In the product material for what’s new in BO XI 3.1 there is mention of the functionality to import data from an Excel or csv file etc" Personal Data Provider". I cannot find anywhere in the application itself where this can be accessed. I am assuming that it means it is new in Web Intelligence because it is already available in Desk Top Intelligence. Can anyone clarify/tell me how it access? Thank you.
Hoystedr (BOB member since 2010-04-07)
Did you check with Webintelligence Rich client? You can do the same.
Arjun (BOB member since 2008-07-28)
Thanks, but what is “Rich Client”?
Hoystedr (BOB member since 2010-04-07)
Web I rich client is similar to Deski introduced in XI R3.1 which allows us to save the web i documents on our local computer and can work offline. Also there are more features added compared to Deski with earlier versions.
Thanks,
Eswar
Eswar (BOB member since 2006-05-02)
So does that mean it would be a separate part of the product suite, ie licensed separately, or does it come as part of the Webi application?
Hoystedr (BOB member since 2010-04-07)
It comes as part of BO product suite.
Pls refer the below link for more information
http://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/display/BOBJ/Deski+and+Webi+-+scope+of+features
Eswar (BOB member since 2006-05-02)
Please bear in mind, any Rich client docs, containing personal Dp’s, published to Webi, currently, have to be made non-refreshable.
Mak 1 
(BOB member since 2005-01-06)
Thank you. So the next question is how is rich client turned on/activated by report writer?
Hoystedr (BOB member since 2010-04-07)
You need to change the preferences in Infoview, then you can download it from the server…
Mak 1 (BOB member since 2005-01-06)
Thanks for your help 
Hoystedr (BOB member since 2010-04-07)
@Mak 1 : why do you mention that report made in richclient containing for instance excel sheet as personal data provider, and published in webi, should not be refreshed ?
thanks a lot
liloo 
(BOB member since 2007-06-06)
I think Mark said it because, Web-I doesn’t support Personal data providers. (Only Rich client supports it)
Jansi 
(BOB member since 2008-05-12)
The report with the Excel sheet can be published to Enterprise, via the Rich Client. However, currently, there is no way to refresh the Excel part, it is only a static data set in Infoview. The universe Dps can be refreshed, as normal, obviously.
Mak 1 (BOB member since 2005-01-06)
ok thx ! do you now when it will be possible to use personal data providers such as Excel sheets with webi and with refreshing available ? thanks again !
Liloo
liloo (BOB member since 2007-06-06)
May/may not be in the future releases. 
Jansi (BOB member since 2008-05-12)
Hi,
I know this is pretty late to reply on this but might be useful:
Starting 3.1 SP3, it is possible to refresh the webi documents through infoview on Windows (Next release is going to support refresh on UNIX too). Please refer to documentation or see this post for more info:
Regards
Sumitesh
SumiteshRS (BOB member since 2010-08-05)
Not too late at all Sumitesh :).
Have you actually seen this working?
Mak 1 
(BOB member since 2005-01-06)
Yes. Of course 
.
Regards
Sumitesh
SumiteshRS (BOB member since 2010-08-05)