Talis Decisions: InfoView and Web Intelligence · Talis Decisions InfoView and Web Intelligence • Central Management Console (CMC) This is a web-based tool for administering the

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Talis Decisions: InfoView and

Web Intelligence

Trainee Notes

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Contents

1. Introducing Talis Decisions......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 What is Talis Decisions? ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 The Product Suite.................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Accessing information with InfoView and Web Intelligence................................................................................... 6 1.4 Talis Decisions Architecture .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Understanding the semantic layer ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Querying with InfoView/Web Intelligence .............................................................................................................. 7 1.7 Aggregation........................................................................................................................................................... 8

2. Getting started with InfoView .................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Logging on .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Rights .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.3 The Home Page .................................................................................................................................................. 11 2.4 Accessing objects................................................................................................................................................ 12

2.4.1 Folders: .............................................................................................................................................. 13 2.4.2 Categories: ......................................................................................................................................... 13

2.5 Managing objects ................................................................................................................................................ 15 2.6 Uploading Agnostic documents and Adding Hyperlinks ...................................................................................... 16 2.7 Shortcuts ............................................................................................................................................................. 17 2.8 Viewing a Web Intelligence document................................................................................................................. 17 2.9 Parts of a Web Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence document......................................................................... 20 2.10 Discussions ....................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.11 Logging off InfoView.......................................................................................................................................... 22

3. Customising InfoView................................................................................................................................................ 23 3.1 Customising InfoView options ............................................................................................................................. 23

3.1.1 General tab......................................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.2 Web Intelligence Document tab ........................................................................................................... 25 3.1.3 Desktop Intelligence tab ...................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.4 Password tab ...................................................................................................................................... 27

3.2 Creating a dashboard.......................................................................................................................................... 27 4. Creating Web Intelligence Documents ..................................................................................................................... 31

4.1 The Report Panel ................................................................................................................................................ 31 4.2 Creating a new document ................................................................................................................................... 31 4.3 Saving a new document ...................................................................................................................................... 33 4.4 Modifying a document’s query............................................................................................................................. 35 4.5 Working with the Edit Query View ....................................................................................................................... 35 4.6 Query Manager pane .......................................................................................................................................... 37 4.7 Building a query................................................................................................................................................... 39

Talis Decisions InfoView and Web Intelligence

5. Restricting the Data Returned................................................................................................................................... 40 5.1 Restricting data with Query Filters....................................................................................................................... 40 5.2 Using predefined filters........................................................................................................................................ 42 5.3 Applying a single-value and multi-value filters..................................................................................................... 42 5.4 Using Prompted filters ......................................................................................................................................... 45 5.5 Using Objects as operands ................................................................................................................................. 47 5.6 Using complex filters ........................................................................................................................................... 47 5.7 Prompt order ....................................................................................................................................................... 48

6. Report Design in the Edit Report View..................................................................................................................... 49 6.1 Edit Report View.................................................................................................................................................. 50 6.2 Document Pane................................................................................................................................................... 50 6.3 Report Manager .................................................................................................................................................. 50 6.4 Toolbars .............................................................................................................................................................. 51

6.4.1 General Toolbar .................................................................................................................................. 51 6.4.2 Reporting Toolbar ............................................................................................................................... 52 6.4.3 Formatting Toolbar.............................................................................................................................. 53 6.4.4 Page Navigation Toolbar ...................................................................................................................... 54

6.5 Managing Reports ............................................................................................................................................... 54 6.5.1 The Document Properties Panel ........................................................................................................... 55

6.6 Displaying data in tables and charts.................................................................................................................... 56 6.7 Creating tables .................................................................................................................................................... 58 6.8 Adding data to tables........................................................................................................................................... 59 6.9 Creating Free Standing Cells .............................................................................................................................. 60 6.10 Creating charts .................................................................................................................................................. 62

7. Enhancing Reports .................................................................................................................................................... 66 7.1 Breaks ................................................................................................................................................................. 66 7.2 Calculations......................................................................................................................................................... 67 7.3 Sorts.................................................................................................................................................................... 68 7.4 Report Filters....................................................................................................................................................... 69 7.5 Ranking ............................................................................................................................................................... 71 7.6 Alerters................................................................................................................................................................ 72

7.6.1 Alerter Formatting ............................................................................................................................... 73 7.7 Sections .............................................................................................................................................................. 76

8. Formatting Reports .................................................................................................................................................... 78 8.1 Report Properties ................................................................................................................................................ 79 8.2 Header/Footer Properties.................................................................................................................................... 80 8.3 Section Properties ............................................................................................................................................... 81 8.4 Table Properties .................................................................................................................................................. 82 8.5 Column/Row Properties ...................................................................................................................................... 85 8.6 Cell Properties..................................................................................................................................................... 87 8.7 Chart Properties .................................................................................................................................................. 89

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8.8 Number Formatting ............................................................................................................................................. 90 8.9 Cutting and pasting into other documents ........................................................................................................... 90

9. Formulas and Variables............................................................................................................................................. 91 9.1 Formula Editor..................................................................................................................................................... 91

10. Synchronising Data ................................................................................................................................................. 95 10.1.1 Some rules about synchronising with merged dimensions .................................................................... 99

11. Drilling .................................................................................................................................................................... 100 12. Sharing Objects and Documents ......................................................................................................................... 102

12.1 Sending documents to BusinessObjects Inboxes............................................................................................ 102 12.2 Sending documents to email accounts............................................................................................................ 103 12.3 Scheduling a Web Intelligence document ....................................................................................................... 105

13. Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................................................................ 107 13.1 Timeouts ......................................................................................................................................................... 107 13.2 Shortcuts ......................................................................................................................................................... 107 13.3 Templates ....................................................................................................................................................... 107

14. Desktop Intelligence.............................................................................................................................................. 108 15. Appendix One – Web Intelligence Formula Functions ....................................................................................... 109



1. Introducing Talis Decisions

1.1 What is Talis Decisions? Talis Decisions is web-based tool to produce data for decision support and performance management. The following can be done:

• Analyse performance and trends.

• Create powerful dashboards.

• Analyse data in different ways.

• Present reports in various formats.

• Distribute and schedule reports.

• Create ad-hoc reports.

Talis Decisions allows reports to be created and modified quickly using business defined objects. It is an interface between users and the database. It hides the complexity of the SQL required to retrieve the data from the Alto database.

Not covered by this course • Working in Interactive View

• Advanced reporting

• Events and Calendars

• System configuration and management

1.2 The Product Suite Talis Decisions is made up of various components:

• InfoView

This is a portal to view objects. It is also possible to refresh and distribute documents. It is also possible to schedule objects to be refreshed. It is possible to access Web Intelligence from InfoView.

• Web Intelligence

This is a web-based document creation tool that uses universes to retrieve data from the Alto database. It allows a user to format data in multiple ways and formats to produce documents.

• Desktop Intelligence

This is a client-based document writing tool. It was previously known as BusinessObjects Reporter or the Full Client.

Not covered in detail in the course in detail. The logic is similar in the two products so any discussion will focus on the differences.

• Designer

This is a client-based tool for creating and loading universes.

Not covered in the course.



• Central Management Console (CMC)

This is a web-based tool for administering the system.

Not covered in the course.

1.3 Accessing information with InfoView and Web Intelligence InfoView and Web Intelligence allows you to access the Alto database using everyday business terms and uses a Thin Client in a web browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox using Java).

The browser connects to the Talis Decisions Server which contains a web application server (Tomcat). The web application server and the BusinessObjects software send queries to the Alto database on the MIS server.

The data is then sent back through the Decisions Server to the browser. The output format can be modified or exported to other tools

The Decisions Server can also distribute reports to other Decisions users or to email addresses. These documents and other objects can be organised in public and personal folders and categories as required.

It is also possible to tie discussion threads to specific reports so you have a history about the document or report.

1.4 Talis Decisions Architecture Talis Decisions is powered by BusinessObjects Enterprise XI R2 SP1.



1.5 Understanding the semantic layer A semantic layer isolates a user from the physical structure of the database they wish to use and from the SQL needed to retrieve the data. There is no need to know how or where the data is stored in the database. Business terminology familiar to the user is used to describe objects that can be selected.

Talis Decisions uses universes of objects that are mapped to the relevant attributes in the alto database (prod_talis). These objects are given familiar names e.g. borrower type or item type.

There are three types of objects in a universe:

• Dimensions ( )

A dimension object is typically textual information by which users analyse numeric measures.

• Details ( )

A detail object provides additional information about a particular dimension.

• Measures ( )

A measure is a number that users wish to analyse.

Objects can be grouped together in classes ( ). As well as creating reports objects can also be used as conditions to limit the date returned. Preset conditions ( ) can also be created for users to select.

Show examples in the Circulation universe.

There are nine universes:

• Circulation

• Cataloguing

• Inter-library Loans

• Orders

• Reservations

• Standing Orders

• Subscriptions

• Loan Aggregates

• Income Manager

1.6 Querying with InfoView/Web Intelligence By selecting objects within a universe you can create a query in the query panel and then run it. The Decisions Server converts the query to SQL. This SQL is run against the database and then the results are returned to the Decisions Server. The Decisions Server then generates the formatted report and sends the report pages to the workstation to be displayed.



The report can contain tables and charts from single or multiple queries. These queries can be from other universes. It is also possible to join two separate queries together. The queries return the data in microcubes, one for each query, which can then be manipulated within a document.

A document may make use of some or all of the data within the microcube. The microcube allows for drilling and slicing and aggregation in the results. The microcube also means that it is not necessary to go to the database to rerun the query for every change.

You might have:

One query One data set One report with a single view of the data.

One query One data set Multiple reports with different views of the data

Multiple queries

Multiple datasets

One report

Multiple queries

Multiple datasets

Multiple report with different views of the data

Desktop Intelligence is similar however the report generation and effort is done within the client software i.e. on the PC running Desktop Intelligence and not on the Decisions Server. The Decisions server is still required for accessing the system database for authentication and rights management.

1.7 Aggregation One of the benefits of using a microcube of data is, that where measure objects are selected, it is possible for results to be aggregated. This means that the results the measure object displays will relate to the objects it is selected with.

For example the table below shows the number of issues/renewals by loan type and item type. The three columns relate to three objects that were selected from the Loan Aggregates universe. The Total issues/renews column is a measure object.

If the Loan Types column is removed the row figures are recalculated to reflect the change but the total remains the same. If the Item types column is removed then a similar effect is seen.



If the only the Total issues/renews object is displayed then the display matches the sum of the issues/renews from the other displays.

All four examples were taken from the data returned from one query and there was no need to go back to the database in each case. In fact all four views could be included in the same report.

WARNING:

There can be issues with aggregation for particular objects, combinations of objects or how those objects are formatted within reports.

Some measure objects look at attributes in the database that are single figures that cannot be broken down.



2. Getting started with InfoView

2.1 Logging on InfoView is accessed via a web page:

http://servername:8080/businessobjects/enterprise115/desktoplaunch/InfoView/logon/logon.do

NOTE:

The InfoView logon page can also be accessed from:

http://servername:8080/businessobjects/enterprise115/desktoplaunch

This links to a logon screen.

There are a number of components:

• System

This is the name of the system. This is likely to be @Decisions but this may vary.

• User name

The user name (not case sensitive).

• Password

This will be set up by the system administrator and may need to conform to a set pattern e.g. number of character or mixture of character types. It is possible for the user to change their password within the defined rules once logged in.

• Authentication

There are a number of ways of authenticating users but we are only using Enterprise e.g. controlled by the Decisions server.

2.2 Rights When you login you pick up a set of rights. These rights are assigned to each user directly or inherited from the groups or groups that the user resides in.

These rights control what can be done or even seen e.g. folders, documents and universes can be limited to certain users. Another example is that users can be prevented from deleting objects or folders.

In the training system there are generally no restrictions but in the customers environment there may well be restrictions placed on the system for users.

Rights are controlled from within the Central Management Console and would be set-up by the system administrator. The Central Management Console functionality and rights are covered in Talis Decisions: Administration course.

ACTIVITY 01:

Log on as your assigned user. In the first instance try the logon with no password to get the logon failure message.



2.3 The Home Page The InfoView Home Page is made up of various sections called panels.

• Title Bar: Contains a logo and user account name

• Navigation Bar: This panel contains the following buttons:

Navigation bar Button

Description

Displays the InfoView Home Page

Hides or displays the Navigation Panel

Hides or displays the Encyclopaedia if available. Note this is not part of the standard installation.

Select the option to create a new Web Intelligence, Desktop Intelligence, Hyperlink or upload a document from a PC.

Refreshes the InfoView screen

Allows you to send a document to another user, to email, to an FTP location or to a file location.

Allows the creation of custom dashboards for My InfoView page.

Allows a user to search for documents using terms in the title, keyword or all fields. There is also an advance search option.



Navigation bar Description Button

Allows a user to set personal preferences.

Click to logoff InfoView

Display BusinessObjects Help.

• Navigation Panel:

o This panel displays either lists of folders (“My folders” and Public folders) or lists of categories (Personal and Corporate Categories). There are buttons to switch between folders and categories. It is also possible to create new folders and categories in this panel. It is also possible to minimise this panel or to resize it.

• WorkSpace Panel:

o This panel displays documents associated with a selected folder or category. The WorkSpace Panel also has a toolbar with the options to move, delete or filter those documents displayed. When first logged in a splash page is displayed but this can be configured. (This is covered later in the section about Customising InfoView.) The panel can be expanded or opened in a separate window.

o The WorkSpace Panel will also display the contents of a selected document.

• Discussions Panel:

o This panel allows the discussions connected to a document to be displayed. By default this panel is minimised.

2.4 Accessing objects InfoView acts as a portal to a range of objects. These objects are also called documents especially where they are Web Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence objects.

An object can be:

• Web Intelligence

• Desktop Intelligence

• Crystal Report

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Microsoft Excel

• Text

• Adobe Acrobat

• Rich Text

• Microsoft Word

• Hyperlink

(The non-BusinessObjects documents are sometimes referred to as agnostic documents)

These can all be viewed in InfoView.

There are two ways of organising objects - folders and categories. These can have a tree structure of sub-folders and sub-categories.

Objects can be viewed by others if they are held in the Public Folders and Corporate Categories. If objects are in My Folders or Personal categories then they are reserved for a user’s personal use and are not visible to other users. Under My Folders there are two folders, Favorites and Inbox.



2.4.1 Folders:

• Are used as containers for objects. A folder relates to a physical location of an object.

• A folder can hold many objects but an object can only sit in one folder. i.e. the object can only exist in one place in the folder system. This means that deleting a folder will delete the objects and sub-folders within the folder as well.

• The My Folders section will contain a Favorites and Inbox for all users by default. The Inbox is a peculiar type of personal folder. This is where objects sent to a user within InfoView will be delivered. You don’t have as much functionality related to objects in an Inbox. The object should be moved to a Personal or Public folder to perform any other activity than viewing the report. It should not be used for storing objects.

• It is possible to create new folders. New folders can be created under the Favorites folder or under Public Folders. It is not possible to create folders at the same level as the Favorites folder.

2.4.2 Categories:

• Are used to tag objects to classify them in a meaningful way.

• A category can hold many objects and an object can sit in many categories. Deleting a category will not affect the objects held within the category.

• Initially there are no Personal or Corporate Categories unless they are migrated from an earlier version of Talis Decisions.

• It is possible to create Personal and Corporate Categories.



The Navigation Panel has a tool bar:

Toolbar Button

Description

Shows the Folders view

Shows the Categories view

Refreshes the Navigation Panel

View and edit sub-folder and sub-category properties.

Reorganise folders and categories and create new folders or categories. It is also possible to create new folders and categories from the in the man Navigation Toolbar.

Copy selected folders and sub-folders. This option is not available with categories.

Delete selected folders or categories.

NOTE:

Deleting a folder will delete the objects and sub-folders within the folder as well.

Deleting a category will not affect the objects held within the category.



2.5 Managing objects When you select a folder or category the objects that exist in that folder or category are displayed in the WorkSpace Panel in a list. The information displayed and the number of objects displayed in one screen is configurable in the preferences. Where there are objects spread over more than one page (The default is 10 objects per page) then there are links to the additional pages at the bottom of the WorkSpace Panel.

Against each Object is a checkbox. The organise and delete buttons on the toolbar require objects to be selected via the checkbox. Clicking the checkbox in the header bar will check all objects on the page.

Each object on the list includes an icon to indicate the type of an object it is.

The arrows and will maximise or minimise the object display by removing the options under the title of each object. The arrow on the header will allow toggle all the objects displays on the page.

The name of the object will link to the document itself. The page list can be sorted by clicking on the Title section of the header. The display of agnostic documents (i.e. non Webi or Deski documents) will depend on the applications loaded on the PC and the configuration of the browser e.g. you should have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to view a PDF document. Agnostic documents cannot be edited directly in InfoView. To change an agnostic document you need to save it onto the PC, make the changes and then uploaded again.

Each object on this list has a number of options that vary depending on the type of object.

Object option

Description

Properties This links to the object details e.g. Title, Description, Keywords, create date, last modified date, Last run date and what categories have been assigned. It is possible to update the categories.

History Shows the instances of the Web Intelligence or Desktop Intelligence object.

Schedule Allows the Web Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence objects to be scheduled.

Modify Allows Web Intelligence objects to be modified (and Desktop Intelligence objects if Desktop Intelligence is loaded on the PC)

The WorkSpace Panel has a toolbar when looking at a list:



Toolbar option Description

The following options are possible for selected object/s:

♦ Move to New Folder

♦ Copy to New Folder

♦ Add Shortcuts to New Folder

♦ Add to my Favourites

Delete selected object/s.

Allows the user to select a particular type of object to be displayed. Only one specific object can be selected at a time. The option defaults to All Types

It is possible to get a list of objects that match search criteria. The Search option in the Navigation bar will return all the objects that match the search. There are different search options and an advanced search screen.

2.6 Uploading Agnostic documents and Adding Hyperlinks Go to the button on the Navigation Bar and select the Document from local computer option and then select the type of document you wish to upload.

The types of documents than can be uploaded are

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Microsoft Excel

• Text

• Adobe Acrobat

• Rich Text

• Crystal Report

• Microsoft Word

A screen will be displayed where you can enter the title, description and keywords for the file. There is also a browse button to find the file on the PC. It is also possible to select the Folder and/or categories for the file.



erlink select that option from the button and enter the URL details etc. To add a Hyp

2.7 Shortcuts A shortcut is s as opposed to copying an ct in more than one fo assigning more than one category to an

This means th n version which might not refl

To create a shortcut

Tick the chec

Select “Add Shor

Select the fold

The new Shor bjects title. hile it is possible to rename the shortcut object title this should be done with care as there is no other

indication that the object is a shortcut.

e document me in the list of documents. The report is

le to minimise the Navigation Panel.)

an object that points to another object in a different folder. You can create shortcutd moving documents from one folder to another. Effectively it is a way to have an obje

lder. You cannot create Shortcuts in Categories as there is no restriction in object.

at a number of users are looking at a single report rather than each having their owect a single view as each document is changed over time.

kbox for the selected object

tcuts to New Folder” from the Organize menu

er you require from the next screen and Click OK.

tcut object will be created and the title will have Shortcut to appended to the original oW

ACTIVITY 02:

Open the Public Training Folder and copy objects and create shortcuts in the train folder corresponding to your logon in the Public Folders area i.e. Train1, Train2, Train3 or Train4.

Create Personal Folders and Categories and populate them.

2.8 Viewing a Web IntelligencA Web Intelligence document can be viewed by clicking on its nadisplayed in WorkSpace Panel. (If you want more space it is possib



The report appears in the WorkSpace Panel.

Left-sided pane Toolbar Document pane

Status bar

The left-sided pane can be flipped between three views

• Navigation Map Pane: This pane lists the reports included in the document and any sections within each report.

• User Prompt Input Pane: If the document includes prompts then you can view the values selected and change if required.

• Find Pane: This allows you to search for terms within the document.

The Document Pane shows the document with the current report displayed. There are tabs to move between the different reports within the document. If there are a lot of reports in the document, arrows will appear next to the status bar to allow you to access the additional reports.

At the bottom of the Document Pane is the Status Bar which displays the last refresh date.

The toolbar has the following options:





The following options are possible for selected obremember the last set of options selected:

ject/s. The browser tends to

ave permission to you will be able to modify either the format or

Saves the document under the original name and location. You may wish ocument if you have refreshed the data within the document.

tion. You may wish to save a nt under a new name if you have refreshed the data within the

omputer as

It is also possible to save the data retrieved from the SQL queries in a CSV tted file. The data retrieved may be different from what is displayed

respectively.

♦ Close

Closes the document

♦ Edit

If you hthe queries in the document.

♦ Save

to save a d

♦ Save as

Save the report under a new name and locadocumedocument.

♦ Save to my c

The document can be saved to the PC as a PDF, Excel spreadsheet and thus retain the formatting of the report as displayed.

formain the document. The CSV (with options) allows you to define another column delimiter and text qualifier other than the default of , and “

The obro

♦

of displaying the document. This method will

♦

♦

♦

Toggles the display of the Left panel

♦ Status Bar

Toggles the display of the Status Bar.

ptions under this tool allow you to alter the WorkSpace Panel view. The wser tends to remember the last set of options selected.

Page mode

This is the default method display document headers and footers.

Draft mode

Does not display headers and footers and allow a greater focus on the data.

PDF mode

Displays the document as a PDF.

Left Panel

Saves the document under the existing title and in its present folder.

Opens the Find Pane in the Left pane.




a change in m possible to undo or redo one action.

These options are only available if a change is made to a document e.g. the document is refreshed. It might be more up-to-date data or pro pted values. It is only

Enlvalu

arge or shrink the document by a defined percentage or enter your own e.

be spread over several pages. The arrows allow you to

backwards one page at a time or to go to the first or last pag

the total number of pages may not be displayed when a docume ause the Decisions Server does not return all p sends the pages that are being viewed.

ge is displayed the system has not checked what total number the document. To see the total number of pages move

to t

The document may move forward and

e directly. It is also possible to enter the page number you require directly.

It is possible that nt is first viewed. This is bec

ages to the browser at once. It justWhen the first paof pages contained in

he last page using the button.

refresh the query or queries in the document. If the document

con accept the existing values or to cha

ou

This button will tains prompts you will be prompted to nge the values.

If a document is refreshed but not saved then you will be warned if yattempt to close the document.

The drill option allows you to start drilling into the document data. This cantoggled on and off. For example you could drill down from item type to listthe locations containing that item type

be

ng

es accessible.

The ability to do this successfully depends on the nature of the query. Drilliwill be covered later. Once drilling is started in a report the Snapshot optionbecom

The Snapshot option only becomes available with Drill. As you drill down through data you will be getting different views. The Snapshot allows you to take a copy of that report and insert it into a new report for comparison or just later review.

2.9 Parts of a Web A docume various co

• One or more un er ta source e.g. the prod_talis da

• A result set which co

• One or more format ain data from one or more queries.

• Each may condata or different view

The components of a repor

• Sections

Each report has a main section.

Intelligence and Desktop Intelligence document mponents: nt is made up of

iv ses that are used to generate SQL queries that extract information from a database.

ntains the results from the queries stored in microcubes.

ted reports. Each report may cont

report tain multiple blocks i.e. a chart, table or crosstab. The blocks may display the same s of that data or data from different universes and queries.

t are:

There is also a Page Header and Page Footer.



It is possible to create sections based on Objects e.g. If you want the number of item by item type for each site then you can create sections based on the Home site location.

• Bloc

A block is a set of da ese blocks may be relate table and a chart showing the same information.

• Variables and Cells

A cell contains either fixed text, formulas or report variables. Fixed text variables are referred to as

ariables. When an objects is selected this becomes a variable in the report or a variable may be created using a formula e.g. adding two objects together or some other

ACT V

Acc sfold s

Copy P

eated.

Open a Web Intelligence document and explore the options available in the viewer.

2.10 Discussions allow discussion threads to be associated with an object. These discussion threads allow users to share t

ks

ta be that a table, crosstab or chart. Multiple blocks can be held in a section. Thd or not e.g. a

constants. Although we say fixed text they could be URLs or images.

Cells whose properties change are called v

function.

I ITY 03:

es the folders/categories and create some new folders or categories in the personal er /categories.

ublic Training Folder to the personal area.

Delete one of the new folders cr

Discussions

houghts and comments on the object to aid collaboration.

iscussions Bar is at the bottom of the screen under the WorkSpace Panel. By default it will be minimiseThe D d.

If the panel is maximised then discussions will only be visible if an object is selected from the document list or if e object is open in the WorkSpace Panel.

is created responses are displayed under the thread. Responses to responses are indented under the response. They are displayed in bold if unread within the current viewing. You cannot modify the

th

As each new thread

original post or other user’s posts.

The Discussions Panel has a Tool Bar.


Subject and a Message Section. A default subject line giving the user and date This button starts a new a new thread. Each thread response contains a

time will be inserted in the Subject but this can be replaced.

A new message is visible to everyone in the group.




You can reply to everyone in the Group. In this context it means anyone who has the right to see the discussions for this object which may cross several groups.

You can reply just to the sender. This means that only the sender and you can view that message within the Discussions Panel.

The list of messages displays the originator of the message.

notes. It is possible to delete threads in the CMC.

Deleting a message will delete all the responses as well.

This allows users to delete their own notes. You cannot delete other user’s

It is possible that where there are responses from other users that it may not be possible to remove the messages.

Flag a message as High Importance. It adds a red exclamation point to the message.

Flag a message as Low Importance. It adds a blue arrow pointing downwards to the message.

These arrows allow you to move up and down through the discussion threads.

It is not possible to be no i n threads can be done via the C

Select an object in the Public Train to group

2.11 Log off Info

Logging off InfoView should be done vi

tif ed of any replies to an individual or a group. Global management of DiscussioMC.

ACTIVITY 04:

ing Folder and get users to start threads and post responses s and individual users.

ging View

a the icon on the Navigation Bar. This will return you to the logon screen.

If you do closed the browser e user’s preferences.

ACTIVITY 0

Attempt to l from Inf

directly the users should be prompted to log out but this is configurable in th

5:

ogoff oView



3. Customising InfoView It is possible to change various preferences for the Talis Decisions product suite.

To change preferences

♦ Click on the icon on the Navigation .

A set of

Bar

tabs appears in the workspace panel.

o save changes

e changes and remain in the Preferences module

r

♦ Click OK to return to the WorkSpace Panel

3.1 Customising InfoView options

3.1.1 General tab

This section will only cover the General, Web Intelligence, Desktop Intelligence and Password tabs.

TAt the bottom of the page:

♦ Click the Apply button to save th

o

Options Description

My initial view is … • Home

The default.

• My InfoView

See later section

• Favourites

Display the objects in your Favourites folder.

• Inbox

Display the contents of your inbox

• the folder

Select a personal or public folder to display. The folder selected is displayed. Click on the browse button to select a folder.

• the category

Select a personal or public category to display. The category selected is displayed. Click on the browse button to select a folder.

My default navigation view is …

The Navigation Pane displays the folder view on logon by default. The category view can be set to display on logon.



Options Description

On my desktop … The number of objects that will display on a page cdefault is 10 (although this global default can be alter

an be altered. The ed in the CMC).

Useful if there is a range of resolutions used.

For each document, By show me …

• Description

default all possible information is displayed but options can be disabled.

• Instance count

• Actions and descriptions

Unchecking this option will mean the object actions will not be ng the

• Owner

• Last run date

and displayed by default. The actions can be viewed usi arrows.

View my documents By default any do…

cuments are displayed in the WorkSpace Panel e.g. in the InfoView Panel.

to view documents in a single browser window e.g. if a opened then the existing document is replaced or to

open a new browser window for each document.

The latter option would mean multiple windows that could be confusing but it does make it easier to compare different documents.

It is also possible new document is

When Ideally a user should logoff cleanly using the

I close mybrowser window … icon but if the browser is

you can select to be prompted to logoff, to always logoff or nev e session. The best option is to leave the default e.g. alw

closed thener to close thays ask.

My interface locale is …

rowser locale. You can select another locale from the list ensure the browser is set to the right locale e.g.

Kingdom)

This is set to Use b but it is better to

English (United

My current time-zone is …

Th ing to another time zone cou

is should be left to Local to web server. Changld lead to confusing timestamps etc.



3.1.2 Web Intelligence Document tab

Options Description

Select a view format:

fresh the document data to see the latest figures. The the best option for the majority of

s you to carry out changes to reports while viewing details later but only useful for advance users ption can be limited within the CMC.

•

you want to print and view reports.

• HTML

The default setting. Useful if you want to navigate reports to view results and revalues are static. This is probablyusers.

• Interactive

This mode allowthem in InfoView. More and report writers. This o

Portable Document Format (PDF)

Useful if

Select a report panel: (The course and this document only use the java report panel.)

work with queries in a HTML environment. Is restricted

ew

sing al editor. It is strongly suggested that the Java Panel

to build query and report features through a simple interface. Each document that you create is based on a single data source and can contain multiple reports that display different subsets of information. The HTML Report Panel can be customised for special deployments. Again this is restrictive.

• Query – HTML

Allows you to in that you can’t modify the formatting. The formatting of the document can be done if used in conjunction with the Interactive vimode.

It requires no additional software so is useful where there are firewall restrictions or dial-up connections used.

Can be disabled in the CMC.

• Java Report Panel

Allows you to work in a java panel which allows formula building ua graphicoption is selected. The other options might be useful where networkrestrictions mean the java panel does not perform or can be downloaded.

• HTML Report Panel

The HTML Report Panel allows you

For each new drill session:

The default drill option is to start the drill process on an existing report. However you can change the default setting to create a duplicate report when you start the drill operations.



Options Description

General drill options: • Prompt if drill requires additional information

If a drill requires additional data then you can selected to be prompted ue or not.

•

olbar

to contin

Synchronise drill in report blocks

If you had a table and a chart of the same data and you drilled in the table without this option set then the chart would not reflect the drill.

• Hide drill to

When you drill the Drill Toolbar automatically appears unless this option is set.

Select MS EXCEL format:

• ing in at of reports in the Excel

• If you want to display the data in a text format, then choose "Prioritize g in the Excel document".

Thdat

If you want to display the data in a format that is similar to workExcel, then choose "Prioritize the formdocument".

easy data processin

ese options only relate to output from scheduled documents and not to a exported while viewing a document.

Select a format locale: ThIntellig work with your documents. It is advised to sel

e locale setting determines the language set and date format that Web ence uses when you

ect the Use interface locale option

When viewing a document:

You can select the locale that was used the document was created or the ere should be no difference in most cases

through out. It is advised that that the formatting

when current formatting locale. Th

as a single locale is used locale is used.

Select default universe:

YoIntto.default universe if set will be displa the option to sele rse when creating a new document.

u can select a default universe to be used when creating a Web elligence document. You can only select universes that you have access Select the No default universe option to remove the default. The

yed. Be aware you don’t get ct another unive

3.1.3 Desktop Intelligence tab

Options Description

HTML This is the default value and will display a Desktop Intelligence documenin HTML format. This is better suite

t d where a document is to be

refreshed and it contains prompts etc.

Portable Document Format

The document is displayed in PDF format (Abode Acrobat must be installed). This is suited to viewing and printing reports.

Desktop Intelligence Format

If Desktop Intelligence is installed on the PC then the document will be downloaded and opened in Desktop Intelligence. The application will be opened as the same user as the Web Intelligence user automatically. The



Options Description co nection to the database will be governed by the connection server. n

3.1.4 Password tab This option allows a user to change their password. It is necessary to enter the original password and then enter the new password twice.

Within the CMC rules can be set-up orm to the settings the change will be rejec

ACTIVITY 06:

Make changes to the Preferences and check the effects in InfoView.

3.2 Creating a dashboIt is possible to create your own pe nfoView option allows you to create a set of views on folders odisplayed in the WorkSpace Pan when you logon. See General Preferfolde

The My InfoView dashboard ca or from the

regarding password structure and aging. If a password does not confted.

ard rsonal dashboard with My InfoView. The My I

r documents. The My InfoView object created can then be selected to be el manually or it can be set to be displayed

ences. It is only possible to have one My InfoVir.

ew object per user. It is held in the users Favourites

n be accessed via the Favourites folder button on the Navi

If a d been created

gation Toolbar.

ashboard has then the dashboard is displayed e.g.

The option to edit the dashboard is given ting a new o

If no dashboard has been create

at the top right of the dashboard. Editing the dashboard or crea

d then the following screen will be displayed.

ne is roughly the same.



A dash board is made up of a number of panes that can be pointed to folders or obj ries cannot be included. The number of panes can be defined by the user but certain predefined co s are supplied.

ects. Categonfiguration

Options Description

Single Pane

Two Columns

Three Columns

Two Rows

Three Rows

SharePoint Style

It is possibl will be displayed. Select

On each Pane

e to create additional panes but it is necessary to pick a template first. By default the Single Pane the nearest template to what is required.

are a number of icons:

Options Description

R eopen in a new Window



Options Description

Split Pane Vertically. This can be used to create dashboards that diffethe templates.

r from

Split Pane Horizontally. This can be used to create dashboards thfrom the templates.

at differ

Properties. This allows you define what is displayed in the pane. If a pane is empty then there will be a link in the pane called Define Content.

Close the pane. This option is not available in the Single Pane templ

ate.

It is possible to resize

To insert details into a ow will be opened. Once

each pane by using standard windows functionality.

pane select the Properties option or the Define Content option and a wind the pane properties are set click on the OK button.

Options Description

Web Address This allows a web page to be displayed in the pane e.g. a corporate page etc. ard URL. Cannot be used with the Object option. Enter a stand

Object Allow a Folder or an object to be displayed in the pane. The folder and cessible to the user. Cannot be used with Web Address object must be ac

option.

Header A caption to the Pane can be added to be displayed in the header.

A link from the header to a web page can be inserted as a standard URL.

Footer A caption to the Pane can be added to be displayed in the footer.

A link from the footer to a web page can be inserted as a standard URL.

Border By default borders to each side of the pane are displayed. These can be ide/s required. remove be deselecting the s

Once the changes have been made to the dashboard then click on the Save link.



The dashboard will be saved to the users Favourites folder and appear as follows:

By clicking on Modify li the nk it possible to make further changes.

When viewing the dashboard there

are a number of options for each pane

Options Description

Reopen in new window

Maximise – sets the pane to the whole of the WorkSpace

Restore – Restored the Pane to its original size in the WorkSpace.

ACTIVITY 07:

Create your own dashboard.



4. Creating Web Intelligence Documents InfoView allows you to view and refresh existing documents but Web Intelligence allows you to create a new document or modify an existing Web Intelligence.

enerated by selecting universe objects. In order to create a Web Intelligence document a query needs to be g

4.1 The Report Panel As mentioned in the Preferences section there is three types of Web Intelligence Report Panel. Only the Java Report Panel will be used during the course.

The Java Report Panel has two views, The Edit Query View and the Edit Report View.

CONFIGURATION:

Ensure that the Java Panel option is selected in the Preferences before starting this section. These may have been altered in the Preferences activity.

4.2 Creating a new document

To access the Web Intelligence Report Panel click on the button on the Navigation Bar. From the pull down list select the Web Intelligence Document option.

In the WorkSpace Panel a list of universes will be displayed.



Select the Loan Aggregates Universe. This universe is used initially as it isresponses to multiple queries. This makes it ideal for getting used to the r

very simple and allows quick eporting functionality.

e en once on a machine that has not run the Java Applet

hen

m be issues depending on the network access and install rights

d installed manually

ese functions are controlled from additional windows treated as pop-ups.

displayed.

The Java Report Panel will then load into the WorkSpace Panel. This may take a few seconds and users may bprompted to accept a certificate. This will only happbefore. Once the Java Applet has been loaded once within a browser session then it will load more quickly wit is subsequently accessed.

CONFIGURATION:

The browsers must be java enabled e.g. have the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) v5 (1.5) installed. If it isn’t installed then you will also be prompted to install this as well. The JRE will be downloaded frothe Sun web site and installed. There maygiven to you by your IT department. If necessary the JRE can be downloaded an

must be JRE v5 (1.5) or less. but it

In addition pop-ups must be allowed from the Decisions Server. If not it will not be possible to save or move documents as th

The Edit Query View in the (Java) Report Panel is

NOTE:

To ensure more space on-screen minimise the Navigation Panel by clicking on the icon on the Panel

header. The Panel can be displayed by clicking on the Toggle Navigation icon, on the Navigation Toolbar.

Select the following objects by double clicking on them in the Data Pane which will add them to the Result Objects Panel. The objects can also be dragged and dropped from the Data Pane to the Results Objects Pane. This is a simple query just to show a query being run and more details will be discussed later:

Year



Item type

Total issues/renews

Click on the button and a document will be generated in the Edit Report view. This view allows users to change how data is displayed. The progress of the query will be displayed and then the report will be displayed as a vertical table with a default title. This is the default display format.

4.3 Saving a new document Once a report has been created it needs to be saved in order to keep the document for future use. Click on the

icon in the Report Panel Toolbar to save the document. A pop-up box will be displayed that allows the document to be given a title and saved to a particular folder or category.



Options Description

Title This should a unique name. It a document already exists you will be prompted to confirm whether you want to overwrite the original report. The title is searchable.

Description This field allows additional comments against the report. The description is searchable.

Keywords Allows keywords to be assigned to aid in searching.

Refresh on open By default unchecked but it is possible to ensure that the latest data is viewed when the report is opened. However it is not advisable to check this option unless you are sure of the performance of the document and whether you want users to view the original data in the report.

PermaneRegional

Formatt

gs for region.

nt

ing

Checking this box would override the users default regional settinlanguage and time stamping. Not relevant as all users are in the same

Locati be saved. A be

e, copy or

er

on Allows the user to select the folder in which the document will folder must be selected and by default the users Favourites folder will selected. You can only save to one folder but it is possible to movcreate a shortcut within InfoView.

For all exercises users should save documents to their Favourites foldunless otherwise directed.

Categor der. al categories.

ies It is also possible to assign categories to the document as well as a folMore than one category can be selected from Public and PersonBy default no categories will be selected.

Move to the Favorites folder and the document will be displayed

Noti

ACTIVITY 08:

1. Search for the docume

ce that the description is displayed.

Create a document using the Loans Aggregate universe and save it.

nt and then open it.



4.4 Modifying a document’s query There are tw ays of ocument.

1. Click on the Modify

2. View the document Edit option from the

o main w modifying a d

link from the document list.

and then select the menu.

In both c takases you will be en to the Edit Report View. Click on the button to enter the Edit Query View.

4.5 WThe Edit Query View is mad

• Query Manager pane

• Ge ol B

ers pane

orking with the Edit Query View e up of a number of sections:

• Query Filt

neral View To ar and Query Toolbar • Results Objects pane

the Edit Query and Edit Report Views. It has the following ptions:

The General View Tool Bar is common to botho

Options Description

New Document – Allows you to create a document and build a new query. Unless the current document is saved the current document will be lost.



Options Description

document to the PC as an MSSaves the document. Also options to Save as a different name or to save the

Excel or PDF document.

es are saved as e documen ly be saved in

The Save button is greyed out in the Edit as queripart of a document and not separately. Th t can on

Query View

the Edit Report View.

Send the document to the PC default printer as a PDF.

the Edit Report View. This option is greyed out in

in the Edit Report View. This button allows the user to define what panes and toolbars are displayed

his option is greyed out in the EditT Report View.

This allows you to edit highlighted when in the Edi

the queries in will be ew.

the Edit Query View. It t Query Vi

This allows you to display the Edit Report View and control how you display the data from the query or queries.

The Run Query button (or Run Queries button where there is multiple queries) will run the query or all the queries and then return you to the Edit Report View to displayed the results in the report.

Where there is more than one query in a document then it is possible to select an individual query from the pull down option on the button. However this should be done with care as refreshing only one query may give incorrect results.

When a query is run the progress is displayed. The first time a query is run they is no time estimate given. Subsequent refreshes will display the time the query took on the last run as a guide. If a query is changed e.g. objects added or conditions applied then the last refresh time may no longer be a good guide to the time taken for the query to run.

Allows you to purge the data from queries. Where there are multiple queries it is possible to select a particular query to purge. Where no queries have been run the option will be greyed out.

User Settings

This allows the users to show measurements in Pixels, Inches or Centimetres.

It also allows a grid to be displayed in the Edit Report View and that objects will snap to the grid. The size of the grid can also be defined.

While it is possible to change the values while in the Edit Query View the settings only relate to the Edit Report View.

Displays context –sensitive help from BusinessObjects



TIP:

If you wan a doc ould take an hour so you want to schedule the docu

t to save uments without running the queries e.g. the queries wment to be refreshed then create the queries and the click on the

button. The o hen edit the format of the repo

The Query toolbar has the fo

bjects will be included in the report but there will be no data. You can trt and then save it within the Edit Report View.

llowing options:

Options Description

Configure View button. Allows you to toggle the Query Manager pandisplaying or not.

e from

Show/Hide Filter Pane.

Show/Hide Scope of Analysis pane

Allows you to add a new query to a document.

er selected from the Add Quick Filter button. Allows you to apply a filtResults Objects Pane.

Discussed in detail later.

utton – Allows you to create a sub-query to limit the data Add a sub-query breturned.

This is advanced functionality and won’t be covered. There are also performance issues in using sub-queries in Sybase.

Add a database ranking

This functionality not available in Sybase.

ion and intersection operator.

same result objects but different filters.

Add a combined query – Allows you to combine the data retrieved from more than one query using the minus, un

It requires the

. Where.

s

View SQL button – Allows you to view, copy and modify the SQL statements used to generate the query.

Modification can only be made to the conditions in the SQL e.g

Changes should be avoided and knowledge of SQL and the Alto database irequired.

.6 Query Manager pane ocuments can have more than one query associated with them. If this is the case there will be a tab for each

uery at the foot of the query manager pane. To move between queries select the

4D

q at the bottom of the ane as required. Right clicking on this tab allows you to Rename the query, Move the query (if there are p



multiple queries), Run the Query, Add a query, Duplicate a query, Delete the query or purge the results of a

The Query M

d highlighted then a short held description is displayed at the bottom of the screen. An object description is also displayed as you move the cursor over an object.

e objects used in Hierarchies using the radio buttons at the foot Drilling and will be discussed later. It is advised that the

All Objects option is selected.

• The

This all ou to de is unlikely to be a need

query (If it has been run).

anager pane has two tabs at the top for each query.

• The Data tab

Data tab shows all the objects within the universe and this is where objects are selected for queries. Classes maybe closed and expanded as required. If an object is selected anThe

It is possible to display All Objects or thof the query manager pane. Hierarchies relate to

Properties tab

ows y fine the properties of the query. The default values are shown below and thereto change these values.

Options Description



Options Description

Name Whenever a query is created the name defqueries in a document will be Query 2, Query 3 etc.

aults to Query 1. Any subsequent

It is possible to change the name at this prompt to better describe the query. This is most useful in documents with multiple queries.

Universe This field displays the universe used with the query. It is possible to change the universe associated with the query. Clicking on the button will list the

niverse or may have different names. It is better to create a new query within the document

universes available to the user.

It is not advised to change the universe as the objects select may not exist in another u

Limits By default the universes are set to retrieve all rows in a query and have no limit on the time taken. Limits can be added but this may affect the results of the query so should be avoided.

There ma e database which may also affect queries etting.

y be timeouts related to networks or thbut are not controlled by Timeout s

Data ery. It is not advisable to change Any duplicate rows will be returned in a quthis unless there is a valid reason.

Security By default all query if they have the appropriate rights assig is unchecked then only the user who

fy the query.

This property all the queries in a document and not just the cu

users will be able to edit thisned to them. If the option

created the document will be able to modi

unlike the others will affect rrent query selected.

Prompt Order Where there to a query you can define the order that the to the user when the document is refres h the document sits.

are multiple prompts assignedprompts will be displayed

hed. This may help the work flow in whic

Contexts Contex oretically possible that a user may e available for use but the Talis

or that there will not be conflicts.

ts are used with Universe Design. It is thehave to select a context where two ar

universes are designed either not to use contexts

It is advised to leave the default setting.

4.7 Building a query Click and drag objects from the Query Ma Object panel or double click objects.

The order the objects are entered will de eated initially however if after you run a query you go back in and add objec ct the display.

How the data is formatted is controll

ACTIVITY 09:

Create a report from the Loan Ag y panel including roperties, SQL, saving without running and refreshing queries.

nager Data pane into the Results

termine how the default report is crts it does not necessarily affe

ed in the Edit Report View.

gregates universe and look around the querp



5. Restricting the Data Returned Most of the are go s or you only want every item ty

The data can be restricted in

• At th e data

• In the report after th

• Both

In this section we look at Q

5.1 Restricting dataAdding a query filter has the

• You retrieve only the

• You c data th

• You minimise the qu ormance within the document. However addi lters c

By adding a query filter to a e database.

Not all objects can be used designer.

An obje a Q

By dragging objects into the

A query filt p of

1. An object that you lt Objects pane.

2. An operator than defines tionship between the object and operand.

3. An operand which is the

time you ing to want to limit the data that is retrieved e.g. you only want reference itempe other than reference items.

three ways:

e point th is retrieved from the database – Query Filters

e data is retrieved – Report Filters (These are looked at la r) te

uery Filters.

with Query Filters following benefits

data you require for the answer to a specific question.

an hide at you don’t want users to see.

antity of data returned to optimise perfng query fi an increase the performance hit on the database server.

query you are modifying the where statement in the generated SQL sent to th

in filters. Whether an object can be used in a filter is defined by the universe

ct can be used in uery Filter pane without being used in the Result Objects pane.

Query Filters pane it is possible to build a simple or complex set of filters.

er is made u three components:

wish to filter on. The object does not have to be one of the objects in the Resu

the rela

object value/s to be used for filtering.

For example:

OBJECT OPERATOR OPERAND

Item types Equal to “Adult Fiction”

The available operators are:

Operators Description

Equal to Equal to one specified value only.

=



Operators Description

Not Equal To Not equal to a specified single value.

!=

Greater than Greater than a specified value.

>

Greater than or Greater than or equal to a specified value. equal to >=

Less than Less than a specified value.

<

Less than or Less than or equal to a specified value. equal to <=

Between Between and including two values

BETWEEN

Not Between Values outside a particular range

NOT BETWEEN

In List Equal to multiple values

IN

Not In List Different from multiple values

NOT IN

Is Null Where no values exist. This is different from zero or blank strings.

IS NULL

Is Not Null Where attribute does not contain a null

IS NOT NULL

Matches Pattern Allows the use of wildcards to create a pattern. _ represents one character and % represents a number of characters.

LIKE

ent From Where the pattern is not matched DifferPattern NOT LIKE

Both e correspon t cified values. NotWher ds to wo spe of use in Talis universes.

INTERSECT

Except Where corresponds to one specified value and does not correspond to another specified value.

MINUS

There are four types of oper :

and



Operands Description

Constant Allows you to enter one or more values manually. Multiple values are arated by semicolons. For character based objects there is not need to ude quotes.

sepincl

Value(s) from list

hen it is possible to pick one or more values m the list. If no list of values exists then the option will not be selectable.

If an object has a list of values tfro

Prompt Allows documents to be created that will prompt the user for values.

Object Allows you to filter based on another object.

There are four types of query filters

• Pr y fi

• Single and multi-value filters

Prompted filters

• Complex filters

5.2 Us nePredefined queries are creat erse design and they appear in the Query Manager Data pane as objects with

edefined quer lters •

ing predefi d filters ed as part of the univ

the icon. Th y dragging the objects in to the Query Filter pane. Only a few have been created in the

ese objects are selected b universes e.g. Limit to current issues in the Circulation universe.

5.3 Applying a single-value and multi-value filters It is possible a que

Create a query as below usin ant operand

to create ry that is filtered for single or multiple values for a single object.

g the const



With the operator set to “Equal to” when the icon is selected the following window is displayed:

Select an Item type. As the operator is “Equal to” only one item type can be selected. Run the query.

Change the operator to In list and select the icon and select the Value(s) from list option. The following window is displayed:



Select two item types. This can be done:

• By using the mouse and Ctrl button (The shift button and mouse allows you select a range),

• By typing in the value in the top field (b this defeats the purpose of have a list.) or ut

• Using the search field on long lists. Yo types starting with jun. The search is no

Click on the

u search for parts e.g. jun will find all item t case sensitive by default although this can be altered.

arrow n. Values can be removed from this column by selectin

to move the selected values into the Value(s) Selected columg them and clicking on the button.

of values

es this is taken from the database by a piece of SQL and stored cedified or removed in the database the value in the fil

ct or still present then click on the

Data missing from a list

Where there is a list of valu ntrally for a quick response. If a list value is added, mo e may not have been

updated. If a value is missing, incorre button. This will update the file and this w

The use of any conditions my result in essage will be displayed to warn the user and the report

Filters on Dates

ill affect all other users as well.

no data being selected. If this is the case then a mwill be displayed but with no data.

If the object in the Quer a full date time object) then an

y Filter is a date object (This means that the object has to be icon will appear next to the operand field. Click on this to display a calendar.



Today’s date will be highlig months or enter the date manually and then click on

hted with a red box. Use the arrows to move through the to move directly to the earlier date.

Create some single value and multi-value conditions using differe

ters me as Single-value filters except that the report user will be

. This allows a report to be tailored by the user to providrate documents.

ACTIVITY 10:

3. nt operators.

5.4 Using Prompted filPrompted filters are the sa asked to input values for the conditions with prompts e a range of reports without having to have sepa

Create a query as before

Click on the icon and select Prompt opautomatically added and a new icon

tion. The condition display changes. A prompt question is is displayed.

Click on the icon and a Prompt properties window is displayed.

The example above shows the default val

ues when a new prompt is created.

Option Description

Prompt text The default required. prompt text can be changed as



Option Description

Prompt with List If a list of values is present for the object the user will be prompted to select

have to enter the values manually.

t be entered manually and the option will be greyed out.

of Values from the list by default but this can be turned off. If this is the case they will

If the object has no list of values associated with it then values mus

Select only from If the user is going to be prompted with a list of values you can force them to the list and not allow them to enter values manually.

s not set by default it is worth setting as it solves a lot of issues of

the list select form

While this itypos in prompts meaning data not returned.

Keep last(s) selected

Whatever values are selected the last time the report was refreshed will be selected by default on the next refresh.

Set default value(s) window is expanded t

Allows query designer to set default values. If this option is selected the o show any list of values.

When the query is run the prompt entry window will be displayed.

he values can be kept or changed as required and then the query is run.

a

T

If the prompt has a green tick then the prompt has a value if the prompt has then the prompt contains no alue and the query cannot be run.

It is possible e sam ultiple queries. The user is prompted for the values only once and you can be sure that each query using the prompts has the same values being used.

To reuse oth filters is exactly the same. It is a good idea to cut and paste the text between the filters.

v

to use th e prompts in m

a prompt in an er query just ensure that the Prompt text in both query



ACTIVITY

Set up som on a

5.5 Using Objects aIt is po e ill vary depend ch row

11:

e prompts query created from the Loan Aggregates universe and run the query.

s operands ssible to compare th

ing for ea values from two objects to filter the results from a query. The objects values w. This is of limited use within the Talis universes.

5.6 Usin lex he previous example were looking at filters on a single object but it is more likely that filters will need to be set

might use prompts or objects etc. These are complex filters.

Each object each filter is added the filter t. This would limit the number of rows to

In this exampl year 2000 will be selected.

g comp filters Ton multiple objects and then joined using OR or AND. Each filter

to be filtered is dragged to the Query Filter pane and defined as before. However as s are joined with the logical AND operator. The AND operator is used by defaul

be returned by the query.

e only the rows with the prompted item types, with the defined locations in the

hanged to OR. The OR operator means that a row

only has to meet one of the filters requirements to be included. This will tend to increase the number of rows. By double-clicking on the And the logical operator can be c



You wish to combine filters in different combinations e.g. some filters combined wit h ANDS and some with Ors. This can be done by dragging one filter on to the filter to be combined. The two filters will be combined

. Another filter can be dragged into the set. with an AND which then can be toggled with an OR

It is possible to get a quite complex filter structure.

Remember if negative operators are used then the boolean logical operators will need to be reversed as well.

5.7 Prompt order As was mentioned earlier the order the prompts are displayed can be modified in the Query Properties tab.

ACTIVITY 12:

Set up some complex filters and run the queries to check the results.



6.As soon as a allows the document writer t ).

A Web Intelligenc

• One or more

• One or mo

report can show different views of the same information or completely different information on the subject

Report Design in the Edit Report View query or queries are run then the results are shown in the Edit Report View. This

o control how the data from the microcube (also referred to as a data provider

e document has the following elements:

Universes

re reports

• One of more blocks within a report

• A microcube of data.

A

Multiple BlocksMultiple Reports



6.1 Edit Report View The Edit Report view allows the document to be created and contains a number of panes and toolbars.

6.2 Document Pane Td

he Document Pane is where the re reated and modified. Each report in a ocum at the botto

hen a new doc nt is cr the data in the query will be inserted in a vertical table with a default heading of Report Title. It is not possible to the default heading.

6.3 Report Manager The Report Manager allows the report writer to manage all the objects and variables in the document, change the types of block, change the format properties of the report contents and navigate through the document.

There are four tabs:

• Data tab

Lists all the query objects and variables. These can be dragged into the Document pane to create blocks. The contents can be order alphabetically or by query.

• Templates tab

Allows the report writer to change the format of block e.g. tables, crosstabs, charts etc. There are different types of format which can be dragged into the Document pane.

ports within the document are cent can be accessed via a Report Tab m of the tab.

W ume eated

Document pane Report Tab Report Manager

General View Toolbar

Report Formatting Toolbar

Page NavigaToolbar

tion Toolbar



• Map tab

Allows the report writer to navigate around reports and sections.

•

Allows the report writer to and blocks. It is possible to view the Pr eparate

Properties tab

format rep operties in a sortspane.

6.4 Toolbars There are a number of toolbars in the Edit Report View. The toolbars allow fast access to functions but many of the functions are accessible in other ways as well.

6.4.1 General Toolbar (Shared with the Edit Query view.)

Options Description

New Document – Allows you to create a document and build a new query. Unless the current document is saved the current document will be lost.

Saves the document. Also options to Save as a different name or to save the document to the PC as an MS Excel or PDF document.

yed out in the Edit Query View part of a document and not separately. The document can onl aved in the Edit Report View.

The Save button is gre as queries are saved as y be s

Send the document t lt printer as a

This option is greyed out in the Edit Report View.

o the PC defau PDF.

in the Edit Report View.

The options are:

This button allows the user to define what panes and toolbars are displayed

• Data/Properties – Displays Report Manager pane and Properties pane on the left of screen.

Data/Properties on Right – Displays Report Manager pane on the left of screen and Properties pane on the right of screen.

options to expand to see the pane.

• Toolbars – Allows the option to display or not to display the three report

e hidden.

• Reset to default

• Data – Displays Report Manager pane

•

• Collapsed Data/Properties – Sets Report Manager menu bar on left of screen and Properties menu bar on the right of screen. Click on the

toolbars. These are Formatting, Reporting and page Navigation. By default all three are displayed. Depending on the size of the display some options on the toolbars may b

This allows you to edit the queries in the Edit Query View.



Options Description

This allows you to display the Edit Report View and control how you display the data from the query or queries. It will be highlighted when in the Edit

Report View.

The Run Query button (or Run Queries button where there is multiple queries) will run the query or all the queries and then return you to the Edit Report View to displayed the results in the report.

Where there is more than one query in a document then it is possible to select an individual query from the pull down option on the button.

When a query is run the progress is displayed. The first time a query is run they is no time estimate given. Subsequent refreshes will display the time the

ok on the last run as a guide. If a query is changed e.g. objects added itions applied then the last refresh time may no longer be a good

me taken for the query to run.

However this should be done with care as refreshing only one query may give incorrect results.

query toor condguide to the ti

Allows you to purge the data from queries. Where there are multiple queries

it is possible to select a particular query to purge. Where no queries have been run the option will be greyed out.

he size of the grid can also be defined.

t Query View the

User Settings

This allows the users to show measurements in Pixels, Inches or Centimetres.

It also allows a grid to be displayed in the Edit Report View and that objects will snap to the grid. T

While it is possible to change the values while in the Edisettings only relate to the Edit Report View.

Displays context –sensitive help from BusinessObjects

6.4.2 Reporting Toolbar

Options Description

oSh w or hide Filter pane

Show or hide Formula Toolbar

Variable Editor

Merge Dimensions

Show or hide Drill Toolbar

Undo previous action

Alerters

Apply/Remove Ranking



Options Description

Add Quick Filter

e Break Insert/Remov

Apply/Remove Sort

Insert Calculation

Insert columns/rows

page layout the report is displayed in pages including the

he ormat.

View Page Layout.

When viewing thepage header and page footer. This view indicates what the document will look like in when viewed in PDF format or printed. Objects especially page numbers can be inserted in the page headers and footers.

In the normal view no page breaks are seen so more data can be seen on tscreen which is better for viewing in HTML f

View Structure

Start or End Drill mode

Take Snapshot of Drilled Report

6.4.3 Formatting Toolba

r

Options Description

Font Name

Font Size

Bold

Italics

Underline

Left Align

Centre Align

Right Align

Merge Cells. Multiple cells must be selected to enable this option.

lick on the down arrow to view palette. Background colour. C

lour. Click on the down arrow to view palette. Text co



6.4.4 Page Navigation Toolbar

Options Description

Allows quick page navigation

6.5 Man epoA document c ns at leas eports can be accessed by clicking on the tabs at the bottom of the Document pane. There a document unwieldy. If the

aging R rts ontai t one report. These r

is effectively no limit on the number of reports but more than five probably makes report tabs cannot be fitted in the display then there are arrows, to the available reports. The X will delete the currently viewed report.

b displays a range of options:

the right of the tabs to move through

Right-clicking on a report ta

Options Description

Rename Report Allows the report name to be updated. By default reports are called Report g this option highlights the Report Properties tab in

the report manager pane.

1, Report 2 etc. Selectin

name. Move off the field to save the changes. Enter the new

Insert Report Creates an empty report

Dup opy of the current report. The report has the same name as the al report followed by (1). Once a report is duplicated any changes are flected in the other report.

licate Report Creates a coriginnot re

Delete Report Deletes the report.

Move Report Opens the Document Properties pane which allows the order of the tabs to be moved.

Drill Starts the drill functionality on the current report.

Document Properties

cument Properties Panel Opens the Do



6.5.1 The Document Properties Panel

Options Description

Document Info on

ng information which is not editable in this pane.:

• Last modified by

• Creation date

• Name

• Description

• Keywords

• Locale

rmatiDisplays the followi

• Created by



Options Description

Document Options The foll

• Refr

when it is opened. Not set by

• En

Op n viewing. Selected by

•

ry in response to drill actions.

owing options can be selected:

esh on open

Web Intelligence will refresh the documentdefault.

hanced viewing

timizes the document appearing for on-screedefault.

Use query drill

Tells Web Intelligence to modify the que

Data Synchronisation

Options

• Auto-

e Web Intelligence will attempt to n queries.

• Exte

ence extends the values in one You use this option for

backw nessObjects and Desktop Intelligence rep onized data providers.

ce extend dimension values; by

merge dimensions

Checked by default. Where possiblmerge common dimension objects betwee

nd merged dimension values

When this option is clicked, Web Intelligdimension based on the values in another.

ards compatibility with Busiorts where these reports contain synchr

BusinessObjects and Desktop Intelligendefault, Web Intelligence does not.

Report Order Use the rts are displayed. arrows to alter the order that repo

6.6 Displaying data in tables and charts There are four types of tables:

• Vertical tables

When the first run of a query is start by default. ed the data is displayed in this format

• Horizontal tables or fina

The headings are displayed t-hand side of the table.

ncial tables

down the lef



• Crosstab

Crosstabs provide a similar v preadsheet with column and row headings with the body displaying a measure.

iew to a s

• Forms

Forms are useful for displ n items. ayi g information about borrowers or

All tables have a header row or title row as well as rows or columns. This header row is a separate entity and can be e footer rows to tables and again this are separate from the data component.

formatted differently and can be deleted. It is also possible to hav



6.7 Creating tables There are a number of approaches of creating a table in a report.

A proachp 1 1. l

2.

Select the objects you wish to view in the table and then drag then into the report and drop them. A verticatable will be automatically created at the point you dropped the objects.

Click on the Templates tab in the Report Manager. Under the Tables option select the type of table and drag the template on to the table in the Document pane.

Approach 2

1. Click on the button in the Report toolbar.

b in the Report Manager. Under the Tables optioncument pane.

played. See below for empty templates of each type of table

2. Click on the Templates ta select the type of table and drag the template in to the Do

3. Empty templates will be dis



4. Move to the Data tab in the Report Manager and select the objects required and drop them into the templates as required.

5. Click on the button

If you want to copy an existing table then it is surrounded by a gray border and right click.

to see the results.

highlight the table so

Select the Copy option. (Also Ctrl-C). nother report and right-click and select Paste (Also Ctrl-V).

Alternatively once the block has be he duplicate table to an empty area.

6.8 Adding data to tables If you wish to add data to a table o the table and drop it where you wish it to be in the table. There ar sition e.g. replacing an existing row/column or adding. A prompt will be disp occur.

Removing an object just requires dragging rt Manager. Remember not to select the header but the actual data.

ACTIVITY 13:

Move to another section of the report or a

en selected hold down the Ctrl key and drag t

just select the object you wish to add and drag it te different options depending on the po

layed to indicate the action that will

the column/row data into the Repo



Cre

6.9 Creating Free Standing CelFree-standing cells are single These might be text comments, images, page numbers, f ll filters.

To insert a free-standing cell nd the Free-Standing Cells section

ate different types of tables in each method using a query from the Loan Aggregates universe.

ls cells that can be used to add meaning to the report.

ormulas, last refresh date, document name or dri

select the Templates tab in the Report Manager and expa

cell and then drag it to the position required in the report. Select the type of free-standing

By def ult t rder at and are a set size so you may need to resize the field d s tab in the Report Manager and then select the cell.

the Proprties tab select the Display section. Use the “Height” and “Width” fields to change its size. In Text

report and entering the details in the f

a he cells all hav the bottom of the cell an remove the border. To do this – click the Propertie

e a bo

InFormat, the “Borders” option can be used to add or remove borders on the cell.

If a Blank Cell is selected you will want to insert text. This can be done by double clicking on the cell in the ormula box.

Text can also be inserted in the General | Text field of the cell properties.



The Display | “Read cell content as” option (in the Properties tab) defaults to Text but it can be changed to

The following table shows what happens when different values are entered in the properties tab in the following

Hyperlink, HTML or an Image URL if you wish to display something other than text.

areas:

General | Text

Display | Read cell contents as

General | Text Display | Read cell contents as Display

This document details all loans

Text

The contents of “General | Text” is read as text.

http://www.talis.com/tdn

trea

Hyperlink

The “General | Text” field will be ted as a URL link if in the right

format. The link will be opened in a new window. The link is from the Decisions Server so the Decisions Server must be able to access the link. Depending on local network configuration the access on the server may vary from that on a PC.

<del>Message</del> HTML

The “General | Text” field will be treated as HTML. HTML tags can be used to create a link, or display.

n viewed in the Edit Report tags will be seen but when

viewed in the HTML document Viewer in InfoView the display will

orrect. If viewed in PDF mode in InfoView the tags will be displayed.

Whethe

be c

boimg://decisions_banner.gif

trea

Image URL

The “General | Text” field will be ted as an image. The image

displays when viewed from a web server or from the Decisions server using the boimg:// syntax. These images must be placed in \Program Files\Business Objects\Enterprise115\images on the decisions server. It best to use gif and jpg files.



ACTIVITY 14:

Create different types of free-standing cells in a report

6.10 Creating charts There are a number of chart templates available to be used. The types are bar charts, line charts, area charts, pie charts an ere tyd radar charts. Th pes are then sub-divided.

To create a chart there are a number of approaches to creating a chart.

Approach1. Click on the

1 button.

in the Report Manager drag the typebe displayed in the report.

2. From the Templates tab of chart you want to use in to the report pane. The template will



3. Within the template there are pro lect the objects required from the Data tab

and drop them in the relevant sectimpts for placing objects. Se

ons.

4. Click on the and resize the chart as required.

Appro1. You have an existing table or chart in a report.

ach 2



Pick a chart template from the list of tem2. plates and drag the template onto the table or chart. The table or chart will need to be made to the format and size.

be configured to the new template although adjustments may

Approach 3 1. You have an existing table or chart in a report.

o option. A new window will be displayed with tabs for

tables and types of charts. Select the required tab and then the specific sub-type and click OK

3. Adjust the size and properties as required. This approach can also be used to turn a chart to a table.

2. Select the table and right-click. Select the Turn t



ACTIVITY 15:

Create different types of charts using

the different approaches.



7. Enhancing Reports en created, it can be enhanced to improve the presentation, adhere to corporate

.1 Breaks reaks allow data within tables to be separated into groups. This can make it easier to pick out and compare

data in a table.

To apply a break select the column you wish to group the results by and then click on the

Once a basic report has bestandards or for personal preference.

7B

button. This can be repeated for other columns. A row is inserted into the table after each group into which a sum or count could be inserted.

To remove the break from the table then highlight the column and click on the button.

ACTIVITY 17:

Apply breaks to a table.



7.2 Calculations There are standard calculation functions that be selected from a list. More detailed calculations can be generated using variables and formulas. The standard functions are:

Min Sum

Max Count

Average Percentage

The Count, Min and Max fu

calculation options can be used with non-measure objects. Where the Min and Max n e values are based o ed by any rts applied.

o insert a calculation select the column on which the calculation is to be applied and then click on the

ctions are used with text objects then th n alphabetical order and are not affectso

T utton to add a sum or click on the pull-down arrow to select another calculation function. b

ultiple calculations can be inserted, with each one on a separate row. The Percentage function also inserts a ew column to include the percentage values.

Mn

aks or sections then the calculation will be displayed for each break or section. Depending on e report it may be necessary to create variables for calculatio deal with sections and

the g requirements.

ns to a table.

To delete a calculation right-click on the row and pick Remove row from the menu.

If there are any brethe formatting of th ns tobreaks etc. In some cases the automatic calculations assumptions will not match reportin

ACTIVITY 18:

Apply different calculatio



7.3 Sorts The data in a table is shown in the order it comes out of the database by default. Sorts can be applied to a report by selecting a column and then selecting the button. By default this will sort the data by ascending order. By clicking on the n arrow the sort can be c descending order pull-dow hanged to or, if the object being sorted is a dimension or details, a custom sort if one is defined.

Any sorts on alph ta will be sorted with n eceding letters but the order may differ from what is expected.

To remove a sort from a table then highlight the column. The sort button will be depressed if a sort has

selected it is possible to see all the sor horizontal sort relates to crosstabs.

by

anumeric da umbers pr

If sorts are applied to more than one column then the sorts are arranged in the order they were applied e.g. if sorts were applied to location and then loan type then the rows would be sorted by location and then by loan type within each location.

been applied. Click on the button to remove the sort.

Sorts can be applied via the Properties tab either on the column or if the block properties arets applied to the block and then change the order if necessary. The

19:

olumns of data.

ACTIVITY

Apply sorts to different c



7.4 Report Filters

Filters. In some there is better performance ck

plied to a section, table or chart and does not affect any other blocks.

lock is selected then click on the

As mentioned before filters are a way of limiting the data. We previously looked at Query Filters and now we look at Report Filters. These limit the data displayed from the microcube. This means the Decisions Server is doing the work in limiting the data and not the database server.

They can be used in instead of or in conjunction with Query cases in not have conditions in Query Filters and using Report Filters even though more information is brought bafrom the query.

Report Filters can be applied in two ways:

1. A global filter applied to the whole report. This would mean all blocks would be affected.

2. A block filter is ap

To create a Report Filter it is necessary to select the report or the block in the report to be affected.

Select a report by clicking on document pane outside of a block or section. Select a block by clicking in the block to be filtered.

Once the report or b icon to display the Report Filter pane. The pane can be removed by clicking on the icon again.

The pane header will indicate or a block and if so which block. When moving around the report and blocks highlighted area of the document.

The filters in a report can also be view u er.

NOTE:

If a Report Filter is added the report a th filters will be used for that block and so a different display may be seen than expected.

an object from the Report Manager (Data) pane and then itor is displayed.

whether the filter is against the report the display will change to reflect the

nder the Map tab of the Report Manag

nd then to a block then bo

To create a report filter on a block you need to drag drop it in to the Report Filter. The Filter Ed

By default the operator settings will be set to In list but the same operators as with Query Filters are available. Also by default the operand type will be a constant but this can be changed to values from a list where a list of values exists.



The constant values or values from a list can then be transferred to the Values(s) Selected column using the arrows.

In this case a filter was applied to the Report.

In t chis ase the filter was only applied to one block.

It is also possible to build up complex filters using multiple objects and Boolean logic as in Query filters.

ter

section of the course) and then use the new variable in

ACTIVITY 20:

Apply report filters to reports and blocks.

A Report Filter comparing two objects cannot be made directly. You have to create a variable (covered in a lathe filter.



7.5 Ranking Ranking allows you to see the top and bottom slice of a set of data. Depending on the query this may only be a

g can only be applied to a dimension on the basis of a given measure.

Select the dime

subset of the total data in the database. Rankin

nsion that you wish to rank and then click on the icon. If a ranking has alrethe pull down allows the editing or removal of the ranking. If you click on the rankin

will be followed through in any sections.

ady been applied then g icon it will remove the ranking.

The ranking

By default the top 3 will be to show the bott

ay get more than 3 rows for the top or bottom range where there is a tie. This tends to happen in the bottom nge.

Count ws.

rows.

Cumulat

d bottom ranking to a measure. Change the number e.g. top 5.

shown but it is possible to select the number of values returned. It is also possible om range as defined by the user. It is possible to show both in the same display. Be aware you

mra

There are four calculation modes:

Allows the selection of the top or bottom number of ro

Percentage Allows the selection of the top of bottom percentage of

ive Sum Looks at the running totals.

Cumulative Percentage Looks at cumulative percentages.

ACTIVITY 21:

Apply top an



7.6 Alerters Alerters allow results to be highlighted that meet or fail to meet targets. A basic alerter may just change the colour and font of a value. A more advanced alerter could change the text displayed or insert an image.

An alerter can be applied to tables, forms, section cells and free-standing cells but not to charts.

-

the aler

• An object or cell contents

• An operator

• An operand va er object

• The conditional formatting

o create an alerter click on the

Up to 30 alerters can be created per document. These 30 alerters e applied up to 20 different columns, rows, free-standing rows or section cells. A maximum of 10 alerters can be applied to a single column, row, freestanding cell or section cell.

can b

An alerter contains the following elements:

• A name to identify ter

lue or anoth

icon. A list of Available Alerters will be displayed. T

is very similar to the new one you cIf an alerte hat an highlight the alerter and then

lick Duplicate to create a copy that can then be modified by clicking on the Edit button. Existing Alerters can ting the alerter and clicking on the remove button.

displayed.

r has already been created tcdeleted by highligh

Click on the New button to create a new alerter. The Alerter Editor window will be



Options Description

Alerter name This should be updated to have an identifiable name.

Description Allows further text to be entered to identify the alerter and its use.

Sub-Alerter

Filtered object or cell

This will be the cell or column selected when the Alerter icon was clicked. If nothing was selected or was not valid then the field will have no value and an

ed by clicking on the object can be select button.

Operator By defaustandard op

lt the operator will be Equal to but this can be altered to one of the erator values.

Operand(s) A value can be added manually or an object can be selected by clicking on the button. The allows an additional row in the Sub-Alter to build up

itions. Boolean cond

Format The Format box displays what formatting has been applied. The n allows this formatting to be changed. The default change is to make butto

the text red.

Formula ows more complex formulas ents of objects to be manipulated. This check box brings up a formula editor that all

to be used. This allows the cont

Add Sub-Alerter

Add Sub-Alerter Each Sub-Ale at to be applied that meets the specified crite have different formats for different sets eate an Alerter for each condition but it is be for each condition in the one Alerter.

rter only allows a single formria. You may wish to actuallyof conditions. You could cr

tter to create a new Sub-Alerter

7.6.1 Alerter Formatting The Alerter Formatting window allows he format. a range of changes to be made to t



Options Description

Display Tw

he display box allows a text string to be entered. If a string is entered this ill replace the contents of a cell that matches the conditions defined. If it is

eckbox the text can be

the Number format button will allow the number

blank then the formatting will be applied to the cell contents.

If text is inserted then by default it will be treated as text and displayed as such. However by selecting the Read contents as chread as a hyperlink, HTML or an image URL.

If the cell is a number thenformat to be changed. By default the number format will be the format

rrently assign d to the cell.

The

cu e

button allows formulas to be used.

Text The Text section allows the font, text size, colour and positioning selected. It is also possible to make the text bold, italics, bold italics, underlined or

to be

strikethrough.

Background

ut a image or a skin in the background.

The Background section allows the cell background to be changed. The background colour can be altered as can the borders. It is also possible to p

Preview The preview box will show what will happen to the cell.

To apply the Alerter to a colu Alerter icon. Click on the box next t

mn, row or cell then select the required column, row or cell and click on theo the alerter you want to use and click on OK.



A more complicated Alerter using images can be set up so that as well as the figures the performance is a given a graphical twist

ACTIVITY 22:

a table.

.

Create and apply different Alerters to



7.7 Sections

er outside the block.

nother differen ks only break across a block, sectio t. All blocks ithin the section are affected by the section. Measures inserted into sections are based on the section.

or example here is a table showing number of borrowers by borrower type and then the same data as a chart.

section is added to break down the data by home site. This is done by dragging the home site object into the ort. A note “Drop here to create a section” is displayed while your finger holds the right button on the

Both the table and chart blocks and the totals reflect the section. Even if a block is dropped in at a later date the data displayed would be grouped by the section.

Using sections also help to navigate around a report. By clicking on the Map tab in the Report Manager pane then the sections within a report can be seen as well

Sectioning a report is similar to inserting breaks in that it allows you to group data except that the grouped values appears as a head

A ce is that while brea ns groups the entire reporw

F

Arepmouse.



By clicking on a section the report will jump to display that section in the Document pane.

o remove a section select the section header object in the Document pane and then click on the Delete button n the keyboard or right click and select Delete.

is possible to have sections within sections as well. If you want two objects but one section you will have to reate a section for each object and then move the second object into the first’s section to achieve this.

To

Itc

ACTIVITY 23:

Create sections based on location, year, month and week.



8. Formatting Reports As can be seen the formatting of reports or via right-click menus. However the full formatting potential of Talis Decisions is accessed vi ne. This can be accessed via the Properties tab in the Report Manager or it pane.

The options in the Properties pane depe the report. There are different sets of properties for different aspects of the r s and charts.

The options in the Properties tab can be ys that are controlled by buttons at the top of the Properties pane.

can be done via the toolbarsa the Properties pa

can be displayed as a separate

nd on the currently selected part of eport e.g sections, tables, cell

displayed in a number of wa

Options Description

This button displays the properties in groups e.g. Appearance, Page layout. This is the default view.

Display properties in alphabetical order.

his is on by default. Show a description of the selected properties at the bottom on the pane. T

When properties are grouped they are displayed in tree format and these may pens all groups ….. not always be open. This button o

… and this button closed all groups.

When viewing properties there may be further options available to choose from or a new window to be button at the end of the data entry field. The displayed. These can be accessed via the will only be visible

when the mouse is moved over the button.

Any size measurements are displayed in the format defined in the User Settings. By default this is pixels (px) but could be inches (”) or centimetres (cm).



8.1 Report Properties The report properties are:

Group Options Description

Name The report display name General

DP

ill display Document Properties pane. ocument Wroperties

Ba d. This is displayed as three-digit numbers e.g. standard RGB e to change

ckground Shows the colour of the page backgrouncolor a colour and as a three

notation. It is possibl

Background image

Can select a skin from a list or use an image accessed from aimage URL.

n

Unvisited hyperlinks color have no colour.

Specify the colour of unvisited hyperlinks. By default they will

Appearance

hyperlinks color Specify the colour of visited hyperlinks. By default they will have no colour.

Visited

Top margin The size of the top margin. This does not include the header which has its own properties section.

Bottom margin The size of the bottom margin. This does not include the header which has its own properties section.

Left margin The size of the left margin.

Right margin The size of the right margin.

Page size A range of page sizes. Defaults to A4.

Page Layout

Page orientation Portrait or Landscape. Defaults to Landscape



8.2 Header/Footer Properties es are: The header/footer properti


Backgrou nd. This is displayed as ers e.g. standard RGB

nd color

Shows the colour of the page backgroua colour and as a three three-digit numbnotation. It is possible to change

Appearance

Backgrou a list or use an image accessed from an nd image

Can select a skin from image URL.



8.3 Section Properties The report properties are:


General Name The section name. It will default to Section on: followed by the object on which the section is built.

Minimum height

Sets the section minimum height

Show when empty

Displays the element even when empty

Hide section when the

following is empty

Option to hide section if there are no values in the section objects or if a specified block is empty.

Display

Bookmark section

Unchecking this option will prevent the section headings appearing in the Map tab.

Background color

Shows the colour of the page background. This is displayed as a colour and as a three three-digit numbers e.g. standard RGB notation. It is possible to change

Appearance

Background image

Can select a skin from a list or use an image accessed from an image URL.

Page layout Listed but blank.

Able to define the position relative to list of points.

Top edge This allows the changing of the value only in the option above.

Top edge | Relative to

Only shown depending on the value assigned under the position option. Not editable from this point.

Start on a new page

Set block to start on a new page. Useful in printing

Position

Avoid page break in section

System will try to avoid splitting a page break through a section but this may not be possible. Useful in printing.

Sorts Sort priority Of no use in Sections.



8.4 Table Properties The table properties are:




Name The table name. General

Cell spacing Sets the space between cells. Set to between each cell.

zero by default so no space

Show table headers

Show the header rows. Set to Yes by default.

Show table ters

Show table footer. Not set to yes byfoo

default.

Avoid dupl y a number or rows may ect e.g. if item type and be a row for each he item type information

cally aggregate the rows for to Yes then the rows will

by default.

icate row aggregation

Depending on the nature of the querbe brought back for a particular objlocation are brought back there will location/item type location. If only tis required Decisions will automatieach item type. If this option is set not be aggregated. Not set to Yes

Show r n ows with empty measure

values

If a measure value is empty the data is still show

Set to Yes by default.

Show r

dime

n values. ows with empty

nsion values

Show rows with empty dimensio

Not set to Yes by default.

Display

pty. Show when empty

Displays the element even when em

Backgrou nd. This is displayed as ers e.g. standard RGB

nd color

Shows the colour of the table backgroua colour and as a three three-digit numbnotation. It is possible to change

Backgrou a list or use an image accessed from an nd image

Can select a skin from image URL.

Appearance

nts and links to a window e by default.

Borders Shows the current table border elemeto set border values. No borders to tabl

Text Format Displays information on current settiselection will open a window to change srelate to the Text Format sub-functiYou can therefore change the text

ngs. Clicking on the ettings. The settings

ons in the Properties list. properties in both locations.

Text Format | name

Current font in use in table and pull-dowFont

n for alternatives.

Text Format | Size

Font size

Text Format | Style

Regular, bold, italics, bold italics

Header/Body/Footer cells

Same set of options for each group

Text Format | Underline

Underline




Text Format | Strikethrough

Strikethrough

Text Format |Text color

Text colour

Text Format Wrap text according to cell width. Has no effect if auto fit |Wrap text width is set.

Text Format Sets vertical text alignment |Vertical text

alignment

Sets horizontal text alignment. Text Format |Horizontal text

alignment

Background color

a tandard RGB

Shows the colour of the cell background. This is displayed as colour and as a three three-digit numbers e.g. snotation. It is possible to change

Background image

Can select a skin from a list or use an image accessed from an image URL.

Borders Shows the current cell border elements and links to a window rders to table by default. to set border values. No bo

Alternate Row/Column

colors

Frequency Allows columns and rows to alternate colours. Default is 2

Colour Alternate cell colour.

Listed but not used. Page layout

op edge options. Shows details from Left edge and T

Left edge Position of table relative to the left/right edge and to what it isrelative e.g. re

port title or report

Top edge Position of table relative to the top/bottom edge and to what it is relative e.g. report title or report

Start on new page

Start table on a new page

Repeat on every new page

Repeat on every new page.

Avoid page break in table

System will avoid breaking a table over a page.

Repeat header Show table header on every page the table is displayed. on every page

Position

Repeat footer on Show table footer on every page the table is displayed. every page

Breaks Break Allows the order of breaks to be altered. priority

Sorts Sort priority Allows the order of sorts in the table to be changed.



8.5 Column/Row Properties The column/row properties are:


General Text f the row/column. The format =[Item The contents otypes] indicates the text is taken from an object.

h Adapts the width of the cell to its content. Autofit widt

Width ow. The width of the column/r

Autofit height Adapts the height of the cell to its content.

Height . The height of the column/row

Read con

celltent as

, hyperlink, HTML of an image URL. Read the cell as text

Show whem

epty

hen empty. n Display element even w

Horizopaddin

ntag

l Spaces added to the left of data.

Display

l g

Verticapaddin

Spaces added to the top of data.

Appearance Listed but no elements.




Displays information on current settings. Clicking on the ettings. The

at sub-functions in the e change the text

selection will open a window to change ssettings relate to the Text FormProperties list. You can thereforproperties in both locations.

Font name Current font in use in table alternatives.

Text Format

and pull-down for

Size Font size

Style Regular, bold, italics, bold italics

Underline Underline

Strikethrough Strikethrough

Text color Text colour

Wrap text Wrap text according to cell width. Has autofit width is set.

no effect if

Vertical text alignment

Sets vertical text alignment

Horizontal text alignment

Sets horizontal text alignment.

Background Shows the colour of the cell backgrdisplayed as a colour and as a threcolor

ound. This is three-digit numbers

e.g. st ndard RGB notation. It is possible to change e

a

B in from a list or use an image accessed ackgroundimage

Can select a skfrom an image URL.

Borders to a Shows the current cell border elements and links window to set border values.

No borders to table by default.

Merge cells Only applicable where more than one row/column selected.

are

Number format format. Opens window to change number

Sorts Sort priority Allows the order of sorts in the table to be changed.



8.6 Cell Properties The cell properties are:

Options Description Group

General Text The contents of the cell.

Autofit width Adapts the width of the cell to its content.

Width The width of the cell

Au ht tofit heig Adapts the height of the cell to its content.

The height of the cell. Height

Display

. Read cell content as

Read the cell as text, hyperlink, HTML of an image URL

Appearance Listed but no elements.

Displays information on current settings. Clicking onselection will open a window to change settings. The

the

settings relate to the Text Format sub-functions in the Properties list. You can therefore change the text properties in both locations.

Font name Current font in use in table and pull-down for alternatives.

Size Font size

Style Regular, bold, italics, bold italics

Underline Underline

Strikethrough Strikethrough

Text Format

Text color Text colour




Wrap text Wrap text according to cell width. Has no effect if autofit width is set.

Vertical text alignment

Sets vertical text alignment

Hori ent. zontal text alignment

Sets horizontal text alignm

Background color

Shows the colour of the cdisplayed as a colour and as e.g. standard RGB notati

ell background. This is a three three-digit numbers

on. It is possible to change

Background image

Can select a skin from from an image URL.

a list or use an image accessed

Borders Shows the current cell bordwindow to set border valu

No borders to table by default.

er elements and links to a es.

Merge cells Only applicable where moreselected.

than one row/column are

Nu ge number format. mber format Opens window to chan

Position Shows details from Left edge and Top edge options. Also able to access window to

Left edge Position of cell relative to the left/right edge and to what or report or block. it is relative e.g. report title

Top edge Position of cell relative to the top/bottom edge and to eport title or report or block what it is relative e.g. r


Sets the cell to appear on every new page.



8.7 Chart Properties The chart properties vary between art.

types of ch All charts have the following sections

Options Description Group

General Name Name of the chart. This can be changed.

Avoid duplicate row duplication

y a number or rows may be brought back for a particular object e.g. if item

row for

Depending on the nature of the quer

type and location are brought back there will be a each location/item type location. If only the item type information is required Decisions will automatically aggregate the rows for each item type. If this option isset to Yes then the rows will not be aggregated.


Display

Show rows with empty

dimension

ion values.

values

Show rows with empty dimens


Show when he element even when empty. empty

Displays t

Not available on 3D charts, pie charts and radar charts. 3D Look

The width of the chart Width

Height The height of the chart

Start on new page

Sets the chart to start on a new page


Sets the chart to repeats on every new page

Avoid page break in chart

Avoids breaking a chart over a more than one page if possible.

Page layout

Position Position of chart relative to the report or a heading

Sorts Sort priority Can adjust any sorts applied to chart.

All charts have an Appearance section although this varies depending on the type of chart but it short the following can be controlled:

• Chart background

• Legend

• Chart title

• Values including palettes of colours

• X, Y and Z axis formatting. Labels and scales.

ACTIVITY 24:

Create report, cells, tables and charts and then alter their properties.



8.8 Number Formatting ied. Select a cell,

olumn or row and then right-click and select Number Format. There are a number formats that have been predefined or that can be added to and modifc

The default format types have no fo as you move through the types the format properties change. Select the one required and click O the f

Check the Custom check box and th hoices al to Zero and Undefined can be modified and added to the Properti ick on re details about setting up number formats.

ACTIVITY 25:

Alter the number format of a m

8.9 Cutting and pasting er dAny block e. hart can another application.

he table or chart is an image and so cannot be changed or updated directly from the Decisions Server.

rmatting but K to apply ormat.

e four c Positive, Negative, Eques list. Cl the Help button for mo

easure.

into oth ocuments g. table or c be copied onto the Microsoft Clipboard and then used in

T



9. Formulas and Variables ese formulas can deal with numeric, date, time

and string

A variable is a Manager. The variable ca

The

Formulas are complex calculations using objects and functions. Ths. They can be complex with if-then-else logic and Boolean logic.

formula that has been saved with a name. The variable then appears in the Report n then be selected multiple times in a report and across reports in a document.

9.1 Formula Editor

icon opens the Formula Toolbar.

The Editor will display any formulas when a column, row or cell is highlighted that exist. In the example above the formula =[Total issues/renews] indicates the Total issues/renews object.

By highlighting an empty column created in the table and entering =[Total issues/renews] and then clicking on to save the formula then the issues/renews measure is displayed in the new column

The icon would remove any changes made to the formula and revert it back to its previously saved state.

However by adding *1.25 to the end of the formula the issues/renews figure can be increased by 25 percent.



This manual method of creating a formula relies In order to help users there is a Formula Editor t

on a user knowing all the possible functions and their syntax. hat can be accessed by clicking on the icon on the Formula

• Function tab – displays all the functions available in Web Intelligence. This can be listed alphabetically or ne has the full list of these functions.

Operators tab – displays all the operators required for numeric and comparison operations.

Validat ate button will check the syntax of the formula and report any errors. This is automati tton will revert the formula back to its last saved configuration.

• The Formula Text – where

• Description area – Displays descripti will also be a link to a help on a function or oper

Toolbar.

The Formula Editor has a number of sections:

• Data tab – displays the objects selected in the queries and any user-defined variables

in groups. Appendix O

•

• e and Cancel buttons – The Validcally done when OK is clicked. The Cancel bu

the formula is created.

ons of objects, functions and operators. There ator.

Functions Tab

Operators Tab

Cancel Validate

By moving through the ta e to build up the formula.

bs and double-clicking the required options it is possibl

Data Tab

Formula text

Description Area



To achieve the same formula as before delete the formula text.

Clicking on OK

If you want to create a v

will return you to the Formula Toolbar (Assuming there are no errors).

ariable from this formula click on the icon in the Formula Toolbar. This opens ae.

new window that allows you to assign a name and a qualification e.g. dimension, detail or measur

2. Select the object

Total issues/renews 1. Open the Formula Editor

3. Move to the Operator tab and select *

4. Type 1.25 in the Formula text area



The variable will now appear in the Report Manager

Viewed in Alphabetical order

Viewed by Query

There is a whole range of functions outlined in Appendix One.

ariables can be created as detailed above or directly by click on the icon in the Report Toolbar. V

The V riable Definition section to add the qualification, long ions from the Formula editor. A variable name must be added.

Manager when it is viewed in Query mode.

ariable Editor includes a Va with the sect

name of the variable and the a

It is also possible to create a variable by right-clicking on the Variable class in the Report

Report Manager the variable can be edited, deleted

e a number of similar variables need to be created.

other variables to create complex sets of vaom the database or report into cells e.g. creating a title

If a variable is highlighted in the or duplicated. Duplication can be very useful wher

Variables can be used in formulas and riables. Variables are also useful for combining text fr that uses the values from prompts.

ACTIVITY 26:

Create formulas and variables with in the document.



10. Synchronising Data Au

s has been seen to create the Query panel from one or many niverses. Each query generates a microcube (or data provider).

he data from these microcubes can then be used in creating blocks in a report.

Blocks 1 and 2 are different views on the data from the data from one query using the Circulation universe.

Block 3 displays data from a different query using the Circulation universe.

Block 4 displays data from a query using the Reservation universe.

t queries against the Circulation universe into a single

previously it is possible multiple queries in

T

Data synchronisation allows data from different microcubes to be combined in blocks based on common dimension objects.

Block 1 is created by combining the data from two differenblock.

Block 1

CiUn

rculation iverse

Block 2

Block 3 Reservation Universe

Block 4

Block 1

Block 2

Circulation Universe

Reservation Universe



Block 2 is created by combining the data froother using the Reservation universe, in a sin

m two different queries, one using the Circulation universe and the gle block.

Example

1. Create a query using the Circulation Universe

Result Objects: Barcode from the Borrower details class

Total loan transactions

Query Filter: Issue/renew/dischar

number of loan transactions.

2. Click on

new ge breakdown in list Issue;Re

Run the query and a report will be created with a list of borrower barcodes and a

and create a second query using the Reservation Universe

Result Objects: Barcode from the Borrower details class

Total Reservations

There will be to include the data from the new query in the document. Make sure the “Insert a ta ort” option is select

a prompt about how ble in a new rep ed.

There are now two reports with two lists but the objective is to combine the data from the two queries so e

3. In the Report Manager arrange the objects by Query. Insert a blank report to hold the new table. Select cts from the two queries using the mouse and Ctrl ke ects into the empty

4. displays an error

that for each barcode the number of issues/renews and the number of reservations is included in the samtable.

the four objereport.

y and drag the obj

The report

5. If you remove one of the barcodes then the display will be like



Again this is not correct.

This is because the two common dimensions haven’t been automatically synchronised. This will be attempted but if the objects do not have the same name or in different class structures in the universes the

tic synchronisation can fail and it has to be done manually. automa

6. Click on the icon on the Report Toolbar to open the Merge Dimensions window.

The window shows the dimensions in each query that are available to be merged and also any dimensions that have already been merged either automatically or manually. It is best to merge all dimensions that can be logically merged together.

7. Select the dimensions to be merg . A window will be displayed that shows the Source dimensions, the n hich can be changed for clarity and a description.

ed and then click the merge buttoname for the merged dimension w

The Merge Dimension window will now look like:



8. The report will now be updated and look like this

ach borrower in both measures. Where a borrower has no reservations or no There are now values for e

loans this is shown as an empty cell. It is possible format to show zero for undefined cells. To ensure that all values are displaye for both dimensions select the “Extend merged dimension values” option in the D ties

In the Report Manager a new class call ons. In this is the merged dimension that was created and if this is e merged dimension objects.

There is no need for both Barcode objec and it is better to use the merged dimension object. The barcodes can be updated an

to modify the number d even if there are no values

ocument Proper

ed is created called Merged Dimensixpanded you are shown the

ts to be includedd the report will look like:



1.

2. Th

3. Th

4. and

5.

6.

7.

8. bet

ACTIVITY 2

10.1.1 Some rules about synchronising with merged dimensions You can only link on dimension objects.

e dimension objects do not have to have the same name.

e dimension objects must have a common data format.

Although actual values do not have to be the same, all data held in the microcube is case sensitive therefore any common values must be in the same case.

The format of the values must be the same.

Any number of queries can be linked by common dimension objects.

Any number of dimension objects can be merged between two queries.

A measure object can be synchronised successfully only to the lowest level of detail that is common ween two different data sources.

7:

Repeat the above example.



11. Drilling ed. It is then possible to look in more

deta

Cre

Drilling is possible where more data is in the data cube than is being displayil at layers through the data.

ate a query in the Circulation universe that has Total loan transactions, Issue/renew/discharge breakdown, and the , , and Site of loan Year Month Day Hour objects from Loans | Date Rep n

In t e

orti g e.g. the date of the transaction.

he r port just have the Year and Total loan transactions objects displayed.

Click on the button in the Report toolbar.

ons become links e.g. underlined so it is possible to drill down from 1999 to see the data by month 1999 and then dill down into month 10 (October) to see the data by day for October 1999 and then drill down

The arrow in the header allows the user to drill upwards.

When the Drill button was first clicked the empty Drill tool bar was displayed. As the drilling continues objects are added to the toolbar for each drill action.

At the end the Drill toolbar looks like:

The dimensiinin to 30 October 1999 to see the data by hour on that day.

1999 10 30



It is now possible to sselected from here.

elect values from here so if you wanted to look at 30 October 2000 the values can be

be taken and inserted into a new report by clicking on the When drilling you may find a view of the data you wish to keep to either share or to compare with data in future drills. A snapshot of the data can button. Once a

Set up a drilling example and use drill

snapshot has been taken it is no longer connected to the drilling report.

Care needs to e taken with drilling as not all reports will be suitable for such actions.

b

ACTIVITY 27:

options and Snapshot.



12. Sharing Objects and Documents Within InfoView you will now have a set of documents in your personal area that have been created in Web Intelligence and that we want to share with other people.

A Web Intelligence document can be shared by

• Saving it to the corporate area either with a new name or as a shortcut so it is available to all.

• Sending it or a shortcut to another InfoView user or group of users so it appears in their Info View Inbox

FTPing the document to a machine in PDF or Excel format

• Saving the document in PDF or Excel format to a networked drive.

The email, FTP and disk options may not have been configured on installation so any attempt to use then would be unsuccessful.

There is no point sending a document in Web Intelligence format by email, FTP or to disk as such files are not viewable outside of Decisions.

12.1 Sending documents to BusinessObjects Inboxes

Select the file you want to send by selecting the document in the document list and clicking on the

• Sending it by email to people in PDF or Excel format.

•

button on the Navigation bar.

1. From the Send drop-down select “To BusinessObjects Inbox”

2. Destination: Deselect the option to use the “Job Server’s defaults”. These defaults will be defined by the System Administrator. Deselecting the option allows you to decide.

3. Choose: From here it is possible to pick users or groups to have the report sent to them.



4. Target name: Use the radio buttons to determine whether the system will automatically generate a name for

the drop down list of placeholders is

5. Doing this

12.2 Sending documents to email accounts

Select the file you want to send by selecting the document in the document list and clicking on the

the document or a Specific name entered by you or selected fromassigned.

Send As: By default what will be sent is a shortcut to the original document rather than a copy. saves space as a copy would have to be held on the system for each user.

button on the Navigation bar.

1. Select To Email and deselect the option to use the Job Server’s defaults. These defaults will be defined by the System Administrator. Deselecting the option allows the user to decide.



The form is very similar to

the one shown above.



12.3 ScheduliAs well as manually sending BusinessObjects Inboxes, to email accoun

When a document is sched cted to the original document but exists sepa ll differ from the original document particularly if th

In the document list there a

ng a Web Intelligence document a document it can be scheduled to be refreshed and sent to

ts, via FTP or to a disk location.

uled to run an instance of that report is created. It is connerately. This means that the data in each instance may we

e query or report have been changed between runs.

re a number of options (assuming that they have been hidden)

Click on the Schedule link.

A number of sections will be displayed:

Caching Options, Server Group and Events are not covered in this course.

All dates can be entered manually for from a pop-up calendar indicated by the icon.

Options Sub-Options Description

Instance title By default the instance will have the same name as the original document but this can be altered.

Now By default the document is scheduled to refresh as soon as it is scheduled.

Once The object will run once at the time specified.

Hourly Document will be run every N hours and X minutes for a specified date range. Range defaults to 10 years. The time run will be the time of the Start Time.

Daily Document will run once every N days for a specified date range. Range defaults to 10 years. The time run will be the time of the Start Time.

Weekly The report will run every week for a specified date range. Range defaults to 10 years. It is possible to select more than one day of the week. The time run will be the time of the Start Time.

When

Monthly Document will be run every N months for a specified date range. Range defaults to 10 years. The time run will be the time of the Start Time.



Options Sub-Options Description

Nth Day of Month

Document will be run every Nth day of each month fospecified date

r a range. Range defaults to 10 years. The

time run will be the time of the Start Time.

1st Monday of Month

Document will be run every 1st Monday of each month for a specified date range. Range defaults to 10 years.

t Time. The time run will be the time of the Star

Last Day of Month

Document will be run on the last day of each month for a specified date range. Range defaults to 10 years. The time run will be the time of the Start Time.

X Day of Nth Week of the

Month

Document will be run on the X day of the Nth week of r a specified date range. Range defaults to

time run will be the time of the Start Time. nd, Third, Fourth or Fifth. X can

each month fo10 years. The Nth can be First, Secobe Sunday to Saturday.

Calendar user defined schedules set up by System Calendars are Administrators.

Default Enterprise Locati

created but is not sent to ssible from the History link for the

on

This means the instance is anyone but is acceobject.

Inbox Settings are the same as for Send.

Email Recipients

Settings are the same as for Send.

File location This is not available if the format is Web Intelligence. ings are the same as for Send. Otherwise sett

Destination

FTP Server This is not available if the format is Web Intelligence. Otherwise settings are the same as for Send.

Web Intelligence

ternally from

Send the document as a Web Intelligence document.. While allowed to do this for Email is not advised sending Web intelligence files are not viewable exInfoView.

Microsoft Excel Can be sent as an Excel document.

Format

Adobe Acrobat Can be sent as an PDF document.

Click on the button to s chedulshow the current instance and its status and all the

et the s ed job up. A History screen will then be displayed. It will previous instances.

The Status will show if the job is Pending, Running, Success or Failure. The button will refresh the view.



This screen can be n the Document list.. The Document list will also have a link to the last i

CONFIGURATION:

Ensure the password in the e io

ACTIVITY 28:

Schedule a document using the Loan Aggrega w minutes time. Repeat this changing the sou a lt values.

13. Miscellaneous

13.1 TInfoView and Web Intelligence ha asso ith them. This timeout is approximately 10 minutes. While it is possible to adjust these, it rtant t g them even if it is without data. If it is likely that a job will tak han 10 hedule the document to be refreshed now.

13.2 Shortcuts Drag and drop Windows functionality exists within n the documents. The same is true for iple

TIP:

When dragging object(s) into the report it is po r than a new block. To force the creation of a ne ss the Alt key while dragging and dropping the object(s).

ours, this

accessed from the nstance.

History link i

mail configurat n in the CMC is up-to-date.

tes Universe to run now and to run in a ferce Inbox or em il and change the format of the reports and the defau

imeouts ve timeouts ciated w

is impoe more t

o save reports as you are developin minutes it would be advisable to sc

Decisions for selecting and resizing features i selecting mult objects with shift and or Ctrl buttons.

ssible that the report will create a new section rathew block pre

13.3 TemIt is not possible to have a template document as such. A new document will pick

plates up the standard defaults and

any changes will have to be inserted. However there is a route around this. Create a document with the colimages etc and a very basic query with no data. Save this document in the corporate area. Users then opendocument and then save it under a new name. They can then make changes to the query but the general formatting is now correct. You may require a number of files for different types of document. It is also advisable to have a back-up copy of the templates.



14. Desktop Intelligence Desktop Intelligence is a client reporting tool. This means it must be installed on a PC. It was previously known

e interface has been refreshed in terms of look.

een e two.

ave used BusinessObjects Reporter you will find Desktop Intelligence the same. The development focus

efreshed via Info View. It is not possible to edit these documents directly in InfoView. It is only ossible if Desktop Intelligence is installed on the PC running the browser accessing InfoView.

using the Report Conversion Tool. The Report Conversion Tool is another client tool red in the Administration Course. It is not always possible to convert or fully convert a

ACTIVITY 29:

Use Desktop Intelligence to create a document in Loan Aggregates universe.

as BusinessObjects Repofunctionality although th

rter of the Full Client. There is no great difference between the two in terms of

Desktop Intelligence and Web Intelligence have very similar functionality but the way of accessing that functionality is different. The syntax of formulas and conditions is slightly different e.g. commas are used in

ligence but semi-colons in Web Intelligence. There are also differences in some defaults betwDesktop Intelth

If you hof Business Objects is on Web Intelligence.

Desktop Intelligence documents can be uploaded to InfoView via Desktop Intelligence. These documents can be viewed and rp

Once a Desktop Intelligence document has been exported to InfoView it is possible to convert the report to a Web Intelligence versionand its operation is coveDesktop Intelligence document to a Web Intelligence document.

Another client tool is the Publisher which allow the batch uploading of objects into InfoView that are not Web Intelligence or Desktop Intelligence documents. This can save uploading each object one at a time in Info View. This tool is covered in the Administration course.



15. Appendix One – Web Intelligence Formula Functions

Function Category Function Description

CurrentDate Returns the cDate and Time urrent dathe regional settings

te formatted according to

CurrentTime Returns the current the regional settings

time formatted according to

DayName Returns the name of the day in a date

DayNumberOfMonth Returns the number date

of the day in the month of a

DayNumberOfWeek Returns the number date

of the day in the week of a

DayNumberOfYear Returns the number of the day in the year in a date

DaysBetween Returns the number of days between two dates LastDayOfMonth Returns the date of the last day of the month in a

date

LastDayOfWeek Returns the date of the last day of the week in a date

Month Returns the name of the month in a date

MonthNumberOfYear Returns the number of the month in a date

MonthsBetween Returns the number of months between two dates

Quarter Returns the number of the quarter in a date

RelativeDate Returns a date that is the input date plus a number of days

ToDate Returns a character string formatted according to a date format

ToNumber Returns a string as a number Week Returns the number of the week in the year in a

date Year Returns the number of the year in a date DocumentAuthor Returns the InfoView logon of the person who

created the document Document

DocumentDate Returns the date on which a document was last saved

DocumentName Returns the document name DocumentPartiallyRefreshed Determines whether a document is fully or

partially refreshed DocumentTime Returns the time a document was last saved

DrillFilter Returns drill filters applied to a document or object in drill mode

LastPrintDate Returns the date on which the document was last printed

ReportFilter Returns the report filters applied to an object or report



Connection Returns the parameters of the database coused by a data provider

nnection Data Provider

DataProvider Returns the name of the data provider ariable containing a v

DataProviderSQL Returns the SQL generated by a data provider LastExecutionDate hich a data provider was last Returns the time at w

refreshed LastExecutionTime hich a data provider was last Returns the date on w

refreshed NumberofDataProviders Returns the number of data providers in a report NumberOfRows ns the number of rows in a data provider ReturUniverseName Returns a the name of the Universe on which a

data provider is based

pt

UserResponse Returns the data entered in response to a promAverage ns the average of a set of numeric values ReturCount Counts the number of occurrences of an item Max Returns the maximum value of a set of values Min Returns the lowest value of a set of values Percentage Returns the ratio of a numeric value to another

numeric value RunningAverage Returns the running average of a set of numbers RunningCount Returns the running count of a set of numbers RunningMax Returns the running maximum of a set of

numbers RunningMin Returns the running minimum of a set of numbersRunningProduct Returns the running product of a set of numbers RunningSum Returns the running sum of a set of numbers StdDev Returns the standard deviation of a set of numbersStdDevP t Returns the population standard deviation of a se

of numbers Sum Returns the total of a set of numbers Var Returns the variation of a set of numbers

Aggregate

VarP variation of a set of

Returns the populationnumbers

Asc s the ASCII value of a character ReturnChar Returns the character associated with an ASCII

value Concatenation ) two character strings Concatenates (joinsFill Builds a character string consisting of a string

repeated a number of times FormatDate to a supplied format Formats a date according FormatNumber

pecified Returns a number formatted according to the format s

Character

HTMLEncode Applies HTML encoding rules to a string



InitCap Capitalizes the first letter of a string Left of the first n leftmost

haracteReturns a string consisting c rs of an input string

LeftPad h another string Pads a string on its left witLeftTrim Removes the leading (left-side) blanks from a

string Length e length of a character string Returns thLower Converts a string to lower case Match Determines whether a string matches a pattern Pos Returns the starting position of a text pattern in a

string Replace Replaces part of a string with another string Right Returns string consisting of the first n rightmost

characters of an input string RightPad Pads a string on its right with another string RightTrim Removes the trailing (right-side) blanks from a

string Substr Extracts a string from a character string Trim Removes the leading and trailing blanks from a

string Upper Converts a string to upper case UrlEncode Applied URL encoding rules to a string WordCap Capitalizes the first letter of all the words in

string a

Even() Determines whether a number is even IsDate Determines whether a variable has the date data

type IsError Determines whether a variable returns an error IsLogical Determines whether an object has a Boolean data

type IsNull Determines whether a variable is null IsNumber Determines whether a variable is a numberIsString Determines whether a variable is a string IsTime hether a variable is a time variable Determines w

Logical

)

Odd( Determines whether a number is odd Abs Returns the absolute value of a number (the

number's value without the sign) Ceil Returns a number rounded up to the next whole

number Cos er, where the Returns the cosine of a numb

number is an angle in radians EuroConvertFrom cy Converts an amount in euros to another currenEuroConvertTo nt in another currency to euros Converts an amou

Numeric

dError -euro calculation

EuroFromRoun Returns the rounding error in a non-euro-to



oundError to-non-euro Returns the rounding error in a euro-calculation

EuroToR

Exp Returns e raised to a power Fact Returns the factorial of an integer Floor Returns a number rounded down to the neares

integert

. Ln Returns the natural logarithm of a number Log Returns the logarithm of a number in a specified

base Log10 Returns the base 10 logarithm of a number Median s the median of a set of numbers. The Return

median is the middle number in the set. Mod Returns the modulus (remainder) of a number

divided by another number Percentile Returns a percentile of a set of numbers Power Returns a number raised to a power Rank a measure by a dimension or set of Ranks

dimensions Round Rounds a number to a specified number of

decimal places Sign Returns the sign of a number Sin Returns the sine of an angle in radians Sqrt Returns the square root of a number Tan s the tangent of an angle ReturnToNumber Returns a string as a number Truncate Returns a number truncated to n decimal places ColumnNumber() ns the number of the column in a table ReturCurrentUser Returns the InfoView login of the current user GetContentLocale() Returns the document format locale GetLocale() Returns the current locale If Returns a value based on whether an expres

true or false sion is

LineNumber() Returns the line number in a table NameOf() Returns the name of an object NoFilter() when Tells Web Intelligence to ignore filters

calculating an expression NumberOfPages() report Returns the number of pages in a Page() Returns the current page number in a report Previous() Returns the previous value of an object RowIndex() Returns the number of a row

Misc

UniqueNameOf() Returns the unique name of an object Details taken from BusinessObjects

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