This article was originally published on BusinessObjects Expert

You want an SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence chart with shadowed borders, blue font, and a symbol in place of a value? Cool. Wait, now you want to make it a 3-D chart instead? No problem if you’re using Web Intelligence 4.0.

The latest release of Web Intelligence (also known as WebI) puts design elements right in the hands of users and report developers, continuing a harmonized look and feel among all of the tools within BusinessObjects 4.0, said Roy Wells, principal consultant at Decision First Technologies. Wells spoke during a Decision First Webinar about Web Intelligence 4.0, which you can still access on demand by registering.

Similar to other BI tools in the BusinessObjects 4.0 release, Web Intelligence 4.0’s user interface features tabs and easy navigation among functions (e.g., report elements, formatting, and analysis). “For new users, this user interface should provide an earlier learning curve” compared to past versions of Web Intelligence, Wells said. However, long-time users familiar with the old user interface may need more time to become accustomed to the changes, he added.

The Chart Engine Is Your Palette

The new chart engine (i.e., the system that renders charts) that serves as a highlight of Web Intelligence 4.0. Through the engine, users can choose different chart types (e.g., box plots, tag clouds, tree maps) depending on how they want to display and analyze data. A tree map chart, for example, shows values as hierarchical data in the form of various sized and colored rectangles, which are also known as leaves (Figure 1). Tree maps can show users patterns of information they might not otherwise immediately notice.

Figure 1

A tree map created in the new chart engine

Meanwhile, a format pop-up window in the chart engine lets you easily alter chart components (e.g., value axis, 3-D appearance, shadowed boxes, colors). The power of the chart engine comes from this formatting because it gives users and report developers new-found control over every last aspect of a chart, Wells said.

Previewing Data Is Easy

The query window has been redesigned, and users will find the Data Preview panel helpful, Wells said. After dragging measures and filters into queries, Data Preview allows users to see the resulting date without running the actual report, which saves time (Figure 2). Users can also explore the data in the preview panel, although the full amount of data is configured in the preview to the top 100 or 1,000 rows of information.

Figure 2

The Data Preview panel, located in the lower right corner of the screen

Other features users may have interest in include:

• Web Intelligence 4.0 can use legacy universes (.unv extension) and newer Information Design Tool universes (.unx extension). This expands the data types that Web Intelligence 4.0 can access compared to prior releases of the software.
• Users can more easily publish data as Web Services by clicking the globe icon  in the left column to the chart editing tool. This handy icon was not available in prior releases.

Scott Wallask

Scott Wallask was the managing editor for the BI, BusinessObjects, and HANA content of SAPexperts. He has covered SAP for WIS since May 2010, with a focus on SAP NetWeaver BW, HANA, BusinessObjects, customer relationship management, supply chain management, and human resources. He has spent 19 years as a writer and editor, including stints as a reporter at several newspapers in the Boston area. For 12 years starting in 1998, he created in-depth content about fire safety and OSHA regulations in hospitals while working at HCPro, a healthcare publishing company. In 2005, he won a first place award for best instructional reporting from the Specialized Information Publishers Association for his series on fire protection efforts in nursing homes. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern University in 1994 with a BA degree in print journalism.

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