Since BI4 has been released a new tool for the semantic layer has been introduced; the Information Design Tool (IDT). This tool is likely to replace the Universe Design Tool (UDT) in the future. In version 4 Explorer (Polestar) will only work on Universes created with the IDT and the Query Browser of Dashboard Design (Xcelsius) will also only work on Universes created with the IDT. I’ve spent a few days on the tutorials and the tool itself, in this post my findings. Positive: • Interface improved; overall it just looks good. Universe design tool was becoming a bit old • Projects, data foundations and business layers.

• Sap Information Design Tool 4.2
• Information Design Ateneo

Sap Information Design Tool 4.2

What's New in information design tool for SAP BusinessObjects BI platform 4.2 SP4 (1:31) What's New in information design tool for SAP BusinessObjects BI platform 4.2 SP3 video: What's new in SAP BusinessObjects Information Design Tool 4.1 (5:50 ). Create a list of values based on query results of business objects (2:18).

Information Design Ateneo

New concepts for universe designers which will provide more structure in the layer. • Profiling options -> great to get a feeling of the data without having to manually query or use WebI • Show values by selecting multiple columns in data foundation • Color schemes for the data structure; sources and families • Multisource-enabled universes • eLearning: Negative: • Hiding columns in the Data Foundation does not mean that the column is hidden in the Business Layer • Formatting options fall short compared to the UDT • Conformed dimensions cannot be shared like with linked Universes in UDT. This last bullet can do with some more explaining. It is the most negative finding in my opinion and this keeps me from completely switching from UDT to IDT based Universes. I have a dimensional data warehouse with fact tables and shared dimension tables. For example; the Time dimension is used by every fact table. In the UDT I create one dimension universe which I then incorporate in all the functional universes via a link.