What is Query as a Web Service (QaaWS)?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Query as a Web Service

Query as a Web Service (QaaWS) is a SAP Business Objects (BOBJ)  client-side tool that allows users to create and publish Web Services that can be made available over the Web.  Once these web services are created and published,  they can be consumed like any other standard Web Service in software applications including Xcelsius and Crystal Reports.   But before we go any further into what QaaWS is and how it works, lets take a step back and look at what exactly is a Web Service.

Web Service

A Web Service is a software system that supports  interoperable interaction over a network from one computer or machine to another but is more commonly defined as a client and a server communicating data over the Web using the HTTP Protocol. Using Web Services along with Business Objects allows a live connection of data to be used in applications such as Xcelsius and Crystal Reports through a semantic layer called a Universe.

For more information on what a Web Service is visit the Web Service Wiki.

Query as a Web Service (QaaWS)

The two main components in QaaWS are the Client Tool and the Server.  The QaaWS Client Tool gives the end user an easy to use wizard that allows them to create Universe queries and publish them as Web Services.  Once the QaaWS is published, any user can securely access the data that the Web Service contains as long as they have access to that server. Check out the image below that shows the information flow to and from the server via the client.

QaaWS Information Flow

QaaWS Information Flow

Some Advantages to QaaWS:

  • Very easy to use and intuitive interface
    • Familiar look and feel for people who have used WebIntelligence
  • Leverages existing Business Objects Universes
    • Shares metadata with WebIntelligence, Desktop Intelligence and Crystal Reports
  • Maintains Business Objects Enterprise Security
  • Allows live data feeds to be incorporated into Xcelsius Dashboards and Crystal Reports

If you want to know more about how to create a QaaWS check out my Quick and Dirty Guide for Creating a QaaWS.

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Related Posts:

  1. Quick and Dirty Guide to Creating a QaaWS
  2. Using QaaWS to drive your Xcelsius Dashboards
  3. Crystal Dashboard Design (Xcelsius 2008) Tips and Tricks ep1: Adding a Select All to your Selector
  4. BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 3.1 Service Pack 2 Now Available!
  5. Xcelsius 2008 Service Pack 2 is Now Available!
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This post was written by:

Mike Allison - who has written 16 posts on the Altek Solutions Business Intelligence Blog.


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4 Responses to “What is Query as a Web Service (QaaWS)?”

  1. Y'golobear Says:
    Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 5:15 am

    Would it be possible to get permission to use some of your posts on forums with a link?

  2. Mike Allison Says:
    Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 10:10 am

    No problems there. Feel free to post links out to our blog as you want.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Altek Solutions Blog » A Look at Lifecycle Manager - 28. May, 2009

    [...] allows most types of objects to be promoted, including folders, reports, universes, connections, QaaWS, events, calendars, access levels, business views, users, groups, and profiles.
  2. Altek Solutions Blog » Using QaaWS to drive your Xcelsius Dashboards - 01. Jun, 2009

    [...] right in line with the other blogs that I have written about QaaWS (What is a QaaWS and Quick and Dirty Guide to Creating a QaaWS) I decided to put together a quick one and a [...]

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