4.x-To make an application for listing UniverseObects

sdk development
1

Env:4.1
I need some help in knowing which direction to go towards?
Or whether its possible or not??

Need to create a document with list of objects from the universes with their properties (the ones that we find on the right side including advanced props…): like ‘description’,‘Select’,‘where’,‘Table’, Projection function, Technical source’ custom props etc…

I’ll prefer to create an application that just runs on my local PC rather than a web app that needs to be deployed on the server. You can direct me towards a webApp if thats the only way out.

MY local PC has Eclipse , the client tools - IDT etc installed, and i have copied the 4.1 server’s jar files.

I tried to run some java codes that i found on the internet for 3.1, it is able to login but it seems to be falling off -
(they use code like: (ReportEngine) reportEngines
.getService
(ReportEngines.ReportEngineType.WI_REPORT_ENGINE):wink:

(i believe that ‘ReportEngine’ code - does not work in 4.0, 4.1 versions… right??)

10muscat (BOB member since 2012-09-03)

2

If in IDT you use the save as option of the blx then this gives you that sort of documentation however if you look at Sulis Systems “John Wiekert” they have developed a product that is in beta at the moment for BI4.

BarkyBaloo (BOB member since 2007-07-04)

3

You will first need the SL SDK (Semantic Layer SDK) to get these informations from the BLX file.

Then you can easily read objects in the business layer :

 List<BlItem> listItems = businessLayer.getRootFolder().getChildren();

for (BlItem item : listItems ) {
 if (item instanceof DimensionImpl) {
       DimensionImpl dim = (DimensionImpl) item;
       // Get all the info you need from the object
 }
}

For connecting, the SL SDK has some sample codes to help you.

But anyway, it should look like that :

enterpriseSession = CrystalEnterprise.getSessionMgr().logon(USER,
					PWD, HOST, CMS_AUTH_MODE);
context.getService(CmsSessionService.class).setSession(
				enterpriseSession);

serviceCMS = context.getService(CmsResourceService.class);
service = context.getService(LocalResourceService.class);

vBLPath = serviceCMS.retrieveUniverse(UNXNAME, LOCALPATH, true);
businessLayerPath = vBLPath;

businessLayer = (RelationalBusinessLayer) service
				.load(businessLayerPath);

guigui42 (BOB member since 2014-06-12)

4

So a universe documentor for UNX(BLX) is available? Or it will be available?
If so, will it be similar to the great Excel documentation scripts out there for the UNV universes?

di652 (BOB member since 2005-02-24)

5

Any update on this? I have been trying to get this but it is harder than I thought since you cannot use VB macros against the new UNX universes

di652 (BOB member since 2005-02-24)

6

I’ve been tinkering with the SAP BI Semantic Layer Java SDK (v4.1 SP6) and was able to use it to produce output like the attached Excel.

Todd
eFashion Inventory.xls (73.0 KB)

twalowit :us: (BOB member since 2015-04-17)

7

This actually looks really good! Did you post this up in BoB Downloads or can you make it available!?

Again, This Looks Great!!!

di652 (BOB member since 2005-02-24)

8

I originally wrote the utility to compare two universes to see all of the changes, but by using a single universe instead of two it runs in inventory mode to document a universe (it pretends that everything is a change). The utility requires that you have the 4.1 SP6 client tools installed and that you have a JRE6 (or JRE7) to run it in. The universes and their connections and databases must be valid at run time for it to work (the universe must be capable of passing most of the IDT integrity checks). If this sounds like something you’re interested in experimenting with, let me know and we can figure out how I can send it to you. I’m a bit hesitant to just upload it on the board because of the specialized set up.

Conversely, if you’re looking for guidance to get started using the Semantic Layer SDK to build your own documentation utility, I can probably help with that.

Todd

twalowit :us: (BOB member since 2015-04-17)

9

Sounds like it would be a match for my set up.

Can you zip up the files; that is probably the best way for transport.

Once I take a look I will see if its something requiring help which I will then follow up.

Thanks!!!

di652 (BOB member since 2005-02-24)

10

Hi Todd,

I am really interested in seeing some of your code for this to.
I just need to find some building blocks to make what I plan to do.

  1. extracting universe metadata and save it in database tables. To be used as source for a universe enabling reporting on universe information over several universes. Typical use can be to produce documentation or analyse impact of database changes.

  2. translation/update tool for universe objects and conditions. Mainly names and descriptions. To get a common standard and the same names/descriptions for similar objects over several universes.

Are familiar with how to do this using the COM SDK but now trying to get into the Java world and cover the UNX universes.

YakoBay (BOB member since 2006-04-27)

11

YakoBay,

I posted to your other thread on this topic with what I hope is enough to get you started.

di652,

I zipped up my utility, but with libraries it’s about 98 MB which easily exceeds the 1MB limit on this forum, so I put it here: http://www.mediafire.com/download/gw6eit06seolbs3/uca.zip

Todd

twalowit :us: (BOB member since 2015-04-17)

12

Great!!

I am downloading now so it will be some weekend work for me now :slight_smile:
I will also check the answer in the other thread.
Also looking forward to finally learn some more java.

Hope you dont mind if i get back with questions later.
I also hope I will be able to share some back later.

Have a nice weekend,
Yakobay

YakoBay (BOB member since 2006-04-27)

13

Great and Thanks YakoBay!!! I will take a look and work on getting it implemented. :smiley:

Di

di652 (BOB member since 2005-02-24)

14

di652,

Any luck getting my unx change analyzer / documentation utility to work?

Todd

twalowit :us: (BOB member since 2015-04-17)

15

Updated mediafire uca.zip file with uca_4106.jar, replacing uca_4104.jar.

twalowit :us: (BOB member since 2015-04-17)

16

No luck yet, not a JAVA guru and still fumbling around trying to get access privileges since the Admin here is so so hard to work with :frowning:

di652 (BOB member since 2005-02-24)

17

Happy New Year to all!!

Good to see that I am not the only one struggling. :wink:
Its hard to find the way through when getting vague error messages and not knowing if the Java development environment or the connection to the BO server is causing the problems.

I am using Eclipse and have decided to start over with a fresh setup as I have done so many configuration changes to the one I have been using that I don’t know if its getting better or worse.

I have managed to connect to the server but I get errors when I try retrieve a universe from the server.

Have read and used guides that tell how to get started with Eclipse and the Java SDK but the guides are just made for dummies not for extreme dummies. I don’t know if its possible to dump a complete configured Eclipse environment for “distribution” but that would eliminate some of the problems and just leave the issues connecting to the BO environment.

A big thanks for all the help on the forum so far and I am really thankful for any help I can get. Luckily I am just doing this as a side project and have time to struggle, wait and research.

YakoBay (BOB member since 2006-04-27)

18

A few things to check:

  1. Make sure that C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\win32_x86 is in your windows path variable
  2. Use 32-bit JRE v6 for your SDK executable (not the 64-bit JDK you need for Eclipse)
  3. Use VM argument: -Dbusinessobjects.connectivity.directory=“C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\dataAccess\connectionServer”

twalowit :us: (BOB member since 2015-04-17)

19

Where exactly to do pt 3- vm argument?

In my previous environment setup I think I found several places and was not sure where it should be.

UPDATE: I assume its in the menu: “Run” - “Run Configurations…” - Tab “(x)= Arguments”

Correct me if I am wrong.

  • Connect to system is working
    Now next to test is retrieve universe.

YakoBay (BOB member since 2006-04-27)

20

In Eclipse it’s under Run --> Run Configurations for your project. On the Arguments tab put it in the VM arguments text box.

If you’re running your executable jar file from the command line, it’s passed in to java when you run your runnable jar:
java.exe -Dbusinessobjects.connectivity.directory=“C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP BusinessObjects\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\dataAccess\connectionServer” -jar my_project.jar

twalowit :us: (BOB member since 2015-04-17)