Introduction

13

Structure of This Book

13

Acknowledgments

15

1 Introduction to Scripting

17

1.1 What Is Analytics?

17

1.2 Analytical Software

19

1.2.1 Reports

19

1.2.2 Dashboards

20

1.2.3 Self-Service Dashboards

22

1.2.4 Dashboards with Scripting

22

1.3 Positioning Dashboards with Scripting within SAP’s Analytics Strategy

23

1.3.1 SAP’s Analytics Strategy

23

1.3.2 SAP Analytics Cloud

23

1.4 Summary

26

2 Basics of SAP Analytics Cloud

27

2.1 Architecture of the System Landscape

27

2.1.1 Three-System Landscape

28

2.1.2 Change to a Two-System Landscape

28

2.2 Menu Navigation and Important Functions

29

2.3 Data Integration

32

2.3.1 Live Data Connections

32

2.3.2 Data Import Connection

33

2.3.3 Creating a New Connection

34

2.4 Data Modeling

35

2.4.1 Datasets

35

2.4.2 Models

35

2.5 History of Scripting in SAP Analytics Cloud

36

2.6 Difference between Stories and Advanced Mode

37

2.6.1 Differences for Consumers

38

2.6.2 Differences for Creators

38

2.7 Development Environment

38

2.7.1 General Structure

40

2.7.2 Design of a Story

43

2.7.3 Keyboard Shortcuts for Input Help

45

2.8 Authorization for Scripting with SAP Analytics Cloud

47

2.9 Conversion of a Classic Story or Analytic Application

53

2.10 Summary

56

3 Development of Business Intelligence Applications

57

3.1 Widgets

57

3.1.1 Panel Widgets

58

3.1.2 Tab Strips

59

3.1.3 Page Books

60

3.1.4 Flow Layout Panel

61

3.1.5 Input Field and Text Area

61

3.1.6 Dropdown Lists

63

3.1.7 Checkbox Groups and Radio Button Groups

63

3.1.8 Buttons

64

3.1.9 Simple Sliders and Range Sliders

64

3.1.10 Filter Line

65

3.1.11 List Boxes

66

3.1.12 Switch

66

3.1.13 Popups

66

3.2 Application Programming Interfaces

69

3.2.1 Standard

70

3.2.2 Container

77

3.2.3 Chart

79

3.2.4 Datasource

80

3.2.5 Visualization Controls

81

3.2.6 Advanced Controls

82

3.2.7 Input Controls

83

3.2.8 Table

84

3.2.9 Export

85

3.2.10 Bookmark

85

3.3 Developing a Story with Scripting for Reporting

86

3.3.1 What Questions Do I Ask Myself Before Development?

86

3.3.2 How Do I Build a Story?

87

3.4 Integration of Predictive Analytics Functions

110

3.4.1 Smart Discovery

110

3.4.2 Search to Insight

113

3.4.3 Data Change Insights

114

3.5 Best Practices

114

3.6 Summary

116

4 Development of Planning Applications

117

4.1 Widgets

117

4.1.1 Comment

118

4.1.2 Value Driver Tree

120

4.1.3 Data Action Trigger

122

4.1.4 Multi Action Trigger

125

4.1.5 Recommendation for the Use of Data Actions and Multi Actions

127

4.1.6 SAP Business Planning and Consolidation Planning Sequence Trigger

128

4.2 Application Programming Interfaces

128

4.2.1 DataAction

128

4.2.2 ODataService

135

4.2.3 MultiAction

136

4.2.4 Planning

136

4.2.5 PlanningModel

148

4.2.6 DataSourceComments

148

4.3 Data Connection for Writing Back Data

150

4.3.1 OData in Stories

150

4.3.2 Setting Up OData Services

152

4.3.3 Reading Data from an OData Service

154

4.4 Developing a Story with Scripting for Planning

155

4.4.1 Preparation of the Sample Story

156

4.4.2 Use Cases of Specific Methods of the Planning Application Programming Interface

157

4.4.3 Examples of Specific Methods of the PlanningModel Application Programming Interface

166

4.4.4 Examples of Individual Methods of the DataSourceComment Application Programming Interface

173

4.5 Best Practices

178

4.5.1 Entry into the Planning Story

178

4.5.2 Assistance for Users

180

4.6 Summary

182

5 Custom Widgets

183

5.1 What Are Custom Widgets?

183

5.1.1 Restrictions

184

5.1.2 Hosting Custom Widgets

186

5.2 Setup of Custom Widgets

188

5.2.1 JSON Custom Widget Reference Document

189

5.2.2 JavaScript Web Component

200

5.2.3 Styling Panel

207

5.2.4 Builder Panel

208

5.3 Creating, Uploading, and Removing a Custom Widget

209

5.3.1 Creation of a Custom Widget

209

5.3.2 Hosting a Custom Widget

210

5.3.3 Uploading a Custom Widget

212

5.3.4 Deleting Custom Widgets

215

5.4 An Example of a Custom Widget: The Colored Box

215

5.4.1 JSON File of the Custom Widget

217

5.4.2 JavaScript Web Component

222

5.4.3 Styling Panel JavaScript Web Component

226

5.4.4 Builder Panel JavaScript Web Component

231

5.5 Custom Widgets on Mobile Devices

236

5.5.1 Activation of Custom Widgets for Mobile Devices

237

5.5.2 Recognizing the End Device

237

5.5.3 Useful Tips for Developing Custom Widgets for Mobile Devices

237

5.6 Exporting Custom Widgets

239

5.7 Best Practices

240

5.8 Summary

240

6 Provision and Operation Stories with Scripting

241

6.1 Sharing Stories within SAP Analytics Cloud

241

6.1.1 Sharing and Managing Content

241

6.1.2 Lifecycle Management

249

6.2 Embedding Stories in Websites

252

6.2.1 Embedding a Story

252

6.2.2 Embedding a Web Application

253

6.3 Performance Monitoring

254

6.3.1 Performance Analysis Tool

255

6.3.2 Benchmark Tool

257

6.3.3 Statistics and Analysis

258

6.3.4 Data Action Statistics and Analysis

259

6.3.5 Popup to Analyze the Script Performance

260

6.3.6 Browser Development Tools and Debuggers

261

6.4 Best Practices for Performance

264

6.4.1 Pausing Updates

264

6.4.2 Loading in the Background

265

6.4.3 Widget Initialization at Startup

265

6.5 Summary

266

7 Outlook

267

7.1 Roadmap

267

7.2 Joule

269

7.3 Summary

270