Business objects CRYSTAL XCELSIUS STANDARD 4.5 FOR WINDOWS User Manual

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius Standard 4.5

Windows

Patents

Business Objects owns the following U.S. patents, which may cover products that are offered and sold by Business Objects: 5,555,403, 6,247,008 B1, 6,578,027 B2, 6,490,593 and 6,289,352.

Trademarks

Third-party contributors

Business Objects, the Business Objects logo, Crystal Reports, and Crystal Enterprise are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects SA or its affiliated companies in the United States and other countries. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Business Objects products in this release may contain redistributions of software licensed from third-party contributors. Some of these individual components may also be available under alternative licenses. A partial listing of third-party contributors that have requested or permitted acknowledgments, as well as required notices, can be found at:

http://www.businessobjects.com/thirdparty

Chapter 1 Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius 7

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

What's New in Xcelsius version 4.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Importing an XLF file from Xcelsius 3.0/3.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Understanding the Xcelsius system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Understanding the Xcelsius tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Creating backup files in Xcelsius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Previewing the visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Viewing sample Xcelsius visualizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Dynamic and static data sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Using templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Global Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chapter 2 Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations 31

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Creating a visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Updating data for a visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Chapter 3 Using Crystal Xcelsius Components 37

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Using chart components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Using single value components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Using the Selector components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Using the map component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Using the art and background components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Using the other components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Using the text components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 3

Contents

Using the Web connectivity components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Chapter 4 Using Advanced Features 55

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Dynamic Visibility functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Creating templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Using Global Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Chapter 5 Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations 65

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Exporting your visualization to Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Exporting your visualization to HTML . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Exporting your visualization to PowerPoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Emailing your visualization with Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Exporting your visualization to a Plumtree portal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Exporting your visualization to Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Taking a snapshot of your visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Chapter 6 Frequently Asked Questions 71

Installation questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Microsoft Excel questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Microsoft PowerPoint questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Troubleshooting questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Questions about supported features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Chapter 7 Crystal Xcelsius Professional Integration with Crystal Reports 79

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Using Live Office data for Crystal Xcelsius visualizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Chapter 8 General Features Reference 83

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Common areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

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Contents

Common boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Common lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Common buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Common Alerts Tab features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Chapter 9 Chart Components Reference 95

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Drill Down tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Alerts Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Appearance tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Chapter 10 Single Value Component Reference 125

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Alerts tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Appearance tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Chapter 11 Selector Components Reference 137

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

General Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Alerts tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Appearance tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Chapter 12 Map Component Reference 155

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Alerts tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 5

Contents

Appearance tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Chapter 13 Background Component Reference 161

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Chapter 14 Text Component Reference 167

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Appearance tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Chapter 15 Web Connectivity Component Reference 175

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

General Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Appearance tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Chapter 16 Other Components Reference 181

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

General tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Behavior tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

Appearance tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Chapter 17 Supported Excel Functions 191

Supported Excel Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

Index 195

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Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

chapter

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Overview

This chapter provides an introduction to Crystal Xcelsius, the components of the program, and the functionality of the program.

What's New in Xcelsius version 4.5

Xcelsius now provides the following new components:

• Candlestick and OHLC Chart components

The open-high-low-close and candlestick charts are primarily used to display stock data. Each marker corresponds to the four values, which are represented as lines attached to the marker on the OHLC chart and as colors on the candlestick chart. Open displays the opening price of the stock. High displays the highest price the stock achieved on that day. Low displays the lowest price the of the stock on that day. Close displays the closing price of the stock.

• Skins

Xcelsius has three new skins:

• Graphite

• Halo

• Windows Classic

For information on skins, see “Skins” on page 48.

Xcelsius now provides the following new features:

• Logarithmic Scale

Logarithmic appears as an option on the X-Axis Scale and Y-Axis Scale lists in the Scale Behavior area on the Behavior tab of the Properties panel of all the chart component but the Pie Chart component. This option plots the axis values on a logarithmic scale. Values plotted on a logarithmic scale appear at unevenly spaced intervals in the chart component. Smaller values have larger space intervals; larger values have smaller space intervals. Equal percentage changes are represented by equal distances.

• Animation Enabled

The Chart components, other than the Area Chart components, now have Animation Enabled as an option on the Behavior tab of the Properties panel. When selected this option adds animation to the chart components when the visualization is run. In chart components with bars,

8 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Importing an XLF file from Xcelsius 3.0/3.5

the bars grow and shrink when the data changes and the visualization is run. In point-based chart components the points grow to full size when the visualization is run.

• Export to Word

The Export to Word option allows you to export your visualizations to Microsoft Word. Visualizations in Word are dynamic and interactive.

• Export Model

The Export Model option lets you export a copy of the original Excel file imported into the visualization to your machine. The Excel file can be exported from a visualization that was created on your machine or on another machine. To export the Excel file, on the Data menu, click Export Model.

Importing an XLF file from Xcelsius 3.0/3.5

Xcelsius supports the ability to import an Xcelsius visualization created with Xcelsius 3.0/3.5. This import ability lets current 3.0 and 3.5 customers upgrade their existing visualizations to take advantage of the new features of Xcelsius. Backup your current XLF, JPG and external SWF files before upgrading your visualization.

To upgrade your existing visualizations, start Xcelsius and select File->Open. Select the XLF that you would like to upgrade and click Open. Xcelsius will detect that the XLF is an older visualization and warn the user that it is going to import the visualization into Xcelsius, and that this may result in certain features not functioning.

Note: After you import and save your visualization with the latest Xcelsius

version, the visualization cannot be opened using Xcelsius 3.0/3.5. Xcelsius minimizes the impact of migrating visualizations from Xcelsius 3.0/

3.5 to this new version. However, it is possible that some of your visualizations, or more specifically, some components, will look slightly different from the original 3.0/3.5 file.

The following are some of the most frequently encountered changes:

• The size of some components is different. In most cases the size

difference is a matter of a few pixels.

• Some custom colors appear to be slightly different. This is due to art

improvements and the introduction of skins.

• The Table component differs in size and formatting.

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Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius system

In the event of formatting differences in your components, bring up the Properties panel for the component and re-link the properties that are tied to the spreadsheet.

Xcelsius supports Dynamic Data Sources across all components. This enhancement impacts visualizations that contain selectors and charts. Compare the new visualization to the Xcelsius 3.0/3.5 visualization to verify that it is functioning correctly.

Understanding the Xcelsius system

How Xcelsius differs from traditional reporting applications

Xcelsius complements all types of Portal initiatives, Business Intelligence programs, Executive Dashboards, Balanced Scorecard projects, Marketing Reports, and day-to-day reporting and presentation requirements. Xcelsius does this by letting users participate in the report creation process and analysis.

How Xcelsius works

Import an Excel file into Xcelsius, create the visualization, and publish the visualization.

To create an Xcelsius visualization



1. Import an Excel file that contains the information you want to publish.

2. Build the visualization.

3. Compile and publish the visualization.

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Step 1: Import the Excel file

The first step in creating a visualization is to import the Excel file that contains the data to support your visualization. During this step, Xcelsius makes a copy of the Excel file and imports the spreadsheet, including formulas, values, and cell formatting. Once the Excel file is imported, a copy of it is embedded into Xcelsius.

You can continue using the original Excel file, but if you delete or add rows, columns or data, you need to re-import the Excel file.

Step 2: Build the visualization

After the Excel file is imported, you can use Xcelsius to build the visualization. Xcelsius contains components—from backgrounds to charts— that can be selected and linked to one or more cells in the embedded spreadsheet. If you're creating a chart, for example, you can select the chart component, click it, and select the range of chart data from the spreadsheet. This process is similar to the way a chart is created using Excel.

Xcelsius lets you create dynamic visualizations by pointing and clicking your mouse. You can combine two or more components and link them to the spreadsheet. For example, you can define point-and-click radio buttons that combine with a chart to show different information on the chart when each radio button is clicked.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius system

Step 3: Compile and publish the visualization

The final step is to preview and export the visualization. Previewing lets you test your visualization and see how it will look and behave when it is exported.

Xcelsius offers a variety of ways to publish your visualization. For more details on how to publish your visualization, see “Exporting Crystal Xcelsius

Visualizations” on page 65. Xcelsius visualizations can be published in the

following formats:

• Macromedia Flash SWF

• HTML

• Microsoft PowerPoint Slide

• Adobe PDF

• Microsoft Outlook

• Microsoft Word

• BusinessObjects Enterprise

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Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius system

How visualizations look

Visualizations created with Xcelsius can have any type of standard or personalized look. Visualizations are also fully compatible with Microsoft Power Point, HTML, and Portals.

Xcelsius visualizations conform to SWF file format. SWF is the vector-based graphics format designed to run in the Flash Player. Because a SWF file is vector-based, its graphics are scalable and play back smoothly on any screen size and across multiple platforms.Also, a vector-based file usually has a smaller file size than a bitmap animation.

Visualizations created with Xcelsius are dynamic. What-if scenarios let users adjust conditions on the visualization and view the results. Interactive components let users alter the visualization conditions.

The following examples show visualizations created with Xcelsius.

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Example 1: What-if presentation using alerts

This visualization shows the return-on-equity (ROE) for a financial institution against its peer group performance. The alert colors are triggered, comparing the selected bank against the peer group average.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius system

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 13

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius system

Example 2: What-if presentation using a calculator

The following visualization was created to calculate the monthly payment for a home loan. Users can adjust the input values by moving the sliders. The calculator dynamically changes and displays the new values.

14 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Example 3: Historical data comparison presentation

The following visualization is a dynamic financial statement report. It shows the traditional Statements of Income. When a user clicks on an account, the visualization shows the historical data organized by region or as a comparison against competitors.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius system

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 15

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Before you begin using Xcelsius, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the interface by reading the following sections.

Using the Object Browser

With the Object Browser, you can select, hide, cut, copy, paste, delete, bring forward, move back, group, ungroup and access Properties panels of components.

The Object Browser is opened by default when you start an Xcelsius session. If you have closed the Object Browser, to re-open click Object Browser Window on the View menu.

Right-click context menu

Display a context menu by right-clicking on any component in the browser.

This is the same menu displayed by right-clicking on a component on the canvas, unless the item is grouped, when the menu displays the common properties of the group.

Selecting components

To select a component on the Object Browser click the component name or icon to select the component on the canvas.

To select multiple components click a component name or icon to select it, and then hold down the CTRL key while you click the other components, if they are not adjacent to one another. If the components are adjacent hold down the SHIFT key.

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Combine methods by selecting a group of components first with SHIFT+click and then other separate components using CTRL+click. Always select using SHIFT+click first; this won't work in the other order.

Select all components by selecting any one component then pressing CTRL+A.

Note: You cannot select a component that is marked as hidden.

Hiding components

To hide a component on the Object Browser select the check box next to the component name.

To hide multiple components select any of the check boxes of a multiple selection.

To hide all components select any one component, then press CTRL+A to select all components, and check the box next to any one component.

Grouping components

Selected objects in the Object Browser can be grouped in the following ways.

• Group selected components by right-clicking on any of the selected

components and clicking Group from the context menu.

• Select several components in the Object Browser, then click Group on

the toolbar.

Once grouped, the components will appear in the browser in tree form with a folder representing the whole group.

Expand the group folder by clicking the + button or double-clicking the folder icon or the group label.

Once the group is expanded, access the Properties panel for a component within the group by either double-clicking the component or by right-clicking for the context menu. In this way properties can be edited without ungrouping the components.

Tip: To ungroup selected components, click Ungroup on the toolbar.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Deleting components

Delete any selected components by pressing DELETE or selecting Delete from the right-click context menu.

Deleting a component can be undone pressing CTRL+Z or clicking Undo on the Edit menu.

To delete components within a group you must ungroup them.

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Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Opening properties panels

Properties panels for components, either alone or in a group, are opened with the same procedures:

• Double-click the icon or label.

• Select the component and press ALT+ENTER.

• Right-click the component and click Properties.

Properties panels that can be opened for a group are opened separately from the Properties panels of individual components within the group:

• Right-click the group label or icon and click Properties.

• Select the group and press ALT+Enter.

Note: Do not double-click a group to open its Properties panel; unlike

individual components, double clicking on a group entry expands or collapses that group within the tree.

Once a Properties panel is opened for one component you can navigate to the Properties panel of another component by clicking on the entry in the Object Browser.

Renaming components

Each component is assigned a default browsing name when placed on the canvas. This is the name that appears in the title bar of the Properties panel and in the entry in the Object Browser.

You can override these default names to provide your own. Double-click slowly on the component name in the Object Browser, a fast double-click will open the Properties panel. This will put the name in label-edit mode. Edit the name and then press ENTER or click on another component.

Note: You cannot rename a component that is marked as hidden.

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Using the Components Explorer

The Components Explorer shows the available components.

The window contains two views:

• A category view where the components are organized in groups in a tree

view according to their functionality. In the category view you can select a specific category and open that

folder to see those components that apply to your selection. Xcelsius provides categories that are both frequently used in the market and unique to Xcelsius:

• Art & Backgrounds

• Charts

• Collaboration

• Maps

• Selectors

• Single-Value

• Te xt

• Web Connectivity

• Other

• A list view where the components are organized alphabetically.

In the list view you can select a component alphabetically by name.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Navigating through components in the Components Explorer

You can navigate to a component within the Components Explorer using either the mouse or keyboard.

To navigate with the mouse, double click on the category and any subcategories until you can select the component.

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Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

To navigate with the keyboard, click anywhere within the category window to select it, and then type the first letter of the category you wish to open. To open a folder when it is selected, use the right arrow key; to close a folder when it is selected, use the left arrow key. To navigate through subcategories type the first letter of the subcategory. You can also move up and down the tree using the up and down arrows.

Navigation using keys in the list view of the components operates in the same way, except that there are no folders.

Each time a component is selected, a preview of how that component looks on the canvas will appear in the preview window. Folder selection shows a blank in the preview window.

Using the Component Properties panel

The Component Properties panel displays the specific functionality of each component. After you place a component on the canvas area, you can access the Component Properties panel by double-clicking the selected component. In general, the Component Properties panel has the same structure for all components, but the functionality described is specific to each individual component.

The Component Properties panel has the following tabs:

• General Tab

Describes the basic and minimum required functionality for the selected component. Typically, it contains an area for the title and an area for the Data Source Link or the values that the component represents. See “Step

2: Select the data sources” on page 32 for more information.

20 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

• Behavior

Describes functions related to the way the component will work on the visualization. Typically, it contains an area for defining the Display Status, entry effects, and functions related to limits and interactivity. See

“Dynamic Visibility functionality” on page 56 for more information.

• Alerts

Contains all the related functionality required when using alerts. On this tab, you can define the number of alert colors, the colors used, and the target or budget. See “Alerts” on page 59 for more information.

• Appearance

Contains a series of functions, and in some cases sub-tabs, that let you modify the appearance and final look of each component. On this tab, you will find options like font size, title location, and colors.

• Drill Down

Contains a series of parameters for adding drill-down capability for charts. For information on the Drill Down tab, see “Drill Down tab” on page 99.

Note: This tab applies only to Chart components.

Component Properties for multiple selections

By selecting multiple components on the canvas, you can simultaneously edit Component Properties for each component in your selection. To access Component Properties for multiple components select your components and double click the selection. You can also access the component Properties by right clicking the selection and selecting Properties from the context menu.

If the components are of the same type, you will be able to edit Properties specific to that component. For example, if your current selection contains three Line Chart components, you will be able to access the Component Properties specific to the Line Chart. Any change made to the properties will apply to each component in the selection. Component Properties of components of mixed types or groups are limited to the Display Status parameters of the Behavior tab. When a number of components are grouped, the Component Properties for individual components within that group may be edited by right-clicking on that sub-group component in the Object Browser window see “Using the Object Browser” on page 16.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Using the canvas

The canvas area is the white work area where you place components to create a visualization.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 21

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Placing components on the canvas using drag and drop



To place a component

1. On the Components Explorer click a component.

2. Holding down the left mouse button, drag the component onto the canvas.

3. Release the mouse button.

The component is dropped on the canvas at the location of the mouse pointer.

4. Repeat this procedure for each component.

on the canvas area using drag and drop

Placing components on the canvas using point and click



To place a component on the canvas area using point and click

1. On the Components Explorer click a component.

2. Click the canvas area.

3. Repeat this procedure for each component.

Fitting the canvas to components

After you complete your visualization, you may want to adjust its final size to eliminate any surrounding white area.

To do this, use the Fit Canvas to Components button on the tool bar. Your visualization size will be adjusted to the optimal size according to the components you are using.

In addition, you can use the plus and minus buttons on the toolbar to shrink or grow the canvas in smaller increments.

Fitting the canvas to the window

To resize the canvas so that it fits in the window, click Fit Canvas to Window on the toolbar.

Changing the canvas size

You can change the canvas size before you start creating a visualization by clicking Properties on the File menu. The Document Properties dialog box appears.

You can modify the preset size to some standard sizes, or you can create your own size. The ideal size of your visualization depends on the quantity of components that you plan to use.

22 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

If you are building a simple visualization such as a Portlet that contains a chart and slider, the size can be around 640x840. Use the full size screen for dashboards or one-page visualizations that contain several charts and selectors.

In the description field, you can write a brief description of your visualization, the author, the date, and its intended functionality. This information will appear to all other designers when they use your XLF file (XLF is the extension to which Xcelsius saves its internal files) or when you save your visualization as a template.

Using the Import Model button

Use the Import Model button on the tool bar to import the Excel file that contains the data to support your visualization.

If it is the first time you are importing an Excel file for the visualization, you must browse for and select the file in the Import Model dialog box. If you have already imported an Excel file into the application, you have the option to either re-import it or select a new one.

Importing a spreadsheet from Excel into Xcelsius



1. Click the Import Model button.

The Import Model dialog box appears.

2. Click the Browse button.

The Open dialog box appears.

3. Select your Excel file and click Open.

You return to the Import Model dialog box.

4. Click OK.

Importing an Excel file creates a mirror copy of your Excel file in the Xcelsius application. This mirror copy is independent of your original file. Therefore, if you make changes to your Excel file that affect the Xcelsius visualization, you will have to re-import the Excel file. See “Updating data

for a visualization” on page 34 for more instructions.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Using Font Options

You can change the font used by components in a visualization by using Font Options on the File menu.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 23

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Unicode Font Options

Unicode Font Options provides more options for customizing the font used in the visualization. The following options are available for displaying fonts in Xcelsius:

• Embedded Fonts

• Non-Embedded Fonts

Xcelsius uses embedded fonts by default. This option generates the characters from the TrueType Font you select, and embeds them into the SWF file. Because the font is embedded in the SWF file, the font displays properly regardless of whether the user has the TrueType Font installed. However, this option also increases the time required to load the visualization, and the file size.

Note: Asian character sets are not supported with Embedded Fonts due

to the large number of characters they require. You must use NonEmbedded Fonts for situations where you require Asian characters.

This option is recommended when creating models that require the extended character set as defined by Unicode. Non-Embedded Fonts uses the SWF player to directly render the TrueType Font you select.

Non-Embedded Fonts also lets you use different fonts for different components in the same visualization. However, depending on the TrueType Fonts installed on the user’s machine, the fonts in the visualization may not display properly.

Note: Some components, such as chart components, do not support

Non-Embedded Fonts.

To change the font for a visualization



1. On the File menu, click Font.

The Font Options dialog box appears.

2. Choose the font option that you want.

• If you want to use one embedded font for all components in the

visualization:

a. On the Font list, click the font that you want.

b. Click OK.

• If you want to use a different font for each component in the

visualization, or you want to use non-embedded fonts:

a. Click Unicode Font Options.

b. In the Unicode Font Options dialog box, click Use Non-

Embedded Fonts.

24 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

c. Click OK.

You can now use the Font Settings on a component’s Properties panel to change the font used for that component.

Setting the Maximum Rows

With the Maximum Rows command on the Data menu, you can set the maximum number of rows that Xcelsius will allow as a valid data source selection. If you set a large maximum number of rows, the time required to load a visualization will be affected.

If you try to specify more rows than the Maximum Rows setting for a data source, a warning message that says “Truncation occurred” will appear.

Using the Format menu

The Format menu provides various options for formatting the appearance of the components in the visualization.

Align

With the Align options, you can align the bounding boxes of components or groups of components relative to the first component in the selection. Align functions require the selection of at least two components.

The following Align options are available:

• Left

• Center Horizontal

• Right

• To p

• Center Vertical

• Bottom

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Make Same Size

With the Make Same Size options, you can make the selected components the same width, height, or size as another component.

Space Evenly

With the Space Evenly options, you can distribute a selection of components either horizontally (Across) or vertically (Down) so that there are even spaces between them.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 25

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Center in Document

With the Center in Document options, you can center selected components on the canvas.

Note: To use the Center in Document options, you must have more than one

component selected.

The following options are available:

• Vertical

• Horizontal

• Both

Other commands on the Format menu

The following commands are also available on the Format menu:

• Bring to Front

Brings component to the topmost layer.

• Send to Back

Sends component to the bottom layer.

• Bring Forward

Brings component forward one layer.

• Send Back

Sends component back one layer.

Using the Grid Tool

The Grid command on the View menu provides a layout tool that can aid in positioning components on the canvas. The following options for customizing the grid are available:

• Show Grid

This option controls the visibility of the grid.

• Snap to Grid

This option aligns the selected components to the grid lines.

• Vertical Spacing

This option sets the vertical spacing intervals for the grid in pixels.

• Horizontal Spacing

This option sets the horizontal spacing intervals for the grid in pixels.

26 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Creating backup files in Xcelsius

With the Options command on the Tools menu, you can set how you want Xcelsius to create backup versions of the XLF file that you are working on:

• If you do not want to create a backup XLF file, make sure the options in

the Save Options area are cleared.

• If you want to create a backup XLF file, select Always Create a Backup

Copy.

• If you want to create a backup XLF file at specific intervals, select

Automatic Backup Save Every, and then set the interval.

Previewing the visualization

With Xcelsius, you can preview your final visualization as many times as you need. It lets you experiment with various combinations of components, colors, and layouts to make sure your visualization meets your requirements.

Use the Preview button to toggle between the design view and preview.

In Preview, you can interact with the visualization as you would when it is published.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Creating backup files in Xcelsius

Viewing sample Xcelsius visualizations

The sample visualizations included with your deployment of Xcelsius show how some of the components work.

To view sample Xcelsius visualizations



1. On the File menu, click Samples.

The Samples dialog box appears.

2. In the Category box, click User Guide Samples.

3. In the Items box, click the component that you want to view an example of.

A description of the component and a preview of the visualization are shown.

4. To view a sample visualization, click OK.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 27

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Dynamic and static data sources

Components have two levels of interactions relative to the spreadsheet:

• Dynamic

• Static

Dynamic data sources

The content of the cells can vary during a simulation process and Xcelsius will update its content.

Example

You want to create a visualization containing a radio button and a chart, to show the progress of several Human Resources Training Program courses. You need to use the same chart for each course, so that your visualization is simple and dynamic. It will look like this:

Using Dynamic Data Sources lets the chart data change with each selection you make on the radio button. The radio button inserts a row that contains the data for each course on a range that is linked to the chart. Since the chart contains the Dynamic Link on the Data Source, the chart content changes with each selection you make on the radio button. This is described in more detail in “Using the Selector components” on page 43.

28 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Static data sources

The content of the cells won't vary during the simulation; therefore, Xcelsius won't update its content.

Example

The Human Resources chart using the chart and radio button components while remaining dynamic in functionality can also have a static data source. The Display Status Key imported value determines the visibility of the chart. The value can be set to display the chart when the visualization is run. The Display Status Key value is fixed so that the chart will always display. For example, if you link the chart to a Display Status Key cell with a value of 0.25999 and manually change the value in the Display Status Key box, when the visualization is run the chart will not be visible as the Display Status values do not match.

Using templates

Xcelsius offers a set of templates you can use to create a new visualization. You can use the existing Xcelsius templates, or you can create a visualization from scratch and save it as a template.

For more information on creating and using templates, see “Creating

templates” on page 60.

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Using templates

Global Styles

Global Styles are a set of appearance parameters that let you change the default visuals of new components. You can also apply Global Styles to existing visualizations to change their overall appearance. Style parameters are broken up into three major categories:

• Styles

• Text & Labels

• Buttons and Backgrounds.

In the Styles category you will find Markers, Lines and Borders.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 29

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Global Styles

All components can be generally defined as being constructed of certain pieces, those pieces can be grouped in the above categories. These categories, when defined as a whole, create the global style. These parameters consist of only color parameters and do not affect fonts, text formatting or alerts.

Note: Global Styles are not transferred with Xcelsius authoring file, or XLF

files. Opening an XLF does not load the Global Style used in the XLF into the machine it is opened on. If the Global Style used by an XLF is unavailable, the style will continue to be used by the existing components in the visualization, but it will not be able to be applied to new components.

For more information see “Using Global Styles” on page 61.

30 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

chapter

Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

Overview

This chapter introduces the process of creating and maintaining Xcelsius visualizations.

Creating a visualization



To create an Xcelsius visualization

1. Import the Microsoft Excel file that contains the data to be used in the

visualization.

2. Link the Xcelsius components to the spreadsheet.

3. Preview the visualization and publish it.

Step 1: Import the Excel file

The first step for creating an Xcelsius visualization is to import an existing Microsoft Excel file that contains the data you want to use in your visualization.

Importing a spreadsheet from Excel into Xcelsius



1. On the Data menu, click Import Model.

The Import Model dialog box appears.

Tip: You can also access the Import Model dialog box by clicking the

Import Model button on the tool bar.

2. Click the Browse button.

The Open dialog box appears.

3. Select your Excel file and click Open.

You return to the Import Model dialog box.

4. Click OK. Note: The Excel file is imported into the Xcelsius application as a copy of

your original file. You can continue making changes or modifications in your original file and then re-import the Excel file. See “Updating data for

a visualization” on page 34 for detailed steps.

Step 2: Select the data sources

The second step for creating an Xcelsius visualization is to select the data sources linked to the components. With this step, you assign one or more cells from your imported Excel file to one or more Xcelsius components.

32 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

Creating a visualization

Example

You need to show Revenues by Store using a Column Chart, and the Price per Unit using a Horizontal Slider.

Selecting the data source for the components



1. Place the components on the canvas.

2. Double-click the column chart component to open the Properties panel.

For more information, see “Using the Component Properties panel” on

page 20.

3. Click the Data Range cell selector button.

4. Select the range of cells that contain the data for the column chart from

the imported spreadsheet, and click OK.

5. Type or link the chart title and subtitle.

6. Type or link the axis names and category labels.

7. Click the horizontal slider component to open the Properties panel.

8. Click the Link to Cell cell selector button.

9. Select the Price Per Unit cell from the imported spreadsheet, and click OK.

Step 3: Previewing and publishing the visualization

The third step is to preview and publish the visualization. You can see a preview of the live visualization, test the simulation result, make the required adjustments, and finally, generate the SWF or Flash animation that contains the visualization. Then the visualization is ready for publishing and distribution.

You can use the Preview button on the tool bar to toggle between the design view and preview. In preview, you can interact with the visualization as you would when it is published.

Once you are satisfied with the results of the preview, the visualization is ready to be published. You can publish your visualization using one of the following methods:

• Export as Macromedia Flash (SWF)

• Export as HTML

• Export to Microsoft PowerPoint

• Export as Adobe PDF

• Email Content Using Microsoft Outlook

• Export to Microsoft Word

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 33

Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

Updating data for a visualization

See “Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations” on page 65 for more information.

Updating data for a visualization

The Export Settings command on the File menu lets you specify how you want to update data. You can re-import the Excel file and replace the entire visualization, or you can create more customized and sustainable data replacement methods. The following options for updating the data in your visualization are available:

• Use Current Excel Data

This option takes the data as it exists in the currently imported visualization. This is the default option.

• Use Another Excel File

This option lets you specify a different Excel file from which to take data at export time.

Re-importing the Excel file

When you are creating a visualization you may need to re-import the Excel file into Xcelsius. This is normally because you have decided to add or modify the data in the spreadsheet. Since Xcelsius makes a copy of the original Excel file and imports the copy, when you make changes to the original Excel file, you will have to re-import it.

When re-importing the Excel file, be aware that if you inserted rows, columns or data, the links that you previously created may be damaged. Xcelsius will keep the link as a static reference. For example, if originally you linked a chart to the range A2:H2, and after that you modified the Excel file the chart range is now A3:H3, you will need to manually adjust the link after re-importing the Excel file. Xcelsius will continue using the range A2:H2 until you manually change the link.

To re-import the Excel file



1. On the View menu, click Import Model.

Tip: You can also re-import the Excel file by clicking the Import Model

button on the tool bar.

2. Select the Excel file to be imported.

3. Select the re-import method.

For more information, see the list following this procedure.

34 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

Updating data for a visualization

4. Click OK.

The Import Model dialog box provides the following options for specifying how data in the re-imported spreadsheet interacts with the existing links in the visualization:

• Refresh Data Sources

This action will import the selected spreadsheet. Use this option when the Excel file is the same or with small changes and you need to keep all previous links. All previously established links to the spreadsheet will be saved. However, if since the last import you have inserted, deleted or modified rows, column or data, it is possible that the links will be affected. Review the links before saving the visualization.

• Clear Data Sources

This action will import the selected spreadsheet and all previously established links will be lost. Use this option when the Excel file is significantly different and you need to delete all the links.

• Refresh Spreadsheet Format

This option is available only when Refresh Data Sources is selected. Use this option when some spreadsheet formatting parameters have changed which you want updated.

Re-importing with renamed sheets

Re-importing a spreadsheet that has a sheet that has been renamed will cause all links and formulas to be lost. A warning message will recommend two things:

• Use the same sheet name.

• Re-import using the Clear Data Sources option.

Using the Use Another Excel File option

With the Use Another Excel File option you can generate SWF files that use different data than the Excel file that the visualization currently uses.

Example

In a visualization that uses the retail price to calculate the expected revenue, you want Xcelsius to update a single cell while maintaining the original imported values in all other cells.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 35

Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

Updating data for a visualization



To replace data from another Excel spreadsheet

1. On the Data menu, click Replace Data Selection.

The Replace Data Selection dialog box appears.

2. Click Add.

3. In the Range Name box, type “Retail Price”.

4. Click the Range Selection cell selector button.

The imported spreadsheet and the Select a Range dialog box appear.

5. Select the Retail Price cell and click OK.

Only the selected cells will be modified each time the Excel spreadsheet is re-imported.

You return to the Replace Data Selection dialog box.

6. Click OK.

7. On the File menu, click Export Settings.

The Export Settings dialog box appears.

8. Click Use Another Excel File.

9. Click the Browse button and navigate to the Excel file to be used as the

new data source.

10. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Macromedia Flash (SWF).

The SWF file using the new data source is generated.

11. With your visualization on the canvas, on the Data menu, click Replace

Data Selection.

This function lets you select the cell(s) that you want Xcelsius to modify each time the Excel file is re-imported. All other cells will remain the same.

You have created a sustainable visualization. The new SWF will take the latest Retail Price available from the Excel file. When the Retail Price changes, all you have to do is to generate a new SWF file. All other cells not affected by the Retail Price will remain the same.

36 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

chapter

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Overview

This chapter introduces the Crystal Xcelsius components and their most relevant functionality.

Using chart components

Each type of chart functions in a particular way appropriate to different types of visualizations:

• Bubble Chart

A chart that lets you compare a group or series of items based on three different parameters. It has an X-axis and Y-axis to represent the item location over the chart area, and a Z value to represent the item size. You could use this chart to represent the market composition with the X-axis representing the ROI by industry type, the Y-axis representing the Cash Flow, and the Z-axis representing the Market Value.

• Line Chart

A single- or multi-line chart ideal for showing tendency over a period of time. Use this chart in visualizations that emphasize a trend line, such as Stock Prices or Revenue History.

• Pie Chart

A chart that represents the distribution or participation of each slice or item over a certain total that is represented on the overall pie value. The pie chart is appropriate for visualizations, such as Revenue Contribution by Product. The overall pie size represents the total revenues. Each slice represents a different product.

• XY Chart

A chart that displays data requiring two magnitudes to complete the analysis. The XY chart shows each data point as a result of the intersection of X values and Y values. You can use the XY chart in visualizations that compare ROI on the X axis against Market Value on the Y axis for a group of companies.

• Combination Chart

A combination column and line chart ideal for displaying a range of values and a trend line for those values. You can use the combination chart in visualizations examining stocks. A line series will show the historical stock price over the year, and a column chart will show the volume of trading for that stock.

38 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using chart components

• Bar Chart and Column Chart

A single- or multi-bar chart that shows and compares one or more items over a period of time or in a specific range of values. You could use a column chart in visualizations that contain the quarterly headcount by region.

• Stacked Column Chart and Stacked Bar Chart

A chart that compares several variables over a period of time. Stacked bars compare one or more variables by adding one variable on top of another. This chart compares several variables over a period of time such as Marketing Cost, General Cost, Administrative Cost. Each one of the cost components is presented in a different color and each portion represents a different variable. The total bar size represents the Total Cost.

• Area Chart

A standard chart with vertical and horizontal axes. Each point along the horizontal axis represents a data point. The actual values for each data point are plotted against the vertical axis. For each series, colored areas are created by connecting the plotted points and the horizontal axis. Use this chart in visualizations that emphasize a trend line, such as Stock Prices or Revenue History.

• Radar Chart and Filled Radar Chart

A chart with axes that radiate outwards from the center of the chart. These charts can have several axes. They are useful for plotting multidimensional sets of data. In the filled radar chart, the shape created by connecting the points along each axis is filled in with color. You could use the radar charts to compare aspects of stocks. One axis could display the price, another the volume, another the Price to Earnings ratio, and others any other relevant data on.

• Stacked Area Chart

A standard chart with vertical and horizontal axes. Each point along the horizontal axis represents a data point. The actual values for the data points are plotted against the vertical axis, with each series adding to the total value. You could use the stacked area chart to compare the revenue for multiple products as well as the combined revenue of all the products and the contribution of each product to that combined revenue.

• OHLC Chart and Candlestick Chart

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 39

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using chart components

How to create a chart

Creating a chart in Xcelsius is similar to creating a chart in Excel. The minimum requirement is to have a list of values in an adjacent range of cells. After this, you can enhance your chart with some basic information such as Title, Subtitle, Axis Titles and Series Names.

Example

To create an Xcelsius visualization that shows the Revenues per Store for a Car Dealer company, you will need an Excel file that contains an adjacent range of cells with this information.



1. Import the Excel spreadsheet into Xcelsius.

2. Place a column chart on the canvas.

3. Double-click the column chart component to open the Properties panel.

4. Type the title of the chart in the Chart Title box.

5. Type the subtitle of the chart in the Chart Subtitle box.

6. Click the Data Range cell selector button and select the range of values

7. Type the axis name in the Category (X) Axis box.

8. Type the axis name in the Value (Y) Axis box.

stock. High displays the highest price the stock achieved on that day. Low displays the lowest price the of the stock on that day. Close displays the closing price of the stock.

To create an Xcelsius visualization with a chart component

For information on importing spreadsheets into Xcelsius, see “Using the

Import Model button” on page 23.

Tip: You can also click the Chart Title cell selector button to select the

chart title from the imported spreadsheet.

Tip: You can also click the Chart Subtitle cell selector button to select the

chart subtitle from the imported spreadsheet.

from the imported spreadsheet.

The data range is the list of values to be presented on the chart component. Select the full range of values you want to display on the chart component.

Tip: You can also click the Category (X) Axis cell selector button to

select the axis name from the imported spreadsheet.

Tip: You can also click the Value (Y) Axis cell selector button to select

the axis name from the imported spreadsheet.

40 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Note: In some cases, you must create a multiple bar chart. To do this, select

the Series options and select one or more series. Each series represents one group of bars that are represented with the same color.

Using single value components

Single value components let you add user interactivity to your visualizations. Single value means that the components are linked to a single cell in the spreadsheet. After that, the component lets you modify or represent the value of that cell.

Each component can be used to customize the interactivity of a visualization:

• Dial

An input component. A dial represents a variable that can be modified to affect other components. For example, to represent the Price per Unit.

• Slider

An input component. A slider represents a variable that can be modified to affect other components. For example, to represent the Price per Unit.

• Progress Bar

An output component. A progress bar represents a value that changes and fills the progress bar area depending on its value.

• Gauge

An output component. The gauge measures the result of changes in the Excel cell to which it is linked. If you link the gauge to a cell that contains a formula, the gauge reflects the modifications each time the value changes.

• Valu e

An input when bound to a cell containing a formula, and an output when bound to a cell containing a value. The value component represents a single cell of your Excel file.

• Spinner

An input component. A spinner represents a variable that can be modified to affect other components. Users can interact with the spinner by clicking the up and down arrows or by typing a value into the text box.

• Play Button

An input component. The play button is used to increase the value of a cell in your visualization. For example, link the play button to a cell that contains the headcount. What will happen if the headcount increases by

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using single value components

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 41

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using single value components

one, two, three, or more? The play button takes the initial headcount value and increases its value systematically.

Input vs. output

Single value components have been classified as input and output components, but you can use any single value component and represent it as an input or output.

However, what really dictates whether a single value component is an input, that is permits user interaction, or output, is the cell to which it is linked. If the cell contains a formula of any type, the component is interpreted as an output. If the cell does not contain a formula, it is represented as an input.

For example, if you have a slider linked to a cell that does not contain a formula, you can modify the slider value by dragging the slider object, thereby modifying the cell value. If you have a slider linked to a cell that does contain a formula, you cannot modify the slider value.

Sample visualization: value component

A store supervisor wants to measure the effect that increasing or decreasing the price of an X product has over a certain level of products normally sold over a period of time.

Price per Unit is the variable that we want to modify. This cell affects the revenues for all stores. Quantity sold is the normal volume of products sold over a period of time. Revenues are calculated as quantity * price.

Note: You can find the spreadsheet, sample XLF file, and sample SWF file

for this visualization in the following location:

C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Crystal Xcelsius Designer

4.5\samples\User Guide Samples



To create an Xcelsius visualization using a value component and a chart

component

1. Import the spreadsheet into Xcelsius.

For information on importing spreadsheets into Xcelsius, see “Using the

Import Model button” on page 23.

2. Place a column chart component on the canvas and configure it.

For information on configuring the column chart component, see “Using

chart components” on page 38.

3. Place a value component on the canvas in the upper-left corner.

4. Double-click the value component to open the Properties panel.

42 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

5. Click the Link to Cell cell selector button and select the price per unit cell

from the imported spreadsheet.

6. Customize the appearance of the value component.

You can increase or decrease the Price per Unit by dragging the Value Component. Double-clicking the Value component lets you type in the value. As the Value Component is linked to a cell that affects the Revenues, the chart dynamically changes to reflect the new revenues by store.

Using the Selector components

The functionality of selector components lets you create a visualization with multiple selections.

Each selector can be combined with other components to create a dynamic visualization:

• Combo Box

A standard user-interface component that drops down a vertical list of items when it is clicked. Users can then select an item from the list.

• List Box

A standard user-interface component that lets users select items from a vertical list.

• Label Based Menu

The component lets users to select items from a vertical or horizontal list.

• Radio Button

The component lets users select from a vertical or horizontal group of items.

• Table

The table component is a What You See Is What You Get representation of any group of cells from your Excel file. Each row allows multiple selections.

Note: The table component can be used as a display component as well

as a selector component. As a display component, the table is a graphic representation of a range of cells in the spreadsheet. Click the Display Data cell selector button and select a range of cells from the spreadsheet. To use the table as a selector component, after setting the Display Data range, set the Insert Option to rows.

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the Selector components

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 43

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the Selector components

• Check Box

• Icon

• Toggle Button

• Filter

• Play Selector

Note: The Information button that appears on the Properties panel of each

selector component displays an animation that describes the functionality of the selector component.

A standard user-interface component where users toggle between two states: checked and unchecked.

Note: When using the check Box component you must specify settings

to control the movement between the checked and unchecked states. Click the Source Data Browse button and set the values that will control whether the check Box component appears checked or unchecked. Click the Insert In cell selector button and select an empty cell that will display the value that reflect whether the check box is checked or unchecked.

The icon can be used as a mobile selector or object. It can represent the value contained in one cell and be compared to its target or budget value. The Icon changes color depending on its value. See “Alerts” on page 59 for more information. At the same time, you can use the Icon to activate and display other components. See “Dynamic Visibility functionality” on

page 56 for more information.

Note: When using the Icon component you must specify settings to

control the movement between the checked and unchecked states. Click the Source Data Browse button and set the values that will control whether the Icon component appears checked or unchecked. Click the Insert In cell selector button and select an empty cell that will display the value that reflect whether the Icon component is checked or unchecked.

A standard user-interface component that lets users toggle between two states: on and off.

The filter component takes a range of data that shares a common number of items and filters the content so that there are no duplicated records.

The play selector sequentially inserts one row or column from a defined range into the Insert In cells you defined. You can link the Insert In cells to a chart so that the chart data changes each time the play selector inserts a row or column. The play selector component can display a large amount of data with a movie effect which lets users view the data without clicking on each selection.

44 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Sample visualization: filter component

The filter component is a selector that can present a large amount of data. The filter component can be used to create a visualization with drill down navigation that can use two or more interrelated combo boxes.

The filter component takes a range of data that shares a common number of items and filters the content so that there are no duplicated records.When a selection is made on the filter component, the corresponding data is inserted in the Insert In cells you specified.The Insert In cells can be used as source data for a chart component.

You can, for example, use the filter component to display the Sales per Sales Representative for a group of products that is organized by New Customers and Existing Customers.

Note: You can find the spreadsheet, sample XLF file, and sample SWF file

for this visualization in the following location:

C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Crystal Xcelsius Designer

4.5\samples\User Guide Samples



To create an Xcelsius visualization with a filter component and a chart

component

1. Import the Excel spreadsheet into Xcelsius.

For information on importing spreadsheets into Xcelsius, see “Using the

Import Model button” on page 23.

2. Place a filter component at the top of the canvas.

3. Double-click the filter component to open the Properties panel.

4. Click the Source Data cell selector button and select all the data to be

included in the visualization. For this example, the range of cells should include the data to be filtered

by as well as the data to be filtered.

5. Click the Insert In cell selector button and select an empty row of cells.

For this example, the range of cells must be empty as the data corresponding to the selections made on the Filter component will be inserted in the range of cells.

6. Adjust the value in the Number of Filters box.

For this example, set three filters: Product, Sales Representative, and Account Type.

7. Click the Title cell selector button and select the cell containing the title of

the visualization.

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the Selector components

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 45

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the map component

8. Close the Properties panel.

9. Place a bar chart component on the canvas below the filter component.

For information on configuring the bar chart component, see “Using chart

components” on page 38.

Using the map component

Map components create visualizations with geographical representations that can be displayed by region.

The map component has two major characteristics. It shows data for each region; each region can also act as a Selector. By combining these two features, you can create a visualization where the data for each region appears when you pass the pointer over the region. At the same time, each region can insert a row of data that contains additional information. This row of data is displayed on other components, such as a chart or a set of single value components.

How does it work?

Xcelsius associates data with each region in the map by using region codes. Each region in the map has a defined region code. When Source Data, Display Data, or Target Data is selected, the map component searches either the first column or first row of the range for the defined codes. When a code is found, the data in the matching row or column is then associated with the corresponding region.

By default, the USA map uses the postal abbreviations as its region codes, and the Europe map uses the ISO, or International Organization for Standardization, two-digit country codes for its region codes. To use the map components with existing spreadsheets, you can edit the region codes associated with each region by editing the region names.

Note: In the Excel file you must identify the state code and data in an

adjacent range of cells for each type of selection: Display Data, Source Data, and Inset In Range.

Sample visualization: map component

For example, you can create a visualization that shows the revenues by state for a retail company, where when a user clicks or passes the pointer over a state, the state inserts a row of data that populates a column chart showing the historic revenue trend.

46 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the map component

Note: You can find the spreadsheet, sample XLF file, and sample SWF file

for this visualization in the following location:

C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Crystal Xcelsius Designer

4.5\samples\User Guide Samples



To create an Xcelsius visualization with a map component and a chart

component

1. Import the Excel spreadsheet into Xcelsius.

For information on importing spreadsheets into Xcelsius, see “Using the

Import Model button” on page 23.

2. Place a map component on the canvas.

3. Click the Region Names cell selector button.

By default, the USA map has the list of the 48 continental states plus Washington D.C. in alphabetical order. Before using the map, you must indicate the codes to which each state is going to be identified on the Excel file. For example, you can choose AL for Alabama and CA for California. The USA map identifies the data corresponding to a cell that contains the code AL as being the data for Alabama and the cell that contains CA as being the data for California.

4. Click the Region Names Browse button to verify that each state is linked

to the correct state code.

5. Click the Display Data cell selector button and select the cells containing

the State Codes and the state data from the imported spreadsheet.

6. Click the Source Data cell selector button and select the cells containing

the State Codes and the state data from the imported spreadsheet. This step configures the map component to act as a a selector.

7. Click the Insert In cell selector button and select an empty range of cells.

For this example, the range of cells must be empty as the range of data for the state selected on the map component will be inserted into the range of cells.

8. Place a column chart component on the canvas above the map component.

9. Click the Data Range cell selector button and select the range of cells

you selected for the Insert In range of the map component from the imported spreadsheet.

This ensures that the column chart component displays the data of the state that is selected on the map component.

10. Configure the column chart component.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 47

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the art and background components

For information on configuring chart components, see “Using chart

components” on page 38.

Using the art and background components

Art and backgrounds can be used to enhance your visualizations. The background components can be used to import images or Flash movies into your Xcelsius visualization.

Art and background components can be used to customize visualizations:

• Image Component

The image component can be used to display JPG images, which lets you add your own logos or artwork into an Xcelsius visualization. You can also add videos, animations, and other interactive elements by importing a Flash movie.

• Ellipse

An ellipse that you can add to your visualizations.

• Background

Backgrounds are prebuilt artwork that you can add to your visualizations to assist layout and improve design. Backgrounds can be used to create divisions and designate groups of related components. Backgrounds maintain their effects and visual integrity at virtually any size.

• Line

A vertical or horizontal line you can use to define your visualizations.

• Rectangle

A rectangle that you can add to your visualizations to outline, define, or contain sections.

Skins

Each skin has a number of different backgrounds that you can use that maintains the look and feel of that particular skin. Combined with the appearance options of the backgrounds, you can create a multitude of different looks using the background components. With Skins you can globally change the appearance of components.

To select skins, on the View menu, click Change Skin. The following options appear on the Skins dialog box:

• Select Skins

Select the skin name from the list.

48 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

• Reset to Skin Defaults

Select this option to revert any changes you have made to components to the default values for the selected skin. Clear this option to retain the changes you have made to the components.

How to use the image component

Use the image component to display JPG images. This lets you to add your own logos or artwork to an Xcelsius visualization.

Note: Progressive JPGs and JPGs with CMYK coloring, as opposed to the

standard RGB coloring, are not supported. You can also add videos, animations, and other interactive elements by

importing a Flash movie. As exported Xcelsius visualizations are Flash movies, you can use this feature to add an exported Xcelsius visualization into another Xcelsius visualization.

Note: Flash Player versions 7 or greater have new security features which

may prevent your Xcelsius visualization from connecting with an external data source. Without a policy file, SWF files from one domain cannot access data on another domain or sub-domain. In addition, SWF files served over HTTP cannot access data at a HTTPS location. Please refer to the online article from Macromedia regarding security restrictions for data loading for information on creating a policy file to allow access to data in the cases above.

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the art and background components

Embedding external files

When importing external files into the image components, you will have the choice of embedding the file. If you choose to embed the file, it will become a part of the SWF file that is created when the visualization is exported.

If you choose not to embed the file, at runtime the file will be loaded into the exported visualization as needed. When the visualization is exported, all of the non-embedded external files used in the visualization are written out to a folder with the same name and location as the exported visualization. The visualization will load the external images or movies from this directory. The visualization and folder must exist in the same directory for the external files to be loaded correctly.

The decision to embed the file will depend on your specific needs. The main advantages for embedding files are as follows:

• Embedded files let you distribute your entire visualization in a single file.

• Dynamic Visibility is faster as reloading is not necessary.

• Embedded files maintain their state when hidden with Dynamic Visibility.

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Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the art and background components

The main advantages for not embedding files as follows:

• Possible runtime performance increases since the external files are

unloaded when they are hidden with Dynamic Visibility.

• Shorter load times for the application since external files are loaded only

when necessary.

• The visualization does not need to be re-exported if external file changes.

Regardless of which option you choose, Xcelsius stores a local copy of the file internally in the XLF file. The original file is no longer accessed or used in the visualization. The XLF file can be moved or emailed and the contents of the file will travel with it.

In certain cases, you may not want to use local copies of images, but rather load an image from a specified URL at runtime.

Nested external files

Xcelsius lets you use external SWF files in your visualizations. These SWF files may, in turn, have external assets such as other SWF files, images, or XML files. The external assets used by the SWF that are referenced with relative paths must be available from the location of the host visualization.

For example, if you have a SWF file which loads in an external image at images/myImage.gif, and you use this SWF file within your visualization, the SWF file will attempt to load an image at images/myImage.gif from the location of the visualization. It does not load relative to the external SWF file.

You can, for example, add your corporate logo into your Xcelsius visualization.

To create an Xcelsius visualization with an image component



1. Place an image component on the canvas.

2. Double-click the image component to open the Properties panel.

3. Click Import.

4. Navigate to and select the JPG or SWF file.

5. Click Open.

Your logo is imported into the visualization at the default size. You can now place and resize the image.

50 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Using the other components

This category contains an assorted set of components that you can use to enhance your visualizations:

• Trend Icon

The trend icon changes its pointing direction, depending on the value of the cell to which it is linked:

• If the value is positive, the arrow points up.

• If the value is zero, the arrow is neutral.

• If the value is negative, the arrow points down.

• Local Scenario Buttons

Lets users save states of an Xcelsius visualization to their local machines. Afterwards, these states or scenarios can be loaded quickly, even after closing the visualization. These scenarios are saved to the local machine, and will be unavailable if the visualization is opened on a different machine.

• Grid

A dynamic table that represents a group of rows and columns to display the content. The Grid lets you show the data just as it is on any table, or preform data modification that can impact other components.

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the other components

Local scenario buttons component

The local scenario buttons component lets users save the current state of a visualization, making it well-suited for saving results of what-if analyses. Users can save any number of these results or scenarios and load them at any time, even after closing the visualization.

The scenarios created are specific to each visualization. As such, two visualizations can have scenarios with the same names without interfering with one another.

The visualization can be moved or renamed on the same computer and will still be able to access its saved scenarios.

Scenarios saved in preview mode will not persist outside of the preview session. This includes snapshots and exporting to PowerPoint or to Outlook.

Note: Local scenarios created on one computer will not be accessible to the

visualization if it has been emailed or moved to another computer

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Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the other components

How does the local scenario buttons component work?

To enable users to save, load, and delete scenarios, add a local scenario button component to the visualization.

When running the visualization, users click the local scenario button component for the options for the scenarios: Save, Load, and Delete.

After one of the three options is chosen, a dialog box appears, allowing the user to complete the operation.

Flash Player settings

An unlimited number of scenarios can be saved in every visualization, so long as enough local storage is allocated for the Flash Player. If a user attempts to save a scenario and there is not enough local storage, the Flash Player will prompt the user to allocate more. If more space is allocated, the scenario will be saved successfully. If not, the scenario will not be saved.

If a user attempts to save a scenario and local storage has been disabled, the local scenario buttons component will ask the user to enable local storage and automatically open the Flash Player settings. The scenario will not be saved until the user enables local storage and then saves the scenario.

The Flash Player settings can be opened by right-clicking anywhere on the visualization.

Note: Setting the Local Storage amount of the Flash Player below what is

currently used, or disabling local storage by checking the Never box will erase all saved scenarios on the computer. This includes scenarios created in other visualizations. The Flash Player will warn the user before allowing the scenarios to be erased.

Loading a saved scenario should restore the visualization to almost the same state it was in when it was saved. There are a few exceptions, primarily cosmetic changes, which don't directly affect the data visualization. The states of external SWF files are also not restored when a scenario is loaded.

Sample visualization: grid component

In some visualizations, you might want to complement the graphical display of data with traditional tables that show the underlying data. One way to do this is by using a Value component. For instances where you would need multiple value components, you can also use the grid component.

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Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the text components

The grid component is a collection of N number of value components that are linked together so that they respond to global functions. For example, if you change the font size, the same font size will be applied to all cells or values in the grid component.

The grid component works in the same way as the value component. For information on value components, see “Using the Selector components” on

page 43.

The grid component can be used as an input or output component. You can modify the underlying data by placing the pointer over each one of the array values in the grid.

You can, for example complement a visualization displaying the Sales by Branch for a company by placing a grid component that displays the data that underlies the chart component.

Note: You can find the spreadsheet, sample XLF file, and sample SWF file

for this visualization in the following location:

C:\Program Files\Business Objects\Crystal Xcelsius Designer

4.5\samples\User Guide Samples



To add a grid component to an Xcelsius visualization

1. Place a grid component on the canvas.

2. Double-click the grid component to open the Properties panel.

3. Click the Link to Cell cell selector button and select the Insert In row of

the visualization and the row containing the x axis values of the chart component.

For this example, the range of cells should contain the year names.

A visualization with a chart component and a grid component shows users both the graphical and punctual data representations. As the user selects each branch, both the chart and the grid display the corresponding data.

Using the text components

This category contains a set of components for labeling components and entering text in your visualization. The values displayed in the text components are static and will not change as the visualization is updated.

Text components let you customize your visualization:

• Input Text

The input text component lets users input values into the visualization by typing.

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Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Using the Web connectivity components

• Input Text Area

The input text area, similar to the input text component, lets users input text into the visualization. The input text area, however, lets users type multiple lines of text.

• Label

The label component lets you add an unlimited amount of text to enhance your visualizations. You can use the label component to create titles, subtitles, explanations, help, and more.

Note: The link between the label component and the imported

spreadsheet is dynamic. For information on dynamic and static data sources, see “Dynamic and static data sources” on page 28.

Using the Web connectivity components

This category contains a group of components that provides options for linking your visualizations to the Web:

• External Slideshow

An External Slide Show component creates a slide show of URL-based images and SWF files.

Unlike the normal Image Component, which requires that you first Import the file, the External Slide Show component loads the image at the URL specified in the URL data source.

Note:

• When an image is imported into normal Image Components,

Xcelsius stores its own local copy of the file internally in the XLF file. The original file is no longer accessed or used in the visualization. Because the file data is stored within the XLF, the XLF can be moved or emailed and the contents of the file travels with it. The External Slide Show points to a URL, however, which can change at runtime. This means that the image does not travel with the XLF. Therefore the image must be available to the SWF at runtime.

• Whenever the External Slide Show URL changes, it attempts to

load in the image at that location. Once it has loaded the image, it will transition from the current image to the new one specified at the URL data source.

• URL Link Button

A button that links to a relative or absolute URL when pressed.

54 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Using Advanced Features

chapter

Using Advanced Features

Overview

This chapter provides an introduction to the functionality that can be used to customize Crystal Xcelsius visualizations.

Dynamic Visibility functionality

For information on the specific dynamic visibility options, see “Dynamic

Visibility” on page 85.

You can combine two components with dynamic visibility. For example, you can add a Toggle Button to display a specific chart. The Toggle Button can be configured to toggle between inserting showChart and hideChart into a cell when it is selected. By linking the chart to this destination cell and setting the Chart's Display Status Key to showChart, the Chart becomes visible when the Toggle Button inserts the value showChart and hidden when the Toggle Button inserts hideChart.

You may want to switch between a number of components. To accomplish this, use the Display Status Key and a Selector. For example, a visualization might need to toggle between different charts. To achieve this, give each chart a unique Display Status Key, such as chart1 or chart2. A list box with Source Data that matches the Display Status Keys can then insert into a cell the Display Status of every chart that is linked to the list box. As the list box value is inserted into the cell, the corresponding chart is made visible, while the others are hidden.

Sample visualization: Dynamic Visibility



To create an Xcelsius visualization using dynamic visibility with a check

box component and a chart component

1. Import the Excel spreadsheet into Xcelsius.

For information on importing spreadsheets into Xcelsius, see “Using the

Import Model button” on page 23.

2. Place a check box component at the top of the canvas.

3. Place a column chart component on the canvas beneath the check box

component.

4. Double-click the check box component to open the Properties panel.

5. Click the Source Data Browse button and set the values to control

whether the check box component is checked, and click OK. For this example, you can use the default values of 0 and 1.

56 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Using Advanced Features

Dynamic Visibility functionality

6. Click the Insert In cell selector button and select an empty cell from the

imported spreadsheet. The cell must be empty for the dynamic visibility functionality to work.

7. Close the Properties panel.

8. Double-click the column chart component to open the Properties panel.

9. Configure the column chart component.

For information on configuring chart components, see “Using chart

components” on page 38.

10. On the Behavior tab, click the Display Status cell selector button and

select the Insert In cell you specified for the check box component.

By default, when you run the visualization, the chart won't be visible. Users must click on the Check Box to enable the chart.

Sample visualization: Status List and Display Status

For information on the Status List option on the Insert Option list, see “Insert

Data” on page 138.

For information on Display Status functionality, see “Dynamic Visibility” on

page 85.

You can, for example create a visualization that shows the revenues by region that has different charts displaying the data for each region.

To create an Xcelsius visualization using dynamic visibility with a radio



button component and multiple chart components

1. Import the Excel spreadsheet into Xcelsius.

For information on importing spreadsheets into Xcelsius, see “Using the

Import Model button” on page 23.

2. Place a radio button component on the left side of the canvas.

3. Double-click the radio button component to open the Properties panel.

4. Click the Labels cell selector button and select the cells containing the

radio button selections from the imported spreadsheet.

For this example, the range of cells should contain the region names.

5. On the Insert Option list, click Status List.

6. Click the Insert In cell selector button and select an empty range of cells.

The range of cells must correspond to the range of selections. For this example, the range of cells must correspond to the region names.

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Dynamic Visibility functionality

7. Close the Properties panel.

8. Place a pie chart component beside the radio button component on the

canvas.

9. Configure the pie chart component to display the data for the North

America region.

For information on configuring chart components, see “Using chart

components” on page 38.

10. Place a line chart component beside the radio button component on the

canvas.

11. Configure the line chart component to display the data for the Latin

America region.

12. Place a column chart component beside the radio button component on

the canvas.

13. Configure the column chart component to display the data for the Europe

region.

14. Place a bar chart component beside the radio button component on the

canvas.

15. Configure the bar chart component to display the data for the Asia region.

16. Place a pie chart component beside the radio button component on the

canvas.

17. Configure the pie chart component to display the data for the Australia

and Pacific region.

18. Open the Properties panel of the North America pie chart component.

19. On the Behavior tab, click the Display Status cell selector button and

select the Status List cell for North America you specified for the radio button component.

20. Close the Properties panel.

21. Repeat steps 18-20 for the other region charts.

22. Click Preview.

When a selection is made on the radio button component the number 1 is inserted in the Status List cell corresponding to the selection, all other Status List cells display the value zero. When a Display Status cell has the value 1 in it, all components linked to that cell are visible, the result is that you will see only the chart that corresponds to the radio button selection is displayed.

Each region selected on the Radio Button will show a different type of chart.

58 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Alerts

For information on the specific Alerts options, see “Common Alerts Tab

features” on page 91.

Sample visualization: single value using alerts

You can, for example create a visualization that shows the actual balances compared to the target for month to date Revenues, Inventory, and the Cost of Good Sold.

To create an Xcelsius visualization using alerts with gauge components



1. Import the Excel spreadsheet into Xcelsius.

For information on importing spreadsheets, see “Using the Import Model

button” on page 23.

2. Place a gauge component on the right of the canvas.

3. Double-click the gauge component to open the Properties panel.

4. Click the Title cell selector button and select the cell containing the title

for the gauge component.

For this example, the title for the gauge component is Sales.

5. Click the Link to Cell cell selector button and select the cell containing

the Actual Value for Sales from the imported spreadsheet.

6. On the Alerts tab, click Enable Alerts.

7. Click Percent Alerts.

8. Click an Alert Definition.

For this example, click High Values are Good.

9. Customize the percentage limits.

10. Customize the alert colors.

11. Click the Tar get cell selector button and select the Target value for Sales

from the imported spreadsheet.

12. Click Enable Object Alerts.

This option changes the gauge pointer color to reflect the alert level of the pointer position.

13. Click Enable Alert Level Display.

This option adds the alert color spectrum to the gauge component.

Using Advanced Features

Alerts

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 59

Using Advanced Features

Creating templates

14. On the Behavior tab, adjust the initial limits for the gauge component as

needed. For this example, set the upper limit to 500, and the lower limit to 99.

15. Close the Properties panel.

16. Copy the gauge component and paste two copies beside the original on

the canvas.

17. Double-click the second gauge component to open the Properties panel.

18. Customize the gauge component to display Inventory data.

Set the Alert Definition to Middle Values are Good.

19. Close the Properties panel.

20. Double-click the third gauge component to open the Properties panel.

21. Customize the gauge component to display the Cost of Good Sold data.

Set the Alert Definition to Low Values are Good.

22. Close the Properties panel.

23. Click Preview.

Creating templates

This section describes Xcelsius Templates. Xcelsius offers a set of templates you can use to create a new visualization. You can use the existing Xcelsius templates, or you can create a visualization from scratch and save it as a template.

To open a template, on the File menu, click New From Template. A list of available libraries is available. Each library contains a group of templates that are displayed under the Items section. As you select each template in the list, a preview of the template is shown on the right side of the screen. These are interactive templates. You can click on them to see the intended functionality of the components. Select a template from the list and click OK.

When selected, the template is inserted on the canvas as a new visualization. You can now add, delete or modify the template, and save it as a new visualization or as a modified or new template.

Custom-made libraries and templates

You can create your own libraries and templates. For example, if you are creating a set of Portlets for use in your corporate portal, you may want to save your visualizations as templates so that you can re-use them when updates are necessary. You can create multiple libraries and templates.

60 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Using Advanced Features

Using Global Styles



To create a new template

1. Create the Xcelsius visualization you want to save as a template.

2. On the File menu, click Save As.

The Save As dialog box appears.

3. Navigate to the folder of the library where you want to save the template.

Note: To create a new library, create a new folder under the

directory of the Xcelsius installation.

4. Enter a file name for the XLF file, and click Save.

The file name becomes the name of the new template.

5. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Macromedia Flash (SWF).

6. Navigate to the folder where you saved the XLF template.

7. Enter the same file name for the SWF file that you entered for the XLF

file, and click Save to export the visualization.

Exporting the visualization creates the template preview that will be displayed in the Preview section of the Templates window.

The visualization is now available as a template. The next time you open the templates window, your template will be available for preview and use.

If you create a visualization you think would make a good template, you can email it to us at CrystalXcelsiussupport@businessobjects.com.

/template

Using Global Styles

Global Styles alter the appearance of your visualization. You can customize your entire visualization, or only certain components. Global Styles affect components hierarchically. That is the primary colors you specify affect the components before the secondary colors. Global Styles are divided into application categories: Styles, Text and Labels, and Buttons and Background. You can create your own Global Style based on modifications you have made to an existing Global Style or combination of Global Styles. Global Style modifications do not affect fonts, text formatting, or alerts, only the color of the visualization.

Note: Global Styles are not transferred with XLF files. If the Global Style

used by an XLF is unavailable, the style will continue to be used by the existing components in the visualization, but it will not be able to be applied to new components.

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Using Advanced Features

Using Global Styles

Changing the current Global Style

To change the current Global Style, on the View menu, click Change Style. The Global Styles dialog box appears. Before you change the style, the Default style is applied to your visualization. The Default style is a special Global Style. The style parameters are taken from the skin, and you cannot modify them. The Default style can be used to revert to the original appearance of a visualization.

In the Global Styles dialog box, select a Global Style from the Current Style list. Click Apply to apply the selected Global Style to the components on the canvas. Click OK to apply the selected Global Style to components that will be placed on the canvas. The Global Style that is applied to the visualization, is displayed on the Component Explorer.

Creating a Global Style

A Global Style is created when you modify the style parameters of your visualization and save it as a style.

Note: When creating a Global Style, define a set of custom colors. Normally

five custom colors is sufficient. Before you begin assigning colors to your components, add these colors to the custom color palette. To access the color palette, click on any custom color selector button. For information on the color selector button, see “Color Selector button” on page 90.

To create a global style



1. Create an Xcelsius visualization.

2. On the View menu, click Change Style.

The Global Styles dialog box appears.

3. On the Current Style list, select a global style to be modified.

4. Click Save As.

The Save Crystal Xcelsius Style dialog box appears.

5. Enter a name for the new style and click Save.

6. In the Borders and Lines area, click the Primary Color color selector

button and select a new primary color.

For this example, select orange.

Note: In the Current Style list the style has been labeled as modified, this

will be updated when you save the style.

62 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

7. Modify the other colors of the new style.

8. Click Save As and replace the style.

9. Click Apply.

The new style is applied to the components on the canvas.

10. Click OK.

The new style is applied to any components that will be added to the visualization.

Note: When you close Xcelsius the Global style is not attached to the

visualization. You will need to re-apply or select the Global Style to continue working with it.

Transferring Global Styles

Global Styles are not transferred with XLF files. To make a Global Style created on one machine available to another, you must transfer the file containing the style information. For every style you create, an XGS file is created with the same name as the style. The XGS file stores all the style information. By default, these files are saved to the

To copy a Global Style from one machine to another, simply the corresponding XGS file from the source machine onto the other machine. If the file is placed

/styles directory of the Xcelsius installation of the other machine, the

in the new Global Style will automatically appear in the Current Style list on the Global Styles dialog box. You can manually import the style by clicking browse on the Current Style list, navigating to the XGS file and clicking Save.

Using Advanced Features

Using Global Styles

/styles directory of the Xcelsius installation.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 63

Using Advanced Features

Using Global Styles

64 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations

chapter

Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations

Overview

This chapter provides information on exporting your Crystal Xcelsius visualization.

Exporting your visualization to Flash

Once your visualization is complete, you can export your content as a Macromedia Flash (SWF) file. The SWF file can be executed locally with the standalone Flash player, opened in a browser, used as part of a web site, or imported into a number of different programs.

To export an Xcelsius visualization to Flash



1. Create an Xcelsius visualization.

2. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Macromedia Flash (SWF).

The Export Macromedia Flash (SWF) dialog box appears.

3. Enter a name for the SWF file, and click Save.

Xcelsius generates the Macromedia Flash file.

Note: If there are any non-embedded external files in the visualization, a

folder containing those files is also generated with the same name and location as the exported file. The visualization loads the external files from this directory at runtime. The visualization and folder must exist in the same directory for the external files to be loaded correctly.

Exporting your visualization to HTML

Not all computers are configured to open Flash files in the browser. By embedding your SWF visualization in an HTML file, your users can view the visualization through an HTML file, by double-clicking one file. The generated HTML document references your SWF visualization.

To export an Xcelsius visualization to HTML



1. Create an Xcelsius visualization.

2. On the File menu, point to Export, and click HTML.

The Publish to HTML dialog box appears.

3. Enter a name for the HTML file, and click Save.

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Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations

Exporting your visualization to PowerPoint

Xcelsius generates the HTML file and a SWF file in the same directory with the same name. These files must be kept together in order for the HTML file to work properly.

Exporting your visualization to PowerPoint

Once your visualization is complete, you can export it as a PowerPoint slide. You can modify the slide using Microsoft PowerPoint.

You can preview your visualization as a PowerPoint slide. Click the Send to Powerpoint button on the toolbar. PowerPoint is launched your visualization is inserted in a slide. The visualization in the slide is dynamic and interactive. You can save the preview presentation as a PowerPoint presentation.

Note: External files that are referenced relatively by the visualization will not

be available in the preview presentation.

To export an Xcelsius visualization to PowerPoint



1. Create an Xcelsius visualization.

2. On the File menu, point to Export, and click PowerPoint Slide.

The Export Powerpoint (PPT) dialog box appears.

3. Enter a name for the PPT file, and click Save.

Xcelsius generates the PowerPoint (PPT) file and a SWF file with the same name. The generated PowerPoint file is automatically opened and the visualization will be visible on the first slide of the presentation. When the presentation is run, the visualization is dynamic and interactive.

Note: When the visualization is exported, any external files used by External

components are created and placed in a folder with the same name and location as the exported visualization. The external files must remain in the same folder as the visualization for the visualization to work properly.

Emailing your visualization with Outlook

Once your visualization is complete, you can export it using Microsoft Outlook. You can preview your visualization in Outlook. Click the Send to Outlook

button on the toolbar. Outlook is launched and your visualization is inserted in an email. The visualization is dynamic and interactive. You can use this email as an exported visualization.

To export an Xcelsius visualization with Outlook



1. Create an Xcelsius visualization.

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Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations

Exporting your visualization to a Plumtree portal

2. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Outlook.

Xcelsius generates a SWF file. Outlook is launched and the SWF file is attached to a new email message that can be customized and sent.

Exporting your visualization to a Plumtree portal

Once your visualization is complete, you can export it to a Plumtree portal. The visualization in the Plumtree Portal is dynamic and interactive.

To export an Xcelsius visualization to a Plumtree portal



1. Create an Xcelsius visualization.

2. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Macromedia Flash (SWF).

The Export Macromedia Flash (SWF) dialog box appears.

3. Enter a name for the SWF file, and click Save.

Xcelsius generates the Macromedia Flash file.

4. Place the SWF visualization on your web server.

5. In Xcelsius, on the File menu, point to Export, and click Plumtree.

The Plumtree Export Options dialog box appears.

6. Customize the size of your visualization in the Plumtree portal.

Note: Click Scale ->X and Scale ->Y to maintain the proportions of the

visualization.

7. In the URL Path box, type the URL of the visualization you placed on the

web server.

8. Click Publish.

Xcelsius generates an HTML file with the name of the SWF file that references the visualization at the URL path.

Note: The SWF file must be exported to the location you set in the URL path.

The HTML file must have access to the SWF file.

By creating a gadget from this HTML file, your Xcelsius visualization can be added directly into your Plumtree portal. For information on creating gadgets, refer to the Plumtree documentation.

68 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations

Exporting your visualization to Word

When your visualization is complete, you can export it to a Microsoft Word document. The visualization in the Microsoft Word document is dynamic and interactive.

You can preview your visualization in a Word document. Click the Send to Microsoft Word button on the toolbar. Microsoft Word is launched and your visualization is displayed on the first page. The visualization in the Word document is dynamic and interactive. You can save the preview document as a Word document.

To export an Xcelsius visualization to Word



1. Create an Xcelsius visualization.

2. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Word.

The Export Word (DOC) dialog box appears.

3. Enter a name for the Word document, and click Save.

Xcelsius generates a Word document and embeds a SWF of your visualization in the document.

Note: If your visualization in Word is static, on the Microsoft Word Control

toolbar click the Exit Design Mode button.

Taking a snapshot of your visualization

The Snapshot menu items allow you to export the current preview data. To enable the snapshot feature, you must be in preview mode. On the File menu, point to Snapshot and click one of the following export methods:

• Back to Excel

An Excel spreadsheet (XLS) with the changes made in preview mode is generated.

Note:

• This option is only available when an Excel spreadsheet has been

imported into the visualization.

• To export a copy of the original Excel file imported into the

visualization, on the Data menu, click Export Model and save the file.

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Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations

Taking a snapshot of your visualization

• Macromedia Flash (SWF)

A Macromedia Flash (SWF) file with the changes made in preview mode is generated.

• HTML

An HTML file and a Macromedia Flash (SWF) with the changes made in preview mode are generated.

• PowerPoint Slide

A Microsoft PowerPoint file with one slide that contains a Macromedia Flash (SWF) file with the changes made in preview mode is generated.

• Outlook

A Microsoft Outlook email that contains the Macromedia Flash (SWF) file with the changes made in preview mode is generated.

• Adobe PDF

An Adobe PDF file with the changes made in preview mode is generated.

70 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

chapter

Frequently Asked Questions

Installation questions

Do I need to install Macromedia Flash to use Crystal Xcelsius?

The Macromedia Flash player is required for Crystal Xcelsius to function properly. If you did not install Macromedia Flash as part of the installation process, you can download and install Flash from the Macromedia web site

http://www.macromedia.com.

Why doesn't Crystal Xcelsius function after I upgrade or install Microsoft Office?

When Crystal Xcelsius is installed, it automatically configures itself to work with the version of Microsoft Office that is installed. If you upgrade or change the version of Microsoft Office on your machine, Crystal Xcelsius must be reinstalled to work properly with the new version.

Microsoft Excel questions

Can I re-import an Excel file with a renamed spreadsheet?

See “Re-importing with renamed sheets” on page 35 for information about renamed spreadsheets.

Why does my table look different than my Excel spreadsheet?

The Table component only supports the Verdana font. Your Excel spreadsheets may be using a different font which will result in minor visual differences between the spreadsheet and your tables. To match your views, change the spreadsheet font to Verdana.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Microsoft PowerPoint questions

How can I embed an Crystal Xcelsius SWF file into an existing PowerPoint presentation?

Within Crystal Xcelsius you can embed your current SWF file into a new PowerPoint presentation using the Export to PowerPoint options. See

“Exporting your visualization to PowerPoint” on page 67 for more information.

Troubleshooting questions

Why doesn't my component show scientific formatting?

The visual display of scientific formatted numbers is not supported at this time. Calculations that are dependent upon scientific formatted numbers are not affected.

Why doesn’t my URL button work?

Your URL must include http:// for it to function correctly.

What happened to the scenarios I saved?

If you are having trouble saving and loading scenarios with the Scenario button, refer to “How does the local scenario buttons component work?” on page 52.

Why can't I drag my Slider, Dial, or other single value component?

The values of single value components that are linked to cells with formulas cannot be adjusted. This prevents inconsistencies in the visualization.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 73

Frequently Asked Questions

Troubleshooting questions

Why won't my SWF file print correctly?

Printing your SWF file through the menu of the Flash Player does not work because the Flash Player does not print transparent objects properly. Printing through the browser may also print the SWF file with incorrect proportions.

To correctly print your SWF file



1. Take a screen shot of the SWF file.

Tip: Press the CTRL and PRINTSCREEN keys simultaneously to capture

the full screen or ALT and PRINTSCREEN to capture the active window.

2. Paste the screen shot into an image program.

3. Print through that program's print options.

Why do I receive a Server Busy message?

The Server Busy message means that Excel has a pending operation or is busy performing an instruction. Check Excel to make sure it is not in the process of editing and then click Retry on the warning dialog box.

Why do I receive the message “A script in this movie is causing Flash Player to run slowly...”?

The Macromedia Flash Player used to view Crystal Xcelsius visualizations displays this message when a script has taken more than 60 seconds to run. Due to the complexity of Crystal Xcelsius visualizations, larger visualizations running on slow machines may cause this message to be shown, particularly at startup. If you click No on the message dialog box, the visualization should load properly.

Note: While in Preview Mode, pressing Yes to abort the script causes the

preview to stop working. You will need to switch to Design Mode, then back to Preview Mode, to properly preview the visualization.

Why does my visualization start in a strange state?

When a visualization is loaded, all selectors insert their default selection data into their Insert In ranges to populate other components with data. When more than one selector inserts into the same range, the selector at the highest level inserts last. This overrides the default data inserted by the other selectors.

You can use the Object Browser to view the order of the components and change the order using the Layer Options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Troubleshooting questions

Why are my data sources not refreshing?

Certain data sources are denoted as static with a green Excel icon. These data sources do not refresh during the course of the visualization. Please see

“Dynamic and static data sources” on page 28.

Why are formula-based indexes for my VLOOKUP array not changing at runtime?

To maintain the speed and efficiency of the VLOOKUP function, Crystal Xcelsius does not recalculate formulas in the index column of a VLOOKUP array.

If you have a VLOOKUP function that contains a formula in the index column, the index column cell always contains the initial value of the formula.

Why are my URL-based images not visible in preview mode?

Relative paths

URL references to images that are relative paths do not display in preview mode because the preview SWF file is generated in a temporary directory.

When you export the SWF file to a location that will make the relative paths valid, the images will load properly.

Jpeg files on a web site

If you are referencing jpeg files on a web site, be sure that the jpeg files are not progressive jpegs. Progressive jpegs load in stages, which allows lowbandwidth users to see an image quickly and without having to wait for the entire image to load.

Crystal Xcelsius cannot display progressive jpegs that are referenced by a URL. If you select the embed option when you reference a progressive jpeg, Crystal Xcelsius displays the progressive jpeg as expected.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 75

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about supported features

Why am I getting a Truncation Occurred... message when I try to preview my visualization?

Crystal Xcelsius has a default value for the maximum number of rows that can be referenced in either a formula or source data for a component. If you are getting the Truncation Occurred... message when you click preview, your visualization contains a function that has a reference to an array of cells that exceeds the maximum number of rows setting.

You can change this setting with the Maximum Rows setting on the Data menu. The Maximum Rows setting exists to help ensure optimal performance of Crystal Xcelsius visualizations.

Why are my international settings not used by my XLF?

An XLF uses the international settings of the machine it was created on until the spreadsheet is re-imported into the XLF. These settings include items such as the decimal and thousands separator characters.

Questions about supported features

What Excel functions are supported by Crystal Xcelsius?

See “Supported Excel Functions” on page 192 of the online reference guide (on your Crystal Xcelsius installation disk) for a complete list of functions.

What is the maximum limit of rows for a single spreadsheet selection?

There is no limit to the number of rows for a selection. However, the size of your selection can affect the performance of your visualization. Crystal Xcelsius warns you if you select more than 512 rows.

Does Crystal Xcelsius support Excel files that link to other Excel files?

No, this feature is not supported by Crystal Xcelsius.

76 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about supported features

How large can my Excel file be?

There is no limit to the size of an Excel spreadsheet that can be used in Crystal Xcelsius. There are a number of factors, however, which may affect the performance of your visualization. These include:

• the number of components you have on the canvas

• the amount of data that is being changed during the simulation

• the complexity of the calculations being performed

The speed of the computer can also greatly affect performance, and should be kept in mind when developing visualizations that will be distributed to other users.

Which regional Excel formats does Crystal Xcelsius support?

Crystal Xcelsius automatically detects the regional formatting being used on your machine and adjusts its output appropriately.

For example, if your regional settings use / for the date separator, the date January 2nd 2004 appears as 1/2/04 in your Crystal Xcelsius visualizations. If your regional settings use - for the date separator, the date appears as 1-2-04 in the exported visualization.

These settings can be found under the Regional and Language Options of the Windows Control Panel. The following items are automatically adjusted:

• decimal separator

• thousands separator

• general format name

• month

• day

• year

• hour

• minute

• second

• time separator

• date separator

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 77

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about supported features

Which non-standard characters are supported?

The following non-standard characters are supported at this time:

Why don’t my Excel macros work?

Crystal Xcelsius does not support macros in Excel spreadsheets at this time.

€

78 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius Professional Integration with Crystal Reports

chapter

Crystal Xcelsius Professional Integration with Crystal Reports

Overview

Crystal Xcelsius Professional 4.5 enables you to create interactive presentations from unmanaged Crystal Reports data. Using the new functionality in Live Office, you can create, you can create Xcelsius Visualizations against unmanaged Crystal Reports XI Release 1 data.

This chapter discusses how to use Excel spreadsheets built in Live Office as data sources for Crystal Xcelsius files.

Note:

• The functionality discussed in this chapter is only supported in Live Office

XI Release 2, Crystal Reports XI Release 1, and Crystal Xcelsius Professional 4.5.

• This document assumes working knowledge of Live Office and Crystal

Reports.

Terms used in this document

There are terms used in this document that you may not be familiar with. Look at this list to see what these terms refer to.

• XLF

This is a Crystal Xcelsius Designer design file. It is the file that is created within the designer and where all the functionality of the future Xcelsius Visualization is configured.

• SWF

This is a Macromedia Flash file. Crystal Xcelsius uses Macromedia Flash to render interactive files.

• Xcelsius Visualization

This term is used for the final output of an Xcelsius file. For example, when you create a file in the Crystal Xcelsius Designer and export it to PowerPoint, the PowerPoint file is an Xcelsius Visualization.

• Live Office-enabled

This term is used to describe an Excel spreadsheet that is created from a Live Office data source.

• Unmanaged Crystal report and unmanaged Crystal report data

This term refers to a Crystal report or Crystal repor data that is stored outside a BusinessObjects Enterprise or Crystal Reports Server system.

80 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius Professional Integration with Crystal Reports

Using Live Office data for Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

With Crystal Xcelsius Designer 4.5, you can create Crystal Xcelsius XLF (design files) and SWF (Macromedia Flash files) using Excel spreadsheets constructed from unmanaged Crystal reports.

New features in Live Office enable you to create report views based on unmanaged Crystal reports. For details about these features and how to use them, refer to the “Creating Report Views from Unmanaged Reports” chapter of the Live Office User Guide.

Creating an Xcelsius visualization from a Live Officeenabled Excel spreadsheet

You can create an Xcelsius Visualization using data in a Live Office-enabled Excel spreadsheet. Live Office-enabled means that the data in the spreadsheet is actually a report view created from a Crystal report.

Note: The following procedures assume a working knowledge of Live Office.

To create an Xcelsius Visualization using Live Office



1. Open a new Crystal Xcelsius canvas inand place the component that you

want to use to display data on the canvas.

2. Double-click the component to open the Properties Panel.

3. On the General tab, click the Cell Selector button adjacent to the Display

Data field.

You are prompted to import a model.

4. On the Import Model dialog box, click the Browse button and navigate

to an Excel spreadsheet that was created using Live Office.

5. Click the spreadsheet and then click OK.

The spreadsheet opens in a new window.

6. Select the cell range that you want to include in your Crystal Xcelsius

Visualization and then click OK.

The spreadsheet closes and the new data is reflected in the Crystal Xcelsius Designer.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 81

Crystal Xcelsius Professional Integration with Crystal Reports

Using Live Office data for Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

Updating the visualization with new data

If the Live Office-enabled Excel spreadsheet is updated with new data, this new data is only reflected in you visualization if you re-import the spreadsheet.

To re-import the spreadsheet



To re-import the Excel file

1. On the View menu, click Import Model.

Tip: You can also re-import the Excel file by clicking the Import Model

button on the tool bar.

2. Select the Excel file to be imported.

3. Select the re-import method.

For more information, see the list following this procedure.

4. Click OK.

The Import Model dialog box provides the following options for specifying how data in the re-imported spreadsheet interacts with the existing links in the visualization:

• Refresh Data Sources

• Clear Data Sources

• Refresh Spreadsheet Format

This option is available only when Refresh Data Sources is selected. Use this option when some spreadsheet formatting parameters have changed which you want updated.

For more detailed information on re-importing spreadsheets, see “Re-

importing the Excel file” on page 34.

82 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

General Features Reference

chapter

General Features Reference

Overview

This chapter discusses Properties panel features that are common to most components. Depending on the component that you are working with, some of these features may be unavailable.

Common areas

The areas described in this section are common to most components, and always contain the same features.

Font settings

The Font Settings area lets you customize font properties for a component.

Font

The font box displays the name of the font. By default, the font for all components is set to Verdana. If you chose to use non-embedded fonts in the visualization, you can use the font box to change the font for the component. For information about changing the font, see “Using Font Options” on

page 23.

Size

To set the font size, select or type a number from 8 to 72 in the size box.

Bold

Click the bold button to make the text bold.

Italic

Click the italic button to italicize the text.

Underline

Click the underline button to underline the text.

Color

Click the Color Selector button to customize the font color. For information on Color Selector buttons, see “Color Selector button” on page 90.

84 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Dynamic Visibility

The Dynamic Visibility area appears on the Behavior tab. The features in the Dynamic Visibility area control the visibility behavior of the component.

Display Status

The Display Status Cell Selector button lets you select an empty cell in the imported spreadsheet to control the visibility of the component. When the user makes a selection, a variable corresponding to that selection is inserted into the empty cell. For more information on Cell Selector buttons, see “Cell

Selector button” on page 90.

Note: Do not link Display Status to a cell or range of cells already linked

within the same component or one of your data sources will not refresh if it is changed dynamically.

General Features Reference

Common areas

Display Status Key

The Display Status Key Cell Selector button lets you specify the values that the Display Status variable must match for the component to become visible. For more information on Cell Selector buttons, see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Entry Effect

The items on the Entry Effect list determine the visual effect a component has when it appears:

• None

The component has no entry effect.

• Fade-in

The component appears in a semi-transparent state and gradually becomes solid.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 85

General Features Reference

Common boxes

• Grow

• Grow X First

Effect Duration

The Effect Duration box is available only if you clicked Fade-in, Grow, or Grow X First on the Entry Effect list, and lets you determine how long the entry effect lasts. You can enter a value from 0 to 10, with 0 being the shortest duration, and 10 being the longest duration.

Common boxes

Transparency

The Transparency box lets you set the transparency value for a part of a component. You can enter a value from 0 to 100, with 0 being completely transparent, and 100 being completely solid.

The component appears gradually until it reaches its full size.

The component appears gradually, first reaching its full width, and then reaching its full height.

Weight

The Weight box determines how thick a line is. You can enter a value from 0 to 100, with 0 being the thinnest line, and 100 being the thickest line.

X Shift

The X Shift box lets you shift text left or right relative to the position you specified in the Position list. To enter the X shift value, type a numerical value in the X Shift box, or use the up and down arrows adjacent to the X Shift box. Negative values shift the title left; positive values shift the title right.

86 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Y Shift

The Y Shift box lets you shift text up or down relative to the position you specified in the Position list. To enter the Y shift value, type a numerical value in the Y Shift box, or use the up and down arrows adjacent to the Y Shift box. Negative values shift the title downward; positive values shift the title upward.

Common lists

Position

The Position list lets you specify the position of text. Depending on the component that you are working with, some of the items on the Position list may be unavailable:

• Top Center

• Top Left

• Top Right

• Left

• Right

• Center

• Bottom Left

• Bottom Center

• Bottom Right

General Features Reference

Common lists

Alignment

Click one of these items on the Alignment list to determine the alignment of text:

• Left

• Center

• Right

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 87

General Features Reference

Common lists

Numeric Format

General

Numeric

The Numeric Format list lets you apply predefined formats to numerical data displayed in the Xcelsius Visualization. Some of the formats on the Numeric Format list provide more options for customizing the appearance of numerical data.

The General format displays numeric data as it appears. This format has no additional options for customization.

The Numeric format provides more options for customizing the format of numeric values.

Negative Values

The Negative Values list lets you select a format for negative values:

• Minus Sign Prefix

• Red Text

• Parenthesis

• Red Text with Parenthesis

Decimal Places

The Decimal Places box lets you enter the number of decimal places to display. You can enter a value from 0 to 20.

Use 1000 Separator

When you select the Use 1000 Separator check box, Xcelsius inserts commas into numerical values above 1000.

Currency

The Currency format provides more options for customizing the format of currency values.

Negative Values

See “Numeric” on page 88.

Decimal Places

See “Numeric” on page 88.

88 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Percent

Date

General Features Reference

Common lists

Prefix

When you select the Prefix check box, Xcelsius precedes currency values with a symbol. This symbol is set to “$” by default. To change the default symbol, enter the desired symbol in the adjacent Prefix box. The Prefix box is available only when you select the Prefix check box.

Suffix

When you select the Suffix check box, Xcelsius adds a symbol to the end of currency values. Enter the desired symbol in the adjacent Suffix box. The Suffix box is available only when you select the Suffix check box.

The Percent format provides one option for customizing the appearance of percentage values.

Decimal Places

See “Numeric” on page 88.

The Date format provides one option for formatting dates in the Xcelsius Visualization.

Time

Text

Type

Select the desired date format from the Type list.

The Time format provides one option for formatting times in the Xcelsius Visualization.

Type

Select the desired time format from the Type list.

The Text format displays numerical values as plain text. This format has no additional options for customization.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 89

General Features Reference

Common buttons

From Spreadsheet

The From Spreadsheet format lets you keep numeric formats in the imported spreadsheet that are not supported by Xcelsius. When you click From Spreadsheet, the format string appears in the Format String box.

Common buttons

The buttons described in this section appear on the Properties panels for most components.

Cell Selector button

The Cell Selector button lets you select a cell or a cell range in the imported spreadsheet and link the Xcelsius Visualization to various data values. The different types of Cell Selector buttons are as follows:

• Dynamic Data

A Dynamic Data Cell Selector button lets you select cells with dynamic data. When the Xcelsius Visualization is refreshed, changes to the values in Dynamic Data cells will be reflected in the Xcelsius Visualization.

• Static Data

A Static Data Cell Selector button lets you select cells with static data. When the Xcelsius Visualization is refreshed, no change occurs to the values in Static Data cells.

When you click a Cell Selector button, the imported spreadsheet appears. Draw a box around the cell or cells you wish to select. The location number of the selected cell or cells appears in the Select a Range dialog box.

To return to the Properties panel, click OK in the Select a Range dialog box. The location number of the selected cell or cells appears in the box adjacent to the Cell Selector button.

Color Selector button

The Color Selector button lets you select a custom color for part of the component.

When you click a Color Selector button, the Color dialog box appears. Select the desired color from the palette, or click Define Custom Colors to choose another color. When you are finished, click OK to return to the Properties panel.

90 Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Browse button

The Browse button lets you manually enter values for a component instead of selecting the values in the imported spreadsheet. When you click the Browse button, a dialog box appears. In the dialog box, type the values directly into the cells. When you are finished, click OK to close the dialog box and return to the Properties panel.

Information button

The Information button provides information about how a set of features on the Properties panel works together. When you click the Information button, a new window opens, and an animated movie guides you through the way one or more features work. You can go to different pages in the movie, and click play or pause to find the information you need. When you are finished, close the window to return to the Properties panel.

Common Alerts Tab features

Alerts let the user know that a predefined value has been reached. The features on the Alerts tab control how alerts behave for a component when the Xcelsius Visualization is run in its interactive format. Depending on the component that you are working with, some of the features described in this section may be unavailable.

General Features Reference

Common Alerts Tab features

Enable Alerts

The Enable Alerts check box controls whether alerts are enabled for the component.

Alert Method

You can click one of the following options in the Alert Method area to define the alert method for the component:

• Value Alerts

• Percent Alerts

The alerts use values that you specify in the imported spreadsheet.

The alerts use percentages that you specify using the Alert Levels slider.

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General Features Reference

Common Alerts Tab features

Alert Definition

Alert Variable

You can click one of the following options in the Alert Definition area to define the ideal value type for the component:

• Low Values are Good

Use this option when the ideal value type is lower than the target value. For example, select Low Values are Good when you set alerts for expenses, and you want the expense values to be as low as possible.

• High Values are Good

Use this option when the ideal value type is higher than the target value. For example, select High values are Good when you set alerts for revenue, and you want the revenue values to be as high as possible.

• Middle Values are Good

Middle values are Good is unavailable if you clicked Value Alerts in the Alert Method area. Use this option when the ideal value type is as close as possible to the target value. For example, select Middle Values are Good when you set alerts for inventory, and you want the inventory quantities to be as accurate as possible

The Alert Variable list is available for multi-variable components only, and lets you specify whether you want to use X-axis values or Y-axis values to trigger alerts.

Value Levels

Value Levels appears only if you clicked Value Alerts. You can specify the value levels for alerts in two ways:

• If you want to select value levels from the imported spreadsheet, click the

Value Levels Cell Selector button. For information on Cell Selector buttons, see “Cell Selector button” on page 90.

• If you want to enter value levels manually, click the Value Levels Browse

button. For information on Browse buttons, see “Browse button” on

page 91.

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Number of Colors

The Number of Colors box appears only if you clicked Percent Alerts, and lets you specify the number of alert colors. To change the number of alert colors, use the up and down arrows adjacent to the Number of Colors box. You can have 2 to 10 alert colors.

Control Panel Limits

The Control Panel Limits button appears only if you clicked Percent Alerts. When you click the Control Panel Limits button, the Control Panel Limits dialog box appears and lets you set the maximum and minimum percentage values.

Alert Levels Color Scale

If you clicked Percent Alerts, the Alert Levels color scale lets you specify the percentages that will trigger the alert colors. To specify these percentages, drag the gray pointers above the color scale until the percentages that you want appear below the color scale.

General Features Reference

Common Alerts Tab features

Fill Color

Font Color

If you clicked Value Alerts, the colors in the Alert Levels color scale represent the values you specified in Value Levels.

The Color Selector button adjacent to Fill Color lets you customize the fill colors for different alert levels. To customize an alert color, click the color you wish to customize on the Alert Levels color scale. The Color Selector button becomes active for that color. For information on Color Selector buttons, see

“Color Selector button” on page 90.

Font Color is available only if you selected Enable Value Alerts. The Color Selector button adjacent to Font Color lets you customize the color of the font used to display value alerts. For information on Color Selector buttons, see

“Color Selector button” on page 90.

Crystal Xcelsius User Guide 93

General Features Reference

Common Alerts Tab features

No Data Color

The Color Selector button adjacent to No Data Color lets you customize the alert color for parts of the component which have no data. For information on Color Selector buttons, see “Color Selector button” on page 90.

Alert Level Display

The three check boxes in the Alert Level Display area let you customize how alerts are displayed:

• Enable Object Alerts

• Enable Value Alerts

• Enable Alert Level Display

Note: The Alert Level Display area is available for most single value

components, and is unavailable for all other components.

The Enable Object Alerts check box controls whether the alert colors for the component can be displayed.

The Enable Value Alerts check box controls the visibility of a value that is displayed in an alert color box.

The Enable Alert Level Display check box controls whether the component displays all alert colors and the value ranges they represent.

Target

You can specify the target value by typing the numerical value in the Target box. This method works best for single value components.

Alternatively, you can use the Target Cell Selector button to select the target data in the imported spreadsheet. This method works best for chart components. For information on Cell Selector buttons, see “Cell Selector

button” on page 90.

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Crystal Xcelsius User Guide

Chart Components Reference

chapter

Chart Components Reference

Overview

This chapter discusses the Properties panel features for the components in the Charts folder.

General tab

Common to all Chart components

Data Range

The options in this area select a range of Excel data that contains all of the data for the selected chart.

Data Range

Click Data Range to enable the options in this area.

Click the adjacent cell selector button to select a range of data from the spreadsheet.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Series In

This option controls the format in which the series information is contained. The following options are available:

• Rows

Click this option to indicate that the series information is contained in the rows of the selected range.

• Columns

Click this option to indicate that the series information is contained in the columns of the selected range.

Series

The options in this area edit individual series data for the components. The Name, X Values, and Y Values parameters all apply to the series name

that is selected, indicated by a blue highlight, in the Series box.

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Chart Components Reference

General tab

Series

Click Series to enable the options in this section. Click a series in the list box to edit the data for that series.

Add

Click Add to add a new series to the chart.

Remove

Click Remove to remove a series from the chart. The series that is selected in the Series box will be removed.

Name

Type in the Name box or click the adjacent cell selector button to set the name of the selected series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

X Values

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the X Values box to select the x values for the selected series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Note: This option does not apply to the OHLC or Candlestick Chart

components.

Y Values

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the Y Values box to select the y values for the selected series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Note: This option applies only to the Bubble and XY Chart components.

Sizes

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the Sizes box to set the size value for the selected series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Note: This option applies only to the Bubble Chart component.

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Chart Components Reference

General tab

Open

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the Open box to select the open value for the series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Note: This option applies only to the OHLC and Candlestick Chart components.

High

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the High box to select the high value for the series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Note: This option applies only to the OHLC and Candlestick Chart components.

Low

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the Low box to select the low value for the series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Note: This option applies only to the OHLC and Candlestick Chart components.

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the Close box to select the close value for the series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Note: This option applies only to the OHLC and Candlestick Chart components.

Category Axis Labels

Click the cell selector button adjacent to the Category Axis Labels box to select the category axis labels for the selected series.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Titles

The options in this area set the various titles for the selected chart component.

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Chart Components Reference

Drill Down tab

Chart title

Type in the Chart Title box or click the adjacent cell selector button to set the title for the component.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Chart subtitle

Type in the Chart Subtitle box or click the adjacent cell selector button to set the subtitle for the component.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Category (X) Axis Title

Type in the Category (X) Axis Title box or click the adjacent cell selector button to set the X-axis title for the component.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Value (Y) Axis Title

Type in the Value (Y) Axis Title box or click the adjacent cell selector button to set the Y-axis title for the component.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

Drill Down tab

Common to most Chart components

Enable Drill Down

Click Enable Drill down to enable the options on this tab.

Note:

• This tab does not apply to the Area, Stacked Area, Radar, and Filled

Radar Chart components.

• The options on this tab are available only if a series has been added to

the component on the General Tab.

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Chart Components Reference

Drill Down tab

Chart Drill-Down Options

The options in this area define how the Chart component will behave when a selection is made. The following options are available:

• Insert Series In

Click the Insert Series In cell selector button to select the cell into which the currently selected series name is inserted.

For information on the cell selector button see “Cell Selector button” on

page 90.

• Insert Value

Click an option on the Insert Value list to determine the structure of the data that is inserted when a selection is made. The following options are available:

• Position

A target cell is linked to the Chart component. When a selection is made on the Chart component the position value of the selection is entered in the target cell.

• Val ue

A target cell is linked to the Chart component. When a selection is made on the Chart component the source data value of the selection is entered in the target cell.

• Rows

A target row is linked to the Chart component. When a selection is made on the Chart component the row of source data values of the selection are entered in the target row.

• Columns

A target column is linked to the Chart component. When a selection is made on the Chart component the column of source data values of the selection are entered in the target column.

• Status List

A target range of cells is linked to the Chart component. When a selection is made on the Chart component a value of 1 is entered in the target cell in the range representing that selection and a value of 0 is entered in the other cells in the range

• Series

Click an option from the Series list to select the series for which you want to configure. All series for the chart must be configured individually.

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Business objects CRYSTAL XCELSIUS STANDARD 4.5 FOR WINDOWS User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Getting to Know Crystal Xcelsius

Overview

What's New in Xcelsius version 4.5

Importing an XLF file from Xcelsius 3.0/3.5

Understanding the Xcelsius system

How Xcelsius differs from traditional reporting applications

How Xcelsius works

How visualizations look

Understanding the Xcelsius tools

Using the Object Browser

Using the Components Explorer

Using the Component Properties panel

Using the canvas

Using the Import Model button

Using Font Options

Setting the Maximum Rows

Using the Format menu

Using the Grid Tool

Creating backup files in Xcelsius

Previewing the visualization

Viewing sample Xcelsius visualizations

Dynamic and static data sources

Dynamic data sources

Static data sources

Using templates

Global Styles

Creating and updating Crystal Xcelsius visualizations

Overview

Creating a visualization

Step 1: Import the Excel file

Step 2: Select the data sources

Step 3: Previewing and publishing the visualization

Updating data for a visualization

Re-importing the Excel file

Re-importing with renamed sheets

Using the Use Another Excel File option

Using Crystal Xcelsius Components

Overview

Using chart components

How to create a chart

Using single value components

Input vs. output

Sample visualization: value component

Using the Selector components

Sample visualization: filter component

Using the map component

Sample visualization: map component

Using the art and background components

Skins

How to use the image component

Using the other components

Local scenario buttons component

Sample visualization: grid component

Using the text components

Using the Web connectivity components

Using Advanced Features

Overview

Dynamic Visibility functionality

Sample visualization: Dynamic Visibility

Sample visualization: Status List and Display Status

Alerts

Sample visualization: single value using alerts

Creating templates

Custom-made libraries and templates

Using Global Styles

Changing the current Global Style

Creating a Global Style

Transferring Global Styles

Exporting Crystal Xcelsius Visualizations

Overview

Exporting your visualization to Flash

Exporting your visualization to HTML

Exporting your visualization to PowerPoint

Emailing your visualization with Outlook

Exporting your visualization to a Plumtree portal