Spotfire® User Guide

Adding prompts for BEx queries in a SAP BW connection

You can define prompting for a data connection to an SAP BW BEx query. Using prompting, you can let the end user define values for BEx variables, upon opening the connection.

About this task

Prompting can bring greater flexibility to a BEx query connection, as you can use it in place of static values for BEx variables. By defining BEx variables via prompts, one connection can be used to load different data from the source depending on the user input.

Before you begin

Note: The following example describes the process for adding prompting for a BEx variable in a saved connection in the library. However, you can add prompts to connections embedded in an analysis file too.

Procedure

  1. On the menu bar, select Data > Manage Data Connections.
  2. Locate the SAP BW BEx query connection of interest and click Edit.
    You might need to enter the data source credentials to proceed.
  3. In the Data Connection Settings dialog, click Edit.
    The Data Selection in Connection dialog is displayed.
  4. In the Data selection in connection list, select the BEx variable that you want to define prompting for.
  5. In the Settings pane, select Prompt for values.
  6. In the Prompt type menu, select the desired prompt type.
    What prompt type you can use depends on what input the selected BEx variable is configured to accept. For example, if the variable accepts only a single value, you will only be able to select the prompt type 'Single selection'.
  7. Select whether or not to Load values automatically in the prompt.
    By default, this option is not selected and the user can choose either to load a list of all available values to select from, or to type values in the prompt manually. Typing values can be preferable, especially when the user needs to select a large number of values. The user can then use a saved list of values, by loading a file with text values or pasting it in the input field. If you select to load values automatically, the end user will not have the option to type values manually.
  8. Optionally, type a Description to be shown in the prompt dialog, explaining what type of value that the end user should provide.
  9. Click OK, and then, in the Data Connection Settings dialog, click Save.