XML Data Connections

@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009

Presented by: Mico Yuk & Ryan Goodman

Date: June 10th, 2009

When NOT to Utilize SAP Business Objects Enterprisefor your Dashboard?

Xcelsius Gurus: Part 2 - Data Connectivity Series


Mico YukFounder – http://www.EverythingXcelsius.com (popular weblog)

Founder - Xcelsius Guru Network

Xcelsius Trainer / Developer / Architect / Blogger/ Fanatic

Ryan GoodmanFounder – http://www.CentigonSolutions.com (SAP SoftwareSolution Partner)

Xcelsius Evangelist / Blogger (ryangoodman.net/blog)

SAP BOBJ Alumni

Who are We?

http://www.EverythingXcelsius.com(popular/

http://www.CentigonSolutions.com(SAP/

@ Everything Xcelsius.com 2009Slide 3

Quick Agenda Preview & Links

Mico IntroductionRecap of Part 1: Utilizing BOE Connections for Xcelsius

Review Xcelsius 12 Connectivity Options (BOE vs. Non-BOE)

Ryan DiscussesXML Maps vs. XML Data Button vs. SOAP Web Service Connection

Soap Web Services

Mico discussesExcel XML Maps

XML Data

Ryan ClosesApplication Integration (Flash Vars, Custom Components)

Custom Components (New data connectivity Option!)

Stay Connected to the Xcelsius Gurus Network


Part 1: Recap Webinar Highlights

Webinar Part 1 (click to view)Use Live office when connecting to Webi and/or Crystal Reports as a DataSource

Use Query as a Web Service when connecting to one or more Universes

Live screenshots showing how to use both connections!

Dashboard Builder provides new exciting options for Xcelsius

Download the Presentation


Data MangerHouses Xcelsius 12 live data connectivity options. Userswith Engage and Enterprise licenses are allowed to mixconnection types in a single dashboard!

Xcelsius Data Manager


Xcelsius 12 Connectivity Options

Non - BO Enterprise BO EnterpriseWeb Service Connection

XML Data

Portal Data

LCDS Connection (Adobe)

External InterfaceConnections

Excel XML Maps

(Add-on) GoogleSpreadsheet Connector

Query as a Web Service

Live Office

Crystal Report DataConsumer

Flash Variables

FS Commands

Non-BO Enterprise vs. BO Enterprise


Side-by-Side Comparison

Architecture Overview

Developer Caveats

Excel XML Maps vs. XML Data vs. Web ServiceConnections

Sometimes I wish that QaaWs could connect to Reports…- Mico Yuk, Found of Xcelsius Gurus


XML Connectivity - Comparison

Web Service

• Invoke SOAPweb services

• Configurationthrough WSDL

XML Data

• Send or LoadXML

• Specific XMLschema

Excel XMLMaps

• Read Only XMLConnection

• Use of ExcelXML Mapsfeature


HTTPData PublishedClient DevelopmentMiddleware

XML Connectivity – Design Time

Xcelsius SWF

WebService

ExcelXML

Maps

XMLData

Any XMLstructure

.NET/J2EE

SOAP

<row><column>structure


HTTPData PublishedMiddleware

XML Connectivity – Run Time

SWFAny XML Structure.NET/J2EE

SOAP

<row><column> Structure

XML Data

Excel XML Maps

Web Service


XML Connectivity - Caveats

Developer CaveatsBoth have the same data volume restrictions for Xcelsius

Require additional skill sets to and knowledge of J2EE/.NET andweb services

SOAP Web services are difficult to write

Xcelsius will not support all SOAP web service configurations.

XML Data Button has non-flexible, flat <row><column> structure.

Excel XML Maps requires lots of steps to set up, though XMLstructure is extremely flexible

Database write back capabilities can only be accomplished withXML Data and Web Service connections

Xcelsius Engage only allows 1 data connection

Use Fiddler for troubleshooting: http://fiddler2.com

http://fiddler2.com/


Example

Benefits

DO’s / DONT’s (Scenarios)

Ryan discusses Web Services…



Web Service Connector Benefits

4 Reasons to use Web Service Connections….

1. Non-technical Xcelsius designers can easily configure services using WSDLinput and output nodes.

2. More structure and control over data output

3. Potential use for data base write-back

4. flynet Viewer eliminates writing web services from scratch(Included with Xcelsius 2008 Engage Server)


flynet Viewer - Architecture

HTTPData PublishedClient DevelopmentMiddlewareIIS (.NET)

Xcelsius

SWF

WebService

SOAPWeb

Service

WSDL

Publish

http://flynetviewer.com

http://flynetviewer.com/


flynet Viewer - Architecture

Data PublishedMiddlewareIIS (.NET)

SWFSOAPWeb

Service

SOAP

Web Service




flynet Viewer – Data Sources

Connects to 30+

data sources




Web Service Connection DO’s

5 Scenarios …1. DO use separate tabs for each data source

2. DO use the Microsoft SOAP standard for building webservices for Xcelsius

3. DO Use String data types

4. DO Use arrays

5. DO Take advantage of Flynet viewer


Web Service Connection DON’Ts

5 Scenarios ….X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %, “,”)

X DO NOT trigger all queries to “Refresh on Load”

X DO NOT place formulas in data output cells

X DO NOT return more than 1,000 rows of data at a time

X DO NOT use complex data types in SOAP web services


Example

Benefits


Mico discusses using Excel XML Maps …



Excel XML Map Benefits

3 Reasons to use the Excel XML Map….1. When you need to load an XML or XML stream directly into

your dashboard

2. Already familiar with technology

3. Excel based and can be configured in Excel externally beforeimporting spreadsheet into Excel


Excel XML Map DO’s

5 Scenarios …1. DO enable the task pane in Excel 2003 to access XML Maps

window

2. DO enable the developer toolbar in Excel 2007 to accessXML Maps window

3. DO Use XML Maps for read-only connectivity requirements

4. DO Delete Re-import your Excel XML Maps connection inXcelsius when your XML structure changes

5. DO reference Xcelsius 2008 Best Practice Book, chapter 15for more information (includes sample files)


Excel XML Map DON’Ts

6 Scenarios ...X DO NOT use the home and student versions of Excel

X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %, “,”)

X DO NOT create an excessive amount of queries

X DO NOT trigger all queries to “Refresh on Load”




Example

Benefits


Mico discusses the XML Data Connection…



XML Data Connection DO’s


XML Data Connection Benefits

3 Reasons to use the XML Data Connection….1. Utilize the ASP .NET script in guide to connect

2. Simple and provides ability to write back to database

3. Ability to query database based on filters


XML Data Connection DO’s

5 Scenarios …1. DO specify XML version in header of output XML

2. DO use the Preview button to obtain exact XML structure

3. DO change IE setting to avoid caching of data or us a RAND()variable at the end of the URL

4. DO preview the service in the browser before importing intoXcelsius

5. DO Use Fiddler for troubleshooting


XML Data Connection DON’Ts

7 Scenarios ….X DO NOT include any data in the XML header

X DO NOT deviate from the specific <ROW><COLUMN> xmlstructure

X DO NOT include data formatting characters ($, %, “,”)

X DO NOT create an excessive amount of connections

X DO NOT trigger all connections to “Refresh on Load”




Crossdomain.xml

Portal Data

LCDS Connections (Adobe)

Flash Variables

External Interface Connection

Ryan discusses Application Integration…



Crossdomain.xml

Data Portal or WebSite

Application/Web Server

SWF.NET/J2EE

Web Service

CrossDomain.XML

<?xml version="1.0"?><!DOCTYPE cross-domain-policy SYSTEM"http://www.macromedia.com/xml/dtds/cross-domain-policy.dtd"><cross-domain-policy>

<allow-http-request-headers-from domain="*"headers="*" secure="false" />

<allow-access-from domain="*" secure="false" /></cross-domain-policy>

http://www.macromedia.com/xml/dtds/cross-


No Crossdomain.xml

Data Application/Web Server

SWF

.NET/J2EE

No Crossdomain.xml file is required if:

1. If the SWF and service are locatedon the same application/web server

2. The URL for the web service isrelative to the SWF

3. If the SWF is launched from yourdesktop


External Interface Connection

Additional Features to take advantage of…

1. Loading data into an Xcelsius SWF using JavaScript

2. Communicate with Java or active X controls in real-time

HTML<SCRIPT language="Javascript">

Dashboard (SWF)

External InterfaceConnection


Flash VariablesHTMLFLASHVARS=“abc123”

Dashboard (SWF)

abc123

Pass parameters to into a SWF on-load


LCDS Connection (Adobe)

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/livecycle/pdfs/streaming_xcelsius.pdf

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/livecycle/pdfs/streaming_xcelsius.pdf


Portal Connections

WebSphere or SharePoint Portal

Dashboard (SWF)

Dashboard (SWF)

Provider

Consumer

SWF to SWF communication in WebSphere and Sharepoint

Xcelsius Portal Integration Kits are available with the Engage Server and

Enterprise products


Centigon NEW CSV Connector – ‘No more XML’

Add- on: Google Spreadsheet Connector

Ryan discusses Custom Connections…



CSV Connector

Dashboard (SWF)

CSV Connector

Connect directly to CSV files from Xcelsius

http://wwww.centigonsolutions.com/components/csv_beta.html

http://wwww.centigonsolutions.com/components/csv_beta.html


Google Spreadsheet

Connect directly to Google spreadsheets

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/innovation-center

Dashboard (SWF)

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/innovation-center


Stay connected…

For more Guru tips, tricks, news, videos, etc.Visit: http://EverythingXcelsius.com

Mico YukEmail: [email protected]

Company: Everything Xcelsius

Ryan GoodmanEmail: [email protected]

Company: Centigon Solutions

http://www.centigonsolutions.com

http://www.twitter.com/XcelsiusGurus

Join our popular Xcelsius Guru social communities…

http://www.youtube.com/XcelsiusGurus

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1847619&trk=hb_side_g

http://EverythingXcelsius.com/

http://www.centigonsolutions.com/

http://www.twitter.com/XcelsiusGurus

http://www.youtube.com/XcelsiusGurus

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XML Data Connections

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