Crystal Xcelsius
By : Vikash Sharma Wajidth Raja AbbasBy : Vikash Sharma Wajidth Raja Abbas
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Topics
• Crystal Xcelsius: At A Glance
• Understand the Xcelsius Process
• Xcelsius Functionality
• Xcelsius Components
• Advanced Features
• Crystal Xcelsius Connectivity Options
• Crystal Xcelsius Designer Integration Features
• Limitations of Crystal Xcelsius
Crystal Xcelsius: At A GlanceCrystal Xcelsius: At A Glance
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Introducing… Crystal Xcelsius
Powerful, yet simple, dynamic visualizations
Turn Data into Information
Based on Excel data and formulas
Live XML and Web Service data
Interactive What-If Analysis
Drill-Down, Charts, Gauges, Dials
Export to Office, PDF, and HTML
Flash format – Easy to Embed
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Crystal Xcelsius: At A Glance
What is Crystal Xcelsius
Crystal Xcelsius bridges the gap between data analysis and data presentation, converting spreadsheet tables into interactive dashboards.
It is a data visualization design tool that displays summary-level business data in a visually rich and intuitive format that allows users to analyze and interact with their data in order to make better business decisions.
Crystal Xcelsius bridges the gap between data analysis and data presentation, converting spreadsheet tables into interactive dashboards.
It is a data visualization design tool that displays summary-level business data in a visually rich and intuitive format that allows users to analyze and interact with their data in order to make better business decisions.
Understand the Xcelsius ProcessUnderstand the Xcelsius Process
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Understand the Xcelsius Process
Source data from:• Excel spreadsheets• XML data• SOAP-based Web Services
1. Create an interactive presentation with point-and-click.
2. Output final interactive analytic or presentation to Crystal Vision Server, BusinessObjects Enterprise, any web page, PowerPoint, Outlook or PDF
3.
Xcelsius FunctionalityXcelsius Functionality
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Xcelsius Functionality
Connect to corporate data sources via Web Services, LiveOffice, Query as a Web Service, XML, etc.
1
Data Connectivity
Data Source Tier
Data is populated into Excel model
Visualization Tier Web/Client TierBusiness Logic Tier
Import Excel model into Crystal Xcelsius and generate Visualization
3
Business Visualization
Publish Visualization to Crystal Vision Server or BusinessObjects Enterprise, export to Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.
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Xcelsius Functionality
Dashboard DeploymentDashboard Deployment
Xcelsius ComponentsXcelsius Components
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Xcelsius Components
Chart components
Single value components
Selector components
Map component
Art and Background components
Collaboration components
Web Connectivity Components
Advanced FeaturesAdvanced Features
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Advanced Features
Dynamic Visibility functionality
Ignore End Blanks for variable length ranges
Alerts
Use Web Service Option
Using Flash Variables to update a visualization
Using the XML Data Button component
Using collaboration components
Creating templates
Using Global Styles
Crystal Xcelsius Connectivity OptionsCrystal Xcelsius Connectivity Options
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Crystal Xcelsius Connectivity Options
Crystal Xcelsius relies upon an internal XML parser and the HTTP connectivity of the Flash engine to receive external data.This can be accomplished by Four different methods:
XML Maps in Excel 2003
Web Services (Dynamic Web Query)
XML Data button.
Query as a Web service (QaaWS)
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XML Maps in Excel 2003
Step 1.
Map the XML file to a new Excel spreadsheet, and then pull the XML data into the Excel spreadsheet. This can be done by clicking on Data > XML menu > XML Source.Step 2.
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XML Maps in Excel 2003
Step 3
Your data presentation is now configured to automatically pull data from the XML file every 5 seconds.
Refreshing Using a Refresh Button
The second option for updating the data is to add the XML Map Refresh button and set up its Properties panel to available XML Maps.
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Web Services (Dynamic Web Query)
What are Web Services Web services are application components
Web services communicate using open protocols Web services are self-contained and self-describing Web services can be discovered using UDDI Web services can be used by other applications
XML is the basis for Web services XML provides a language which can be used between different platforms and programming languages and still express complex messages and functions.
Web services platform elements SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)
Format for sending msg, platform Independent and access web services UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration)
Directory for storing information about web services WSDL (Web Services Description Language)
Describe and Locate Web services
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Web Services (Dynamic Web Query)
Step 1. Step 2.
Step 3.
After selecting the Range Go To File -> Export Settings and select Use Web Service Option.
The URL that we will specify will be the name of our XML file.
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Web Services (Dynamic Web Query)
Step 4.
When the SWF file was created, Xcelsius also created an XML file with the same name.
The XML file is located in the same directory as the SWF file. If you open up the XML file you will see a basic row and column format
Open the Flash file in Internet Explorer, and open the created XML file in notepad.
Make a change to one of the data items in the XML file,and save. You will notice that within 5 seconds the data within the SWF file has changed to reflect the update.
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Web Services (Dynamic Web Query)Format of XML File<data><variable name="CompanyOrderDetails"><row><column>CompanyName</column><column>Quantity</column></row><row><column>Laughing Bacchus Wine Cellars</column><column>17</column></row><row><column>Old World Delicatessen</column><column>70</column></row></variable></data>The other important feature of this format is thevariable tag. The variable name must match to the name of the Range in Xcelsius.
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XML Data button
Using a Script on the Server to Return XML data
Add XML Data Button and then define the URL which will be called by your dashboard or data presentation (Flash file) when the XML Data button is pushed. The URL can be any script or application that will return the correctly formatted XML data source.
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Query as a Web Service
Overview:
• Query as a Web Service lets you create custom web services for specificqueries using Business Objects Web Services.
• Query as a Web Service provides new types of user-driven client solutions for businesses. For example, it enables Crystal Xcelsius to aggregate multiple disparate data sources into a trusted BI view.
• Using Query as a Web Service, business users define their own query from a universe, and then easily and securely publish that query as a standalone web service.
Overview:
• Query as a Web Service lets you create custom web services for specificqueries using Business Objects Web Services.
• Query as a Web Service provides new types of user-driven client solutions for businesses. For example, it enables Crystal Xcelsius to aggregate multiple disparate data sources into a trusted BI view.
• Using Query as a Web Service, business users define their own query from a universe, and then easily and securely publish that query as a standalone web service.
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Query as a Web Service
Architecture
Query as a Web Service is based on the W3C web service specificationsSOAP, WSDL, and XML. It has two main components:
• Server component
• Client tool
Architecture
Query as a Web Service is based on the W3C web service specificationsSOAP, WSDL, and XML. It has two main components:
• Server component
• Client tool
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Query as a Web Service
Consuming Query as a Web Service in XcelsiusConsuming Query as a Web Service in Xcelsius
1. Drag and drop this object to Panel.
2. Double click and open Property window and put web service URL.
1. Drag and drop this object to Panel.
2. Double click and open Property window and put web service URL.
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Query as a Web Service
Consuming Query as a Web Service in XcelsiusConsuming Query as a Web Service in Xcelsius
3. Submit the URL and select required cell from excel file for login and password.
4. Check the refresh option checkbox to call web service from the Behavior tab of property window.
3. Submit the URL and select required cell from excel file for login and password.
4. Check the refresh option checkbox to call web service from the Behavior tab of property window.
Crystal Xcelsius Designer Integration FeaturesCrystal Xcelsius Designer Integration Features
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Storing XLF file to Enterprise Folder
Opening XLF files from an Enterprise folder
Exporting SWF files to an Enterprise folder
Viewing SWF files in InfoView
Storing XLF file to Enterprise Folder
Opening XLF files from an Enterprise folder
Exporting SWF files to an Enterprise folder
Viewing SWF files in InfoView
Crystal Xcelsius Designer Integration FeaturesCrystal Xcelsius Designer Integration Features
Storing Xcelsius files in BusinessObjects EnterpriseStoring Xcelsius files in BusinessObjects Enterprise
Limitations Of Crystal XcelsiusLimitations Of Crystal Xcelsius
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Limitations Of Crystal Xcelsius
• Most of complex Excel Functions are not supported in Xcelsius when data is being retrieved dynamically into Excel using web services e.g. Vlookup, Substring, Search etc.
• Xcelsius does not support Macro.
• If data is populating dynamically in Excel file then it is slowing down the Xcelsius Dashboard performance as we use XML file or web service in midway to get data.
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Questions ?
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