Recommended approach-Creation of BOBI Reports on BEx or Univ

building reports crystal reports
1

Hi Experts

We have just over 400 Reports to be delivered in Crystal Reports. Over and above, there is an Ad hoc Reporting and Scenario Modelling & Analysis Reporting requirement from the Report Users to Report on the same set of Reporting Objects. Therefore, we thought of leveraging on the same Universe that is built on top of MultiProvider in SAP BW to cater for Crystal Reports to be used for Ad hoc and Scenario Modelling & Analysis reporting.

We are implementing Finance Module in SAP BW 7.3 (SP5) and SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform 4.0 (FP2; Patch9). We have enrolled for FP3 Ramp-up. We’ve just completed the Blueprint Phase following ASAP Methodologies.

In the process of running Prototypes for our Client as part of the Business Blueprint, we have encountered these issues:

  1. The HTML format text (Para, Indentation & Italics) from SAP PBF within SAP BW system needs to be reproduced in SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise XI 4.0 but this tool is unable to read the underlying ABAP tables in SAP PBF system that stores the HTML format text. After being assured by SAP that FP3 will enable this feature, we used SAP Crystal Reports 2011, which was able to read the HTML format text from the underlying ABAP tables in SAP PBF system to develop the Prototype for Client demonstrations / presentations.
  2. Using OLAP Connection in IDT, we are unable to create a Universe on top of the SAP BW MultiProviders.
  3. Using Relational Connection in IDT, we are unable to make use of Hierarchies and Analysis Authorizations.

Questions:

  1. Considering over 400 reports that need to be delivered and subsequent Ad hoc and Scenario Modelling & Analysis reports that should be built on this Reporting Solution, what would be the best approach to deliver Reporting Solution (i.e. either to build a Universe on MultiProvider or build SAP BOBI Reports on top of SAP BW BEx Queries)?
  2. What would be the implications, if any, in following either of the above (Point 1) options?

Your time is much appreciated. Please let me know if any questions.

Regards,
Chandu

giftedbrain (BOB member since 2012-03-13)