Replacing PRECALC with BO tool for workbooks broadcasting

[former_member682055]

Hi Experts,

Good day!!!

I need one information. Soon we are going to replace PRECALC server with BO tool for reports and workbooks broadcasting to business users. So i would like to know about the pros and cons of this migration and pre & post migration activities involved for this activity.

Thanks in advance

[VijayetaSharma · Accepted solution]

Hello sap_bw_bt,

We migrated from PreCal to BOBJ BI report broadcasting couple of years back.Here are my observations -

• BO Analysis scheduling requires installation of BIP add-in before you can broadcast Analysis for Office workbooks.
• Other reports like- WebI and Crystal report broadcasting do not need any additional installation.
• Broadcasting setup is done on Adaptive Job Server - Destinations Setup (BI Inbox, SMTP, File server etc) and Analysis Scheduling Service. Now more resource you allocate to this BI server better see load handling during peak hours. You may want to consider creating clones of Adaptive Job Servers and assign them to different groups. This will allow you to prioritize report broadcasting during peak hours (when some reports compete for resources at the same time). This is the only way to load balancing for reporting broadcasting. This is similar to how we create additional services in PreCal
  

  

• BI Analysis scheduling can handle less number of rows (cells) compared to PreCalc on Analyzer. As per my experience you may notice slightly better data volume handling on BIP Analysis add-in compared to running reports locally on desktop (For the sake of understanding say your local file crashes around 50K rows, where as BIP scheduling can broadcast the same volume. PreCal can handle 80K rows).

• I have seen WebI and Crystal report broadcasting can work with larger data volume compared to Analysis workbooks. So, for heavy Analysis workbooks (crashing due to volume) you can consider alternate mode of report and broadcasting (via good old WebI)

• Keep and eye on Tomcat service memory consumption, you may have to change memory setting for heavy usage.

• In case you have setup BI-BW SSO (via STS) Admin user wont be able to schedule Analysis Workbooks. Reason you do not have BW user (with same ID) for authentication. Consider creating a broadcasting users in BW with required roles and use the same in BI side for report scheduling instead

Hope you find this information helpful. Apprecaite if you consider up-voting and accepting this answer.

Thanks,
Vijayeta

[former_member682055 · Accepted solution]

Hi vijayeta.sharma,

• Thanks a lot for your prompt response on my query and I greatly appreciate your help on this
• Iam having some more queries on this
• Qsn 1: Last year we have migrated BI 7.0 to BW 7.5 on HANA and we replaced BeX with SAP Analysis for office. All the required reports and workbooks have been converted to Analysis for office compatibility. As you mentioned, once we install BIP add-in in SAP Analysis for office and BOBJ BI report broadcasting server (Replacement of PRECALC server), Do we need to convert required AFO reports and Workbooks (which are currently being broadcasted to users) to any new format for BOBJ BIP add-in compatibility ?
• Qsn 2: Do we need to create a new setting for each workbook in new BOBJ broadcasting server for required workbooks broadcasting (How you handled this)?
• It would be helpful if you share any PDF document or any link which contains all the required information

Thanks in advance

[VijayetaSharma · Accepted solution]

Sure, np!

Answer 1: You just need to save AFO workbooks to your BI server folder. Then you should be able to schedule reports. Scheduling via BIP add-in is much flexible in BI4.2 onwards.

Answer 2: You can created multiple schedule for same workbook. You define the filters/ frequency/ mode of delivery/ User list or emails/ optional : define server groups. After that maintenance/ change is simple process. No separate setting required. assuming destinations and add-in related metrics are already configured by your BI admin (screenshot shared earlier)

Some supporting documents:
To install the Analysis BI platform Add-On for Scheduling for the Analysis Plug-in

Analysis Office Installation and Update

Checklist for Scheduling of Analysis for Office Workbooks

In case you want to install BIP add-in on non windows OS-

2530006 - How to Install Analysis BI platform Add-On on a Non Windows Environment

Let me know if you have further question.
Not sure if you accidental unmarked this solution. I guess you flagged it as "answered" earlier.

Thanks,

Vijayeta

[former_member682055 · Accepted solution]

Hi vijayeta.sharma,

• So far no installation is not done from BASIS. We are gathering all the required information before going for the migration
• Thanks a lot for your responses on time. We will check all your inputs and will reach if any further information is needed. Once again, I greatly appreciate your help 🙂
• If possible please share any link or document which shows how to schedule the workbooks in BIP add-in

Thanks in advance

[VijayetaSharma · Accepted solution]

This is an old blog, appearance and additional functionality were added since then. Though core workflow still the same.
https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-60492

Thanks,

Vijayeta

[former_member682055 · Accepted solution]

excellent thanks a lot 🙂