Direct query is a new feature introduced in the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform 4.0. This feature can be used to create a query based on a Universe and then use the query output in our dashboard. We can link it directly with a dashboard component, so we don't need Excel as an intermediate layer. We can also load it into Excel, and from there, we can deal with it in the same way as we did in the previous chapters. In this section, you will first learn how to create a query, and then you will learn how to link it with your dashboard components and current Excel model.
Tip
Direct query can use only the .UNX Universe, which was developed by the SAP BO Information Design Tool. You can refer to my first book, Creating Universes with SAP BusinessObjects, for more information about creating Universes.
Before we start using direct query, let's prepare the dashboard file for this chapter:
Navigate to the
Codesample folder from your PC.Open the
Chapter8.xlffile dashboard...