Webi Reporting Best Practices for Efficient Data Analysis

1. SIMBA Reporting Tips and Best Practices for Webi

2. Introductory Slide – Using Webi Use this guide if you are using any of the following reports: - myFunds Portal - Budget vs Actual (Grants Management) - Budget vs Actual (Funds Management) - Shop OnLion Custom Reports

3. BusinessObjects (BOBJ)

4. A few notes about BusinessObjects • BusinessObjects has been around for a long time. • BusinessObjects (or BOBJ) comprises multiple reporting tools, including Web Intelligence, which is sometimes called Webi. • There are often many ways to accomplish the same task. (For example, in Webi, there are least two ways to refresh the report data.) • We will spend our time focusing on the most frequently used items. • We will typically pick one way, even though there are more ways to accomplish the task.

5. Public Folders

6. Prompts (1 of 4) • Depending on the type of field, you will have different options. • Calendar • Text • Select from list

7. Prompts (2 of 4) You can change the operators as necessary to use equal to, not equal to, greater than, less than, etc.

8. Prompts (3 of 4) • Use the right and left arrow icons to move the value into or out of the prompt area. • Sometimes, you will see default values (such as your Business Area)

9. Prompts (4 of 4) • Use the Refresh Values button to see the available values for a field. • The Key button will show the corresponding key values. • Click on an item to select it.

10. Sample Report

11. Reading Mode vs. Design Mode • Reading view gives access to limited functionality. • Input controls • Filtering • Exporting • Design mode gives access to all all functionality • All of the above • Sorting • Add or remove columns • Conditional Formatting • Page/table formatting

12. Commonly used Web features (Reading Mode) 1. Refresh – allows you to update the report prompts 2. Input Controls – allow you to easily filter the data 3. Filter Bar – add a filter based on any report field 4. Export the report or the data

13. Commonly used Webi features (Design mode) 1. Save As 2. Sorting 3. View available objects 4. Add columns to the report 5. Remove columns from the report 6. Adjust formatting in the report

14. Close left-hand panel Use the double-arrow icon to close the panel at the left. You can use the icons along the left side to re-open the panel, if necessary.

15. Refresh • Sometimes, you will need to refresh the data. • Option #1: Go to top tool bar and click refresh icon • Option #2: go to bottom right and click refresh bar

16. Change Prompts 1. Use one of the Refresh Buttons 2. Make any changes to the Prompts 3. Click OK

17. Navigating the Report • Navigation Map • Tabs along the bottom • List at bottom left

18. Report Prompts Tab • Every report has a Report Prompts Tab • Contains Prompt Summary and Query Summary • Prompt Summary – shows the values entered by the user on the prompt screen • Query Summary – shows details about the query itself

19. Input Controls • Easy to add or remove • Help slice and dice the data quickly • May not apply when exporting the report • We’ve built them to allow for multiple select. • Not all reports will have Input Controls.

20. Freeze Header Rows Use the Freeze function to freeze header rows (or columns).

21. Available Objects • Only visible in Design mode • See the full list of included fields

22. What if I see folders when I refresh Values? In the prompt, some fields will have more values than others. In this case, when you click the Refresh Values button in the prompt window, you will see folders, or groups of values. This is just a way to group the values to make it more user friendly.

23. What if I see #Message? You may see some messages on the report such as #ToRefresh or #Refresh. If you refresh the report, you should see updated values.

24. Saving a Report • Power Users will be able to save to “Custom” folder • End Users will be able to save to “My Documents” • No changes will be saved to the main reports in the main folder

25. What does “no data to retrieve” mean? • There aren’t any data within the selection criteria you have entered • You don’t have security to see those data

26. Questions? Email us at: Email us at: simba@psu.edu simba@psu.edu