Bookshelf Home | Contents | Index | PDF     

Oracle® Business Intelligence Answers, Delivers, and Interactive Dashboards User Guide > Using Oracle BI Interactive Dashboards > Adding Content to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard >

Adding and Displaying Content in an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page Using the Dashboard Editor

This section explains how to add and display content on dashboard pages, such as using guided navigation to make content appear conditionally. It contains the following topics:

Making Content Appear Conditionally in an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

You can make an entire section of a dashboard and its content appear conditionally based upon the results returned by Oracle BI Answers for a particular request.

For more information, see About Guided Navigation in Oracle BI.

To make content appear conditionally

  1. Click the Properties button for the section that contains the content and choose Guided Navigation.

    The Guided Navigation Properties dialog box appears.

  2. Specify your choices, browse to select the request from the Presentation Catalog, and click OK.

Adding a Guided Navigation Link to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

Guided navigation links can be static or conditional. Static links always appear. Conditional links appear only if results meet certain criteria.

For more information, see About Guided Navigation in Oracle BI.

To add a guided navigation link

  1. From the selection pane, drag and drop a Guided Navigation Link object into a section in the dashboard page.
  2. Click the Properties button for the link.

    The Guided Navigation Link Properties dialog box appears.

  3. Choose the type of link to add:
    • To make the link conditional, specify your choices in the Conditional Link Properties area.
    • To make the link static, specify your choices in the Guided Navigation Properties area.

      NOTE:  For URLs, provide the full path.

  4. Click OK.

Adding a Briefing Book Navigation Link to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

Briefing Book navigation links are for use with briefing books in Disconnected Analytics. For dashboard pages that will be saved in briefing books, use this to include navigation links to other requests or dashboard content for use in offline analysis. Briefing Book navigation links also function on non-Briefing Book dashboards.

For more information about briefing books, see Working with Oracle BI Briefing Books.

To add a Briefing Book navigation link

  1. From the selection pane, drag and drop a Briefing Book Navigation Link object into a section in the dashboard page.
  2. Click the Properties button for the link.

    The Briefing Book Link Properties dialog box appears.

  3. Specify your choices and click OK.

Adding a Text Link or an Image Link to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

You can add text links and image links to a dashboard, and specify what should happen when a user clicks them. For example, you can direct users to another Web site or dashboard, open documents, launch applications, or perform any other action that your browser supports. You can also add an image or text only, without any links.

To add a text link or image

  1. From the selection pane, drag and drop a Link or Image object onto a section in the dashboard page.
  2. Click the Properties button for the object.

    The Link or Image Properties dialog box appears.

  3. Specify your choices:
    • For a text link, type the text into the Caption field.
    • For an image link, type the location and name of the image into the Image field.

      Specify the location as a URL. These are examples:

    http://imageserver/MyImage.gif

    /DashboardFiles/image.gif

    If the image is not on the local server, the URL must include http://. If the image is for use in a shared environment, it must be located on a network drive accessible to all users.

    If you want a caption for the image, type a caption for the image in the Caption field, and use the Layout drop-down list to choose where the caption should appear relative to the image.

  4. Specify what should happen when the user clicks the text or image:
    • To specify that a request or dashboard should appear when the user clicks the link or image, specify the destination as Request or Dashboard, and click the Browse button to select the request or dashboard.
    • To specify that another action should occur, such as opening a Web site, document, or program, specify the destination as a URL and type the full path into the field that follows the Destination options.

      A link is defined as any URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that your browser can interpret. URLs can point to Web sites, documents, images, FTP sites, newsgroups, and so on. Depending on your browser, the following are examples of valid URLs:

    http://home.netscape.com/index.html

    ftp://ftp.microsoft.com

    news:news.announce.newusers

    See Table 26 for more information about the kinds of internal or external content to which you can link.

    NOTE:  Oracle BI administrators should create a virtual directory on the Presentation server for shared documents called \DashboardFiles that maps to a shared network directory of the same name. This allows users with the appropriate permissions to publish files to this folder, and reference these files by their relative URL names rather than by their fully qualified network share names, for example, \DashboardFiles\AnnualReport.doc instead of \\SharedServer\CommonShare\DashboardFiles\AnnualReport.doc.

    • In the Target area, choose whether the destination should appear in the user's existing browser window or in a new window.

      TIP:   For every action except sending mail and executing a program, you can control how the link should appear. Choose the current window when you want the action to occur in the display pane of the dashboard. This leaves the dashboard active but in the background. Choose a new window when you want the action to take place in a new browser window. This opens another instance of your browser.

      NOTE:  To add text or an image only, without any links, leave the field that follows the Destination options blank.

  5. Click OK.
Table 26. Link Options for Adding a Text Link or Image Using the Dashboard Editor
Link Option
Comments

Web site or document

You need to locate the URL, or address, for the site or document. You can copy the destination address from your browser's address or location box, and then paste it.

For a Web site, you can omit the http:// portion of the address if the URL resides on your Web server, such as your intranet site.

If the URL resides on your organization's Web server, you can enter the relative address of the file. For example:

\DashboardFiles\Logo.gif

Local or shared document

If the document is for use in a shared environment, it must be located on a network drive accessible to all users. Examples of the kinds of documents you can open are spreadsheets containing recent sales reports, a slide presentation introducing a new product, a Microsoft Word document containing your company's annual report, a graphic file that contains a map from the airport to your corporate headquarters, and so on.

For example, if the document is for your use only, a sample location might be:

c:\mycomputer\reports\report.doc

For a shared document, specify the UNC name, for example:

\\ALLUSERS\reports\report.doc

Send email to a specified user

You need to know the mailto URL, for example:

mailto:support@oracle.com

When the user selects this link, the browser will launch the mail application with the To: field filled in. (The browser controls the launching of the mail program.)

Execute a program

If the program is for use in a shared environment, it must be located on a network drive accessible to all users. You can use this feature to download and run an application. (The operating system controls the launching of the application.)

For example, if you wanted to launch Microsoft Word for your use only, a sample location might be:

c:\MSOFFICE\OFFICE\winword.exe

For a multiuser-licensed program on a shared drive, specify the UNC name for the location, for example:

\\ALLUSERS\SOFTWARE\MSOFFICE\OFFICE\WORD\winword.exe

Refresh your browser using JavaScript

Your browser needs to support JavaScript in order to use the following example.

javascript:window.location.reload()

In the Target area, choose the option Current Window.

Adding Embedded Content to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

Embedded content is any content that appears within a window (called a frame) inside the dashboard, as opposed to content that is accessed by clicking a link. Content that you might want to embed includes reports, Excel charts, documents, Web sites, tickers from Web sites, and so on.

Reports are embedded by default. Embedding a report in a dashboard causes it to execute automatically and display the results within the dashboard. This provides access to current results.

When you embed content into a dashboard, Oracle BI automatically adds the required HTML to the target content. The default size of the window is 600 pixels by 440 pixels. You can change the size of the window to make it bigger or smaller.

Scroll bars are automatically added to the window if they are needed. You can suppress scroll bars.

NOTE:  Some third-party Web sites, because of the way they have been created, cannot be embedded within another Web page. If you see unexpected results when viewing an embedded Web site, you may need to click your browser's Back button until an Oracle BI screen reappears, or close and then reopen your browser. Then, remove the embedded Web site from the dashboard.

To add embedded content

  1. From the selection pane, drag and drop an Embedded Content object onto a section in the dashboard page.
  2. Click the Properties button for the object.

    The Embedded Content Properties dialog box appears.

  3. In the URL box, type the location and name of the content to embed.

    These are examples:

    http://www.oracle.com

    /dashboardfiles/piechart.xls

    NOTE:  The URL that you specify should begin with http:// unless you plan to use an item that is saved on your Web server. If you use a network path to indicate the location of the item, make sure you use the exact path. Items that are embedded on a shared dashboard must be located on a network drive accessible to all users.

  4. If you want to change the default size of the window, type new values into the Width and Height boxes. When entering values, note the following:
    • The default size of the embedded content area on the dashboard is 600 by 440 pixels and the default display area within the embedded content area is 300 by 150 pixels. The dimensions that you specify for the content area will apply even if the content does not fill the area. For example, if you embed an image and indicate a width of 100 and a height of 100, but the image only has a width of 50 and a height of 50, the dashboard designates an area with the dimensions you specified (100 by 100). Items that you place in the content area are not stretched or reduced to fit the area.
    • If you do not specify a value, the system uses the default settings (300 by 150 pixels). If you have only specified one value, the system will use the default value for the non-specified value.
    • You can specify the value in either pixels (px) or percent (%). Since browsers cannot fully interpret percent values, only the width percentage is rendered. If you specify the height in percentage, the system will substitute 150 pixels for the height value.
    • If you do not specify either pixels or percent, the system interprets the value in pixels.
    • You can enter spaces within the value. For example, you can type either 130px or 130 px.
  5. If you do not want the window to have scroll bars, click the following option:

    Hide Scroll Bars

  6. Click OK.

Adding HTML to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

You can add HTML that contains formatted text, Active-X controls or Java scripts, sound bites, animation, a background image, and so on. The name you assign in the Dashboard Editor is the name that will be used for the HTML object in the Presentation Catalog. The HTML may contain anything that is supported by your browser.

Table 27 contains usage notes and examples for several HTML elements. If you find an example in the table that is similar to what you want to do, you can copy and paste the example, and then tailor it to your needs.

If you want to add embedded content, which is content that appears in a window within the browser, choose the Embedded Content object in the Dashboard Editor instead. Then, using the Embedded Content feature, specify the name and location of the target, and Oracle BI Presentation Services will wrap the required HTML around the target for you.

To add HTML to a dashboard page

  1. From the selection pane, drag and drop an HTML object onto a section in the dashboard page.
  2. Click the Properties button for the object.

    The HTML Properties dialog box appears.

  3. Enter the HTML.
  4. To preview the results, click Preview.

    If you make any changes, you can click Preview again to see the results.

  5. Click OK.
Table 27. Usage Notes and Examples for HTML Elements in an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard
HTML Element
Usage Notes and Examples

Text

Any HTML tags may be used to control the format of the text. The following HTML tags are examples of some of the formatting you can apply.

  • To center the text in the section:

    <CENTER>Centered Text</CENTER>

  • To make the text bold:

    <B>Bold Text</B>

  • To set font size and color:

    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="red">Red Text</FONT>

  • You can also combine tags for additional effects:

    <CENTER><B><FONT COLOR="red">Bold Centered Red Text</FONT></B></CENTER>

Active-X object

The Active-X object must be self contained and supported by your browser. Paste or type the object into the HTML text window, making sure to include the beginning and ending tags <object...> and </object>.

JavaScript and VBScript

The script must be self contained and supported by your browser. Paste or type the script into the HTML text window, making sure to include the beginning and ending tags <script> and </script>.

Specify the script language in the opening <SCRIPT> tag, either <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javascript"> or <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="vbscript">.

Audio

Make sure you know where the audio clip is located. If the audio clip is for use in a shared environment, it must be located on a network drive accessible to all users. Use the HTML tag <EMBED> to add audio in your dashboard. The following HTML is an example:

<EMBED SRC="audio" AUTOSTART="true" LOOP="true" HIDDEN="true"></EMBED>

where "audio" is the location and name of the audio clip.

NOTE:  You may need to adjust the HTML for your browser.

The following HTML tags are examples of the <EMBED> tag.

  • To add an audio clip located on your hard drive, you could specify the following HTML:

    <EMBED SRC="c:\mycomputer\MIDIfiles\wakeup.mid" AUTOSTART="true" LOOP="true" HIDDEN="true"></EMBED>

  • To add the same audio clip from a shared location on your Web server, you could specify the following HTML:

    <EMBED SRC="/DashboardFiles/wakeup.mid" AUTOSTART="true" LOOP="true" HIDDEN="true"></EMBED>

Adding a View of a Presentation Catalog Folder to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

You can add a view of a Presentation Catalog folder and its contents, such as saved requests, to a dashboard. For example, if you have a collection of saved requests that you run frequently, you can open the folder in the dashboard, navigate to a saved request, and click it to run it.

To add a view of a folder

  1. From the selection pane, drag and drop a Folder object onto a section in the dashboard page.
  2. Click the Properties button for the folder.

    The Folder Properties dialog box appears.

  3. Browse to select the folder and click OK.
  4. Click OK to save the properties.

Adding an RSS Feed Option to a Dashboard Page's Catalog Folder

You can include an RSS feed option to a catalog folder that appears on an Oracle BI interactive dashboard page. Users must have the proper privilege to add the RSS feed option to a dashboard page's catalog. The RSS Feeds privilege is granted by the Oracle BI Presentation Services Server administrator.

Oracle BI's RSS feed option allows a user to access the dashboard's catalog folder from an RSS 2.0 compatible reader that supports HTTP basic authentication. If the Oracle BI Presentation Server uses HTTPS protocol, the RSS Reader that you use must also support the HTTPS protocol. An RSS reader is a third-party program that allows the user to aggregate information from different web-based locations into one browser window (for example, news feeds or events listing).

When the RSS link is added to the dashboard's catalog folder, an XML icon that provides the catalog's URL appears for that folder. When a user accesses a catalog folder from an RSS reader, the reader prompts the user to log into the Oracle BI server.

For more information about adding a catalog folders to a dashboard page, see Adding a View of a Presentation Catalog Folder to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page.

To add an RSS feed option to a catalog folder

  1. In the Dashboard Editor, click the Properties button for the folder to which you want to add an RSS feed option.

    The Folder Properties page appears.

  2. Select the Show RSS Link check box and click OK.

Adding Content Saved in the Presentation Catalog to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

You can add content that you or someone else has already saved in a shared folder or dashboard, such as dashboard prompts and reports. To locate the content, you can browse by either the Presentation Catalog folder it is stored in, or by the dashboard it appears on.

To add saved content

  1. From the selection pane, in the Saved Content area, navigate to the folder or dashboard that contains the content you want to add to the dashboard.
  2. Locate the content that you want to add, and drag and drop it into a section in the dashboard page.

    This adds a shortcut to the content as saved in the Presentation Catalog. If the content changes, the change will be reflected on the dashboard page.

    For information about editing the properties of dashboard and reports, see Editing the Properties of Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Prompts and Reports.

Adding an Oracle BI Publisher Report to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page

This section explains how to add and display an Oracle BI Publisher report on a dashboard using the Dashboard Editor. Dashboard pages can contain only one Oracle BI Publisher report.

NOTE:  Dashboard modification is reserved for users with the appropriate permissions and responsibilities.

For more information about Oracle BI Publisher reports, see Working with Oracle BI Publisher Reports.

To add an Oracle BI Publisher Report to a dashboard page

  1. In the dashboard page, click the Page Options button, and click Edit Dashboard...

    The Dashboard Editor screen appears.

  2. From the selection pane, drag and drop the BI Publisher Report object from the Dashboard Objects area into a section on the dashboard page.
  3. Click the newly placed BI Publisher report object's Properties button.

    The BI Publisher Report Properties dialog box appears.

  4. Click the Browse button and browse for and select the Oracle BI Publisher report. If a report has been run, the Pick BI Publisher Report dialog box will display the report as well as the report's saved history. You can choose any historical instance of the Oracle BI Publisher report. Click OK.

    NOTE:  You can also add an Oracle BI Publisher report from a dashboard page. From the selection pane, drag and drop the BI Publisher Report object from the Dashboards folder in the Saved Content area.

  5. Click one of the following options:
    • Embedded Content

      This option displays the Oracle BI Publisher report directly in the dashboard. This option is selected by default for reports.

      For more information about embedded content, see Adding Embedded Content to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page.

    • Link

      The Oracle BI Publisher report is displayed as a link in the dashboard. When you click on the link, the report is displayed in a new browser window.

  6. If you selected Embedded Content, you can specify the width and height dimensions for the content. The default height is 550px; however, you should adjust the height setting for the best display results. Note the following considerations:
    • If you do not specify a value, the system uses the default settings. If you have only specified one value, the system will use the default value for the non-specified value.
    • You can specify the value in either pixels (px) or percent (%). Since browsers cannot fully interpret percent values, only the width percentage is rendered. If you specify the height in percentage, the system will substitute 550 pixels for the height value.
    • If you do not specify either pixels or percent, the system interprets the value in pixels.
    • You can enter spaces within the value. For example, you can type either 500px or 500 px.
  7. Select the View Latest Version if the report you have chosen is scheduled and you want the most recently generated version of the report to appear in the dashboard.
  8. Click OK.
  9. Click the Save button.

Controlling How Results Display When a User Drills on an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard

When a user drills on a report, you can show the new results in one of the following ways:

  • Show the new results directly in the dashboard, replacing the original report. This is the default behavior. The area occupied by the original report resizes automatically to hold the new results.
  • Replace the entire dashboard with the new results.

This is controlled by the Drill in Place option. This option is set at the section level, which means that it applies to all drillable reports within the section. The user can click the browser's Back button to return to the original report or the dashboard.

To control how results display when a user drills

  • Click the Properties button for the section and make your selection for the Drill in Place option:
    • To show the new results directly in the dashboard, click Drill in Place to select it. A check mark appears next to this option when it is selected. This is the default behavior.
    • To replace the dashboard with the new results, click Drill in Place to remove the check mark.

Editing the Properties of Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Prompts and Reports

You can edit the properties of dashboard prompts and reports added to a dashboard from the Presentation Catalog. This action saves any changes you made to the page you were working with.

To edit the properties of a dashboard prompt

  1. Click the Properties button for the dashboard prompt and click Modify.

    The Dashboard Prompt page appears.

  2. Make your changes to the dashboard prompt.

    For more information, click the Help button on the Dashboard Prompt page.

  3. Click Save to save the dashboard prompt.

To edit the properties of a report

  1. Click the Properties button for the report.
  2. Select one of the following options:
    • Embed in section

      This option executes the request automatically and displays the results directly in the dashboard, rather than displaying a link that users must click to execute the request and see the results. This option is selected by default for reports.

      For more information about embedded content, see Adding Embedded Content to an Oracle BI Interactive Dashboard Page.

    • Show View

      This option shows the available views of the report constructed in Oracle BI Answers. You can select the view you want to see.

    • Links

      This option opens the Report Links dialog box, where you can select the links that you want to appear with the report on the dashboard page.

    • Modify

      This option displays the Criteria tab in Oracle BI Answers, where you can modify the request that generates the report.

  
Oracle® Business Intelligence Answers, Delivers, and Interactive Dashboards User Guide Copyright © 2007, Oracle. All rights reserved.