June 16, 2014

This version of the Dodeca Framework uses the .NET Framework, version 2.0, Service Pack 1 and higher on the desktop. The components used in this version of Dodeca are SpreadsheetGear 2012 (7.0.5.140), NetAdvantage 2011, Volume 1 (11.1.20111.2042), Aspose.Cells 7.0.3.0, and Syncfusion Essential Studio 11.3.0.30.

This version of Dodeca has two server-side services that run inside a Java Application Server. The Dodeca service is supported and tested on Java 1.6. The Dodeca-Essbase service for all Essbase versions prior to, and including, Essbase 11.1.1.3 are supported and tested on Java 1.5. The Dodeca-Essbase service for all Essbase versions 11.1.1.4 and higher are supported and tested on Java 1.6. Both services are known to run on Java 1.7, although extensive testing has not been performed on that Java version.

The release notes for this version contain the following sections:

Authentication Services — LDAPUserRolesFromSqlPassthroughDataSet and LDAPUserRolesFromGroupNames

The following LDAP authentication services are now supported out of the box: LDAPUserRolesFromSqlPassthroughDataSet and LDAPUserRolesFromGroupNames.

When an application is configured with either of these services, the user is prompted at startup for a Microsoft Active Directory or Generic LDAP user name and password. The service authenticates the user by attempting to connect to the MSAD/LDAP server that is configured for the service.

The LDAPConnectionProperties specify the properties needed to connect to the LDAP server and, if using LDAPUserRolesFromGroupNames, obtain the groups and users available on the server. The LDAPAdminUsername and LDAPAdminPassword properties are not needed when using the LDAPUserRolesFromSqlPassthroughDataSet service with a Microsoft Active Directory server.

With the LDAPUserRolesFromSqlPassthroughDataSet service, the authentication service can optionally be configured to query a relational database for the role or roles to which the user is assigned.

With the LDAPUserRolesFromGroupNames service, the names of the MDAD/LDAP groups to which the user is assigned are obtained.

The LDAP authentication services are also designed to be used in conjunction with view sharing. For this purpose, the LDAPUserRolesFromGroupNames service is similar to the EssbaseUserRolesFromGroupNames service, and the LDAPUserRolesFromSqlPassthroughDataSet is similar to the EssbaseUserRolesFromSqlPassthroughDataSet.

For information about authentication services and view sharing, refer to the EssbaseUserRolesFromGroupNames Authentication Service Enhancements section of the Version 6.7.0.4294, February 4, 2014. And, additional information can be found by searching this document for EssbaseUserRolesFromSqlPassthroughDataSet and for EssbaseUserRolesFromGroupNames.

Essbase Metadata Editor — Import Connections Utility Enhancements

The Essbase Metadata Editor’s Import Connections utility allows the creation of Essbase connection metadata instances for each selected Essbase database from a list of server/application/databases. The utility has been enhanced to allow the specification of an APS URL and/or an Essbase server to be used by the dodeca-essbase service to populate the list of available databases based on the given credentials.

In addition, the user is now allowed to cancel the Sign On while the list of available databases is being filled.

A specified APS URL or Essbase server(s) overrides the corresponding entry in the dodeca-essbase.properties file associated with the service.

The following indicates how the servers presented in the list of connections are obtained based on the specified APS URL and/or Essbase server value, if any:

_Note: Each Dodeca Essbase service has an associated dodeca-essbase.properties file, which can contain the aps.url and essbase.servers properties. As indicated in the file, the aps.url property defines the default URL to use for APS connections, and the essbase.servers property defines the available servers when the aps.url is set to embedded. _

If no servers are found based on the specified settings and the dodeca-essbase.properties file, the following message is displayed.

Essbase Sign On and Set Active Essbase Connection Tool Enhancements

The Sign On and Set Active Essbase Connection tool was introduced in Version 5.3.0.2646 for use with Essbase Ad hoc views. The tool allows a user to sign on to Analytic Provider Services, as configured by the Dodeca administrator, and then set the active connection for the view by selecting a database from a hierarchy of Essbase servers, applications, and databases to which the user has access. #1248

Reasons for Enhancements

In the original implementation, obtaining the list of servers, applications, and cubes could be slow in some environments, especially when there were a large number of applications and databases. During the delay incurred while waiting for the list of available applications and related databases, the client is in a suspended state and does not allow the user to interact with the application.

In addition to the potential performance issues, the Essbase servers presented in the user-interface were dependent on and limited to the configuration embedded in the dodeca-essbase.war file. This limitation does not allow for the level of flexibility required.

Overview of Enhancements

The current release includes enhancements that allow for greater flexibility as well as improved performance. The administrator is able to control many aspects of the user-interface to achieve the optimal behavior for their environment and users. The tool can be configured to allow the user to select or specify the dodeca-essbase service, the APS URL, and an Essbase server.

The client now sends requests to the Essbase service on a background thread, which allows the user to continue to interact with the application while the client is waiting for the list of available applications and related databases to be returned from Essbase by way of the dodeca-essbase service.

With the limitation imposed by Essbase on the length of application and database names, it is a challenge to use names that are descriptive and meaningful. Essbase does allow a description to be assigned to applications and databases. When a description exists, a tooltip presents the description to the user when the mouse hovers over the application or database node in the tree.

Sign On and Set Active Essbase Connection Tool

The tool is included in the Essbase View Standard All Excel AddIn toolbars configuration, which is included in the metadata-starter-kit, and may also be added to other toolbars configurations that are used by Essbase Ad hoc views. The tool is also available in the Essbase Excel View Template Designer.

The button tool opens a docked control (or a modal dialog), which allows the user to enter a username and password. Depending on how the tool has been configured by the administrator, the user may also be able to select or specify a dodeca-essbase service path, an APS URL, and/or an Essbase server. Alternatively, these fields can be hidden and configured to use predefined or default values.

The user sets the active connection by either right clicking on a database and selecting Set Active Connection from the context menu or by clicking the same tool positioned above the application/database window. When the workbook contains multiple sheets, the active connection is associated with the currently active sheet allowing for a different connection to be associated with each sheet.

How an administrator configures the tool

By default, the control contains editors for the Essbase service, APS URL, and Essbase server. Each editor can be configured independently to be either enabled or disabled as well as either visible or hidden. Each editor can also be configured to allow the user to only select from the pre-defined options or to key in a non-predefined value.

To configure the Sign On and Set Active Essbase Connection tool, perform the following steps:

By default, the Sign On and Set Active Connection user-interface control appears and behaves as follows:

To change the default auto-open behavior, set the AutoOpenDockedControlPolicy tool argument to DoNotAutoOpen or AutoOpen. The policy is only applicable when the ControlDisplayMode is set to DockedControl or LockedDockedControl. To have the user-interface component open as a modal dialog when the tool is clicked, set the ControlDisplayMode to ModalDialog.

To hide or disable a given editor, toggle the editor’s Visible or Enabled setting to false.

To prevent the user from specifying a non-predefined value, the editor’s LimitToList property can be set to True. By default, the user is allowed to enter a non-predefined value.

The *DodecaEssbaseServiceConfig* setting allows the administrator to configure the Essbase services (i.e. dodeca-essbase service URL’s) that may be selected by the user, and optionally specify an APS URL and/or one or more servers for each dodeca-essbase service. A specified APS URL or Essbase server(s) overrides the corresponding entry in the dodeca-essbase.properties file associated with the service.

_Each Dodeca Essbase service has an associated dodeca-essbase.properties file, which can contain the aps.url and essbase.servers properties. As indicated in the file, the aps.url property defines the default URL to use for APS connections, and the essbase.servers property defines the available servers when the aps.url is set to embedded. _

The Essbase Service Configuration dialog is displayed when the Open ("…​") button is clicked for the *DodecaEssbaseServiceConfig* setting. The dialog displays a list that contains any entries that were previously configured (and checked) along with all the unique dodeca-essbase service paths that are specified as a ServletPath value in the Essbase connections metadata. An item can also be added using the Add button. The checkboxes at the left of each item are used to indicate whether the service should be available to the user.

Optionally, the display text presented in the user-interface for the service can be specified. If not specified, the URL is used. The Essbase Service URL display text must be unique within the checked configuration rows.

Essbase Views

Excel View and Essbase Excel View Template Designers

Relational Functionality

View Hierarchy Metadata Editor

Workbook Scripting Methods, Functions, and Event Links

Dodeca Framework