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Beginning Summer 2007, the Business
Objects server and client software will be upgraded from version 5.1.4 to the latest version
-- Business Objects XI Release 2. This page describes the migration project, and will provide links to installation instructions, tips and tricks, training information and other resources.
Migration Overview
Business Objects has been the primary supported query tool used to provide access to the Data Warehouse since the inception of the Warehouse in 1995. In the Summer of 2007, we'll be moving from Business Objects 5.1.4, in use at Penn for the last several years, to the latest version of the softare, Business Objects XI Release 2 (XIR2).
While basics of using the Business Objects client software -- called Desktop Intelligence in the new release -- are mostly unchanged, there are some important things to keep in mind about this upgrade:
- Full Client users will need to
install the software. You won't be able
to use the new version until your desktop software has been ugraded.
We will be working with local support providers and users to
deploy the new version of the 3-tier client, now known as "DeskI" or
Desktop Intelligence. This will no longer be a simple push from
a website; the install package will be something that must be
downloaded, unzipped, and installed by following a scripted set
of steps. Only registered Penn full-client Business Objects users
will be authorized to install DeskI.
- You will need to upgrade all of your locally-saved Business Objects reports. Inventory
your queries as soon as possible, and delete those you don't
want to migrate. Data Administration will take care of upgrading
all the Corporate Documents, so you don't need to keep your own copies
of these, unless you've modified them in some way.
- Contact Data Administration if you have Personal or Inbox documents saved in InfoView that you want to upgrade. Reports saved in users' Personal documents or Inboxes in InfoView will not be migrated. If you do have documents saved in these folders that you want to use, contact Data Adminstration for help in migrating them.
- Upgraded documents are not compatible
with earlier versions. Once a report has
been created or saved in DeskI, it can not be
opened or refreshed using Business Objects 5.x. Ideally, individuals
who work closely together and share documents should try to upgrade
around the same time. Users whose software has not yet been upgraded
will be able to view and refresh XIR2 reports using the new version
of InfoView.
- The upgrade will require that you reset your password. With the new version, we will no longer have a situation where Business Objects ignores the password at login. Desktop Intelligence will actually check your password, and your Oracle database password and the Business Objects password must be kept in sync. In order to prepare for that, all users will need to go through an initial password-resetting (using the password changer) when they are ready to migrate; there will be a new option on the password change application to reset Business Objects passwords.
What's new in Business Objects XI Release 2
The basics of using Business Objects software are much the same in the XIR2. As with any software upgrade, there are some useful new features, as well as some navigation differences. Data Admnistration will soon be offering sessions to review the changes, which include the following:
- Logging in: When you log in to Desktop Intelligence or InfoView XIR2, the Business Objects server will check to make sure your password is correct. You'll need to synchronize your Data Warehouse and Business Objects passwords using the password change application.
- Saving files: In addition to saving reports in the Business Objects format (.rep), and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), users can now save reports directly to Excel (.xls) from the File menu, using "Save As". This option will save individual Business Objects report tabs as separate worksheets, and will save information as it appears in Business Objects, including breaks, sorts, variables, etc.
- Sharing documents with other users: In
Desktop Intelligence, there is no longer an option to send documents
to other users using the "Send to" option
from the File menu. To send a document to another user using the Business
Objects server infrastructure, you must first export it to the repository.
Then, log in to InfoView, navigation to your personal folder, and send
the document to another user from there. To retrieve documents from
other users, you need to choose "Import from Repository" from
the File menu, and retrieve the document from your Inbox.
- Retrieving Corporate Documents: All
corporate documents have already been upgraded. To retrieve them in
Desktop Intelligence, go to the File menu and choose "Import from Repository."
There are
two
ways
to
look
at
things
here
-- by folder
or by category (expand "public folders" if you are viewing by folder,
and expand "corporate categories" if you are viewing by category).
Navigate to the folder or category you want and look for your document
there. Or click on the "Find" function, and search for the document
you want by entering all or part of its name in the search window.
Click on the document you want, and click on the "Retrieve" button.
By default, Deski will open the document as soon as it has been retrieved.
You can now refresh it, and save a local copy of the corporate document
on your computer.
- InfoView navigation: InfoView provides access to the Business Objects XIR2 infrastructure via the web, just as it did for version 5. Items stored in the "Corporate Documents" area of version 5 are now available in the "Public Folders" area, grouped by data collection. Reports are also grouped by broad categories, and can be access by navigating a category view.
- Software installation: Before using Desktop Intelligence, or DeskI (the new version of the Business Objects client software), the software must be installed on your desktop. Unlike version 5, which initiated software installations from InfoView, the DeskI software must be installed from a .zip file. Then, before you or your LSP launches DeskI the first time, you must log in to InfoView and launch Desktop Intelligence from there. From that point on, you'll be able to launch DeskI from your desktop.
Questions? Email us at da-staff@isc.upenn.edu
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