SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 Cookbook

Packt Publishing recently released SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 Cookbook and I was pleased to receive an eBook edition to review.  Authors Xavier Hacking and David Lai channel their inner Julia Child with tasty results.

First of all, the book is truly a cookbook. So instead of thumbing through a reference manual that describes product functionality like chart components, dynamic visibility, and data access devoid of practical application, readers can easily find clearly organized recipes like “Opening up a Web Intelligence report using dashboard parameters”, “Building a pop-up screen”, or “Analyzing trends”.  There’s over 90 recipes to choose from, including 7 recipes for  data connectivity (even SAP BW) and 7 recipes for third-party components (from Antivia, Centigon Solutions, IdeaCrop, and Inovista). To help readers work through the recipes, a collection of sample Xcelsius (XLF) and Adobe Flash (SWF) files can be downloaded from the Packt Publishing web site.

Although the book is entitled “Dashboards 4.0 Cookbook”, most of the recipes can be baked with Xcelsius 2008 and do not require Dashboards 4.0, which is a huge plus. On the downside, I wished the book would more clearly indicate which recipes are specific to Dashboards 4.0 (and therefore not possible in Xcelsius 2008). One example is the recipe for “Using Universe queries”, as it requires Dashboards 4.0 and new UNX universes created with the SAP BusinessObjects Information Design Tool 4.0, not legacy UNV universes created with the Universe Design Tool. Also, integration with the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform is shown using Enterprise XI 3.1, not BI 4.0. However, neither of these deficiencies take away from the usefulness of the cookbook. I would guess that the authors might easily address these items in a second edition timed for the release of BI 4.1.

As an instructor of SAP’s official BOX310 “Xcelsius 2008 Enterprise: Core & Connectivity” training class, I’m disappointed that the curriculum hasn’t been updated since the initial release of Xcelsius 2008. Students tend to leave the class unfulfilled and unprepared to use new and interesting features introduced through service packs. SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 Cookbook not only covers these newer features, but presents them in a task-oriented “cookbook” format that allows readers to quickly find information on implementing specific functionality in their Xcelsius dashboards.

The SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 Cookbook is available in paperback, PDF and ePub formats. Kindle readers should note that the ePub format is not natively supported; however, there are several tools available to convert ePub into something Kindle-friendly. As with any cookbook, the eBook PDF edition is loaded with full-color screenshots. Reading was therefore a bit tedious on a monochrome Kindle but glorious on my Apple iPad 2 using iBooks.

Learn more about Xavier Hacking by reading his blog or follow Xavier Hacking on Twitter

• Learn more about David Lai by reading his blog or follow David Lai on Twitter
• UPDATED! Purchase SAP BusinesssObjects Dashboards 4.1 Cookbook (paperback edition) on Amazon.com
• UPDATED! Purchase SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.1 Cookbook (Kindle edition) on Amazon.com
• Purchase SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 Cookbook (paperback edition) on Amazon.com
• Purchase SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards 4.0 Cookbook (Kindle edition) on Amazon.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”