SAP Analytics Cloud – Application Design Series: 2 – Creating Your First Analytic Application

This is part of the SAP Analytics Cloud – Application Design blog series.

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In the preceding blog, we did a quick overview of SAP Analytics Cloud. Let’s now go ahead and create our first analytic application as per the steps outlined below.

1. Create a new analytic application

Select File -> Create -> Analytic Application

SAP Analytics Cloud – Application Design Series: 2 – Creating your First Analytic Application

Creating a new analytic application

When you create an analytic application, you will be presented with the designer interface containing the main canvas. You can configure the main canvas to be fixed or dynamic by updating the settings in the styling panel. For better arrangement of widgets, you can also enable ‘show grid’ option or activate it using the shortcut (Ctrl + Alt + G).

A portion of the designer interface containing the main Canvas

2. Add a chart

Select ‘Insert’ in the tool bar and add a chart.

Inserting a Chart

3. Select a data source

Since we are inserting a chart for the first time, we will be prompted to choose a data source. Note that unlike stories, there is no option to import data from an excel file.

Selecting a data source

4. Configure data assignment

The chart is now placed in the canvas and an entry is made for chart widget in the outline view. The chart however is empty.

Configuring Data Assignment

Now start assigning measures and dimensions to the chart from the Builder panel. If these options are not visible to you, make sure that the ‘Designer’ option on the top right is enabled.

Exploring styling options

You may also explore the Styling options available right next to the Builder menu.

5. Add a filter

Now let us introduce an element of custom interactivity into the application. Insert a Filter Line component using the Filter Line option under insert menu. Place the component above the chart in the canvas.

Adding a filter

6. Configure the filter

Configure the Filter Line by assigning a Source widget. You will see the chart that you added in the previous step (Chart_1) in the properties.

Configuring the filter

Add the relevant dimensions to the filter.

Adding Relevant Dimensions

7. Save & Run the Application

You can now save the application & run by selecting ‘Run Analytic Application’.

You will now be able to control what is shown in the chart by filtering dimensions in the filter line.

Runtime view of the filter & the chart

Updating filters during runtime

Once the filter is updated, the chart gets filtered accordingly.

The filter & the chart

We have created our first (and simple) interactive Analytic Application in SAP Analytics Cloud.

In the subsequent blogs we will be working on enhancing this application further by leveraging additional designer capabilities delivered by SAP Analytics Cloud.

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Reach out to us here today if you are interested to evaluate if SAP Analytics Cloud is right for you.