Bharat Patel, Amol Palekar, Shreekant Shiralkar

A Practical Guide to SAP" NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) 7.0

Galileo Press
Bonn Boston

Contents
Preface An Introduction to Business Intelligence 17 21

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6

ABCD Corp.: Company Overview Marketing Network The Sales and Billing Process Business Intelligence Requirements The Business Planning Scenario Summary

27 28 29 32 33 34

2.1 2.2

Evolution of SAP NetWeaver BW Layers of SAP NetWeaver BW 2.2.1 Extraction Layer 2.2.2 Staging Layer 2.2.3 Transformation Layer 2.2.4 Loading Layer 2.2.5 Reporting and Analysis Layer 2.2.6 Planning and Advanced Analytics Layer Basic Navigation in SAP NetWeaver BW 2.3.1 Logging On to SAP NetWeaver W 2.3.2 Screen Elements 2.3.3 Basic Navigation Functions 2.3.4 Hide/Unhide Data Warehousing Workbench Functions Activation of SAP Business Content 2.5.1 Grouping 2.5.2 Collection Mode 2.5.3 Display 2.5.4 Activating the InfoObject

35 38 39 40 40 41 41 41 43 43 45 46 48 53 56 60 61 61 61

2.3

2.4 2.5

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2.6

2.7 2.8

Implementation/Architecture Options with SAP NetWeaver BW 2.6.1 Core Landscape 2.6.2 Peripheral Landscape Avenues of SAP NetWeaver BW Learning Summary

64 64 65 66 67

3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4

3.5

Types of InfoObjects Creating an InfoArea Creating an InfoObject Catalog Creating a Characteristic InfoObject 3.4.1 Reference Characteristic Field 3.4.2 Template Field Configuring a Characteristic InfoObject 3.5.1 General Tab 3.5.2 Business Explorer Tab 3.5.3 Master Data/Texts Tab 3.5.4 HierarchyTab 3.5.5 Attributes Tab 3.5.6 Compounding Tab Creating a Key Figure InfoObject 3.6.1 Template Field 3.6.2 Reference Key Figure Field Configuring a Key Figure InfoObject 3.7.1 Type/UnitTab 3.7.2 Aggregation Tab 3.7.3 Additional Properties Tab Creating a Unit InfoObject Summary

70 71 73 76 77 77 78 78 80 82 87 92 97 98 99 99 100 100 105 110 112 114

3.6

3.7

3.8 3.9

4.1

Introduction to DataStore Objects 4.1.1 Definition and Purpose 4.1.2 Types of DSOs

115 115 118

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4.2

4.3 4.4

4.5 4.6 4.7

4.8

Architecture of the Standard DSO 4.2.1 Types of Tables 4.2.2 Activation Process for a Standard DSO 4.2.3 0RECORDMODE Designinga DSO Configuration of the Standard DSO 4.4.1 Key Settings in a Standard DSO 4.4.2 Including InfoObjects in the DSO 4.4.3 Entering Data Fields Configuration of Write-Optimized DSOs Configuration of Direct Update DSOs Usage Scenarios for DSOs 4.7.1 Data Staging 4.7.2 Temporary Storage Area 4.7.3 Analysis Process Designer 4.7.4 Pseudo-Delta Summary

119 119 120 124 125 128 128 130 132 135 137 138 139 139 139 139 140

5.1

5.2

5.3

Modeling InfoCubes 5.1.1 Key Terms 5.1.2 Assignment Tables for Characteristics and Key Figures .... 5.1.3 Create Bubble Models 5.1.4 Dimensions 5.1.5 Classic Star Schema 5.1.6 The Extended Star Schema 5.1.7 InfoCube Considerations Types of InfoCubes 5.2.1 Standard InfoCube 5.2.2 Real-Time InfoCube 5.2.3 Virtual Provider InfoCube Creating a Standard InfoCube 5.3.1 Initial Setup 5.3.2 Using Templates for InfoObject Selection 5.3.3 Editing Dimensions 5.3.4 Adding New Dimensions 5.3.5 Adding Characteristics to Dimensions

141 142 143 143 145 146 147 150 150 151 151 151 152 152 154 156 160 161

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5.4

5.5

5.3.6 Adding Key Figures to an InfoCube 5.3.7 Selecting Navigation Attributes 5.3.8 Activating the InfoCube Provider-Specific Properties 5.4.1 Setting Provider-Specific Properties for a Single InfoObject 5.4.2 Setting Provider-Specific Properties for Multiple InfoObjects Summary

164 166 167 168 169 170 172

6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5

6.6

6.7 6.8 6.9

Introduction to MultiProvider Designing a MultiProvider InfoSets 6.3.1 Usage Creating an InfoSet Additional Navigation Capabilities 6.5.1 Auto Arrange 6.5.2 Navigator 6.5.3 Link Maintenance Global Properties 6.6.1 Join Is Time-Dependent 6.6.2 Most Recent Reporting for InfoObjects 6.6.3 Left Outer Join: Add Filter Value to On-Condition 6.6.4 Temporal Join 6.6.5 Changing the InfoSet Visual Setting Left Outer Join in an InfoSet Introduction to VirtualProviders Summary

173 175 188 188 191 199 200 200 202 203 204 204 206 206 207 208 210 211

7.1

Introduction to ETL 7.1.1 Elements in the ETL Process 7.1.2 Data Acquisition Interfaces 7.1.3 Transformation 7.1.4 Loading

213 213 216 217 218

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7.2

7.3

7.4

7.5 7.6

7.7

Loading Master Data from a Flat File Source System to an InfoObject 7.2.1 Creating a Flat File Source System 7.2.2 Creating a DataSource 7.2.3 Creating and Activating a Transformation 7.2.4 Creating a DTP for Loading Master Data 7.2.5 Creating an InfoPackage and Starting Data Extraction 7.2.6 Monitoring Data Extraction to the PSA 7.2.7 Monitoring the Data Transfer Process (DTP) 7.2.8 Maintaining Master Data Loading Transaction Data from a Source System to a DSO 7.3.1 Step 2: Creating a Transaction DataSource 7.3.2 Step 3: Creating a Transformation Loading Data from a DSO to an InfoCube 7.4.1 Time Conversion Transformation 7.4.2 Routine Temporary Storage Areas and Error Stacks Data Extraction from Non-SAP systems 7.6.1 DB Connect 7.6.2 UD Connect Summary

219 219 221 234 239 245 250 255 258 260 261 265 279 281 282 286 293 294 295 296

8.1 8.2 8.3

8.4

8.5

8.6 8.7

Settings in SAP ERP Activating Business Content DataSources Data Extraction Using the Logistic Cockpit 8.3.1 Initialization/Full Upload 8.3.2 Delta Loads 8.3.3 Data Extraction Generic DataSources 8.4.1 Settings for a Generic DataSource 8.4.2 Creating a Generic DataSource Making Generic DataSources Delta Capable 8.5.1 Delta-Specific Field Area 8.5.2 Settings Area Extractor Checker Summary

298 298 299 300 301 302 304 306 308 311 312 312 314 316

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Contents

9.1 9.2 9.3

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.7 9.8

9.9

9.10 9.11 9.12

9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16

BEx Tools Landscape Example Scenario BEx Query Designer 9.3.1 BEx Query Designer Screen Layout 9.3.2 BEx Query Designer Menu Bar Create a Simple BEx Query 9.4.1 Define Filter 9.4.2 Define Rows/Columns 9.4.3 Execute the Query and Analyze Data OLAP Variables 9.5.1 Types of Variables 9.5.2 Processing Types of Variables Variable Editor 9.6.1 Characteristic Variables (Manual Entry/Default Value) 9.6.2 Characteristic Variables (Replacement Path) 9.6.3 Characteristic Variables (Customer Exit) 9.6.4 Formula Variables 9.6.5 Text Variables Filters - Selection Objects Structures 9.8.1 Key Figure Structures 9.8.2 Characteristic Structures 9.8.3 Reusing Structures Selections and Formulas 9.9.1 Selection 9.9.2 Formula Restricted Key Figures Calculated Key Figures Properties of Query Elements 9.12.1 Set Properties of Characteristic Query Elements 9.12.2 Set Properties of Key Figure Query Elements 9.12.3 Query Properties Conditions Exceptions Report-to-Report Interface Summary

317 319 320 320 323 324 326 328 330 333 334 335 338 339 345 345 348 350 351 356 356 357 358 360 361 364 368 370 372 372 376 381 384 388 393 397

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Running Queries in BEx Analyzer 10.1.1 Execute a Query in BEx Analyzer 10.1.2 BEx Analysis Functions 10.2 Performing Information Analysis in BEx Analyzer 10.2.1 Applying Filters 10.2.2 Navigation Options 10.3 Local Properties and Formulas in BEx Analyzer 10.3.1 Local Properties of a Characteristic 10.3.2 Local Properties of a Key Figure 10.3.3 Local Query Properties 10.3.4 Local Formula 10.4 Saving and Reusing Workbooks in BEx Analyzer 10.5 Building an Analysis Application in BEx Analyzer 10.5.1 BEx Design Functions 10.5.2 Build a Simple Analysis Application 10.6 Running Queries in BEx Web Analyzer 10.6.1 Create a New Analysis with BEx Web Analyzer 10.6.2 BEx Web Analyzer Functions 10.7 Performing Information Analysis in BEx Web Analyzer 10.8 Analysis Filters and Settings in BEx Web Analyzer 10.9 Information Broadcasting 10.9.1 Information Broadcasting in BEx Web Analyzer 10.9.2 Maintain Broadcasting Settings on Different BEx Objects 10.9.3 Create a New Setting in BEx Broadcaster 10.10 Summary

10.1

399 401 405 407 407 408 411 411 413 414 416 418 420 420 422 431 432 434 436 441 444 444 448 449 452

11.1

11.2

Web Application Designer Overview 11.1.1 Starting the Web Application Designer 11.1.2 Different Screen Areas of Web Application Designer .... Create a Simple Web Application 11.2.1 Create a Data Provider 11.2.2 Using an Analysis Web Item 11.2.3 Using a Dropdown Box

453 454 455 457 457 459 460

13

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11.2.4 11.2.5 11.2.6 11.2.7 11.2.8

Creating Charts Adding a Command Button Arrange Web Items Validate and Save the Web Template Execute Web Template

463 464 468 470 471 473 473 480 483 486 488 491 492 492 493 494

11.3 Web Items 11.3.1 Standard Webltems 11.3.2 Advanced 11.3.3 Miscellaneous 11.4 Working with Commands 11.4.1 Commands for Data Providers 11.4.2 Commands for Planning Applications 11.4.3 Commandsfor Web Items 11.4.4 Commands for Web Templates 11.5 Web Template Properties 11.6 Summary

12.1 An Overview of Planning 12.2 Planning Requirements in ABCD Corp 12.3 SAP NetWeaver BW Integrated Planning Components 12.3.1 Planning Modeler and Planning Wizard 12.3.2 Real-Time InfoCube 12.3.3 Characteristic Relationships 12.3.4 DataSlices 12.3.5 Aggregation Level 12.3.6 Planning Filter 12.3.7 Planning Functions 12.3.8 Planning Sequence 12.3.9 Input-Ready Query 12.4 Planning Applications 12.4.1 Excel-Based Planning Application 12.4.2 Web-Based Planning Applications 12.5 Planning Locks 12.6 Changes to Data in Real-Time InfoCubes 12.7 Summary

496 498 499 501 504 507 514 517 521 526 542 545 550 550 557 569 571 572

14

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13.1 Basic Elements of a SAP BusinessObjects Universe 13.2 Creatinga Universe 13.2.1 Based on an InfoCube 13.2.2 Based on a BEx Query 13.3 Web Intelligence 13.3.1 Creating a Web Intelligence Report Based on a Universe 13.3.2 Editing and Formatting Web Intelligence Documents 13.3.3 Performing Local Calculations in a Webl Document 13.4 Summary

574 577 577 585 588 589 595 599 604

14.1 DSO Administration and Maintenance 14.1.1 InfoProvider Administration Screen Tasks DSO 14.1.2 Performance Improvement Tasks 14.2 InfoCube Administration and Maintenance 14.2.1 InfoProvider Administration Screen Tasks InfoCube .... 14.2.2 Performance Improvement Tasks 14.3 Aggregates 14.4 Compression 14.5 Process Chain 14.5.1 Creating a Process Chain 14.5.2 Setting Email Alerts 14.6 Analysis Authorizations 14.6.1 Step 1: Define the InfoObject 14.6.2 Step 2: Create an Authorization Object 14.6.3 Step 3: Assign a User ID 14.7 Other Administration and Maintenance Tasks 14.7.1 Executing an Attribute Hierarchy Change Run 14.7.2 Deleting Extra Aggregates 14.7.3 Deleting PSA Data 14.7.4 Deleting DTP Temporary Storage 14.7.5 Using Report SAP_INFOCUBE_DESIGNS 14.7.6 Checking Data Consistency 14.8 Summary

605 606 614 616 616 624 625 633 634 635 641 644 645 646 649 650 650 651 652 652 652 652 653

15

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15.1 Open Hub 15.1.1 The Open Hub Concept 15.1.2 Creating an Open Hub Destination 15.2 Analysis Process Designer 15.2.1 Analysis Workbench 15.2.2 Creating an Analysis Process 15.3 Remodeling 15.3.1 Need for Remodeling 15.3.2 Creating Remodeling Rules 15.4 Summary

655 655 655 658 658 660 662 663 664 665

A D

Case Study: ABCD Corp Glossary Important OSS Notes The Authors

669 679 685 687 689

Index

16