In the Using maps to select data of an area or country recipe in Chapter 3, From a Static to an Interactive Dashboard, we introduced the standard map options that SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards offers. Then, in the Displaying alerts on a map recipe in Chapter 5, Using Alerts, we discussed how to use alerts on these maps. Centigon Solutions raised the bar on this topic and introduced the CMaps plugin for SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards.
With this add-on, we can completely integrate Google Maps in a dashboard in SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards. This means that we can use the graphics we know from Google Maps (map, satellite, hybrid, terrain, and so on) and functionalities such as zooming in or out on a map. Furthermore, the CMaps plugin integrates with other SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards components. We can make selections from a map region and display alerts, single points (such as cities or buildings), and heat maps on the map.
This recipe will introduce you to this add-on and show you how to create a map with alerts and selectable regions.
This recipe needs some preparation. First, go to the CMaps plugin website (http://www.cmapsplugin.com/) and request the CMaps plugin add-on trial. You'll receive an e-mail with a download link and a trial key. Install the add-on with the Add-On Manager.
Next, we need a so-called shapefile. This provides the overlay for a geographical area. There are lots of free SHP files available on the Internet; for example, SHP files can be found at http://centigonknowledge.com/tutorial/shape-data-explorer-and-download-manager/.
Download the ZIP archive of any shapefile you want to use and extract it. The extracted folder includes at least the SHP file, a DBF file, and an SHX file.
In this recipe, we will use a shapefile of Europe, but the steps are the same for shapefiles of other regions.
Or by clicking on the Import button:
54.52596, 15.25512
in cell C3. These are the coordinates for mid-Europe.This recipe required a lot of preparation before we could perform the actual binding of the data to the CMaps Plugin component. In this recipe, we showed you how to use SHP files. These files provide a layer on top of the Google Map. This layer enables us to make regions selectable or fill them with colors to show alerts.
The DBF file provided us with the metadata on the SHP file (that is, the country codes and names). After importing this information into the spreadsheet, the setup of the CMaps Plugin component has a lot of similarities with the configuration of standard SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards Map components, as we discussed in Chapter 3, From a Static to an Interactive Dashboard, and Chapter 5, Using Alerts.
The SHX file can be used to combine SHP and DBF files for GIS solutions, where this file is required to maintain the integrity between the files when used in GIS solutions. The CMaps plugin does not utilize this SHX file.
In the Behavior tab, we entered the coordinates for Europe, so the map, by default, showed Europe. You can find these coordinates at http://www.map-gps-coordinates.com/.
In addition, if you want to zoom in or out, you can change the Zoom Level.
Setting up the alerts in the CMaps plugin works just like configuring the Alerts tab in standard SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards components, with the addition that you can also use icons as alerts in the CMaps Plugin component.
This recipe only covered a few of the possibilities of this add-on. Check out the CMaps plugin website (http://www.cmapsplugin.com/) to learn more about the other features. Here you can also find a lot of tutorials, articles, videos, templates, and samples.