pull data from SAP systems, like SAP ECC, SAP ERP, SAP SRM, and other SAP modules.

Non-SAP data sources include Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, and Sybase.

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SAP Webi – BI Launchpad

BI Launchpad is a Java or HTML based interface of BusinessObjects tool to perform analytical reporting and data analysis. You can set the preference for your BI Launchpad that determines which tool interface is launched via Launchpad.

Using Web or Internet Application to access Webi interface via BI Launchpad, you can perform the following tasks −

Create, edit and refresh all the reports in Web Intelligence.
Create and edit all the queries in no data source (Universes) but not BEx queries in Web application.

Note − If you are using Webi 4.0 SP2, it is not possible to create queries and you can only work on documents and reports.

BI Launchpad has the following important tabs −

Home − Displays recent messages, alerts, documents, and applications that can be run.
Documents − Displays the available documents and folders, making it easier to view, organize, and manage the documents.
Any open Document − Displays each open document.

You can use the Application tab to start an application including Web Intelligence. You can use the Preference tab to define BI Launchpad preferences.

Logging to BI Launchpad

As mentioned, BI Launchpad is HTML5 or Java-based web interface to launch an application via BI Launchpad.

To access BI Launchpad, you should have a web URL, user name and password. Access profile to be set for the resources.

To get the BI Launchpad details and user credentials you can reach the BO Administrator using the link, http://BOSERVER:8080/BOE/BI

To login to BI Launchpad, open the web browser and enter the Launchpad URL provided by your administrator. The following screen pops up.

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Select the system name you want to login. Enter the user name and password.

In the Authentication dropdown, select the Authentication type – Enterprise, Windows AD, etc. (In the above snapshot, this server has a single login).

Click ‘Log On’ and it will open the home page for BI Launchpad.

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You can use Applications tab of Launchpad to run any of the application.

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SAP Webi – BI Preferences

Let us now discuss how to set BI preferences.

Setting BI Preferences

You can set BI Launchpad preferences for the following tasks.

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General Preferences − These are defined by the administrator. You can reset your password. You can also set time zone, locales preferences, and Web Intelligence preferences.

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General Tab − Using this tab you can set user default settings.

Change Password − As per your user access.

Locales and Time Zone − To set product locale, preferred viewing locale, current time zone.

Analysis Edition for OLAP − To define accessibility mode.

Web Intelligence − You can select the interfaces to use for view and modify modes. You can also select a Default Universe. You can set the drill options. You can also select saving priorities when saving a report in .xls format.

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BI Workspaces − Used to select a default stylesheet to use when creating a new workspace.

Crystal Reports − Used to set crystal reports options like printing options, default measuring unit, etc.

SAP Webi – Application Modes

There are three different application modes that can be used to build the queries, create documents and to analyze the reports. When you open an existing report, the following modes are available −

Data
Reading
Design

Data Application Mode

In this mode, you can create new data provider, change an existing data source or rename a data provider. You can also create, edit, and manage queries, which is used to pass data to reports.

In Data mode, it shows the list of all the available data providers. All the options in tool mode are disabled in this mode.

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Reading Mode

This mode allows you to display existing reports, search text, monitor changes in the reports, and drill down on the data in the report.

You can also use the left panel and tool bar in the Reading mode.
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Design Mode

Design mode allows you to add, delete objects in a report, applying conditional formatting, applying formulas in report, creating variables, etc.

Design mode with Structure only allows you to view the structure of the report. All the changes that you make in this mode, they are not applied to the server till you populate it with data.

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In Design mode with data, all the modifications applied in a report are on the server. In case you have to make a lot of changes in an existing report, it is recommended to make changes in structure mode and then populate the report with data.

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So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘Overview of SAP Webi’ blog helps you with commonly asked questions if you are looking out for a job in SAP Business Object and SAP Domain. If you wish to learn SAP Web Intelligence and build a career in SAP domain, then check out our interactive, SAP Business Objects Certification Training, that comes with 24*7 support to guide you throughout your learning period. Please find the link for course details:

https://www.tecklearn.com/course/sap-business-objects-certification-training/

SAP Business Objects Certification Training

About the Course

Business intelligence tools and features are used by multiple companies and firm for the effective results their large flow of data. The completion of this SAP Business Objects training will be helpful in landing yourself a good paying job. With this Business Objects online training, you will gain considerable proficiency in SAP BO architecture, data warehousing, use of Information design tool, create multiple reports and the implementation of Web intelligence and Efficiency in solving the issues of data sources and Crystal dashboard design.

Why Should you take SAP Business Objects Training?

The Average salary of SAP Business Objects Business Intelligence Analyst is $94,000 per annum – PayScale.com
Business Objects is an enterprise reporting tool and Scalability is one of the primary reasons large corporations choose Business Objects for their BI needs.
Worldwide Business Intelligence and Analytics Market to grow to $22.8 billion in next 2 years – Gartner.

What you will Learn in this Course?

Introduction to Business Objects

History and Version of Business Object
How Business Objects works in SAP family
SAP BO-Business Intelligence package and tool list
Data warehousing concept from SAP perspective

SAP Business Object Architecture

SAP BO Architecture
Various tiers in architecture: Client, Processing, Intelligence

SAP Web Intelligence

Web Intelligence Overview
Variable in Web Intelligence environment

Using Universe Designer Tools (UDT)

Overview of the Universe Designer Tool
Working with shared, secured and personal connections
Understanding of the Semantic layer

SAP BO Reports

SAP BO Reports
Chart Reports, Table Reports, Sorting and aggregating of Reports
Various elements of Reports, graphs, text elements
Reports and Filters
Section Report
Break Report
Alerts Report
Scope of Analysis Panel
Conditional Reporting
Ranked Report
Drill Report

Advanced Formatting

Advanced methods of formatting in SAP BO
Identifying Chasm trap and resolving Chasm traps with various methodologies
Detection and resolving of loop

Information Design Tool (IDT) Integration

Introduction to SAP BO information design tool
Extracting data from various sources using OLAP methodologies
Creating of Universe with IDT
IDT Vs UDT
Working with IDT as an Integration tool

Getting started with Crystal Dashboard

Data visualization tool for creating interactive dashboards
Point-and-click Features
Various dashboard features and interface

Live Office

Live office
Detailed design of Crystal Dashboard

SAP BO 4.2 Features

Got a question for us? Please mention it in the comments section and we will get back to you.

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