When Xcelsius generated Flash files are initially loaded into PowerPoint, they will appear blurry. This is how PowerPoint handles a flash file in design mode since it is not an actual image. The Flash file will need to be refreshed in order to render the clear image. This can be done by slightly adjusting the size of the Flash file in PowerPoint or viewing the slide show presentation, which activates the Flash file.
Xcelsius Flash slide is blurry in PowerPoint.
If the World Could Vote: Electoral Map of the World
In an Earlier post “Interactive Electoral Maps: 12 ways to Pick your new President” I wrote about different electoral maps that you can use to pick the next president of the United States. They were some of the best flash based graphics that a user can interact by clicking, sliding etc and changing the vote count. Today when I was on the The Huffington Post reading all the latest news about Elections 2008, I stumbled upon this good looking graphic of World Map that said “See Map Of How The World Would Vote In US Election“. This is an electoral map of the world. This graphic is a visual representation of what the world thinks about the current US elections and Who do they support, Obama or McCain.
MyAnalytics: Google Analytics on iPhone
Ever wondered how you can check your Page Views on the go? Its very rare that a full time blogger is on the move. Full time bloggers are stationary and do most of their work sitting in a shady room in the basement. Still, there might be some probloggers like Darren Rowse, who travel to seminars, trainings etc.
For people with iPhones and need to check their web analytics on a daily basis, here is a great app available for your iPhone at $1.99. All you need is a Google Analytics account setup and running. Here are some of the features:
Features:
- Display Google Analytics Dashboard statistics for all profiles
- Flip through your website statistics
- Clear and comprehensive charts of the last month’s/year’s visits
- Support for multiple Google Analytics accounts and profiles (associated with one login)
- Select the date range for all statistics : last day, week, two weeks, month, year
Here are some of the screen shots of the App:
Which Xcelsius 2008 should you buy? Pricing and Licensing at a Glance.
There is a lot of confusion on discussion boards and forums regarding Xcelsius Pricing and Licensing. Which edition is good for me? Will I be overspending or underspending? Will a particular Xcelsius edition solve my problem? If you have questions like these, then this article can help you answer some of them. This information brouchure is from Business Objects and can be downloaded here.
HOW MUCH DOES XCELSIUS 2008 COST?
Addressing different budget and requirements, Xcelsius 2008 is available in four editions – Present, Engage, Engage Server, and Enterprise.
XCELSIUS PRESENT* ($195 USD)
Launched: Q2, 2008.
Transform Microsoft Excel spreadsheets into interactive data presentations and share them via Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Adobe PDF.
For each copy purchased, you may:
Design data presentations: One named user may install and use Xcelsius Present features to create data presentations and visual models. A design license cannot be shared among multiple individuals. If you require additional design licenses, you can purchase additional Xcelsius Present licenses.
Real Time Fuel Gauge Dashboard using Excel Web Query
In one of the earlier posts about “Historical stock quote Price using Web Query and MS Excel 2003” I wrote about the use of Excel Web Queries to create Live Excel utilities. There was a great response to the post. So, I decided to explore Web Queries and built some more with the same methods. This time Dashboards with live web data. Also, one of the main reasons is that, I have started reading “Information Dashboard Design” by Stephen Few and found it very informative and a great resource for Dashboard developers. I started implementing the design principles mentioned by Mr. Few and found them very effective. This is my first Excel Dashboard after I started reading the book. I also tried to mimic microcharts in Xcelsius in one of my earlier dashboards called “Airline Executive Dashboard”. You can find it in the showcase page.
Back to the Fuel Gauge Dashboard. Below is the information on development, different sections and Usage of the dashboard.
