Importing SAP BusinessObjects Processes
SAP BusinessObjects systems typically offer two types of reports, Crystal Reports and Web Intelligence. Redwood Server allows you to control both, the reports as well as the interaction with third-party solutions. You can only import Crystal Reports and Web Intelligence reports.
Crystal Reports and Web Intelligence
Crystal and Web Intelligence reports can be controlled from within Redwood Server, you can then schedule the creation of the report, its report and print parameters (Crystal Reports, only) and their destination. You use the following process definitions:
- SAP_BObj_ImportReportDefinitions - imports a definition of a report
- SAP_BObj_ReportRun - triggers an imported report to run
The Report path (REPORT_PATH) parameter accepts the path to the report within BusinessObjects (for example Feature Samples/Drilldown); note that this is the path in the user interface, not the path on the file system. The folder Public Folder is implied and should not be specified. You may use wildcards, however, no more than 200 reports will be imported; this is a limitation of the BusinessObjects API. Also, /**/*/ is added to the end of the report folder if you omit it; /**/ means sub-folders. You may specify the SI_KIND in the value as such //InfoObjects/Root Folder/**/*[SI_KIND='Webi'] or //InfoObjects/Root Folder/**/*[SI_KIND='CrystalReport'].
Parameters
The Report Parameters are process parameters generated for prompts and lists of values. They are named PAR_ followed by the name in BusinessObjects.
The generated process definition will have the following parameters, by default:
| Tab | Parameter | Documentation | Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parameters | SAP System | SAP BusinessObjects system to connect to. | |
| Parameters | Report Name | Name of the Report to run. | |
| Parameters | Report CUID | CUID of the report to run. | |
| Parameters | Instance title | Title of the document instance. | |
| Parameters | Format | Format for the report; only formats supported by the report in BusinessObjects can be used; not all report formats are supported in Redwood Server. | CSV,Excel,ExcelDataOnly,Pdf,Rtf,Txt,Word |
| Parameters | Send empty optional parameters | Should empty optional parameters be sent to Business Objects system. | |
| Parameters | Schedule for | User or group to run the report for; the report will contain only data the user/group can view in BusinessObjects. | |
| Parameters | Server Group Choice | Select how to choose the server group. | FIRST_AVAILABLE - first available server (default)PREFERRED - Give preference to the server group specified in Server GroupSPECIFIED - Only use the server in Server Group. |
| Parameters | Server Group | Preferred or mandatory server group, depending on the value of parameter *Server Group Choice*; this parameter is ignored if *Server Group Choice* is set to *First availble*. | |
| Parameters | Destination type | Type of destination to use. If you do not specify this, no report will be generated. | file - generate a file on the BusinessObjects server locally - options on the File Destination tabftp - generate a file and use FTP to send it - options on the FTP Destination tabinbox - Send a copy or a link to the BusinessObjects inbox - options on the Inbox Destination tabsmtp - email the report - options on the SMTP Destination tab |
| Report Parameters | Parameters specific to the report you import, a parameter per prompt in BusinessObjects. | ||
| SMTP Destination | From | From field for the email; SMTP parameters require you set Destination type to smtp. | |
| SMTP Destination | To | To field of the email. | |
| SMTP Destination | CC | cc field of the email. | |
| SMTP Destination | BCC | bcc field of the email. | |
| SMTP Destination | Subject | Subject field of the email. | |
| SMTP Destination | Message | Message of the email. | |
| SMTP Destination | Attachments | Name of the report in attachment of the email. Defaults to an automatically generated name. | |
| File Destination | Username | Username of the BusinessObjects user; File parameters require you set Destination type to file. | |
| File Destination | Password | Password of the BusinessObjects user. | |
| File Destination | File name | Full path of the file to create, must be an allowed path just like in CMC, such as /Input/SomeReport.pdf. | |
| Ftp Destination | Host | FTP server to send the file to; FTP parameters require you set Destination type to ftp. | |
| Ftp Destination | Port | Port of the FTP server, defaults to 21. | |
| Ftp Destination | Username | Username of the FTP user. | |
| Ftp Destination | Password | Password of the FTP user. | |
| Ftp Destination | Account | Account to use, if the FTP server mandates an account. | |
| Ftp Destination | File Name | File name for the remote FTP server. Defaults to an automatically generated name. | |
| Inbox Destination | User/UserGroup | User or user group inbox into which to place the link or file; if omitted, it will be placed in the Administrator's inbox. Requires you set Destination type to inbox. | |
| Inbox Destination | Send As | Creates a link to or a copy of the report in the inbox | Copy - (default) place a copy of the report in the user's inbox Shortcut - a shortcut to the report in BusinessObjects. |
| Inbox Destination | Target Name | Name of the report/shortcut; if omitted, will default to the report name. |
Report Parameters
Parameters that allow multiple values have an asterisk in their description.
The syntax for parameters with multiple values:
" - used to enclose values with spaces
; - value separator
\ - escape character
The syntax for range report parameters is the same as in BusinessObjects:
( - exclude lower value
) - exclude upper value
[ - include lower value
] - include upper value
.. - separator between lower and upper value
\ - escape character
; - value separator
Lower or upper value can be omitted. Multiple values are separated by a semicolon.
Example
(AAA.. BBB);[CCC.. DDD];[EAA.. EZZ)
Three ranges, first starting from AAB to BBA, the second CCC to DDD, and the third EAA to EZY.
AAA;AAB;AAC
Three values, AAA, AAB and AAC.
AA\;B;AABC;AA\"C;"AA D"
Four values, AA;B, AABC, AA"C, and AA D.
note
Print parameters are only available for Crystal Reports.
Destination
The following destination types are supported:
- SMTP - email the report to a number of addressees
- File - the report is generated and a link is created to the report
- Inbox - place the report in the user's inbox, if no user is specified, the report will be placed in the Administrator's inbox
- FTP - transfer the file over FTP/S
For SMTP, you choose the following header fields (to, cc, bcc, subject, and body). You specify multiple email addresses using semi-colons (; ) in to and cc fields, just like regular email clients.
If you want multiple destinations, you schedule the process multiple times.
note
You select the destination on the Parameters tab and then fill the parameters on the destination-specific parameter tab.
tip
If you do not need one or more destinations for a specific report, you can delete the associated parameters from the definition. This allows you spare table space in the database and improves performance, in the long term.
Formats
An optional parameter is available to set the file type of the BOBJ info object. Allowed formats are [None], Excel, Pdf, Powerpoint, Rtf, Txt, Word. If not set, the default format of the info object is used. Some reports do not support all formats.
Additionally the following parameter can be added:
OUTPUT_FORMAT_PAGES - this parameter defines which pages of a document should be sent to the destination in the format [from-to] or all (default).
Procedure
Import a Report
- Navigate to Definitions > Processes.
- Choose Submit from the context-menu of SAP_BObj_ImportReportDefinitions.
- Select the SAP system to use in the SAP System field.
- Start typing the name of the report in the Report path field and select the desired report from the list. By default, the name of the generated process definition will be the report name in SAP BusinessObjects, you can change that on Generation Settings tab.
- Select No in the Test run? field and choose Submit.
- Inspect the process in Monitoring Processes.
Import a Report without Destination Parameters
- Navigate to Definitions > Processes.
- Choose Submit from the context-menu of SAP_BObj_ImportReportDefinitions.
- Select the SAP system to use in the SAP System field.
- Start typing the name of the report in the Report path field and select the desired report from the list.
- Select No in the Test run? field.
- On the Generation Settings tab, fill
NoDestination_into the Name of Generated Definition field. - Select Prefix in front of source name in the Use name as field.
- Select No in the Generate destination parameters? field and choose Submit.
- Inspect the process in Monitoring Processes.