0309_data_connectivity_in_sap_crystal_reports_for_enterprise.pdf

Session 0309 - Data Connectivity in Crystal Reports for Enterprise

Kenneth LiCrystal Reports Product Manager @ SAP

September 10-13, 2012Orlando, Florida

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 2

This presentation and SAPs strategy and possible future developments are subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. This document is providedwithout a warranty of any kind either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

Agenda

Data Connectivity Overview

Connectivity #1: Direct to Data

Connectivity #2: Universe (.unx)

Connectivity #3: SAP BW Bex Queries

Making Sense of the Options

Planned Innovations

Summary / Q&A


This presentation and SAPs strategy and possible future developments are subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. This document is providedwithout a warranty of any kind either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

Data Connectivity StrategyCrystal Reports for Enterprise

Ensure Crystal Reports remains the market leading standard in enterprisereporting that provides connectivity to a wide variety of data sources

Offer comparable data connectivity options in Crystal Reports for Enterprise asCrystal Reports 2011

Offer flexibility within data connectivity with choices of direct connection orthrough the semantic layer

Deliver migration paths for moving content from Crystal Reports 2011 to CrystalReports for Enterprise


Greatest Breadth & Depth of Data Connectivity

SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise

Direct connectivity to a growingnumber of data sources

Next generation Universes (.unx) relational and OLAP

SAP Integration BW directconnectivity via Bex queries

Analytical Views from AnalysisOLAP

SAP Crystal Reports 2011

Direct connectivity to a multitude ofrelational data sources

Legacy Universes (.unv)

SAP Integration (BW and ERP) viadirect drivers

Business Views

OLAP reporting

Direct Data Access for Crystal Reports forEnterprise 4.0


Direct to Data - Changes from Crystal Reports 2011

Two methods of direct connectivity:

Relational Connection Objects Data connection is stored on the BI Platform Designed for integration with the platform

Desktop Connections Data connection is stored in the report Similar to traditional direct to data from CR 2011


How it WorksReports Managed by the BI Platform

DBMS

ReportReport

ReportDBMS

Info

DBMSInfo DBMS

InfoRelational

Connection

Report

Report

Report

DBMS

Crystal Reports For Enterprise Crystal Reports 2011

CR for Enterprise reports saved to BI Platform use Relational Connection objects to hold connectioninfo. CR 2011 reports continue to store connection info in each report.


Direct Data Access ArchitectureManaged Reports

Design-Time

Connection Server service from BI Platform isinvoked to run a query on behalf of the client

Connection details never leave the server

Client processes the query results to build aformatted report

View-Time

Connection Server is invoked in-process withinthe CR server for best performance

Report page is formatted by the CR Server

HTML is generated by the Web Server andreturned to the client


Good Citizen of the SAP BusinessObjects Suite

Life Cycle ManagementConnection dependencies are detected during migration.

Metadata ManagementWill participate in the next release of Information Stewards Metadata Management forlineage and impact analysis.

Multi-tenancyReports are pointed to different relational connections for each tenant.

CMS ClusteringCMS clustering is tested and supported.

Scalable and reliableReport consumption has been performance and endurance tested. Load and data scalabilitytests are underway.


Empowering Report AuthorsDesktop Direct Data Access

Start building reports immediately, before the Administrator has create arelational connection on the BI Platform server

Share reports without live data connections Save data in the report and view with the SAP Crystal Reports Viewer Export to popular formats like PDF & Excel

Ease the transition to Crystal Reports for Enterprise and RelationalConnections in environments where report authors already have databaseconnections configured on their desktops


How it WorksDesktop (unmanaged) Reports

DBMS

ReportReport

ReportDBMS

Info

DBMSInfo DBMS

Info

Crystal Reports For Enterprise Crystal Reports 2011

DBMS

ReportReport

ReportDBMS

Info

DBMSInfo DBMS

Info

Reports outside of the BI Platform repository contain connection info, as they always have.


Direct Data Access ArchitectureDesktop Reports

Connection Server is invoked in-process within the CR designer

Connection Server binaries on theclient are the same as those on theserver in the managed report scenario

Connection details are present in thereport definition

Database driver must be installed onthe client

Universe Access (.unx) for Crystal Reports forEnterprise 4.0


Leveraging the Common Semantic LayerSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with Universes (.unx)

Connectivity to .UNX UniversesConnectivity is provided by a common semantic layer in SAP BusinessObjects 4.0 SuiteOther BI clients can consume the same universes

Web IntelligenceDashboards

Leverage the strengths of each tool against the same authored universeUniverses are authored/modelled within the Information Design ToolSupport for relational & OLAP sources as well as multi-source relational data sourcesData access support is provided by Connection Server that is running in-process onBusinessObjects Enterprise

Note: Crystal Reports 2011 does not support .UNX universes


Supported Data SourcesSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with Universes (.unx)

Large breadth of supported datasources . Here are some examples:

Relational SourcesMS SQL Server 2005/2008/2012Oracle 10/11Teradata 12/13Sybase product familySAP ERPSAP HANA

OLAP SourcesMS Analysis 2005/2008/2012Oracle Essbase 11SAP BusinessObjects EPM products

*Consult Product Available Matrix (PAM) for full support by version (http://service.sap.com/pam)


How It WorksSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with Universes (.unx)

SAP BW for Crystal Reports for Enterprise 4.0


Using Bex QueriesSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with BW Bex Queries

Connectivity to BW Bex QueriesLeverages Semantic Layer API and Engine to construct a business layer representation of aBW bex queryUsing the semantic layer technology, we generate a universe in memory (aka transientuniverse)Use of BICS API ensures rich metadata is retrieved for reporting capabilities

Hierarchies, restricted / calculated key figures, etc.Relies on an OLAP connection defined within BusinessObjects Enterprise


How It WorksSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with SAP BW (Bex Queries)


Making Sense of the Options Direct to DataSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with Direct to Data Connectivities

What do I need to get CR for Enterprise working directly with my RDBMS?

To save desktop report to BOE, perform set datasource location to an RCORCO reports can be saved locally; refresh will ask for logon to BOE

Direct to Data - RCO Direct to Data - DesktopInformation Design Tool(IDT)

Creates the RCOsPublished to BOE

n/a

Middleware (32-bit) Required for IDTNot required for CR

Required for CR

Middleware (64-bit) Required for BOE n/a

BusinessObjectsEnterprise (BOE)

Supported n/a


Making Sense of the Options UniversesSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with Universes (.unx)

What do I need to get CR for Enterprise working with Universes?

CR 2011 universe reports (.unv) will need to be remapped to a .unx sourceIDT provides capability to convert a .unv to a .unx

Universe (.unx)CR for Enterprise No middleware required

Information Design Tool 32-bit middleware for universe authoring(native clients, ODBC, JDBC)

BusinessObjects Enterprise 64-bit middleware for scheduling / viewing


Making Sense of the Options Bex QueriesSAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise with BW Bex Queries

What do I need to get CR for Enterprise working with Bex queries?

CR 2011 BW reports need to be remapped to the new DSL connection

Bex QueriesOLAP Connections onBOE

Created in BOE (CMC) or IDTCan point to a server, cube, or query

Bex Queries Queries must be flagged for external use


Planned InnovationsWhats Coming?

Direct to DataSupport more datasourcesSQL commands, and other functionality to bridge parity gap with CR 2011

Universes (.unx)Support more datasourcesAdd functionality to be on par with business views (view-time security, dynamicconnections); Universes are the future for business views customers who want to move toCR for Enterprise

BW / Bex QueriesFunctional improvements to support more BW metadata and features (eg. Variants andvariable personalization)

OthersSAP HANA dimensional support for HANA analytical views, and other new HANA features(eg variables & hierarchies). Direct access (transient) as well as authored universe.


Crystal Reports for Enterprise is designed to satisfy many data access methods. The choice ofconnectivity depends on the business, functional, and possibly migration needs.

Key Points to Take Home

Direct to Data access via the Relational Connection Object is new and exclusive to CR forEnterprise. Desktop connections mimic the direct connectivity from CR 2011

Universes (.unx) offer a powerful way to share the semantic layer across multiple tools in the BISuite 4.x. They are not compatible with universes from CR 2011 (.unv)

SAP BW connectivity via Bex Queries through the BICS API and the dimensional semantic layer isnew for BI Suite 4.x and specific to CR for Enterprise. CR 2011 will continue to offer access viathe BW MDX driver

Future strategy is to offer support for more data sources first via universes (.unx), and then fordirect to data. Aim for parity with CR 2011 not only for connectivity but also functionality(includes business views). Methods of access in CR for Enterprise may still be different.

Thank You!

Contact information:

Kenneth Li ([email protected])http://scn.sap.com/blogs/kennethli

2012 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 26Customer

2012 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

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