Report Writer - Converting from MS Access to Business Objects Tools

In 2008, my company migrated to SAP. Security has forced all report writing to use business objects (specifically WEBI); however, WEBI is very very difficult to use. The data in the universe doesn't always match what SAP has and the tool itself doesn't give the robust manipulation that Access does. I have tried to tell the company I need access to the universes through MS Access in order to create the reports automatically and allow interactive databases; however they refuse to give me ODBC access (against policy). Right now I have no alternative but to do daily downloads from SAP in order to feed my robust databases.
Can anyone suggest what business object tool I should use that will replicate what MS Access does for me?
Easy report writing with robust design (including charts)
Easy front-end tool for end users
One to many relationships needed
Efficient/Automatic (no need for daily downloads)
End users can interact with reports (enter data for later analysis)
What about Crystal Reports? What are the limitations and can it do what MS Access does for me today?
Should I be posting this question in another forum?

Hi Amy,
CR 2008 is the complimentary version of CR Designer when connecting to BOE 3.1. You can get an update to Service Pack 3 and then possible SP 4:
https://smpdl.sap-ag.de/~sapidp/012002523100007123572010E/cr2008_sp3.exe
https://smpdl.sap-ag.de/~sapidp/012002523100008782452011E/cr2008sp4.exe
But before you do that check with the BOE admin, SP's should match also but not required.
They should work together, When you use the Report Wizard you'll see an option to connect to Enterprise and then log in using your User account and then the Repository will have the Universes available. Remember this is all set up by the Administrator so you will need the Admin person to grant you access to the Repository as well as anything else you need access to. Once you create the report then you can Publish them to your folder or a common folder and the Admin can then share your reports.
WEBI is what the name implies, it's a WEB interface to allow you to create reports using it's Report Wizard. It does take some getting used to and you should have training available, check with your admin group again. Same as CRD, it tool allows you to create reports but is much more flexible than WEBI is in a few ways but once you understand how WEBI works it has some very powerful tools also.
CR allows you to access any database field you have permission to see, it fully supports database permissions. So if you can't see them again you have to ask your DBA to grant you permissions. You can then link tables including your late entry table if it is separate or simply hitting the refresh button in the viewer will requery the DB for new rows of data. All depends on how it's set up.
As for security, this is a decision your company has made. SAP is just a tool that allows you to be secure. With today's security threats and other privacy laws and hackers abilities to get to and cause personal harm to those affected it's just the way things are these days. Take this up with your Management, it's not something we can decide for you and certainly can't provide you with ways to circumvent the security.....
There is training available for both WEBI and CR as well as third party Help for books available. Downloading the sample reports is a great place to start, you can switch between Design and preview mode and see what happens when you make changes....
Thanks again
Don

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MySQL ( for testing only )
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Edited by: James selwin on Mar 17, 2009 10:32 PM
Edited by: James selwin on Mar 17, 2009 10:34 PM
Edited by: James selwin on Mar 17, 2009 10:34 PM

The first thing you will want to do is to publish all of your reports to Business Objects XI and make sure they all still work. Obviously they won't have the dynamic parameters anymore but you should just ensure they all work and are able to connect to their databases. You can use a tool like the publishing wizard to help you.
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Hi
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http://help.sap.com/saphelp_47x200/helpdata/en/66/bc7d2543c211d182b30000e829fbfe/content.htm
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http://sap.ittoolbox.com/groups/technical-functional/sap-r3-other/accessing-tables-using-report-painterwriter-98766
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_47x200/helpdata/en/da/6ada3889432f48e10000000a114084/frameset.htm
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_bw31/helpdata/en/66/bc7d2543c211d182b30000e829fbfe/frameset.htm
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hi santosh,
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Data tables supported
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< Evaluation structures set up in the Logistics Information System (LIS). These structures normally begin with an S or ZF. Several different tables and views within the R/3 System can be added as evaluation structures.
Note: You cannot add cluster tables, such as BSEG.
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< GLFUNCT is used for functional area reporting in cost-of-sales accounting.
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< FIMC is used for consolidations in the Enterprise Controlling module (EC-LC).
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< Transaction FGRP
< From the SAP main menu, choose Information systems ® Ad hoc reports® Report painter.
Report Writer functions can be accessed from within the Report Painter. To access Report Writer, choose the following menu path from the SAP main menu:
Information systems ® Ad hoc reports® Report painter® Report Writer.
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< Report Groups: Report groups can contain one or more reports. The report group is what you executenot the actual report. A report group is generated to create a set of ABAP programs that produce the reports.
How Does Report Painter Differ from Other Reporting Tools?
< With the exception of row titles which have text fields, Report Painter/Report Writer reports display numerical fields only (for example, dollar and quantity fields). This is not a requirement for ABAP Query and typical line item reporting tools, which can display arbitrary text columns.
< While printed Report Painter/Report Writer reports appear much the same way on paper as they do on screen, the Drilldown reporting tool produces a different output format. Drilldown reporting is an online analytical tool which can be used to drill down to different levels of detail, but it is infrequently used for printing.
< Report Painter/Report Writer reports are hierarchical and take advantage of configured hierarchies (for example, with cost center hierarchies). You can also execute Report Painter/Report Writer reports from each level within a hierarchy.
< Report Painter/Report Writer reports can handle multiple currency/quantity units within a single column.
< Report Painter/Report Writer is well suited to handle reports that require mass production. For example, Report Painter/Report Writer is a particularly effective tool for creating month-end reports.
refer this link
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/66/bc7d2543c211d182b30000e829fbfe/frameset.htm
http://abaplearner.blogspot.com/2007/12/more-abap-tutorials.html
http://www.virtuosollc.com/PDF/Get_Reporter.pdf
regards,
sravanthi

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