Query as a Web Service (QaaWS) is a SAP Business Objects (BOBJ) client-side tool that allows users to create and publish Web Services that can be made available over the Web. Once these web services are created and published, they can be consumed like any other standard Web Service in software applications including Xcelsius and Crystal Reports. But before we go any further into what QaaWS is and how it works, lets take a step back and look at what exactly is a Web Service.
Web Service
A Web Service is a software system that supports interoperable interaction over a network from one computer or machine to another but is more commonly defined as a client and a server communicating data over the Web using the HTTP Protocol. Using Web Services along with Business Objects allows a live connection of data to be used in applications such as Xcelsius and Crystal Reports through a semantic layer called a Universe.
For more information on what a Web Service is visit the Web Service Wiki.
Query as a Web Service (QaaWS)
The two main components in QaaWS are the Client Tool and the Server. The QaaWS Client Tool gives the end user an easy to use wizard that allows them to create Universe queries and publish them as Web Services. Once the QaaWS is published, any user can securely access the data that the Web Service contains as long as they have access to that server. Check out the image below that shows the information flow to and from the server via the client.
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QaaWS Information Flow
Some Advantages to QaaWS:
- Very easy to use and intuitive interface
- Familiar look and feel for people who have used WebIntelligence
- Leverages existing Business Objects Universes
- Shares metadata with WebIntelligence, Desktop Intelligence and Crystal Reports
- Maintains Business Objects Enterprise Security
- Allows live data feeds to be incorporated into Xcelsius Dashboards and Crystal Reports
If you want to know more about how to create a QaaWS check out my Quick and Dirty Guide for Creating a QaaWS.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 5:15 am
Would it be possible to get permission to use some of your posts on forums with a link?
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 10:10 am
No problems there. Feel free to post links out to our blog as you want.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Would you please clarify what you mean by “Shares metadata with WebIntelligence, Desktop Intelligence and Crystal Reports”?
How can you use Query as a web service to reference metadata tables?
Thanks.
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 9:08 am
Hi Franc,
QaaWS shares metadata with WebI, DeskI and Crystal reports by leveraging a universe. Here is a post on what a universe is:
What is a BusinessObjects Universe
As far as your second question, check out the following post, It should clear up how QaaWS uses metadata (Universes):
Quick and Dirty Guide on How to Create a QaaWS
Best,
Mike
Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 10:54 pm
First of all, thank you for the article links. They are clear and objective, and yet provide the information suggested by the title.
In regards to my query, please note I think I used “metadata” in a different meaning (or at least layer) than you did, so allow me to explain myself better.
Suppose you have Table ‘T1′, which is referenced by Universe ‘A’, linked to reports ‘R1′, ‘R2′ and ‘R3′.
Also assume report ‘R1′ uses dimensions (or measures, it does not matter for the purpose of this query) ‘Alfa’ and ‘Beta’, report ‘R2′ uses dimensions ‘Beta’ and ‘Gamma’. Report ‘R3′ uses dimensions ‘Beta’ and ‘Theta’. All reports are linked to Universe ‘A’, and all dimensions (or measures) from that Universe reference Table ‘T1′.
The information about the reports (and universes as well) is what I mean by metadata, not the universe layer itself. So I am trying to find a way to query the CMS (CMS_INFOOBJECTS6) so it can let me know which reports are linked to which universe (that much I can do with the “Query Builder”) and which dimensions/measures/details each report uses, and which table(s) those dimensions/measures/detais reference.
So to use the example I described above, I am trying to query BOXI so that it replies with its metadata all the way to the SQL code level:
| Universe | Report | Objects | SQL |
| ‘A’ | ‘R1′ | ‘Alfa’ | SELECT T1_alfa from T1
| ‘A’ | ‘R1′ | ‘Beta’ | SELECT T1_beta from T1
| ‘A’ | ‘R2′ | ‘Beta’ | SELECT T1_beta from T1
| ‘A’ | ‘R2′ | ‘Gamma’ | SELECT T1_gamma from T1
and so on…
As I said, I have been able to use the Query Builder to get which reports are linked using the tips from here (http://www.businessobjectstips.com/tips/query-builder/using-bo-query-builder-to-detect-report-universe-binding-status/).
I have also been able to use Dwayne Hoffpauir’s coded XLS (http://www.forumtopics.com/busobj/viewtopic.php?t=59650) to collect a lot of useful universe metadata. I also tried Sushir Patel’s Documentator XLS (http://www.forumtopics.com/busobj/viewtopic.php?t=143071) and it also provided a lot of useful information, but none provided report metadata, only universe metadata.
Finally, I also tried using the Audit universe, and it will bring up the whole query SQL for the reports, but ONLY if the report is run on InfoView and on demand (it does not show if you schedule it). So that is my workaround for now, but it means I have to run reports to get metadata from them, and that is far from ideal.
Most writtings on the subject suggest that only by using SDK or Metadata Integrator can this kind of metadata be acquired. But I’ve read somewhere that it is possible to query metadata using Qaaws, and that is my query: how can you use Qaaws to obtain metadata on DeskI reports?
I have already configured Qaaws, and found it useful and interesting, but it does not seem to provide the metadata I am after. If I missed anything and it can, please let me know.
Thanks again and regards,
Franc.
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 8:40 am
Ok I understand what you are refering to as “Metadata” now. SAP BusinessObjects has a product called Metadata Management (for 3.x) or Metadata Manager (for XIR2) that I believe might help get you closer towards your end goal. Here is the link to the 3.1 documentation
Hopefully this helps you out.
Mike
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Hi Mike,
Yes, this product can definitely provide the medata I’m after and much more. Thank you for the document link.
However, to me it sounds absurd that to obtain information from your Business Intelligence product you need another Business Intelligence product.
Situations like this might make “business intelligence” sound as oxymoronic as “military intelligence”.
Anyway, thanks again for your help, Mike. Great site, great tips.
Franc.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 2:14 pm
How would you see legacy web services consumed in a BobJ Universe when P2P on the DB is unavailable?