Crystal Xcelsius and Web ServicesBy Sigit Yunanto

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Crystal Xcelsius Corporate Dashboard Development

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Crystal Xcelsius Corporate Dashboard Development

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Crystal Xcelsius: At A Glance

Source data from:• Excel spreadsheets• XML data• SOAP-based Web Services

1. Create an interactive presentation with point-and-click.

2. Output final interactive analytic or presentation to Crystal Vision Server, BusinessObjects Enterprise, any web page, PowerPoint, Outlook or PDF – with just one click!

3.

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The Dynamic Duo

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How they Work Together

Data Connectivity

Excel Model

Business Visualization

Visualization TierData Source Tier

Connect to corporate data sources via Web Services, LiveOffice, Query as a Web Service, XML, etc.

1 Data is populated into Excel model

2 Import Excel model into Crystal Xcelsius and generate Visualization

3 Publish Visualization to Crystal Vision Server or BusinessObjects Enterprise, export to Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.

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Business Logic Tier Web/Client Tier

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Crystal Xcelsius and Live Office

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Crystal Xcelsius and Live Office

The design process:

1. Create a Crystal Report

2. Use the LiveOffice add-in

to create an Excel spreadsheet

3. Create an Xcelsius dashboard

based on the spreadsheet

4. Add the LiveOffice connector to your dashboard

5. Set LiveOffice connector options (Refresh on Load, etc.)

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Crystal Xcelsius and XML Data

Two different types of XML data supported:

Static and Dynamic XML data sources XML files Web sites/pages that provide

dynamic XML data Can retrieve/submit XML

Web Services Defined by Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) Can support a number of different methods Supports input and return values

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Crystal Xcelsius and XML Data

Example of a dynamic data source:

<data><variable name="Range0">

<row><column>Xtreme Bike Warehouse</column><column>JAN-2006</column><column>$9920.02</column>

</row>

<row><column>Xtreme Bike Warehouse</column><column>FEB-2006</column><column>$2029.02</column>

</row>

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Crystal Xcelsius and XML Data

Dim sSQL as String

Dim oCon as Object

dim sConnect as String

sConnect = "Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=orion;Initial Catalog=Northwind;User Id=sa;Password=;"

oCon = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")

oCon.ConnectionString = sConnect

oCon.Open

dim oRst as Object

oRst = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.RecordSet")

oRst.ActiveConnection = oCon

sSQL = "SELECT * FROM StoreSales”

oRst.Open(sSql)

dim sXML as String

sXML = "<data>"

sXML = sXML & "<variable name=" + chr(34) + "Range0" + chr(34) + ">"

Do Until oRst.EOF sXML = sXML & "<row>" sXML = sXML & "<column>" & oRst("CompanyName").value & "</column>" sXML = sXML & "<column>" & oRst(“Period").value & "</column>" sXML = sXML & "<column>" & oRst(“SalesAmount").value & "</column>"sXML = sXML & "</row>"

oRst.MoveNext Loop

sXML = sXML & "</variable>" sXML = sXML & "</data>" Response.Write(sXML)

oRst.close oRst = Nothing oCon.close oCon = Nothing

Code behind the dynamic XML data source (getdata.aspx)

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Creating Dashboards from Universe Data

Utilizes “Query as a Web Service” (QAWS)QAWS was developed by Business Objects Labs http://labs.businessobjects.comProvides the ability to query on a Universe and expose the query results via a web servicePowerful tool for leveraging existing investment in universes

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Creating a generic web service for data retrieval

One web service to access multiple data sources

Can pass server connection details, table name, field names, etc.

Retrieve data from tables, views, stored procedures, etc.

Flexible way to access data via the web

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Presentation for Web Service

Web Service Generator Database WSGd Overview WSGd Part1 WSGd Part2 WSGd Part3

Web Service Generator Application WSGa Overview WSGa ShowApp 1 WSGa Recorder 2