Enterprise Reporting, Query, and Analysis (SAP Library

Enterprise Reporting, Query, and Analysis

This scenario outlines how you (as a power user) can use the reporting and analysis tools available in SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence (BI) to provide BI information customized for the different types of users within your company.

In your role as a power user, you use the tools in the BI Suite to create the required queries and analyses on the Web or in Microsoft Excel and to distribute them using the portal. We refer to these tools as the Business Explorer (BEx). You also use the tools to create presentations and reports optimized and formatted for printing. These BEx tools are fully integrated with one another and have user-friendly, intuitive interfaces. In addition, the integration of BI into the Visual Composer allows you to include BI data in composite applications.

You access BI information from the portal. You can execute information broadcasting functions to broadcast this information by e-mail or to KM folders and collaboration rooms.

Note

If you are using the Business Explorer tools and runtime from SAP BW 3.5, refer to the documentation for SAP BW 3.5. You can find more information in the SAP Library under help.sap.com ® SAP NetWeaver ® SAP NetWeaver 2004 ® Information Integration ® SAP Business Information Warehouse ® BI Suite: Business Explorer.

Prerequisites

You have the required standard and analysis authorizations. More information: Authorizations

Tasks

The following information provides an overview of the tasks you perform as a power user for this scenario, and of the tools and functions available in BEx for this purpose.

Task	Description
Select a data provider Ad hoc analysis	You select a data provider and generate views of BI data, which are called query views, using the ad hoc analysis. You broadcast the results of your ad hoc analysis as required. The BEx Web Analyzer is a user-friendly analysis tool available for this purpose; you can call it in a Web browser using a URL or as an iView in the portal. More information: BEx Web Analyzer.
Embed queries, query views, and InfoProviders Design workbooks	You integrate data into a Microsoft Excel workbook in the form of a query and customize the layout and formatting of the workbook according to your requirements. The BEx Analyzer, which is a design and analysis tool embedded into Microsoft Excel, is available for this purpose. For more information, see Analysis & Reporting: BEx Analyzer.
Create broadcast settings Broadcasting Alerting	You distribute BI data as precalculated documents in various formats (such as PDF, MHTML, HTML) or as online links with different channels (portal, e-mail, or printer). Distribution is either ad hoc, scheduled, or alert-based. The BEx Broadcaster is available for this purpose. More information: Functions of the BEx Broadcaster
Design a query	You create, change, and execute a query for an InfoProvider to produce a quick and specific analysis of a business question. The BEx Query Designer is available for this purpose. You can create both simple and complex queries with the Query Designer. For more information, see Query Design: BEx Query Designer.
Design a report	You create formatted reports optimized for presentation and printing. The BEx Report Designer is available for this purpose. You can create both simple and complex reports using the Report Designer. For more information, see Enterprise Reporting.
Web application design	You create customized Web applications for various user types, presenting data in different ways. The BEx Web Application Designer is available for this purpose. You can create both simple and highly complex Web applications with the Web Application Designer. Depending on the requirements of the Web application and the expertise of the user, this tool provides different views for working (layout and HTML views). For more information, see Web Application Design: BEx Web Application Designer.
Model queries with SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer, reconfigure queries with SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer	You use a simple visual function to create BI applications. The Visual Composer is available for this purpose. For more information see, Work with SAP BI Systems, BI Menu Dialog Boxes, and Using the BI Integration Wizard.

As a power user, you may be responsible for software development tasks. For more information about development-specific tasks as part of this scenario, see Enterprise Reporting, Query, and Analysis in the SAP NetWeaver Developer’s Guide.