What are Web Intelligence Sections?
In Business Objects XI Web Intelligence sections are easily created and often even by
mistake (drag a single object to the report and you will see what I mean). They can be
made more complex and wider (taller) with greater scope. Sections apply to the entire
horizontal area of page over which they are defined (best viewed/managed in Structure
View). In other words, you can have multiple tables, graphs, cells in a section if you want.
The section is also defined usually by a dimension so that each unique value of the dimension
becomes an instance of the section in which all content placed in the section is repeated.
All of the content in that instance is filtered to that unique dimension value.
So what are Breaks then?
A break is something that I rarely seem to get these days. No seriously, a Business Objects
WebI report break has similar properties to those of a section. It is a sort of pivot around each
distinct value of a dimension or formula. However, a break occurs only in a single table/block.
Breaks cause the table to be broken up in instances of the break, sub-tables usually. These are
easily created, usually by highlighting the desired dimension’s column and then right-clicking or
section the top-menu icon.
A break is something that I rarely seem to get these days. No seriously, a Business Objects
WebI report break has similar properties to those of a section. It is a sort of pivot around each
distinct value of a dimension or formula. However, a break occurs only in a single table/block.
Breaks cause the table to be broken up in instances of the break, sub-tables usually. These are
easily created, usually by highlighting the desired dimension’s column and then right-clicking or
section the top-menu icon.
A Distinction between the Two
Sections can be applied and formatted to function more or less like breaks; however, breaks
can never function as sections do, they are limited to the scope of the block on which they are
defined. I tend to prefer sections as they allow for greater flexibility and they seem to have more
options. Nevertheless, breaks can be excellent for grouping relatively small amounts of data and
then aggregating the measures at the bottom of the table.
Sections can be applied and formatted to function more or less like breaks; however, breaks
can never function as sections do, they are limited to the scope of the block on which they are
defined. I tend to prefer sections as they allow for greater flexibility and they seem to have more
options. Nevertheless, breaks can be excellent for grouping relatively small amounts of data and
then aggregating the measures at the bottom of the table.
Main Difference:
1.Section is made outside the block where as Break is made inside the block.
2.Section is available in Navigation Map where as Break is not visible in navigation map.
3.Section changes the format of table block where as break group the values within the table block
without changing the structure of the table block.
1.with sections you can “break” charts,with Braeks,only table. so if you want to “break” your
chart into groups you will have to use the section.
2.With section it is much easier to understand data in hierarchal view since the sections can be placed
under each other.
3. In sections you get an easy navigation through the map, in breaks you don’t.
4. In breaks however if you filter out a specific value in the break, the break will disappear, in sections,
the section will stay, leaving the report with sections that you don’t really want to see since the section
value remains.
5. section’s navigation map actually exports to PDF, breaks have no such thing. By the way, breaks can
be nested hierarchically as well
6.Break functionality breaks up the data in a table or crosstab by grouping the data according to a
selected value and it allows you to display all the data for each value of a dimension variable together
mainly it displays SUBTOTALS. COLUMN BREAK’s are used to avoid the repetetive value occurences
Section is obtained in the Master/detail reports which enable you to split large blocks of data into
sections. This type of presentation allows you to minimize repeating values and to display subtotals
Ex: Creating a Break and a Section
When you create a break on Year, the data remains as one block. The year values are
repeated for each corresponding value of State and Sales Revenue.
When you create a section on Year, the data is no longer contained in one block, but divided
into sections. One section for each value of Year. Each section is a separate block
1.Section is made outside the block where as Break is made inside the block.
2.Section is available in Navigation Map where as Break is not visible in navigation map.
3.Section changes the format of table block where as break group the values within the table block
without changing the structure of the table block.
1.with sections you can “break” charts,with Braeks,only table. so if you want to “break” your
chart into groups you will have to use the section.
2.With section it is much easier to understand data in hierarchal view since the sections can be placed
under each other.
3. In sections you get an easy navigation through the map, in breaks you don’t.
4. In breaks however if you filter out a specific value in the break, the break will disappear, in sections,
the section will stay, leaving the report with sections that you don’t really want to see since the section
value remains.
5. section’s navigation map actually exports to PDF, breaks have no such thing. By the way, breaks can
be nested hierarchically as well
6.Break functionality breaks up the data in a table or crosstab by grouping the data according to a
selected value and it allows you to display all the data for each value of a dimension variable together
mainly it displays SUBTOTALS. COLUMN BREAK’s are used to avoid the repetetive value occurences
Section is obtained in the Master/detail reports which enable you to split large blocks of data into
sections. This type of presentation allows you to minimize repeating values and to display subtotals
Ex: Creating a Break and a Section
When you create a break on Year, the data remains as one block. The year values are
repeated for each corresponding value of State and Sales Revenue.
When you create a section on Year, the data is no longer contained in one block, but divided
into sections. One section for each value of Year. Each section is a separate block
How to Combine Breaks, Sections, and Charts in your Business Objects Web Intelligence
Document Breaks
In WebI, you apply a break to a single table or block of data. When you apply a break to a
dimension in a table, each unique value of the dimension is sub-grouped within the table.
This helps make the data easier to view and interpret. A break also inserts a blank row or
column after each sub-grouping, providing an area to insert aggregates, (Sum, Count, Min,
Max, etc.). You can configure the visibility of this blank row (footer) in the break properties.
Since Breaks are contained within a table, they have no effect on other objects within the
document such as charts or other blocks of data.
Breaks are part of the block or table on which they are applied. They only affect that block
and the objects that define that block. They are extremely useful for grouping limited amounts
of data with aggregated measures at the end of each grouping. Tables that contain hierarchically
related data are perfect candidates for using breaks to make the table easier to view and interpret.
In the example below, the table on the left is a simple table containing the columns Year,
Quarter, and Sales Revenue. The same table is shown on the right but becomes much clearer
when you apply a break on the Year column.
You can also nest Breaks within a table. When you apply multiple breaks within a table, the
data is grouped in the order in which the breaks are created. Typically this is done in a left-to-right
fashion, resulting in a format that lends itself nicely to subtotaling values at multiple levels.
In the example below, the table on the left has a break on the year column. The same table
is shown on the right with a break on the Year then the Quarter Column.
Document Breaks
In WebI, you apply a break to a single table or block of data. When you apply a break to a
dimension in a table, each unique value of the dimension is sub-grouped within the table.
This helps make the data easier to view and interpret. A break also inserts a blank row or
column after each sub-grouping, providing an area to insert aggregates, (Sum, Count, Min,
Max, etc.). You can configure the visibility of this blank row (footer) in the break properties.
Since Breaks are contained within a table, they have no effect on other objects within the
document such as charts or other blocks of data.
Breaks are part of the block or table on which they are applied. They only affect that block
and the objects that define that block. They are extremely useful for grouping limited amounts
of data with aggregated measures at the end of each grouping. Tables that contain hierarchically
related data are perfect candidates for using breaks to make the table easier to view and interpret.
In the example below, the table on the left is a simple table containing the columns Year,
Quarter, and Sales Revenue. The same table is shown on the right but becomes much clearer
when you apply a break on the Year column.
You can also nest Breaks within a table. When you apply multiple breaks within a table, the
data is grouped in the order in which the breaks are created. Typically this is done in a left-to-right
fashion, resulting in a format that lends itself nicely to subtotaling values at multiple levels.
In the example below, the table on the left has a break on the year column. The same table
is shown on the right with a break on the Year then the Quarter Column.
To adjust the appearance of the breaks in a table, you can use the break properties to show or hide the
break headers and footers. You can also define how to show duplicate values: Display all, Display first,
Merge, or Repeat value on new page.
break headers and footers. You can also define how to show duplicate values: Display all, Display first,
Merge, or Repeat value on new page.
In the example below, the breaks on the Year and Quarter columns have the duplicate values set to
“Merge”.
“Merge”.
To adjust the appearance of the breaks in the document when printed, you use the break property Page
Layout options. Each Break can be individually set to: Start on a new page, Avoid page breaks in block,
or Repeat header on every page. I would suggest changing these properties and viewing your document
in page mode to determine what makes your report look its best.
Layout options. Each Break can be individually set to: Start on a new page, Avoid page breaks in block,
or Repeat header on every page. I would suggest changing these properties and viewing your document
in page mode to determine what makes your report look its best.
Sections
Sections are similar to breaks in that when a section is applied to a dimension in a table, each unique
value of the dimension is sub-grouped. However, while a break groups data inside the table, a section
groups data outside the table, effectively sectioning the entire report. Unlike a break, a section does
not add a blank row after each sub-grouping. Since Sections effect the entire report, they DO effect on
other objects placed within the section such as charts or other blocks of data.
value of the dimension is sub-grouped. However, while a break groups data inside the table, a section
groups data outside the table, effectively sectioning the entire report. Unlike a break, a section does
not add a blank row after each sub-grouping. Since Sections effect the entire report, they DO effect on
other objects placed within the section such as charts or other blocks of data.
Sections can contain tables, charts sections, and other types of objects. Tables placed within sections
can contain breaks. All objects placed in a section are filtered to the unique value for that section and
are repeated in each Section of the document. Sections are used to easily display related tables and
charts filtered to the same value.
can contain breaks. All objects placed in a section are filtered to the unique value for that section and
are repeated in each Section of the document. Sections are used to easily display related tables and
charts filtered to the same value.
In the example below, the same simple table containing the columns Year, Quarter, and Sales Revenue
is shown with a section applied to the year column. Notice how the report is now divided into sections
representing each instance of the Year value.
is shown with a section applied to the year column. Notice how the report is now divided into sections
representing each instance of the Year value.
In the example below, multiple related objects have been placed into the section on Year. Notice how all
objects are filtered and repeated in each section.
objects are filtered and repeated in each section.
You can easily place a section within a section, first place a table below all other objects in the section, then
apply a section to a column in that table. In the example below a table was added to the section containing
the columns State, Quarter, and Sales Revenue with a section on State.
apply a section to a column in that table. In the example below a table was added to the section containing
the columns State, Quarter, and Sales Revenue with a section on State.
When you format the appearance of sections in the report, you can define whether to show or hide the
section and the sections background color or image.
section and the sections background color or image.
To format the appearance of sections in the document when printed, you use the section Layout options.
Each section can be individually set to: Start on a new page, Repeat on every page, or Avoid page breaks.
Again, I would suggest changing these properties and viewing your document in page mode to determine
what makes your report look its best.
Each section can be individually set to: Start on a new page, Repeat on every page, or Avoid page breaks.
Again, I would suggest changing these properties and viewing your document in page mode to determine
what makes your report look its best.
When you apply Sections to a WebI document, you also gain a couple of navigational benefits. First, you
can use the Mapping tab in the Report Panel to navigate to each Section of the document by clicking on the
appropriate value.
can use the Mapping tab in the Report Panel to navigate to each Section of the document by clicking on the
appropriate value.
Secondly, if the WebI document is exported to PDF, the Sections become bookmarks within the PDF so that
even when the document is offline and in a different format you still have the ability to navigate the report
more easily.
even when the document is offline and in a different format you still have the ability to navigate the report
more easily.
Many WebI developers make use of both design elements in order to achieve specific formatting needs.
For example, you may wish to create a report sub-grouped with a Section on State that contains multiple
related tables, (Margin, Revenue, etc.). Each table in the report can then be sub-grouped by Year and
Quarter to provide subtotals using Breaks. Finally, to prepare the report for printing, the Section Page
Layout properties are set to start each Section on its own page.
For example, you may wish to create a report sub-grouped with a Section on State that contains multiple
related tables, (Margin, Revenue, etc.). Each table in the report can then be sub-grouped by Year and
Quarter to provide subtotals using Breaks. Finally, to prepare the report for printing, the Section Page
Layout properties are set to start each Section on its own page.
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