1. Creating Interactive Dashboards in Web Intelligence
Jared Hansen
City of Mesa
Creating Interactive Dashboards in Web Intelligence
Using document linking and input controls to create dynamic and interactive reports

2. Linking Create hyperlinks to other documents
Parameters can be passed between documents
Linking can be made to specific report tabs or report elements
Creates a more cohesive and guided analytical solution
Use HTML mode (under preferences) to use the “wizard”, otherwise the Add Document Link option isn’t available and you have to manually add the link using the OpenDocument() function.

3. Linking - Steps Right-click on row, column, or cell in a data table
Select LINKING from the context menu
Select ADD DOCUMENT LINK

4. Linking - Steps
With the LINK TO DOCUMENT tab selected, click BROWSE to choose an existing WebI report.

5. Linking - Steps
Navigate to the destination report and click OPEN

6. Linking - Steps Select prompts dialog appears
Can use if the select row, column, or cell appears as a prompt in the destination report
Otherwise, click CANCEL

7. Linking - Steps Hyperlink properties Refresh on Open
Target area within the document
Report name
Report part

8. Linking - Steps Document prompts
What parameters pass to the destination report
Right-click the down arrow for options
Select object
Use document default

9. Linking - Steps How you want to display the results (WebI, HTML, PDF)
Where you want to display

10. Linking - Results

11. Input Controls
Allows users to slice, dice, and interact with data while reading a report
One of the most powerful filtering tools you can add to a report to encourage interactivity
Uses the retrieved dimension, measures, or variables

12. Input Controls - Steps Select the input controls from the side panel
Click on NEW at the top
Select the object or variable to use as source and click NEXT

13. Input Controls - Steps
Choose preferred control type either simple or multiple
Simple Selections
Entry field – direct user input
Combo box – dropdown box
Radio buttons – select one value using radio button
List box – make selection from a list
Multiple Selections
Check box – check several values from list
List box – select multiple values from a list

14. Input Controls - Steps
Input Control Properties will depend on selected control type
List of values
Allow selection of all values
Default values(s)
Filter operators
Number of lines
Click NEXT

15. Input Controls - Steps
Select what parts of the report you want filtered by the input control
Entire report tab
Specific elements
Click FINISH

16. Input Controls - Results

17. BI WebI Dashboard
Way to create an interactive report in WebI that functions similarly to a Dashboard
Multiple report elements
Use Input Controls to show/hide specific report elements
Use Input Controls to dynamically change columns
Add Linking for further details/functionality

18. BI WebI Dashboard - Steps
Create a new variable such a vTableChart with a value of “Table”

19. BI WebI Dashboard - Steps
Use the vTableChart variable to create an input control
Use a custom list of values
Chart
Table

20. BI WebI Dashboard - Steps
Uncheck “Allow selection of all values”
You don’t normally want all elements to show at once!
Select the default value from the custom list

21. BI WebI Dashboard - Steps
Select each report element and hide when following formula(s) is/are true:
Right-click on table: vTableChart <> “Table”
Right-click on chart: vTableChart <> “Chart”

22. BI WebI Dashboard - Results

23. Dynamically Change Columns – First
Create a variable [vColumn1] = “Default Value”
Use an input control for each value you want
Use the following formula in the table
=If [vColumn1] = “Value1” Then [Value1] ElseIf [vColumn1] = “Value2” Then [Value2] ElseIf [vColumn1] = “Value3” Then [Value3] Else [DefaultValue]
Use the following in the table heading
=If [vColumn1]="None" Then "" Else [Column1]

24. Dynamically Change Columns – Subsequent
Create a variable [vColumn2] = “None”
Use an input control for each value you want
Use the following formula in the table
=If [vColumn2] = “Value1” Then [Value1] ElseIf [vColumn2] = “Value2” Then [Value2] ElseIf [vColumn2] = “Value3” Then [Value3] Else “”
Use the following in the table heading
=If [vColumn2]="None" Then "" Else [Column2]

25. Dynamically Change Columns - Results

26. WebI Resources
SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence: The Comprehensive Guide 3rd Edition
Book – sap-press.com/sap-businessobjects-web-intelligence_3673
Let’s Speak BO Web Series – events.infosol.com/lets-speak-bo
How to Create a Dashboard in Web Intelligence - youtu.be/lHvKcAValcI
SAP Product Tutorials – sap.com/LearnBI
YouTube Training Videos – youtube.com/SAPAnalyticsTraining
SAP Community Network – scn.sap.com/Welcome
WebI – scn.sap.com/communities/businessobjects-web-intelligence
WebI 4.x Tips and Tricks – scn.sap.com/doc/DOC-50171
Wiki – wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/BOBJ/Business+Intelligence
BOBJ Board – forumtopics.com/busobj