Designer COM SDK -- Crossplatform?

[Former Member]

Hey guys

I need to change to universe connections programmatically. I got it working in c# using the Designer SDK, and I think with a little effort I'll be able to call the api from java too. My company eventually wants to move beyond just Windows though and support several Unix environments too. Will we be able to deploy our universes/reports/connections/etc. through BIAR file imports and the Universe Designer API on non-Windows environments?

I'd really appreciate some input on this. I haven't had much luck finding good documentation for the Designer SDK.

Cheers

Zak

[ted_ueda]

The Universe Designer SDK - being based on Microsoft COM - ties you to the Microsoft Windows platform.

It'll have to be modified on the Windows platform before being BIAR'ed.

Do you happen to be an OEM/Partner of SAP Business Objects?

Sincerely,

Ted Ueda

[Former Member]

Thanks for your reply, Ted.

We will be deploying our universes and reports to a number of clients. Each client will need to specify connection values for their underlying database, so pre-modifying the BIAR file(s) becomes tricky. It is probably asking a lot, but if you have any other suggestions on how to approach this, I'd really appreciate it. The LifeCycle manager also looks promising, but I haven't found any information on an SDK for this? So the LCM must be configured through the GUI? And once again it ties us to having at least a Windows server to do the deployments?

Well, thanks again. Oh, and we do have an OEM agreement (I assume you asked in relation to the previous thread...)

Cheers

Zak

[Former Member]

Zak -

Are you customer installations hosted against the same CMS ? If so, you'll probably find it quicker and more manageable from the deployment perspective and reusability of creating an application/service layer that performs your InfoObject movement via API and using whatever CopyModes you deem fit. Yea, the designer thing's a bummer which is why it's useful to keep a Win2K3 machine sitting around to manage the designer connection's copying and re-parameterizing (goodness, is that even a word?). Hopefully you get the gist of it. You can also object-copy CMS to CMS as well.

We're also platinum OEM partners and I'd also be curious to know if there exists a better way than having to crank up the windows box just to run a few COM calls against Designer (yuck).

hope this helps

[Former Member]

Hi AC

Thanks for your response- If I understand correctly, you are suggesting alternatives to doing BIAR file imports via the API? Our clients' CMSs will have their own custom reports/universes/etc. Overall, using the BOE SDK to do a BIAR file import seems like a good route to me (unless I've missed something obvious!). Looks like there'll be no way out but to keep a Windows box around to tweak the connections, 😛

cheers

Zak