Why Does the Java Report Panel / Web Intelligence Applet Take So Long Load

After switching from Business Objects XI 3.1 to BO BI 4.1 I noticed one difference which I did not like at all. The Web Intelligence Java Applet (the default report editor, also formerly known as the Java Report Panel) takes forever to load. Why is this? WebI Java Applet Isn’t Caching When I start using […]
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Tracking Concurrent Users with Query Builder and Auditing Data

Today I received the following request via email: “Do you have any pointers for me where I can find a lot of useful [Query Builder] queries? One in particular I am looking for is where I can see what is the max concurrent users on our environment by today, week, month and all historical dates…” […]
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Import Wizard, Life Cycle Manager, UMT, & Promotion Management, Oh My…

Hey Import Wizard, Good Job! Anyone who has spent some time around Business Objects before BI 4 should be familiar with Import Wizard. It has a little clunky and hard to control, but once you learned to follow and few rules and respect its limits Import Wizard became a powerful tool in your hands. I […]
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BusinessObjects is Windows 8, Win Server 2012, & Internet Explorer 10 Compatible

If you have tried to use BusinessObjects XI 3.1 or BI 4.0 with Internet Explorer 10 than you already know that there are issues, especially with Web Intelligence. The problems range from being unsupported to being completely unusable. The most common complaint is that a user running IE 10 cannot view, edit, or create any […]
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Subscribing to SAP BusinessObjects Notifications

Recently a new Knowledge Base article was published on the SAP Service Marketplace. Actually many useful new Business Objects KBs have been published, but this one has broad appeal. KB 1553034 (link) describes the process by which we can subscribe to what they call SAP BusinessObjects Notifications. This service allows “customers to be notified when […]
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Migrating Business Objects Enterprise from Windows to Linux

The Linux operating system has established itself as an industry standard for enterprise applications. However, not all flavors of Linux are supported for running Business Objects Enterprise systems. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (more or less version 4 and 5 of the server) and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (version 9 and 10) are supported as of […]
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Business Objects XI 3.X’s Server Intelligence Agent (SIA)

Business Objects XI 3.0 introduced us to an entirely new architectural concept called the Server Intelligence Agent (SIA). The SIA takes over Business Objects service/server management from the Central Configuration Manager of XI Release 2. When you start a SIA you can configure all, some, or none of the servers contained in/managed by the SIA […]
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CMS Tuning: ndbqthreads or Number of Requested Database Connections

If you are interested in maximizing the performance of your system please review this article and also its companion: CMS Tuning: maxobjectsincache and MaximumObjectsToKeepInMemory. Observing/Measuring Tuning Impacts The parameter discussed in this article requires more tuning and closer observation than other CMS Tuning technique may require. I highly suggest that you do a load test […]
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CMS Tuning: maxobjectsincache and MaximumObjectsToKeepInMemory

I think all Business Objects administrators and developers share at least one goal; they all want their XI system to perform at the best of its ability to realize its full potential. If you have this goal keep reading and please share any comments you might have as well. Observing/Measuring Tuning Impacts Tuning is a […]
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BO XI Patching, An Introductory Deep Discussion

Patching your Business Objects XI Enterprise system can be a daunting and confusing endeavor. I hope that this little article can help dispel some of the confusion surrounding the topic. For your reference all Business Objects XI base version and patch installation files can be found here: http://service.sap.com/bosap-downloads/ Let me first establish some fundamentals to […]
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Login Taking Long? Blame Java’s DNS Look-up

The other day I answered a different article’s comment with a very brief mention of what I’ve been told by SAP-BO was a common tweak. The potential benefit of this simple tweak is large enough to merit its own article. Thank you MarcV for making this apparent. I would like to answer his questions here. […]
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Common BO-WebLogic Issues

Oracle-BEA WebLogic is not a technology I want to dive deeply into with this web site; however, it is often the Java Application Server of choice for many Business Objects XI environments because of its scalability and it tends to be preferred by other business technologists within companies. I personally work/struggle with it a lot […]
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Java App Server and CMS On Different Machines, Edit “hosts” File Now

If you have deployed your Business Objects XI Central Management Server(s) and your Java Web Application Servers are on the same single machine then this article does not apply to you. If your Java Web Application Server ever needs to run applications (such as InfoView or CMC) that will connect to any CMS that is […]
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BO XI Distributed Environment: The Standalone Java Application Server

When you are building a small sandbox it is great to put everything all in one place and create a Business Objects solution that is a one-stop shop (a.k.a. putting all of your eggs in one basket). This works for lots of small-to-medium sized BO systems, but sometimes you want to do a little more. […]
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The Over-Credited Destination Job Server

Would you get a little upset if someone else kept taking all the credit for the work you do. Would you get down right furious when that person couldn’t fix any issues relating to their ill-earned reputation when a real problem came along and then you had to come along and save the day without […]
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To Split Mode or Not to Split Mode, That is the Question?

Wishlist Item: A Distributed Business Objects Enterprise Environment We all want our BOE environment to perform to the best of its ability. We want to be certain that no particular component of our environment’s architecture is a weak point or bottleneck. As a result, given the time and the hardware, most of us would love […]
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Tips for Installing FixPacks in Business Objects XI 3.1

Lately I have been faced with the need to install a FixPack on one of my Business Objects Enterprise XI 3.1 systems. Doing so has reminded me of some key points and tips that I wanted to share with the Business Objects community. FixPacking BO 3.1 is truly a different experience: Not Your Father’s BO […]
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Fixing the Business Objects XI “destination DLL disabled. CrystalEnterprise.Smtp:” Error

One of the most helpful error messages (sad very sarcastically) in Business Objects XI is “destination DLL disabled. CrystalEnterprise.Smtp:”. You get this one usually after recently configuring a new job server or setting up your first scheduled job in a Business Objects XI environment. This error exists in XI R2 and it is definitely present […]
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Cleanly Stopping and Starting Business Objects Servers

I really cannot explain why it is that I have NEVER seen any documentation that advises Business Objects XI administrators on how to stop and start Business Objects properly. For those of us running part of our business on BO XI we are very concerned about minimizing errors for users and scheduled jobs while we […]
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CMS Cluster Summary and the CMSClusterMembers Registry Key

A “CMS Cluster” is a group of Business Objects XI Central Management Servers (abbreviated CMS, which is a BO service\daemon) that are interrelated and connected so that they may work in conjunction to manage the various other BO servers and provide most of the basic functionality of Business Objects. Clustering them allows for greater capacity […]
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Sizing Limits to Web Intelligence Report Server Maximum Simultaneous Connections

In Business Objects XI R2 newly created Web Intelligence Report Servers default to 50 “Maximum Simultaneous Connections” (editable in the Central Management Console, or CMC). In Business Objects XI 3.X the “Maximum Simultaneous Connections” setting is defaulted to 100! Can we read anything in to these changes in default settings? Do the default settings mean […]
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TRUTH: Business Objects Does Not Create an Excel File, Help!

A couple weeks ago we received the best email question so far. Not only did it ask for more details with regards to one of the articles, but it provided insights worthy of making it its very own standalone article. Truthfully, I would like to publish it here to share the knowledge contained inside (this […]
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Can I Connect/Use Oracle 11g Database with Business Objects XI?

The answer is “Yes”, but it depends on which version of BOXI you are running. Business Objects Enterprise XI Release 2 Any version of BOXI R2 equal to or greater than Business Objects XI R2 Service Pack 5 includes an Oracle 11g driver. However, if you find your instance is still lurking below SP5 you […]
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Querying the Busines Objects XI CMS InfoStore Database Tables

The question has come to my mind many times over the years and this month it has come to my inbox. Thanks to Pluto for inspiring me to write this article. The question: Is it possible to peer into the Business Objects XI CMS InfoStore (a.k.a. database repository) without Query Builder or the BOXI SDK???? […]
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Business Objects Classic Logging and Standard Tracing

If you have ever had a serious issue with your Business Objects environment that wasn’t easily fixed by a service pack, fix pack, or limited availability fix then you probably have had to enable logging on some or even all of your BusinessObjects servers. This is also frequently referred to as “tracing”. I’d like to […]
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How Do I Run a Report Against a Specific Job or Report Server? Easy!

There will come a time when for some unforeseeable reason you will want to run a particular report against a particular report server or job server, or both. When that time comes I hope you know how to make it happen or that you can easily find this article. Why Would You Want to Run […]
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The Best Way to Stop a Business Objects Server

Minimal Impact of Administrative Actions on BOXI I would like to think that I am unique in many ways, but I think that I am very similar to others when it comes to my desire to minimize the impact of my administrative actions on my Business Objects XI instances. One way that I accomplish this […]
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BO InfoView WebI Session Timeout = Developer’s Worst Enemy

Business Objects has been encouraging report writers/developers to stop using the “full-client” and start using WebI. There are quite a few obstacles to overcome to be able to make the switch to WebI (training, functionality adjustment, server capacity planning, etc.), but perhaps the most difficult adjustment is learning to development under a timed session. For […]
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Business Objects XIR2 SP4 Bug: Schedules Pending, Job Server Scheduling Dead

Breaking News I have some breaking news, a scoop perhaps, on a new bug that may only impact some (not all) innocent Business Objects XIR2 SP4 shops. Apparently, my contacts tell me that within the last week, Business Objects has internally identified and even resolved a bug that can wreak havoc on the unknowing BO […]
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Business Objects Enterprise: Java or .NET?

There are a lot of factors that will come into play in deciding how to deploy your Business Objects XI R2 application, that is to say in the decision whether to deploy InfoView in the Java (Apache Tomcat, WebLogic) or .NET (IIS) flavor. There will be many reasons such as available skillsets, technical familiarity, web […]
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