As part of BI 4.2 SP05 we have introduced a the new FIORI based application BI Administration Console to simplify and automate administration tasks with Landscape Management and Automation Framework (Introduction to BI Administration Console).
In the BI 4.3 release we have simplified the architecture and integrated the applications into the Central Management Console (CMC):
- Automation Framework is renamed as Workflow Assistant
- Landscape Management is now the Systems tab in Workflow Assistant
- The service ActiveMQ is removed, Services Automation Framework and Agent are merged into one service called Workflow Assistant
- Usability enhancements
- Help integrated in the Business Intelligence Platform Administrator Guide, section Workflow Assistant
CMC Integration
No separate URL http://<server>:<port>/BOE/BIAdminConsole anymore, Workflow Assistant with all the features can be found in the Manage section of the CMC:
The Workflow Assistant comes with the tabs Scenarios,Workflow Templates and Systems (former Landscape Management):
Workflow Assistant – Service
The service ActiveMQ is removed. The services Automation Framework and Agent are merged into Workflow Assistant service, managed in the CCM.
With this change there is no more the option to add new Agent services. The task execution load is always managed by the Workflow Assistant service.
Configuration
Some information about changes in the configuration.
Enterprise Authentication
Trusted configuration is still needed for Workflow Assistant, but the Shared Secret must be downloaded to a different folder now:
In Windows, at <INSTALLDIR>/SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\win64_x64.
For unix systems you can find the information in the BI Platform Administration Guide.
Default User for Workflow Assistant Service
It is recommended to create a new user for Workflow Assistant with the name WAUser and grant Full Control for this user on folder Workflow Assistant. The service will be started using the WAUser account. The Administrator account will be used if the WAUser doesn’t exist.
Scenario – Folders
The scenarios can now be organized and managed in folders, like documents in BI Launchpad:
Scenario – Use Task Templates
Task Templates can now be used in scenarios. It is not needed to create a Workflow Template anymore.
Task Template – Parameters
Parameters for Task Templates can now be defined in Scenarios and Workflow Templates. For example you can create a workflow template with a parameter definition. This allows you to create a library which can be easily reused in scenarios.
In the sample below, there is a Workflow Template to query the list of users:
This workflow template can be used in scenarios (Custom WFT) and the condition is already set with the default value defined in the workflow template:
Scenario – Run with Parameter
and parameter values can be changed:
Scenario – Save
As we introduced Run with Parameter, you can now save a scenario without setting all the parameter values.
Task Templates
We have introduced new Standard Task Templates:
- Save Output with BI 4.2 SP07
- Set Server Properties with BI 4.3.
To add more Task Templates you can develop Custom Task Templates and/or use the samples available with the SAP Samples project I have started (BI Automation Framework Samples, SAP Samples GitHub).
More BI 4.3 information
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.3 Now Available by Steve McHugh
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.3 : What’s New by Venkateswara Y Guptha
Original Article:
https://blogs.sap.com/2020/06/16/sap-bi-4.3-whats-new-automation-framework-renamed-as-workflow-assistant/