BusinessObjects Board

export formulas, filters, etc.

building reports desktopintelligence
#1

Hello –

A user in another business wants to share report logic and formulas with me.

Can anyone tell me how to capture formulas, filters, and other objects contained in a Desktop Intelligence report?

I want to incorporate that information in SQL and stored procedures in my application.

I am familiar with the Crystal Reports feature whereby one clicks
File > Export > Export Report > Report Definition
resulting in a text file. That, or similar information what I seek in DI.

Thanks for any help,

Larry Mehl

mehlsl (BOB member since 2011-12-13)

#2

Hi,

DeskI does not have this functionality to export/save a report structure.

You can try using this utility that can export some report metadata to a text file(s):

Marek Chladny :slovakia: (BOB member since 2003-11-27)

#3

Thank you Marek

Larry

mehlsl (BOB member since 2011-12-13)

#4

Marek –

I need a full export of formulas, variables, and SQL from a DeskI report, rather than searching for names. I did not write the report and am not fully familiar with the db.

Your message said that it “exports some report metadata to a text file(s).”

I would not have thought this reading your notes:
The utility used for searching for a given string (keyword) in BO DeskI document formulas, variables and SQLs. The search is not case-sensitive. All BO documents stored in a specified folder are examined and log files with matching results are generated in the folder.

The utility is helpful when for instance you want to check:

  • whether a database table or column appears in queries of BO documents.

Thanks for any further information.

Larry

  • whether an expression is part of any report-level variables and/or formulas

mehlsl (BOB member since 2011-12-13)

#5

Hi,

Use an asterisk as a searched string and the utility should export everything what it can.

Marek Chladny :slovakia: (BOB member since 2003-11-27)

#6

Thank you Marek,

Larry

mehlsl (BOB member since 2011-12-13)

#7

Larry,

Did it work? Or did you get at least something useful using the utility?

Marek Chladny :slovakia: (BOB member since 2003-11-27)

#8

Marek –

We are waiting on the report originator (another county government agency in California) to send us their report.

I am eager to apply your process to the report because the results will allow me to continue my work for people in my County.

I will describe my results when the process is finished.

Thank you for your interest and attention.

Larry

mehlsl (BOB member since 2011-12-13)

#9

Hello Marek –

DDI found my rep file OK.

It stopped processing on the line in
btn_process_REP_files
which reads
If UCase(Right(MyFile.Name,4)) = “.REP” Then
…

with the message
“Compile error”
“Can’t find project or library”

What libraries should I have referenced?

It is a machine intended mostly for running BO, so I am not surprised that it lacks some VBA references.

DDI will be just what I need. The report is loaded with formulas and other objects. Cutting and pasting from each formula would be a pain.

Thanks in advance.

Larry

mehlsl (BOB member since 2011-12-13)

#10

Marek –

The library that was marked “MISSING” was
Parameter Prompting Library 11.5

I un-checked it, and DDI ran to completion.

I will now compare the text file to the Variables and Formulas.

The other of the two reports was named .wid.
I will rename it to … .rep and see how DDI handles it.

Thank you for sharing your creation.

Larry

mehlsl (BOB member since 2011-12-13)

#11

Larry,

Good!

WID files are files of WebI reports, not DeskI. DDI will not process them even when you rename their extensions from .REP to .WID. WID (for WebI reports) and REP (for DeskI reports) are two completely different report formats.

Marek Chladny :slovakia: (BOB member since 2003-11-27)