Seamless integration of BusinessObjects content into Enterprise Portals leads to increased user adoption and improves user productivity.

1. USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO
INTEGRATE
BUSINESSOBJECTS
INTO WEB PORTALS

2. Why Enterprise Web Portals?
It is becoming increasingly common for enterprises to provide access to multiple
business applications, including Business Intelligence apps, through a common access
point - an Enterprise Portal.
Portals allow users to access personalized views of Business Intelligence content
(reports, dashboards, etc). They also let users navigate, analyze and share data easily
under a single framework and from a single point of access. Portals make it easy for
users to make better business decisions by bringing together disparate data and
eliminating the nuisance of unique logins and passwords for multiple applications.
Some of the advantages of using an enterprise portal are:
Portals provide a single entry point to all the applications and documents that
users can access
Single Sign On to multiple disparate applications
Look and feel is consistent across multiple applications
Users get personalized application views and data/content secured based on
access levels
Seamless integration of BusinessObjects content into Enterprise Portals leads to
increased user adoption and improves user productivity. Portals also have lower training
costs and serve as effective collaboration hubs, resulting in increased ROI. Integrating
BusinessObjects into Enterprise Portals can help you achieve:
Improved user interfaces
Parameter driven BI Content (reports/dashboards)
Increased security for your data and content using user access levels
Scalability using BusinessObjects’ reporting infrastructure and security
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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3. Portal Integration with BI Platform
SAP BI Launchpad is the standard access portal for SAP BI content. Users will be able to
access (view, edit, schedule) any content, either private or public, according to platform
security. This portal allows for extensive customization and flexibility.
The SAP NetWeaver portal provides tools and guidelines for implementing an externalfacing portal for a variety of business scenarios for both anonymous and registered
users. Organizations can create Web portals that fully support SAP application
functionality (business applications, KM, etc.).
Standard Integration with SharePoint allows full integration with SAP BI platform and
accessibility. Users will be able to access (view, edit, schedule) any content, either
private or public, according to platform security.
Custom BusinessObjects Integration using SAP BI Software Development Kit (SDK):
This is typically done when there is a need to customize or simplify the existing user
interface for managing and distributing BI content (documents, reports, etc).The
customized BusinessObjects integration to a new or existing portal creates a one-stop
solution, taking advantage of underlying BusinessObjects security to allow users to
browse the BusinessObjects Enterprise Repository, export content, and handle report
scheduling, all from within the enterprise portal.
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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4. Information Access in SAP BI Platform
SAP Portal
Crystal Reports
Custom Portal
Web Intelligence
Reports
Xcelsius/Dashboards 4.0
SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise
The BusinessObjects SDK allows you to extend or customize the functionality of the SAP BusinessObjects BI platform.
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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5. BusinessObjects SDK – An Overview
BusinessObjects SDKs are available for .NET and Java platforms
to programmatically manage BI content (Crystal reports,
Web Intelligence reports, Dashboards, etc.). They can be
used to build scalable web applications (portals) that manage
and distribute BI content and also provide functionality for
Table 1.0:
BI functions &
corresponding
SDKs
administrative and client tasks (monitoring, scheduling etc).
The applications created by using the SDK have the same look
and feel as the core BI platform and provide a consistent user
experience.
Functionality
Which SDK to use
Manage platform related processes such as
Authentication
User management
Role management
Enterprise SDK
Report management
Report scheduling
View Desktop Intelligence and Web Intelligence documents
Report Engine SDK
Crystal Reports
Java Reporting Component (JRC) SDK
Crystal Reports .NET SDK
Crystal Reports for Visual Studio 2010
SAP Dashboards
Dashboard SDK, Flex SDK (Adobe)
Process Dynamic/Cascading
Lists of Values
Process Dynamic recipients lists
Open Crystal report instances Report Application Server (RAS)
when consumed in dashboard
via LiveOffice
Access to Enterprise Plugins (scheduling, publishing)
Common viewing scenarios such
as paging, exporting, searching,
drilling-down, and printing
Web Services SDK. The SDK also provides simplified access
to objects in the BusinessObjects Enterprise repository using
a Universe Resource Identifier (URI) based query
Common exporting scenarios Viewers SDK
such as PDF and MS Office
Prompting and Filtering
Customize SAP BusinessObjects Mobile Interface on platforms
including Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows and Blackberry
Mobile SDK
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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6. Using the SDK - Best Practices
It is important to remember not to hardcode dynamic parameters while coding
with the SDK. Be sure to configure and implement a logging mechanism to track
major operations using the portal (Login, Logoff, Modifying, and Deleting Content).
Additional customizations and features not available through the SDK can be achieved
by editing the core Java files of BusinessObjects, recompiling and publishing them.
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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7. Integrating BusinessObjects into the portal:
Factors to consider
I. The SDK Platform (.NET/ Java), Build Environment and IDE
III. SDK Features
Java SDK Setup: The Java SDK for SAP BusinessObjects 4.0
is part of the installation of the Enterprise system and not
a separate download - just like all previous versions. The
BusinessObjects Enterprise Java SDK consists of a set of Java
classes packaged up in a set of “JAR files.”
Refer to the SDK Application Programming Interface (API)
reference and developers guide to learn available features or the
list of functions you can do with the SDK. For example, the SDKs
supplied by SAP for Web Intelligence have been completely
deprecated for .NET and almost completely deprecated for Java
API customization in BI 4.0. But alongside the SDKs in BI 4.0,
APIs are available for specific customizations.
To make the classes contained in these JAR files available for
use, copy them to the lib folder of your web application.
Web Application FolderWEB-INFlib
IV. Methods of integrating with the SDK
.NET SDK Setup: Install Visual Studio .NET on your machine,
before installing Business Intelligence Enterprise for .NET to
make sure that the Microsoft .NET framework has been installed.
The .NET SDK for 4.0 comes down with the Client Tools and
there are no files to be copied.
SDK Integration into a custom application – This involves
adding the SDK libraries into the .NET or Java application that
requires the enhanced functionality (install the SDK code on
the same web application server as the main application).
Depending upon the Platform, you can choose the IDE (Eclipse
for Java, Visual Studio for .NET).
II.
Creating a separate SDK application that gets called from
main application - This is typically used while adding new BI
functionality (can run on the BusinessObjects server in default
web application server or on a separate web application server
specifically setup for web applications that can be called).
Version Compatibility
Make sure to use the correct JAR file versions (SDK) that are
compatible with the existing BusinessObjects platform. You
need to be updating your custom portal application’s jar files
every time you update your Enterprise system (the case where
you have upgraded from BOXI R2 to BusinessObjects 4.0).
V. Type of BI content that needs to be accessed
Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence Reports, Dashboards, Folders,
Users, etc.
Refer to Table 1.0 to decide which SDKs to use depending upon the
BI content that needs to be accessed and the functionality required.
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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8. VI. Authentication and Security
IX. Architectural details
Simple web portals can be implemented using web frames, but
in order to develop an integrated portal with BusinessObjects
platform security, one has to use the Enterprise SDK for
authentication, determining the type of access permitted for a
particular user, etc.
Make sure the portal is accessible through firewalls and test to
find out if proper load balancing has been implemented.
Note: In the case of Single Sign On, remember to pass the
proper credentials.
Plan on “How to Scale” (available via BusinessObjects clustering)
once you have the basic prototype working.
X. Scaling
VII. Report Viewing mechanism (Crystal Report Viewer,
OpenDocument method)
SAP Crystal Reports 2013 viewer is installed locally on your
computer, and allows you to print, save, export, and drill down
on multiple reports.
OpenDocument is a BusinessObjects web application installed
on the web server that facilitates report viewing via a URL and
standardizes report viewing methodologies across platforms
and programming languages. openDocument.jsp or
openDocument.aspx can be conveniently used to view Crystal
reports, WebI documents, OLAP-Analysis documents and
Dashboards.
VIII. Backend/Database connectivity
To access ODBC databases, install the Jdbc-Odbc Driver and
copy and include the necessary Jar files (in the case of Java
platform) in your web application. It is also possible to have
dynamic queries executed at runtime (By Building Custom SQL
and passing it to the report).
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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9. DMI’s Custom Portal Integration
framework, IntelliPortal Highlights
With IntelliportalTM, DMI’s integrated business portal, you can seamlessly integrate your BI content using our customized Portal
framework or we can create a portal specific to your business needs. IntelliPortal™ has been designed to deliver personalized
actionable insights, besides just business applications, for greater effectiveness. Our IntelliPortal framework includes:
Pre-packaged modules to integrate BusinessObjects into your Portals
Report/Dashboard viewer Integration – for iFrames, JSR Portlets, and SharePoint webparts
Report/Dashboard List based on user security – available in Java, .NET, and PHP
Customized Dynamic Parameter entry module – available for WebI and Crystal Reports
Custom simple report designer – for all objects in Universes using WebI or Crystal reporting engines
Figure:
Major aspects of
DMI’s Custom
Portal
At DMI, we are experts at:
Integrating BusinessObjects content into other
applications - mobile, third party
Personalizing reports/visualizations using Portal framework
Integrating BusinessObjects reports into clients’
eCommerce websites
Creating customized portals specific to business needs
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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10. DMI
About DMI
DMI Sales Team
One Rock Spring Plaza
6550 Rock Spring Dr
Bethesda, MD 20817
U.S. Sales: 855.963.2099
Int’l Sales: 240.200.5848
sales@DMInc.com
DMInc.com
DMI is a world-leading provider of solutions and services that leverage big data and mobile technologies to enhance business
performance. Our Big Data Insights solutions deliver better insights for better decisions and better results. Our mobile solutions
combine the award-winning user experience design that has made us one of the top creators of consumer apps with the deep
middleware and engineering expertise that we’ve used to build and manage enterprise applications for the most demanding IT
departments in the world. DMI mobility solutions improve business processes, tap new revenue streams, build customer loyalty,
and increase employee productivity. And we offer a full range of Managed Services to securely set up, configure, and manage your
mobile devices.
The proof:
Our Big Data Insights solutions drive enhanced business
performance and millions in incremental revenue for
companies like Cardinal Health, Luxottica, McKesson,
State Farm, Teradata, and Vantiv.
We provide 24 x 7 x 365 mobile service support for more
than 500,000 users. DMI is the one call our customers
need to make to resolve any issue—devices, apps,
infrastructure, even carriers.
We’ve built more than 400 mobile apps—in the past 12
months alone—for more than 150 leading organizations—
like Disney, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Vodafone, P&G, The
National Guard, and Universal Studios.
We offer a full range of security options that include
Federal-grade hardware-based security, two-factor
authentication, secure container, and sophisticated
encryption solutions.
We offer brilliant creative and user experience: Our mobile
app development group was named the Best Branded
App Developer at the 2012 Mobile Entertainment Awards.
With our expertise and economies of scale, we can provide
mobility management at a higher service level and on
average 20% lower cost than most companies can do on
their own.
We have 500,000 devices under management for more
that 100+ clients, including many Fortune 500
companies—like BP, Johnson & Johnson, Sears, The
Associated Press, Allergan, and more. At BP, we’re
deploying 1,000 managed mobile devices each day.
Pervasive excellence is our commitment to quality service.
DMI is one of only a handful of companies that is CMMI L3
appraised for both application development and services,
as well as ISO 9001:2008, ISO 27001:2005, and
ISO 20000-1:2011 certified. Our average D&B Open
Ratings performance score from our clients is 94/100.
USING THE SAP BI 4.0 SDK TO INTEGRATE BUSINESSOBJECTS INTO WEB PORTALS
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