Remember to join SAP and Guy Kawasaki for next week’s Data to Outcome event. It is open to all.
Figure 1 Source: SAP
This was an ASUG webcast earlier this month given by Maheshwar Singh
Special thanks to Ingo Hilgefort for setting up this webcast for ASUG.
Figure 2 Source: SAP
Need new license keys for BI4.3
Figure 3 Source: SAP
SAP has released SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.3 in general availability. With the new release of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.3, SAP supports customers with on-premise needs while enabling cloud interoperability, further enabling organizations to manage all types of analytics across their business. As per our commitment to our on-premise customers, the maintenance will be extended to at least 2027. Source: SAP
Beta this year; SAP thanks beta partners/customers
Tentatively BI4.3 SP1 is planned for this year
Incremental SP’s for 4.3 release
Figure 4 Source: SAP
Hybrid – SAC live connectivity
SSO
Did implement top enhancements voted at influence.sap.com
Figure 5 Source: SAP
Hybrid topics
Figure 6 Source: SAP
SAC is an application in BI platform
Link is to the trial tenant
If you are already a customer, you can change it already to the tenant you have
Figure 7 Source: SAP
This was formerly known as Live Data Access 3.0 for Universes (compatible with BI4.3 release)
Introduced in BI4.2
Improvements in deployment
Figure 8 Source: SAP
New functionality introduced in BI4.3
Leverage existing CR report as a source in SAC
Use Crystal as a source for SAC
Data has to be acquired
Figure 9 Source: SAP
In 4.2 and earlier, either the admin or the user had to create empty asset, enter opendoc name
It was a time consuming process
Automated in 4.3:
- Select and identify BI platform content to be pushed to automatically appear as Analytics Hub content (need to assign to a category)
- Remain synchronized and up to date
With BusinessObjects BI 4.3 you can now:
-
Push content to automatically appear as Analytics Hub content from central management console or the BI Launch Pad Update and synchronize content
-
Supports SAML configuration (source: SAP)
User Experience
Figure 10 Source: SAP
Original classic BI Launchpad is no longer shipped with BI 4.3
All content, authorizations, are there – there is no update – it works
Scheduling and Publication enhancements
Figure 11 Source: SAP
Source: https://blogs.sap.com/2020/06/15/sap-bi-4.3-whats-new-in-web-intelligence-and-semantic-layer/
One application section – tiles, governed by security
Preference page with options
Appearance has out of the box themes
If you want to create a corporate standing, see skinning/theming – introduced Theme Designer tool (BI4.2 SP7) – updated in BI4.3
Figure 12 Source: SAP
Was in earlier release; enhanced in 4.3; a dropdown
Source: https://blogs.sap.com/2020/06/30/sap-businessobjects-bi-4.3-whats-new/
Figure 13 Source: SAP
Changed user experience
Notification introduced in 4.3
Recurrence – new option, business hours – decide day, interval for schedule
Figure 14 Source: SAP
Enhanced with UI experience
It has an additional summary tab
Figure 15 Source: SAP
Updated user experience – can’t customize home page
Old workspace in 4.2 and earlier can be edited – some modules not supported, will show empty space
Enterprise Readiness
Figure 16 Source: SAP
Many wanted silent installer enhanced
Figure 17 Source: SAP
Had not been used extensively
In 4.3, enhanced – user can have multiple credentials – multiple user name password combinations
Security Enhancements include Support for SAML 3.0, simplified SAML configuration and setup, and enhanced credential mapping, supported by: OLAP, Web Intelligence, Crystal Reports 2020, Crystal Reports for Enterprise (source: SAP)
Figure 18 Source: SAP
Several enhancements, consolidation
New studio
Integrates BI admin cockpit with monitor app with visual difference into 1 tool
Figure 19 Source: SAP
Now use JDBC connectors
Removed Derby database as part of the monitoring experience
Connect to audit database to store
Version management – remove ClearCase support; introduced support for Git, Local and HTTP mode
Promotion management – rollback support for promotion management job in the command line tool
Figure 20 Source: SAP
4.2 SP5 – admin console, separate URL – customers complained, so in 4.3, removed BI admin console, integrated as an application in CMC
Enhanced workflow assistant
Updated templates
Figure 21 Source: SAP
Auditing enhanced to capture additional information
Integration between auditing and monitoring – e.g. who turned off auditing
Figure 22 Source: SAP
Figure 23 Source: SAP
Connections can be based on http, Bex queries are not required
Figure 24 Source: SAP
New native data sources, with Snowflake being highly requested
Client Updates
Figure 25 Source: SAP
Client: Crystal Reports 2020 Designer (CR2020) 64 bit for client & server
Crystal Reports for Enterprise Designer (CR4E) – client 64 bit
Crystal Reports Viewer 2020
Figure 26 Source: SAP
One client for web and desktop
Parity with Web Intelligence Java Applet and Web Intelligence Rich Client 4.2 SP07 HTML5 (no Java), touch ready, Fiori like Light Dashboards
Figure 27 Source: SAP
OUT :
BOBJ EXPLORER
DASHBOARDS (Xcelsius)
BI Widgets
Lumira 1.x
Design studio
IN:
Lumira Discovery 2.x
Lumira Designer 2.x
Webi Rich Client
UDT/IDT
Live Office
Analysis Office
Crystal Reports
Figure 28 Source: SAP
For Cloud Extension Policy, customers can contact their SAP Account Executive.
Figure 29 Source: SAP
DeskI – convert in 4.2 and move to 4.3
Link: https://blogs.sap.com/2020/06/30/sap-businessobjects-bi-4.3-whats-new/
Q&A:
Can you now schedule a webi and then use the latest instance in a publication using dynamic recipients to use the latest instance so that the publication performance is approved by not having to refresh the source webi?
please see this blog which has a link to scheduling https://blogs.sap.com/2020/06/15/sap-bi-4.3-whats-new-in-web-intelligence-and-semantic-layer/
Is there a limit of concurrent session numbers per BOBJ user ?
Hopefully the answer can be found in this blog from SAP: https://blogs.sap.com/2020/06/30/sap-businessobjects-bi-4.3-whats-new/
Is it possible to add trending lines in charts in this 4.3 version?
Yes
For hybrid user management, do we need to purchase the SCP IPS, or is it included with SAC license ?
Check with your AE
So in Webi, can I add a trending line in 4.3?
yes
Will there be a 4.4?
TBD
is there an administrative setting that could still allow classic BI launchpad as an option?
No
How can you display a visualization in the default launchpad if BI workspaces can no longer be used as home page? Are we resigned to view a grid of tiles? And these tiles are not intelligent, we are not able to add a KPI to them?
Settings, select document open by default
Is Microsoft Sharepoint or Onedrive included as new datasources?
no
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What do you think? Have you downloaded BI4.3? What are your impressions?
Thanks again to Maheshwar and Ingo for this session
