Due to performance limitations within Xcelsius, it can be difficult to build large scale dashboards that are easy to manage. Fortunately, Xcelsius comes equipped with components that makes it easier to create a single “Parent” SWF which can load multiple “Child” SWFs inside itself. Perhaps the biggest challenge with this design architecture is enabling the “Parent” SWF to communicate with the “Child” SWF.
Luckily, with the use of Flash Variables and the SWF loader component, we can easily overcome this challenge.
How to do it:
1. Create your child.xlf
2. Establish a cell where your parameter will be passed. I used cell E6 in my example
3. Access the data manager within the child.xlf and add a Flash Variables connection
4. Add a range and give it a name. In my example I named the range “salesman”
5. Select the range in which the data parameter will be passed. Cell E6 is the range in my example
6. Create your parent.xlf
7. Setup a sheet within your parent.xlf as follows:
a) Enter the URL where your will store your child.swf in cell B5
b) Enter the name of the range that you used in your child.swf in cell B7 “salesman”
c) Reserve cell B9 for the parameter that is going to be passed
d) Enter the following formula in cell B11: =B5&”?”&B7&”=”&B9
8. Add a component to input your parameter – I chose to use a list box for my example
9. Bind the output destination of your component to cell B9
10. Add a SWF Loader component to the dashboard
11. Bind the Source URL to cell B11
There you have it. Although my example is fairly simple, this should get you moving in the right direction to developing larger scale dashboard applications that are easier to manage.
As always, feel free to download the source files.
. Below is my official public statement:
Paul Grill started his career in Information Technology in the U.K. in 1978, as an Executive Data Processing Trainee for Honeywell. More than thirty years later, he still has a voracious appetite for learning as Information Technology continues to advance at an ever accelerating pace. He was first introduced to the world of Business Intelligence in 1991, in France, when he saw a demonstration of an early version of BusinessObjects on Windows 2.1. He returned to the U.S. to rave about this phenomenal product, but it was many years before BusinessObjects made it into the mainstream. Paul founded InfoSol in 1997, and made Business Intelligence one of the key solutions offered by the company. Today, InfoSol is a leading SAP BusinessObjects solutions partner, known for its expert consulting, education and innovative add-on solutions. Paul is well known within the SAP BusinessObjects community for his extensive knowledge of Business Intelligence, and he has lectured and written many articles on the subject. Paul enjoys writing, running and coaching kids soccer, and is passionate about Ancient Egyptology. 
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