Broadcasting BEx Applications with the
Broadcasting Wizard
Use
The Broadcasting Wizard provides step-by-step instructions on how to broadcast BEx applications.
Prerequisites
You have called the Broadcasting Wizard using one of the following options:
● You have selected Broadcast and Export in the context menu of a Web application and then selected one of the following context menu entries:
○ Broadcast by E-Mail
○ Broadcast to Portal
○ Broadcast to Printer
For more information, see Broadcast and Export.
● In BEx Web Analyzer or Analysis Pattern, you can also use the Send pushbutton to broadcast by e-mail. For more information, see Analysis Pattern.
● In an executed report, you can broadcast the report by e-mail using the Sendpushbutton.
● The Send pushbutton used to broadcast by e-mail can also be included in the Information Consumer Pattern. For more information, see Information Consumer Pattern.
Features
The Broadcasting Wizard provides you with the required context-sensitive settings - that depend on the distribution type (e-mail, portal or printer) - in the following steps:
Overview of the Steps for each Distribution Type
Distribution Type |
Steps |
Broadcast by E-Mail |
Determine basic settings Compose e-mail message Save broadcast settings * Determine scheduling details * |
Broadcast to Portal |
Determine basic settings Specify target in portal Enter document description Save broadcast settings * Determine scheduling details * |
Broadcast to Printer |
Determine basic settings Specify theme and variable assignment Define page layout Select printer Save broadcast settings * Determine scheduling details * |
The steps marked with an asterisk * are only necessary if you want to schedule the broadcast setting. If you do not want to execute the broadcast setting directly, you do need to perform the steps marked with an asterisk *.
Determine basic settings
Here you define the required format:
● MHTML
The system creates an MHTML file. All components (HTML, style sheet, pictures, and so on) of the entire HTML page are in one file. Use this output format when you want to generate one individual document and broadcast it by e-mail or to the portal. Recipients cannot navigate in the generated file.
● HTML
The components of the HTML page are generated by the system in individual files. Use this output format if you want to generate multiple documents with various filter settings from the same BEx object. Recipients can navigate between the various filter views for the Web application.
● Online Link to Current Data
The system generates a URL for the current navigational state of the Web application. The recipients can call the Web application and navigate in it.
The system generates a static PDF file.
● Print Format (PS or PCL)
The document is generated in the suitable format for the output device: PostScript (PS) or Printer Control Language (PCL)
The BEx Broadcasting Wizard allows you to select from the output formats available for the distribution type you selected.
The Print Format (PS or PCL) output format is printer-specific and is therefore only available with distribution type Broadcast to Printer. The Portable Document Format (PDF) output format is also available for this distribution type.
If you want to broadcast the precalculated document as a ZIP file, select ZIP File.
If you have chosen HTML as the output format and want to broadcast the document by e-mail, you have to create the document as a ZIP file.
Perform settings in the following steps
In the following steps, you can perform specific settings that vary depending on the distribution type. For more information, refer to the following sections:
You can then either execute the broadcast setting here directly or continue in the wizard to schedule the setting.
Saving Broadcast Settings
Enter a technical name and a description for the broadcast setting. This step is only necessary if you want to schedule the broadcast setting.
Determine scheduling details
You can schedule broadcasting to be performed at a user-defined point in time or in the event of data change. The following options are available:
● Execution with Data Change in the InfoProvider
Select the required InfoProvider. The system distributes the document as soon as data in this InfoProvider is changed.
InfoProvidersoffer access to data and are used in Web applications by means of data providers and queries.
This option is only available if your system administration has included the Trigger Event Data Change process type in the process chain for loading data.
● Execution at a Preset Time
Select the required time. The system distributes the document according to your time selection.
This option is only available if your system administration has defined the relevant background jobs (see Prerequisites).
● Scheduling in SAP Background Processing
Select Create New Scheduling and specify the required start date and time. If scheduling is to occur periodically, select Periodic and specify the interval (for example Every 2 Weeks). The system distributes the document according to your time selection.
If you have already defined schedulings in SAP background processing for this broadcast setting, they are listed here. You can delete them as required.
You can only schedule in SAP background processing if you have authorization to create background jobs.
Activities
Perform the required settings in each step and choose Continue to go to the next step.
If you want to execute the broadcast setting immediately, choose Execute. If you want to schedule the broadcast setting for a later point in time or when changes are made to the data, first save the broadcast setting. Then perform the scheduling settings in the last step and choose Schedule.
The Broadcasting Wizard broadcasts the Web application according to your specifications.
You can switch to the BEx Broadcaster from the individual steps. The BEx Broadcaster provides you with additional broadcasting settings. For more information, see Power User Guide under Enterprise Reporting, Query, and Analysis.