I have downloaded the trial version of xcelsius 2008 to evaluate it and understand if it is the right product for our company
I just don’t fully understand how can i actually connect xcelsius with our oracle DB
I have read other topics about this problem, but never figured out exactly how it works
If i understand well, every data i want do use in xcelsius has to be in his integrated excel file, right?
And “to connect xcelsius to the db” essentially means to load the needed data into this integrated excel file.
Let´s say that i need to create a “mask” (don’t know how to call an xcelsius file) that shows different kind of data in response to the user’s choice (by clicking some elements on the mask)
Do i have to write some scripts that load the requested data and associate them to some buttons on my mask?
Beacause we have really a lot of data that we would show to the user, so i guess it’s not a good idea to load them all on the excel
I was already looking at the users guide, but all connection methods seem quite complicated (we don’t already have Business Object: we’re evaluating if it’s a good choice to buy it…)
Just to make a comparison, we’re also evaluating Qlikview as a product to create our reports, and it seems really really really simpler (just connect it to the DB via OBDC, and start creating your masks)
Debbie, I’m quite new to concepts like “universe”, so i’m not sure of what we’re talking about…
but if i understand well with xcelsius i always have to use complicated connection methods (such as using web services based on script that contains queries ) to get my data…
You said:
The main problem about this aggregation is that we need to show both the detailed data (at single customer level) and the aggregated one, so we cannot just aggregate the detailed data into some ad-hoc tables.
I have almost convinced myself that Xcelsius is not the right product we need. But I want to make the most correct decision, as i fear that this user-unfriendly connection methods are conditioning mee too much in the evaluation.
Maybe do you have something to say in favour of Xcelsius?
The way I use xcelsius, I don’t use Business Objects at all - its completely independent - I simply run ASPX-hosted SQL to get data from a database into xml which xcelsius then reads in.
BUT if you need detailed data, you need a reporting tool of some kind (webi, crystal, whatever). Xcelsius won’t handle anything but the simplest dashboards looking at transaction data and you will quickly run into problems.
I’ve seen Qlikview and wasn’t that impressed, though I can’t remember why. I don’t recall it being particularly user-friendly though it was a few years back.
In favour of xcelsius - use it properly and it’s awesome. Not only have you got some great components, but there’s a lot of flexibility/customisation to build in user-interaction via dropdowns etc. Hosted on a web page, it looks just like a “proper” web application to the users, who don’t need to do anything other than load the page and click the dropdowns they want. It’s taken me a while to learn but I love it!
Xcelsius is an awesome tool but it is not meant for displaying detailed data. Being a dashboarding tool, it makes perfect sense that it doesn’t support large detail data sets.
A dashboard should only show a “high level” at glance view. A perfect example is your car. Do you analyze all of your gauges on your dashboard when you are driving or do you glance at them?
To slice, dice, and anlyze large datasets you will need a tool that is meant for that. (Excel, webi, crystal reports, etc…) For data visulization/dashboard Xcelisus is the way to go.
I understand that looking at detailed data is different that looking at aggregated ones, but i don’t understand why cannot exist a product that can do both things well
My company is now evaluating Qlikview and SAP BusinessObject (wich includes Xcelsius and Crystal Reports if i understood right). Speaking with some people who were trying to sell us BO, it seemed that even them didn’t know exactly what product among the BO suite was the best for our scope.
As Greg says, xcelsius is like a car dashboard. You look at it to see how much fuel you have left. If you want to see when you last bought fuel, how much it cost and where you bought it from, you use a reporting tool, such as webi or crystal, or even just excel.
The user looks at the dashboard, see that the fuel’s almost run out and thinks “Must see when I last bought fuel, what my average mpg is and whether I need to economise or maybe buy a car that’s cheaper to run.” So he clicks on a button on the dashboard and that loads webi or whatever automatically and runs a report that will allow him to analyse his fuel consumption at transaction level.
You can’t, in my opinion, buy a tool that does both well. You wouldn’t buy clothes washing powder and wash your hair with it as well. Or train as a sprinter and expect to win a marathon. It’s the same with business intelligence.
Gosh - I almost sound like I know what I’m talking about. That makes a change…
maik - I agree, choosing the right BI tools can be very hard and confusing. I’ve been through the process several times and have used an array of tools. In my opinion BO offers a great tool set.
I use Xcelsius for dashboard development outside of the BO environment via XML/ASPX and C# WebServiced.
I use Crystal Reports outside of the BO environment via ODBC connections.
And I use Webi reports ontop of BO universes.
As Debbie mentioned - you can hyperlink a Crystal Report or Webi Report to an Xcelsius dashboard allowing the end user to view underlying detail.
(BOB member since 2010-09-22)
(BOB member since 2005-03-01)
) to get my data…
(BOB member since 2010-09-28)
