Yes, we have it – Solution to change Web Intelligence reports' source from UNV to UNX

[former_member186327]

We launched this project with two main solution tracks as the scope;

• Provide an option to our customers to convert their UNV Universes to UNX Universes – single or multiple Universes in batch mode


• Once they convert their UNV Universes to UNX, provide a solution that will change the source of the selected Web Intelligence reports from UNV to UNX – single or multiple Web Intelligence reports in batch mode

UNV to UNX Conversion

We successfully introduced this functionality as a standard feature in our BusinessObjects Information Design Tool (IDT) a while ago. This option will let users select one or many UNV Universes in IDT and covert them to UNX format. The option is called Convert.unv Universe command in the BusinessObjects Information Design Tool.

For more details including how to convert and supported features etc., refer section 4 in the latest version of the “Information Design Tool User Guide” available here at - https://help.sap.com/viewer/index

Changing Source

Once you convert the UNV Universes to UNX, the next important question is, how do I remap the source of the bunch of Web Intelligence reports that we’ve? The answer is this new solution that we are introducing with SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP04 release.

What is this solution and how to get it?

This solution aims at changing the source of your Web Intelligence reports from UNV to UNX without requiring much time and efforts. Yes, we architected this solution in such a way that it uses most of the in-built product components in the SAP BusinessObjects BI suite.

If you are on SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP04 release, navigate to the following location; <InstallFolder>\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\Samples\wics

If you are on SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.2 SP03 release, you can download the solution from the SAP Note 2432962 (https://i7p.wdf.sap.corp/sap/support/notes/2432962).

Where do I find more information?

For complete information around system requirements, other pre-requisites, workflow steps, limitations and more, check out these links for the SAP Note - https://i7p.wdf.sap.corp/sap/support/notes/2432962 OR
https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2432962

Note that we are also working on to release this solution for SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.1 version with one of the upcoming SP releases (tentatively in Q3 2017).

 

Sincerely,

Sathish, Thomas, PPaolo & Sezhian

[TJe]

Guess this is also an issue related to limitations in the universe (10 min. execution time, no. rows ...)

[TJe]

Since BI 4.2 SP5 the solution is now part of the BI Administration Console / Automation Framework (https://blogs.sap.com/2017/12/08/introduction-to-bi-administration-console/).

In BI 4.2 SP6 you can Map Unv to Unx, Unx to Unx, Unv to BEx.

[Former Member]

I found the problem. The program is braking merges between queries in the reports. Pretty much a deal breaker.

Once I run the re-pointed report I can;t even tell what was merged. I have to find the original report  and then go into every report and recreate all those merges - that would take so much time that it makes the whole program useless.

The other question - no I din;t open the ticket with SAP regarding that issue. I think program was given as is.

 

 

[TJe]

Currently testing https in Automation Framework, since SP5 Webi change source is available as task template in BIAF.
There are configuration steps needed to get https working. For the previous WICS (SP4) this is documented in SAP Note (https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2098067). One of our customer had applied & it worked for them. It is just like setting SSL properties in JVM through configuration parameter inside the cs.cfg file (cause previous WICS is triggered from Connection Server and using RESTFul).

[TJe]

Hi Alex,

I have tested this with a simple WebI document on a BI 4.2 SP4 Patch 6 system. My sample document keeps the merged dimension after the change.

Can you please create an incident for component BI-RA-WBI-CGS and attach an LCMBIAR with your original document, unv, unx and connection.

regards
Thomas

[wobi]

 

Dear Thomas, can't confirm your assumption... I think I removed any unv Limits anyway before testing... and retested today - Memory consumption for Report with 40 dp is still a lot - repeating the Task consumes additional  Memory... 8.44 gig at the Moment...

For me the whole concept does not fit my demands...  the Report conversion takes 27 minutes to run -for one - big Report with round 40 dps...  without refresh!..

• Wobi

[Former Member]

 

It worked on simple reports but went crazy on complicated ones. For ex: multiple queries with multiple merged dimensions - then detail variables created based on those merged dimensions (they would loose the value in "Associated Dimension" field in Edit Variable screen) and  all in a same table. Of course when there is no value in that field the whole variable acts unpredictably. In my case one report was of by about $800M and it took me some time to figure out why.

Anyways I already went with a consulting company 360 and their product; works better fro me.

Alex

[MichaelGrackin]

I am also encountering this issue.  Did anyone find a solution for this?

[wobi]

Dear Thomas, just did some first tests with BoBi4.2.SP7 - totally great !

My problem Reports - ~50 Dataproviders - are now repointed without any problem and minimal time and wacs mem ressources.

Many Thanks for your work here!

 

• Wobi

 

[MichaelGrackin]

There is a simple fix for this that was provided by SAP.  The Id column needs to have values of format String/Text, not Numeric on the "Webi-Change-List" report tab in the "WebIChangeSource_WorkList" document.  This problem occurs with Ids greater than 1M.

1. Edit the WebIChangeSource_WorkList document.


2. Create a variable called "List_Webi_Id_String" with the following formula:  =FormatNumber([List_WebI].[Id];"#")


3. Change the Id column on the "Webi-Change-List" report tab to contain this new variable.

[MichaelGrackin]

Just out of curiosity is anyone else seeing 'unknown' objects listed in the WebIChangeSource_Update results?  We have a number of documents showing these objects in the results but the documents seem to have converted properly from UNV to UNX.  Any ideas?

Thanks!

[TJe]

Just wanted to highlight again, that the solution provided with the SAP Note 2432962 - Web Intelligence Change Source from UNV to UNX – Automated Solution is only supported for BI 4.2 SP04 and earlier releases.

For BI 4.2 SP05 and newer versions, this is available with the BI Automation Framework, see also SAP KBA: 2906634 - How to update Web Intelligence reports from unv to unx universes using the BI Automation F...

[christian_key2]

Hi,

I want to convert UNX to UNX. In the documentation the CSV file for the universe mapping requires a type.

CSV format (for UNX-UNX): src_cuid,dest_cuid,type

There is nothing in the documentation saying what the value of 'type' should be. Please can you confirm what the type is for UNX to UNX?

Thanks,

Christian

 

[saaidia]

Hello,

I have the same question as Christian.

Christian did you got a solution for your problem. Thank you.

Best regards

Riadh

 

[TJe]

The documentation for the parameters can be found here:lBI Administration Console Guide

Types: UNV-UNX or UNX-UNX or UNV-BEx

Description:

Mapping Universes (UNV, UNX, BEx) based on id or cuid. A user can also map the universes through the Universe Mapping screen in Value Help.

CSV format (for UNV-UNX): unv_cuid, unx_cuid or unv_id, unx_id

CSV format (for UNX-UNX): src_cuid,dest_cuid,type

CSV format (for UNV-BEx): src_cuid,dest_cuid,type,technical_name