SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence (SAP PRESS: englisch) [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence is a brand new 2010 title from SAP Press, who kindly sent me a review copy. According to its back cover, the book will "provide you with a comprehensive functional overview of SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence, as well as actionable, step-by-step content to help you quickly begin creating, analyzing, an sharing enterprise reports." Authors Jim Brogden, Heather Sinkwitz and Mac Holden have created a comprehensive, hard-cover 574-page guide to SAP BusinessObjects' query and analysis tool.

A majority of the book is devoted to Web Intelligence report design and is topically well-organized. There is also significant coverage of universe design and the Web Intelligence SDK, topics that traditionally have different (predominantly IT) audiences. The Web Intelligence SDK is covered neatly at the end of the book. However, universe design topics appear at several places throughout the book. My personal preference is that a book for Web Intelligence users should focus on the user experience and, to quote the Wizard of Oz, "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain". That man (or woman) is the universe designer, frequently an IT professional. That said, I really appreciated the discussion in Section 2.1.1, "Design with the Business User in Mind". Technical challenges aside, most universe designers violate this basic rule, resulting in a universe that is not easily adopted by business users.

This book is comprehensive, giving coverage to advanced features like report bursting via Publications, related tools like Live Office, linking multiple report documents, and new features introduced in Web Intelligence XI 3.1 SP2. Business users who are new to SAP BusinessObjects tools will benefit greatly from the book's methodical coverage of Web Intelligence. Traditional SAP users, in particular, should embrace this book readily, as Web Intelligence is replacing older SAP BI tools in the product portfolio.

This was the exact product I was constantly searching and glad to say that I got what I was looking.
Topics for SAP BO are organized well and easy to understand. I do see screenshots where ever necessary are provided for ease of learning.

This is what I would expect in a user guide or manual; the bulk of the content is menu options and selection values; Very little what I would call tips and tricks to really make the product do what you want it to do. The examples are very basic with very little complex data queries and reporting involved. If you need a basic manual this is your book if you need to know how to write complex reports look elsewhere...