We are evaluating BusOb for a web reporting application.
What are your thoughts?
Pros and Cons on peformance, flexibility, useability, and security.
Thanks
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Alex Campbell
DSTI, 301-315-9200 x6321
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Ralph Kimball has given an exhaustive list of factors to consider to evaluate the data warehousing front end tools. You can reach the site by www.kimball.com This was an article written by him in Datamation. It is fairly exhaustive. Regds
Arun
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
FYI - The URL is www.rkimball.com
George Baranowski
QuadraMed
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
At 11:54 AM 5/23/2001 -0400, yArun wrote:
Ralph Kimball has given an exhaustive list of factors to consider to evaluate the data warehousing front end tools. You can reach the site by www.kimball.com This was an article written by him in Datamation. It is fairly exhaustive.
I think that site above gets you to a furniture company.
How about: http://www.ralphkimball.com/
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
If you are looking for links to all the info on a Data Warehousing, I will suggest
this website http://www.dwinfocenter.org/
Regards,
Durgesh
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
yeah you are right it is rkimball.com … sorry for the typographical error regds
arun
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
The following is my opinion based exclusively on my own experiences. I have worked as a developer for 10 years, originally as a programmer writing reports with various languages, then briefly with Crystal Reports, and now 3 years with BusinessObjects, with a touch of FRx and Cognos’ Impromptu for good measure.
BusinessObjects is by far the easiest report writer to use for the end user. It is very graphical and easily understood by non-technical people.
Linking data from various data sources is relatively easy and can be done by users, even though it can be a bit quirky at times. In the others, linking data sources requires a programmer, if it can be done at all.
Reports can be re-arranged (Sliced and Diced) by users to show data differently. This is common to most new report writers, but I believe that it is easier in BusObj.
Summation, BusinessObjects is as versatile as any of the others and easier to use. It has its bad points and weaknesses. Its strengths outweigh them. To paraphrase a famous quote: BusinessObjects is the worst report writer … Except for all its competitors.
Thanks,
Lee M Drake
MI Services Group
(913) 451-2111 ext. 360
http://www.mi-services.com
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Spot on!
A dedicated fan of BO that I am, I have noticed that many people from other tool background have a bad reaction when they first see BO and how it works. And that reaction tends to stay. Allmost as if some fundamental things did not strike a chord with them.
I feel that is good cause its narrows the job market.
I hope it goes on for ever.
Playuser 
(BOB member since 2003-09-15)
You realize you replied to a post from 2001? 
A lot has changed since then, but I guess a lot has also stayed the same.
Dave Rathbun 
(BOB member since 2002-06-06)
Is there a way to download an EVALUATION copy of Busniess Objects XI?
I realize it is a maxive program…but just wondering …
CRXIuser2005 (BOB member since 2006-12-04)
You cannot download it, but you can arrange a demo / evaluation period through a sales representative. At least that is my understanding.
Dave Rathbun (BOB member since 2002-06-06)
Hi,
Free trial versions of software from BO can be found here.
If you were looking for anything from BO legacy products (Business Objects, Designer, Supervisor,…) then please note that there are no demos or free trial versions for them.
Marek Chladny 
(BOB member since 2003-11-27)
I posted this as a Sticky topic, thanks for the link.
Bob (BOB member since 2002-06-06)
I have worked with a ton of front end tools…
BO Trad(Webi, Deski).
BO Crystal (Reports, OLAPi,Xcelcius).
Cognos (bits and bobs).
Reporting Services (2005 version).
Qlikview
and some stuff that has been absorbed like Actuate;
In terms of comparisons for OLAP reporting Cognos is great, it seems more powerful that reporting from a straight microcube in BO. However, the deployment flexibility and usability options in WEBi kind of give it more edge as an Ad Hoc query tool. Personally, I think it’s great if you have a well designed Universe - loads of end user types I show it to love it.
I think a lot of the time though the tool choice depends on the users who will be using it and what they will be doing with it.
ABILtd 
(BOB member since 2006-02-08)
Marek Chladny
Regarding the FREE Trial Software…I meant ONLY BO…not Crystal…I have Crystal…I was wondering if BO offered a TRIAL VERSION of the BO XI PRODUCT…for download…?
Mike
CRXIuser2005 (BOB member since 2006-12-04)
I did had a 60 days fulll license trial to support a proof of concept I had to do for a client, it was easy to arranged with a BO sales rep since the sales potential was good (1000+ users).
Marc Doucet 
(BOB member since 2007-07-11)
I am not aware of any free trial version of BO XI available anywhere on web. 
Contact your BO vendor and ask him whether he can provide you with something like that.
Marek Chladny (BOB member since 2003-11-27)
Everything they offer is on that page. There are no free trial versions of the enterprise products.
Dave Rathbun (BOB member since 2002-06-06)
The 60 days free trial, I’m referring to, is not available on the Internet as a serve yourself…
It is scoped in a project with BO sales rep involved for a proof of concept. We had a full intallation of BusinessObjects Enterprise XI R2 with limited licensing for 60 days.
So the answer is yes it is possible to try a full XI R2 at no cost!!! At a BO dealer near you
Marc Doucet (BOB member since 2007-07-11)
Great information…so did you just email or call them…and was it all setup over the phone…? How much information did they want from you…?
Here’s the deal…the company I work for currently does NOT fit the BO XI platform as it is a smaller company…but I’ll be moving to a NEW company soon …and wanted to get “re-acquanted” with the BO XI R2 Software…Universe Creation …etc…etc…
60 Days would be PLENTY of time to refresh my skills…
M
CRXIuser2005 (BOB member since 2006-12-04)