New to DashBoards, Need help!

[Former Member]

Hi, So I am brand new to dashboards and I am trying to create a a dashboard that references other .swfs I've created. I am using a play selector with the .swf loader and cannot get the the links to open upon preview.

I have used the open doc syntax/links after saving the two .swfs on the server. When I format as hyperlink the links do open but still will not play in the parent application.

I have also tried document download method as I've seen on the internet (looks considerably shorter that the open doc syntax [did not include the server or port, etc. in version I saw] ) but I followed as seen and still will not work. Doc download even formatted as hyperlink and clicking still doesn't work.

My few questions are:

1) What is the complete syntax of the document download method?

2) Do the urls have to be formatted as hyperlinks? I suspect not been trying anything these past few days. Does the parent .swf have to be run in the CMC?

3) Is there something with the patching or software version we could be missing as to why it will not run?

Apologies for the non-technical language but I am not an IT worker (actually FP&A). I cannot even get the child .swfs to run locally (on desktop) through the parent. Scoured the internet for instruction videos with play selector .swf loader or slide show and cannot find anything. Has been frustrating.

Any advice would be extremely helpful.

Warm Regards,

George

[vinay_mhaske]

Hi George,

Welcome to the world of Xcelsius Dashboards!!!

What is the version of Xcelsius (Dashboard Design) and SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise (SAP BI Platform)?

Document Download URL Syntax varies for 3.X and 4.X version:

• Document download URL for 3.X:

http://<WebApplicationServerName:WebApplicationServerPort>/Xcelsius/opendoc/documentDownload?iDocID=<CUID of child dashboard>&sIDType=CUID&sKind=Flash

• Document download URL for 4.X:

http://<WebApplicationServerName:WebApplicationServerPort>/BOE/Xcelsius/opendoc/documentDownload?iDocID=<CUID of child dashboard>&sIDType=CUID&sKind=Flash

Alternatively you can use simple relative URL syntax(no need to specify whole url):

documentDownload?iDocID=<CUID of child dashboard>&sIDType=CUID&sKind=Flash

Quick suggestion, you can test document download URL with some simple child dashboard and then implement it on large swfs. No need to format excel cell as hyperlink.

You may refer following threads:

http://scn.sap.com/thread/3210636

http://scn.sap.com/thread/3193444

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Vinay Mhaske

[Former Member]

Hi Vinaykumar,

So we are on version 4 of SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise and version 6.0.4.0 of Xcelsius Dashboard Design.

Thank you for the response but still having some difficulty. I can now get the reports to run locally (on my desktop; a nice win indeed). However, I do notice that it does prompt for password with each pass.

I assume that this is the need for the CELogonToken I've been reading about but can that be done with locally based files?

Ultimately, I want to be able to use the doc download or open doc calls with CELogonToken.

My question is when I export to .swf from the child I am prompt to save the (.xlf) report to the business objects server. I do this as required.

I am then prompted to save a file as type Adobe Flash (.swf) however I start out on my desktop as default location.

*Does this Adobe Flash File need to be saved out to the business objects server in order to run the open doc or download doc methods?* /I was previously saving to server and simply changing the file extension manually to .swf then running the parent from my desktop to try and access it.

I am very excited to have gotten this far! Although I am still having difficulties I am hopeful someone can clear this up for me.

-George

[vinay_mhaske]

Hi George,

Here are my inputs:

1. Logon Prompt:

You see SAP BO Server logon prompt that means you have live data connection in the child dashboard. In order to suppress this prompt we need to pass logon token from parent dashboard to child dashboard using CELogonToken. Refer http://scn.sap.com/thread/3193444 thread for exact steps.

2. Saving Dashboard to the server:

Using following option will allow you to save dashboard as Dashboard Design Object (SWF + XLF) which can be opened on desktop as well as mobile devices. No need to give file extension while saving. SAP server internally saves both versions SWF + XLF.

File -> Save To Platform As -> Dashboards Object For Desktop and Mobile

3. Steps:

  a) Develop child dashboard and save it to SAP BO Server as mentioned in step 2

  b) Develop parent dashboard, use Document Download URL to load child dashboard in   it and save parent dashboard to SAP BO Server as mentioned in step 2.

  c) Logon to SAP BI Launch Pad Portal and open parent dashboard

  d) You will see child dashboard loaded inside parent dashboard.

4. Open Document, Document Download and CELogonToken:

For using Open Document, Document Download and CELogonToken; we must host dashboard on SAP BO Server. In your case you may host child dashboard on SAP BO Server and export parent dashboard to SWF format on local machine (Basically host parent on local machine & child on SAP BO Server).

Hope this helps! Happy learning

Regards,

Vinay Mhaske

[Former Member]

Hi Vinaykumar,

Unfortunately I've done exactly as instructed and dashboard still shows 100% when viewed on server. Is really unfortunate because I feel I am sooo close to success.

The two .swfs exported up there. I see that through CMC the file name(s) of the children are:

frs://Input/a_190/255/004/327614/swf9be7-guid[azyadbusuv5jlaodigpb63o].swf

and

frs://Input/a_201/255/004/327625/swfa4d0-guid[as2uog2voqvpup.5ymjsk_4].swf

So they are as you say indeed .swfs despite the fact when I view them through CMC file also says Reps.xlf and BOMs.xlf respectively.

I am/was prompted to save Adobe Flash files (.swfs) of the same name (except with .swf extension now visible) after I exported to server. However, I cannot put these files up on server because of encryption.

When I reference these from the parent on my desktop, they work. URLs:

C:\Users\tonymacc\Desktop\Reps.swf

and

C:\Users\tonymacc\Desktop\BOMs.swf

but as discussed this prompts for logon credentials everytime it refreshes - requiring the CELogonToken Flash Variable as discussed.

The parent has been saved to the server and shows as .xlf extension. URLs I use to show 100% are:

http://boreporting.directwines.internal:8080/Xcelsius/opendoc/documentDownload?iDocID=327614&sKind=F...

and

http://boreporting.directwines.internal:8080/Xcelsius/opendoc/documentDownload?iDocID=327625&sKind=F...

Where H4 is my flash variable logon token.

I have even tried changing properties with open doc method because rich client requires download and that also had no success.

Locally, previewing dashboards with these or open doc method alspo do not work.

If anyone can point out what I am doing wrong it would be much appreciated!

Regards,

George