Setting up Interactive Portlets › Add a Web Connection Definition

Add a Web Connection Definition

For either the Web Services Connection method or the Query as a Web Service connection method, create a connection definition in Xcelsius using the Data Manager. The external data connection, either the Web Service connection or Query as a Web Service, must be configured to insert data into the embedded spreadsheet. Components that use the data from the external source are then bound to the cells updated by the external connection.

The approach to connecting real-time data from CA Clarity PPM to an Xcelsius visualization can depend on the following:

• Your degree of experience with Xcelsius and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
• Connection choices you make, such as dynamically connecting to multiple Web Service URLs, or displaying a visualization in another language
• The complexity of the visualization you design in Xcelsius

This illustration shows the Data Manager with a basic external data connection setup:

This illustration shows the corresponding, embedded spreadsheet for the web service connection:

Create an external data connection for each query associated with the visualization. In addition, create one for the Flash variables that map to the global and object parameters.

Query external data connection

Enables you to link data connection and query elements to cells in the embedded spreadsheet.

Flash Variable external data connection

Enables you to create named Flash variables used in global and object parameters of an interactive portlet, such as the required global parameter, session ID.

For complete information about how to set up a data connection definition, read the SAP BusinessObjects Xcelsius 2008 User Guide.

The sample file Resource Dashboard.xlf is provided as part of the Design Files for Xcelsius Visualizations download available from CA Clarity PPM. You can open the file in Xcelsius to view the Data Manager and the embedded Excel spreadsheet.