1 The Business Scenario: ABCD Corp.

23

1.1 Marketing Network

24

1.2 The Sales and Billing Process

25

1.3 Business Intelligence Requirements

28

1.4 The Business Planning Scenario

29

1.5 Summary

30

2 Overview of SAP Business Warehouse

31

2.1 Evolution of SAP BW

31

2.2 SAP BW Layers

35

2.2.1 Extraction Layer

36

2.2.2 Staging Layer

37

2.2.3 Transformation Layer

38

2.2.4 Loading Layer

38

2.2.5 Reporting and Analysis Layer

38

2.2.6 Planning and Advanced Analytics Layer

39

2.3 Basic Navigation

41

2.3.1 Logging On to SAP BW

41

2.3.2 Screen Elements

42

2.3.3 The Modeling View in the Database Warehousing Workbench

44

2.4 The Data Warehousing Workbench Functions

53

2.5 Activation of SAP Business Content

55

2.5.1 Grouping

59

2.5.2 Collection Mode

60

2.5.3 Display

60

2.5.4 Activating the InfoObject

60

2.6 Implementation and Architecture Options

63

2.6.1 Core Landscape

63

2.6.2 Peripheral Landscape

64

2.6.3 Layered Scalable Architecture (LSA)

66

2.6.4 Enhanced Layered Scalable Architecture [LSA++]

68

2.7 Additional Resources

69

2.8 Summary

70

3 InfoObjects and Master Data

71

3.1 Types of InfoObjects

72

3.2 Creating an InfoArea

74

3.3 Creating an InfoObject Catalog

76

3.4 Creating a Custom Characteristic InfoObject

79

3.4.1 Reference Characteristic Field

81

3.4.2 Template Field

81

3.5 Configuring a Characteristic InfoObject

82

3.5.1 General Tab

82

3.5.2 Business Explorer Tab

85

3.5.3 Master Data/Texts Tab

87

3.5.4 Hierarchy Tab

91

3.5.5 Attribute Tab

97

3.5.6 Compounding Tab

102

3.6 Creating a Key Figure InfoObject

103

3.7 Configuring a Key Figure InfoObject

105

3.7.1 Type/Unit Tab

105

3.7.2 Aggregation Tab

112

3.7.3 Additional Properties Tab

118

3.8 Creating a Unit InfoObject

120

3.9 Summary

122

4 DataStore Objects

123

4.1 Introduction to DSOs

123

4.1.1 Definition and Purpose

123

4.1.2 Types of DSOs

126

4.2 Architecture of the Standard DSO

127

4.2.1 Types of Tables

128

4.2.2 Activation Process for a Standard DSO

129

4.2.3 InfoObject 0RECORDMODE

132

4.3 Designing a DSO

134

4.4 Configuration of the Standard DSO

136

4.4.1 Key Settings in a Standard DSO

136

4.4.2 Including InfoObjects in the DSO

138

4.4.3 Entering Data Fields

141

4.5 Configuration of Write-Optimized DSOs

144

4.6 Configuration of Direct-Update DSOs

146

4.7 Usage Scenarios for DSOs

148

4.7.1 Data Staging

148

4.7.2 Temporary Storage Area

148

4.7.3 Analysis Process Designer

148

4.7.4 Pseudo-Delta

149

4.8 Summary

149

5 InfoCubes

151

5.1 Modeling InfoCubes

152

5.1.1 Key Terms

152

5.1.2 Drawing Assignment Tables for Characteristics and Key Figures

153

5.1.3 Creating Bubble Models

154

5.1.4 Identifying Dimensions

155

5.1.5 Converting a Bubble Model to a Classic Star Schema

156

5.1.6 Designing an Extended Star Schema

158

5.1.7 Additional InfoCube Considerations

161

5.2 Types of InfoCubes

162

5.2.1 Standard InfoCube

162

5.2.2 SAP HANA-Optimized InfoCube

162

5.2.3 Real-Time InfoCube

165

5.2.4 VirtualProvider InfoCube

166

5.3 Creating an InfoCube

166

5.3.1 Initial Setup

166

5.3.2 Using Templates for InfoObject Selection

171

5.3.3 Editing Dimensions

173

5.3.4 Adding New Dimensions

176

5.3.5 Adding Characteristics to Dimensions

179

5.3.6 Adding Key Figures to an InfoCube

182

5.3.7 Selecting Navigation Attributes

184

5.3.8 Activating the InfoCube

185

5.4 Provider-Specific Properties

186

5.4.1 Setting Provider-Specific Properties for a Single InfoObject

186

5.4.2 Setting Provider-Specific Properties for Multiple InfoObjects

188

5.5 Summary

190

6 InfoProviders

191

6.1 MultiProviders

192

6.1.1 Introduction to MultiProviders

192

6.1.2 Designing MultiProviders

194

6.2 InfoSets

208

6.2.1 Type of Joins

209

6.2.2 Transitive Attribute Reporting

214

6.2.3 Designing InfoSets

215

6.2.4 Additional Navigation Capabilities

225

6.2.5 Global Properties

229

6.3 VirtualProviders

232

6.4 Semantically Partitioned Objects (SPOs)

233

6.4.1 Creating SPOs

234

6.4.2 Defining SPOs

236

6.5 HybridProvider

249

6.5.1 Real-Time Data Acquisition (RDA)

251

6.5.2 Creating a HybridProvider

253

6.6 Transient Providers

257

6.7 Analytical Index

259

6.8 CompositeProvider

259

6.8.1 Creating a CompositeProvider

260

6.8.2 Defining CompositeProviders

261

6.9 Open ODS View

267

6.9.1 Creating an Open ODS View

268

6.9.2 Adding Key Figures

276

6.9.3 Activating the Design

277

6.9.4 Viewing Data with an Open ODS View

280

6.10 Summary

281

7 Extraction, Transformation, and Loading

283

7.1 Introduction to ETL

283

7.1.1 Elements in the ETL Process

284

7.1.2 Data Acquisition Interfaces

286

7.1.3 Transformation

288

7.1.4 Loading

289

7.2 Loading Master Data from a Flat File to an InfoObject

290

7.2.1 Creating a Flat File Source System

290

7.2.2 Creating a DataSource

292

7.2.3 Creating and Activating a Transformation

306

7.2.4 Creating a DTP for Loading Master Data

312

7.2.5 Creating an InfoPackage and Starting Data Extraction

318

7.2.6 Monitoring Data Extraction to the PSA

324

7.2.7 Monitoring the DTP

330

7.2.8 Maintaining Master Data

333

7.3 Loading Transaction Data from a Flat File to a DSO

335

7.3.1 Creating a Transaction DataSource

336

7.3.2 Creating a Transformation between a DataSource and a DSO

341

7.4 Loading Data from a DSO to an InfoCube

354

7.4.1 Time Conversion Transformation

357

7.4.2 Routine

357

7.5 Query as DataSource

361

7.6 Temporary Storage Areas and Error Stacks

364

7.6.1 Temporary Storage

365

7.6.2 Configuring Integrity Checks and Viewing Errors in Temporary Storage

366

7.6.3 Creating and Monitoring the Error DTP

370

7.7 Graphical Modeling

372

7.7.1 Creating a Data Flow Template

373

7.7.2 Creating a Data Flow

377

7.8 Special Topics for SAP HANA

383

7.8.1 SAP HANA-Optimized Transformation

383

7.8.2 Optimizing Custom ABAP Routines on SAP HANA

386

7.9 Summary

391

8 Data Extraction from Source Systems

393

8.1 Configuring an SAP Source System for Extraction

393

8.2 Using SAP Business Content for Extraction: Logistics DataSources

395

8.2.1 Initialization

397

8.2.2 Delta Loads

398

8.2.3 Data Extraction

399

8.3 Using Generic DataSources for Extraction

400

8.3.1 Settings for Generic DataSources

403

8.3.2 Creating Generic DataSources

405

8.3.3 Making Generic DataSources Delta-Capable

408

8.3.4 Testing DataSources Using the Extractor Checker

411

8.4 Data Extraction from Non-SAP Systems

413

8.4.1 DB Connect

414

8.4.2 UD Connect

415

8.5 Introduction to Operational Data Provisioning/Operational Delta Queue

416

8.5.1 Creating a DataSource Using the ODP Source System

417

8.5.2 Activating the DataSource

419

8.5.3 Source Data

420

8.5.4 Activating and Executing the DTP

422

8.5.5 Operational Delta Queue

423

8.6 SAP LT Replication Server for SAP BW

425

8.7 Summary

426

9 Creating Queries Using BEx Query Designer

427

9.1 BEx Tools Landscape

428

9.2 Introduction to BEx Query Designer

430

9.2.1 BEx Query Designer Screen Layout

431

9.2.2 BEx Query Designer Menu Bar

433

9.3 Creating a Simple BEx Query

435

9.3.1 Defining Filters

437

9.3.2 Defining Rows and Columns

439

9.3.3 Executing Queries and Analyzing Data

441

9.4 Introduction to OLAP Variables

445

9.4.1 Types of Variables

445

9.4.2 Processing Types of Variables

447

9.5 Creating OLAP Variables Using the Variable Editor

450

9.5.1 Characteristic Variables: Manual Entry/Default Value

450

9.5.2 Characteristic Variables: Replacement Path

456

9.5.3 Characteristic Variables: Customer Exit

457

9.5.4 Formula Variables

460

9.5.5 Text Variables

461

9.6 Creating Filters

463

9.7 Creating Structures

467

9.7.1 Key Figure Structures

468

9.7.2 Characteristic Structures

468

9.7.3 Reusing Structures

470

9.8 Creating Selections and Formulas

471

9.8.1 Selections

472

9.8.2 Formula

476

9.9 Creating Key Figures

479

9.9.1 Restricted Key Figures

479

9.9.2 Calculated Key Figures

482

9.10 Properties of Query Elements

483

9.10.1 Setting Properties of Characteristic Query Elements

484

9.10.2 Setting Properties of Key Figure Query Elements

487

9.10.3 Query Properties

492

9.11 Creating Conditions

496

9.12 Creating Exceptions

500

9.13 Configuring Report-to-Report Interfaces

504

9.14 Summary

508

10 Reporting and Analysis Tools

511

10.1 Running Queries in BEx Analyzer

512

10.1.1 Executing a Query in BEx Analyzer

513

10.1.2 BEx Analyzer Analysis Functions

517

10.2 Performing Information Analysis in BEx Analyzer

519

10.2.1 Applying Filters

519

10.2.2 Navigation Options

520

10.3 Local Properties and Formulas in BEx Analyzer

524

10.3.1 Local Properties of a Characteristic

524

10.3.2 Local Properties of a Key Figure

525

10.3.3 Local Query Properties

527

10.3.4 Local Formula

529

10.4 Saving and Reusing Workbooks in BEx Analyzer

530

10.5 Building an Analysis Application in BEx Analyzer

532

10.5.1 BEx Analyzer Design Functions

532

10.5.2 Building a Simple Analysis Application

535

10.6 Running Queries in BEx Web Analyzer

543

10.6.1 Creating a New Analysis with BEx Web Analyzer

544

10.6.2 BEx Web Analyzer Functions

546

10.7 Performing Information Analysis in BEx Web Analyzer

548

10.8 Analysis Filters and Settings in BEx Web Analyzer

553

10.9 Information Broadcasting Using BEx Web Analyzer

556

10.9.1 Information Broadcasting in BEx Web Analyzer

556

10.9.2 Maintaining Broadcasting Settings on Different BEx Objects

559

10.9.3 Creating a New Setting in BEx Broadcaster

560

10.10 BW Workspaces

563

10.10.1 Defining BW Workspaces

564

10.10.2 Creating a Composite Provider

567

10.11 Summary

575

11 Creating Applications Using BEx Web Application Designer

577

11.1 BEx Web Application Designer Overview

577

11.1.1 Starting BEx Web Application Designer

578

11.1.2 Different Screen Areas of BEx Web Application Designer

579

11.2 Creating a Simple Web Application

581

11.2.1 Creating a Data Provider

582

11.2.2 Using an Analysis Web Item

583

11.2.3 Using a Dropdown Box

585

11.2.4 Creating Charts

587

11.2.5 Adding a Command Button

589

11.2.6 Arranging Web Items

592

11.2.7 Validating and Saving the Web Template

594

11.2.8 Executing the Web Template

595

11.3 Web Items

597

11.3.1 Standard Web Items

597

11.3.2 Advanced Web Items

606

11.3.3 Miscellaneous Web Items

609

11.4 Working with Commands

611

11.4.1 Commands for Data Providers

613

11.4.2 Commands for Planning Applications

616

11.4.3 Commands for Web Items

617

11.4.4 Commands for Web Templates

617

11.5 Web Template Properties

618

11.6 Summary

620

12 Creating Planning Applications

621

12.1 Introduction to the Integrated Planning Component and Planning Applications

622

12.2 Elements of a Planning Application

625

12.2.1 Creating a Real-Time InfoCube

628

12.2.2 Defining Characteristic Relationships

632

12.2.3 Defining Data Slices

639

12.2.4 Defining Aggregation Levels

643

12.2.5 Creating Planning Filters

647

12.2.6 Creating Planning Functions

651

12.2.7 Defining Planning Sequences

670

12.2.8 Input-Ready Query

673

12.3 Building Planning Applications

679

12.3.1 Excel-Based Planning Applications

679

12.3.2 Web-Based Planning Applications

686

12.4 Planning Locks

698

12.5 Changes to Data in Real-Time InfoCubes

700

12.6 Summary

701

13 Reporting with the SAP BusinessObjects BI Suite

703

13.1 Overview of SAP BusinessObjects BI Products

704

13.2 The Unified Semantic Layer and the Information Design Tool

706

13.3 SAP Crystal Reports

710

13.4 SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence

712

13.5 SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards

715

13.6 SAP BusinessObjects Analysis

717

13.6.1 SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, Edition for Microsoft Office

717

13.6.2 SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, Edition for OLAP

718

13.7 SAP BusinessObjects Design Studio

719

13.8 SAP BusinessObjects Explorer

720

13.9 SAP Lumira

722

13.10 SAP BusinessObjects BI Launch Pad

722

13.11 Summary

723

14 Administration and Monitoring

725

14.1 DataStore Object Administration and Maintenance

726

14.1.1 Manage InfoProvider Screen Tasks

726

14.1.2 Performance Improvement Tasks

733

14.2 InfoCube Administration and Maintenance

735

14.2.1 Manage InfoProvider Screen Tasks

736

14.2.2 Performance Improvement Tasks

743

14.3 Aggregates

744

14.4 Compression

751

14.5 Process Chains

753

14.5.1 Creating a Process Chain

755

14.5.2 Setting Email Alerts

760

14.6 Analysis Authorizations

762

14.6.1 Step 1: Define the InfoObject

764

14.6.2 Step 2: Create an Authorization Object

765

14.6.3 Step 3: Assign a User ID

768

14.7 Other Administration and Maintenance Tasks

770

14.7.1 Executing an Attribute Hierarchy Change Run

770

14.7.2 Deleting Extra Aggregates

771

14.7.3 Deleting PSA Data

771

14.7.4 Deleting DTP Temporary Storage

771

14.7.5 Using Report SAP_INFOCUBE_DESIGNS

772

14.7.6 Checking Data Consistency

772

14.7.7 Early Unload Concept for SAP BW Powered by SAP HANA

772

14.8 Summary

776

15 Advanced Features

777

15.1 Open Hub

777

15.2 Analysis Process Designer

780

15.2.1 Analysis Workbench

780

15.2.2 Creating Analysis Processes

782

15.2.3 Creating Analytical Indexes

786

15.3 Remodeling

795

15.4 SAP HANA Analysis Process (HAP)

799

15.4.1 SAP HANA Analysis Process Inputs

799

15.4.2 Creating SAP HANA Analysis Process

803

15.5 Summary

809

Appendices

811

A ABCD Corp. Case Study Data

813

B Definitions of Additional InfoObjects for ABCD Corp.

823

C Important Transaction Codes

827

D Important SAP Notes

831

E The Authors

833