Building Map Views for Webi with CMaps Designer
CMaps Analytics Extension for Web Intelligence version 3, allows for embedded CMaps Analytics Designer views inside of Web Intelligence reports. Unlike older versions of this extension, this version uses HTML5 based map views and requires no other server software.
CMaps Analytics Extension V3 also uses Google Maps, un-like its predecessors which used SAP Dashboards with TomTom and MapBox. The end result is near identical though V3, includes some enhancements that dramatically simplify the workflow and configuration.
Requisites
- Install CMaps Analytics Extension Point
- A valid license and login for CMaps Analytics Designer
- Have created a first Google Map in Webi
- Learned how to use CMaps Analytics Designer
Importing a Map from CMaps Analytics Designer
The output of CMaps Analytics Designer is a template file (also sometimes referred to as an XML Configuration file in CMaps Analytics documentation). Importing this template file into Webi requires you to either copy and paste the XML contents directly into your Webi property sheet, or save the XML file to a server behind your firewall that is accessible via HTTP(s). Either option, grants you with the ability to use 100% of CMaps Analytics Designer and a rapidly growing list of properties and integrations.
Step 1. With CMaps Analytics Designer open, and your desired map view created, Click on the Save and Export” which will display all of the export options.
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Step 2. Click on the Web Intelligence icon which will prompt you to save your file on your computer or file share. This is your project file.
Step 3. Click on the Copy to Clipboard icon.
If you are using a browser that blocks Adobe Flash (powers copy to clipboard), you will need to manually extract the template contents. Open the XML configuration file with notepad or your web browser and copy the complete contents of the XML configuration file into your system clipboard
Step 4. Open your Webi report and click on the CMaps Analytics Map Icon (circled in blue)
Step 5. Toggle the Webi report into “Design” mode. This is where you will configure CMaps Analytics designer.
Step 6. Navigate to the Design Map tab, and paste the contents of the XML file directly inside of the XML property.
CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: If your BI platform is loaded up as HTTPS, you need to check the box on the design tab “Use SSL”
NOTE: CMaps Analytics Designer commits your XML to a Webi variable. Please do not use special characters in your data or property definition in CMaps Analytics Designer.
Step 7. Click on the Save XML and Rebuild Map button to commit your XML configuration details
You can modify and re-import edits to your XML as many times as you like. Make sure you do NOT forget this Step 7 to commit your template change.
WHERE IS THE XML STORED? The XML, along with all CMaps Analytics properties are stored as Webi variables, which allow this metadata to travel with the report for simplified lifecycle management purposes.
Step 8. Save your Webi Document.
There is no way to auto-save webi docs from the CMaps extension. Until you save the Webi document, the changes made in the property sheet are only available inside of the component and not to Webi users in reading mode.
NOTE: It is extremely important to save your report to commit changes before you toggle Webi from Design to Reading mode.
Step 9. Inside the CMaps Analytics component Click on the Properties tab.
Step 10. If your template has more than 1 layer, choose the dropdown to pick the layer you would like to use.
NOTE: If your layers are not descriptive enough, you can change them from within CMaps Designer on the “Basics” tab.
Step 11. Click on the Bind button next to the properties.  You should see a popup indicating you should click on the Webi report part to define which column will provide data.
Property Overview
Address / Lat,Long: Any geographic location. If you use coordinates like latitude and longitude they must be comma separated Lat,Long.
Labels: Labels appear when you select items on the map. You can customize these labels to also include HTML.
Values: Values will be the measure that you display in the map.
Color: If you want to use data in the report or a custom variable to change the color for categories or other conditional logic
Drill IDs: This will be used for scenarios where you want to drill between multiple layers in your map.
Step 12: Click anywhere in the Webi column. Do NOT click in the column header, as it will prevent the data from streaming to the map.
NOTE: When you bind data from a Webi table, it must be formatted as a vertical table and not a cross-tab or horizontal table.
Continue this process if your map view contains more than 1 map layer, you can change layers and bind to a second report part.
NOTE: Each layer should only use a single report part for providing data. For example, a single layer can’t have locations and labels coming from different report parts.
Step 13. Click on the “Preview Map” tab to view a preview of your data as it will appear for end users.
Step 12. Save your Webi Document when you have finished.
NOTE: Make sure to always save prior to toggling between Webi Design and Report mode. This is required to save your XML and data bindings.