This was an ASUG webcast given by SAP’s Alexander Peter. The usual legal disclaimers apply. We also had a lengthy question and answer, posted below.
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Figure 1: Source: SAP
The focus of Figure 1 during the webcast is the plan to converge Live Office and all office integration into Analysis Office. It also covers the BEx Analyzer in tool
New tool is Analysis Office
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Figure 2: Source: SAP
Figure 2 shows one product in the future – Analysis Office
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Figure 3: Source: SAP
The planning objective is to have co-existence in same workbook, using the Excel layer, central services for central plug-ins
With 2.1, you get 2 plug-ins, and you decide at installation if you want one (or both)
You also see two ribbon tabs
You can open existing content from previous releases
It also has a single refresh all button
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Figure 4: Source: SAP
Figure 4 shows the upgrade path. Note the EPM restrictions in Analysis Office 2.1 – Word support, EPM extensions, EVDRE formulas
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Figure 5: Source: SAP
Figure 5 shows the upgrade path; note that it depends on the data source
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Figure 6: Source: SAP
Figure 6 shows Analysis Office 2.1
Analysis Office has a single installer with both add-ins; you define in installer if you only want one
The default is to install both; 1 installer = 1 license
Figure 6 shows the API to control new lines and formats
Precalculation works for 2.1 works, API for logon and messages
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Figure 7: Source: SAP
In the middle of Figure 7, “planned innovations”, the plan for 2.2 is to be released in Q4
Figure 7 in the middle shows three main buckets of investment, with convergence, more UX harmonization and continuous improvement. SAP is working to provide .NET API instead of VBA along with InfoProvider search improvements
The future (after 12-18 months) is Live Office convergence
Question & Answer
| Question | Response |
| Will this cover the BPC Consolidation also, which uses EPM Add-in as well? | Only from the Excel front end side |
| Is there a unified Login? How is security being maintained | For each plug in separate tabs and separate logons |
| can we open traditional BPC reports created with EVDRE? | Not in AO 2.1 |
| does analysis plug-in also supports LIVEOFFICE | That is still a separate install today - Live Office can be active at same time. |
| Does version 2.1 work with SAP GUI 7.4 and NWBC 5.0? Version 2.0 of Analysis Office does not work with SAP GUI 7.4 | Yes it does work with those SAP Gui Versions |
| Will the EPM addin be available seperately going forward or will it be depreciated | EPM will be part of AO 2.1 install |
| what's the planned timeframe for AO 2.1 GA? | It is in ramp-up today; GA depends on when SAP meets its KPI's |
| So there is no plan to merge classic BPC with Analysis? | Classic model is still part of EPM plug-in - no plan to have in AO plugin |
| Are u recommending that we install only EPM plugin when BPC 10 is installed for addin2.1? | If have EPM 10 and want new features install AO2.1 with EPM flavor |
| Will EPM Add-in continue to be a separate install or will it be included as part fo the Analysis 2.1 installation software? | It will be part of AO 2.1 - EPM 10 is in maintenance & still supported |
| Can we have EPM addin and Analysis BOTH installed together with AO2.1 for our EPM 10 and BW 7.4 ? | AO2.1 already has EPM install - one Analysis product |
| Is there a server side installation in Business Objects to enable usage of Analysis for Office 2.1? | no it is a client tool - there is a add-on for BIP used for scheduling & precalc |
| Will there be a convergence for Classic BPC 10.1 and Analysis for Office? | Analysis plug-in is access classic models? - answer is no; EPM is part of Analysis Office - need to know if talk plugin or product |
| Can we schedule EPM reports? | not the way we are doing Analysis - EPM is not part of precalc - looking into |
| Does Analysis Office support user's ability to write data back to a database (BW)? | Only with the planning model - BW-IP |
| Since EVDRE is not supported ... is the migration tool available in AO 2.1? | If migration was part of 10 it would be available- answer offline |
| I saw a prereq of .Net version 3 for Analysis 2.1 . Does the install supply this? | .NET is 4.5 is not part of installation - 2 things - VSTO runtime is a prereq - not part of install |
| Any new EPM support packages/patches different than EPM SP21 Patch 3 before GA for 2.1? | Don't know; does't have patch schedule - follow up |
| what are the limitations of EPM addin of 2.0 vs 1.4 | could you clarify? 2.1 & EPM 10? EVDRE formulas in next release & extension |
| Is data manager tab available in AO2.1 or is the functionality available somewhere elese? | Still there - can hide it |
| do we have any additional features on BPC reporting using EPM along with Analysis | not really; still on the roadmap; main things - work status & process flow |
| You mentioned defining OLAP functions in the data cells in the grid if I understood you correctly or is it just available in the axes? | Could you clarify? Planning to do something with planning functions in cells local members - AO table design - add a new column & add Excel formula - will be translated to a new calc measure |
| Does AO 2.1 work with BW 7.3? | yes |
| can we provide UI for log off & ogi instead of va API ? | There is no plan; it was typical BEx approach to logon - not need in AO as you connect to several sources at same time; couple of scenarios - to have new master data in planning process and load it - only way to do that was to clear session in backend |
| currently in table design new lines data does not persist after refresh ? whats the plan ? | Next release allow for Excel formulas, and do something around text - like comments |
| Will there no longer be independent EPM Add-in SP's released after the AO 2.1 release? | Yes there will be SP's for EPM 10 as long as it in maintenance - until 2020 |
| connecting to UNX/UNV in AO ? | Live Office Future direction - see roadmap slide |
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