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Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x with SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP Ingo Hilgefort, Director, Customer Engagement and Projects SAP BusinessObjects (Canada) (SAP Mentor)

Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

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Page 1: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x with SAP

NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

Ingo Hilgefort, Director, Customer Engagement and Projects

SAP BusinessObjects (Canada) (SAP Mentor)

Page 2: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 2 Public

Disclaimer

This presentation outlines our general product direction and should not be relied on in

making a purchase decision. This presentation is not subject to your license agreement

or any other agreement with SAP. SAP has no obligation to pursue any course of

business outlined in this presentation or to develop or release any functionality

mentioned in this presentation. This presentation and SAP's strategy and possible future

developments are subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any

reason without notice. This document is provided without a warranty of any kind, either

express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability,

fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. SAP assumes no responsibility for

errors or omissions in this document, except if such damages were caused by SAP

intentionally or grossly negligent.

Page 3: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 3 Public

Agenda

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP

Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Performance Considerations

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW

Supporting BEx Query Elements

Prompting using SAP Variables

Performance Considerations

Hierarchical Reporting Capabilities

Best Practices on BEx Query Design

Roadmap Update

Page 4: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP

Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Page 5: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 5 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Semantic Layer Access to SAP ERP

Classic InfoSets

ABAP Functions

ABAP Query

Direct Access to SAP ERP

Crystal Reports 2011

InfoSets, ABAP Functions, Tables, and ABAP Queries

Transient Provider

Leverage the local BI Client from your ERP System

Allows to leverage classic InfoSets as data source

Allows to leverage a BEx Query with direct access to

ERP data using the BICS interface

Page 6: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 6 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Semantic Layer Data Foundation

ABAP Functions are grouped by Function Group

Each Table and Export is shown as separate table in the Data

Foundation

Input parameters from the ABAP Function are mapped to Input

Columns

InfoSets are grouped first by Global / Local area

Entry INFOSET is listing all InfoSets

All other entries represent User Groups listing the InfoSet queries

Selections from the InfoSet which are not included in the

InfoSet fields will result in Input Columns

Page 7: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 7 Public

InfoSet in SAP ERP InfoSet in Universe

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Page 8: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 8 Public

ABAP Function in SAP ERP ABAP Function in Universe

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Page 9: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 9 Public

Crystal Reports & ABAP List Viewer (ALV)

This integration becomes available with SAP Business Suite Innovation 2010 (ERP 6.0 EHP 05 / NW

7.02)

You will be able to use Crystal Reports objects as layout option for Web Dynpro ALV and SAP GUI ALV

layouts

You will be able to create Crystal Reports objects as templates for all users

Crystal Reports objects become part of the software logistics of the ALV

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support

Page 10: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP

Performance Considerations

Page 11: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 11 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP Performance Considerations

Performance Considerations

In cases where the required data is available via more than one ABAP Function or InfoSet, consider to

create one source = one new InfoSet or one new ABAP function, combining the data.

Leverage scheduling from the SAP BusinessObjects BI platform to “off load” the work for those reports

that are not needed in “real time”

Current Limitation

In cases where your source (InfoSet or ABAP Function) already contains input parameters or selections

creating List of Values becomes “difficult”

You can leverage additional InfoSets or ABAP Functions to provide the list of values

You can create new InfoSets or ABAP Functions without any input parameters and create the parameters

in the Universe

Page 12: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 12 Public

Business Users

Mfg

Sa

le

s

HR

Fin

SAP Solutions

ETL

Mappings

Reporting Content

Data Marts

SAP BusinessObjects Rapid Marts

+

+

SAP BusinessObjects

Data Services

SAP BusinessObjects

BI

Universes, Initial reports

+ Dashboards

DB schema + Data

Models

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP Performance Considerations

Easily modifiable templates that combine domain knowledge and best practices in data

extraction and data modeling to produce customizable reporting content for quick and easy SAP

analytical implementations

Page 13: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 13 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP HANA Analytics Foundation

Instantaneous

transactions -

results-to-

actions

Empowerment

for front-line

employees

Unified view of

operations

without delay

Out-of-the-Box

Custom-built

Open Interface

Customer Extensions

Personalized

Views

Personalized

Views

Personalized

Views

Private Views

Reuse Views

Physical Tables

SAP-

delivered

Query

Views

SAP HANA Analytics Foundation (VDM)

Multi-channel Unified User Experience

SAP Business Suite

SAP NetWeaver

SA

P

NetW

eaver

BW

New

SA

P A

pp

s

Part

ner

Ap

ps

SAP HANA PLATFORM

Database Services

Synchronizations Services

Application Services

Operational

Reporting

Page 14: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 14 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP HANA Analytics Foundation

Immediate rollout

with no integration

challenges

Rapid

Deployment

Solutions

Easy

extension and

customization

Personalized

Views

Personalized

Views

Personalized

Views

Private Views

Reuse Views

Physical Tables

SAP-

delivered

Query

Views

Customer Extensions

SAP HANA Analytics Foundation (VDM)

SAP BusinessObjects BI

Page 15: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW

Support for BEx Query Elements across the BI Suite

Page 16: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 16 Public

Direct Access

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Data Connectivity Options

Reporting

Authored Access

BI Consumer Services (BICS)

SAP NetWeaver BW

SAP HANA

InfoProvider

BEx Query

BI 4.x Relational Universe (UNX) XI 3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Crystal Reports Web Intelligence

Page 17: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 17 Public

Direct Access

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Data Connectivity Options

Authored Access

BI Consumer Services (BICS)

SAP NetWeaver BW

SAP HANA

InfoProvider

BEx Query

BI 4.x Relational Universe (UNX) XI 3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Discovery and Analysis

Visual Intelligence Explorer Analysis

JDBC

Planned as part of 4.1

Page 18: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 18 Public

Direct Access

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Data Connectivity Options

Authored Access

BI Consumer Services (BICS)

SAP NetWeaver BW

SAP HANA

InfoProvider

BEx Query

BI 4.x Relational Universe (UNX) XI 3.1 Relational Universe (UNV)

Dashboards and Apps

Dashboards Design Studio

Page 19: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 19 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Data Connectivity Options

Direct dimensional access to your BEx Queries

No need to create a Universe

Support of hierarchies and dimensional metadata

Hierarchical query panel

Member selector

Hierarchical navigation

Member functions

Hierarchical report output

Hierarchical columns

Fold unfold

Level totals

Hierarchical graphics

Multi-data provider synchronization

Hierarchical formulas on report

Page 20: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 20 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Data Connectivity Options

When should you use the direct connection to the BEx Query (BICS)?

Invested in cube and query design and elements such as hierarchies, variables,

calculated/restricted key figures, …

When should you use the relational Universe option?

Want to combine SAP BW with other sources (SAP or non SAP)

… and elements as hierarchies are not required

Want to access DSO (fined grained reporting)

Page 21: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 21 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Relational Universe (UNX) vs Direct Access (BICS)

BEx Query Element Direct Access (BICS) Relational Universe

Calculated Key Figures

Restricted Key Figures

Variables

Conditions

Unit / Currency Conversion

Display Attributes

Hierarchies

Custom Structures

BI Authorizations (security)

Time dependent objects

Page 22: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 22 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Relational Universe (UNX) vs Direct Access (BICS)

BEx Query Element Relational Universe Possible Workaround

Calculated Key Figures Define calculated measures as part of the Universe

Restricted Key Figures Define measures with filter as part of the Universe

Variables Define prompts as part of the Universes or Web

Intelligence Query Panel.

Not possible for EXIT variables or variables filled

through authorizations.

Conditions Define measures with filter as part of the Universe

Unit / Currency Conversion Possible with manual modeling of tables with

conversion rates in the SAP BusinessObjects Universe

Designer and joins in Data Federator.

Display Attributes

Hierarchies No workaround possible

Custom Structures

BI Authorizations (security)

Time dependent objects No workaround possible

Page 23: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 23 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Relational Universe (UNX) vs Direct Access (BICS)

Functionality Direct Access (BICS) Relational Universe

Re-uses existing BEx queries

(uses InfoProvider not BEx Query)

Support for ERP 6 Transient Provider

(uses InfoProvider not BEx Query)

Connection is shared across BI Suite Crystal Reports for Enterprise

Web Intelligence

Dashboards (Xcelsius)

Explorer

Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office

Analysis, edition for OLAP

Design Studio

Crystal Reports for Enterprise

Web Intelligence

Dashboards (Xcelsius)

Explorer

Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office

Analysis, edition for OLAP

Design Studio

Connection can point to multiple BEx

queries / InfoProvider One Universe per InfoProvider or

combination of InfoProvider

Allows customization of objects Only via BEx Query Designer

Creation of custom objects Only via BEx Query Designer

Creation of custom calculations Only via BEx Query Designer

Combine several data sources

Page 24: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 24 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Additional Options with SAP NetWeaver BW on SAP HANA options

The integration of SAP Visual Intelligence and SAP BusinessObjects Explorer with SAP

NetWeaver BW on SAP HANA is based on the SAP HANA in-memory capabilities and

leverages the

– HANA views generated based on BW meta data and directly created on top of the underlying tables of

BW InfoProviders

– HANA security model

– HANA modeler for extension of generated views

By using HANA’s own repository, its modeling capabilities and security model the SAP

NetWeaver BW on SAP HANA integration with SAP Visual Intelligence and SAP

BusinessObjects Explorer maximizes the capabilities of the SAP HANA engine especially as

the SAP HANA capabilities advance.

Page 25: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 25 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Additional Options with SAP NetWeaver BW on SAP HANA options

Current Limitations:

Following features are not supported on the generated SAP HANA models:

DSO without any key figure

Authorization on Key Figures

Currency and Unit of Measure Conversion

NOTE: Only currency mapping is supported and not the conversion.

Time dependent text and attributes

Non-cumulative key figures

Conversion routines in the BW system

Exception aggregation like, average, counter, first value, last value, no aggregation, standard deviation is

not supported for generated measures.

Following features are not supported on generated analytic privileges:

Exclude operator not supported

Aggregated value operator ‘:’ is not supported

Variables of type User exits are not supported

Authorization on Key Figures are not supported

Authorization on hierarchy node is not supported

Page 26: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 26 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Additional Options with SAP NetWeaver BW on SAP HANA options

Technical Pre-requisites:

SAP Notes 1703061, 1759172, 1752384 and 1733519 have been implemented

SAP HANA Modeler SP04 Revision 37

BW schema has been added in the SQL privileges for the Modeler user to import BW models

Further Details

https://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-32264

Walkthrough

http://www.experiencesaphana.com/community/blogs/blog/2012/09/27/modeler-unplugged-episode-11--

importing-bw-models-as-native-hana-models

http://www.experiencesaphana.com/community/blogs/blog/2012/10/04/modeler-unplugged-episode-12--

understanding-hana-models-imported-from-bw

http://www.experiencesaphana.com/community/blogs/blog/2012/10/11/modeler-unplugged-episode-13--

exploring-data-for-hana-models-imported-from-bw

Page 27: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 27 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Support for BEx Query Elements across the BI Suite

When should you use the direct connection to the BEx Query (BICS)?

Invested in cube and query design and elements such as hierarchies, variables,

calculated/restricted key figures, …

When should you use the relational Universe option?

Want to combine SAP BW with other sources (SAP or non SAP)

… and elements as hierarchies are not required

Want to access DSO (fined grained reporting)

Page 28: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 28 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

The following tables outline the level of support for BEx query elements and

typical BEx query functionality for all BI client tools based on SAP

BusinessObjects BI 4 Service Pack 05.

For SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office these slides

evaluate version 1.3 of the product.

For SAP BusinessObjects Design Studio these slides evaluate version 1.0 of

the product.

Page 29: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 29 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

InfoProvider Dimension No No No No No No Yes No

Characteristics Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Key Figures Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Free Characteristics Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Restricted Key Figures Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Calculated Key Figures Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Display Attributes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes

Navigational Attributes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

BEx Query Filter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Defaults (4) Yes Yes No No No No No Yes

(4) Defaults in this context refers to the Defaults area in the BEx Query Designer and not to default values for SAP variables in a BEx Query.

Page 30: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 30 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Custom Key Figure Structure Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Custom Characteristic Structure Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Hierarchical Custom Key Figure

Structure Yes Yes No No No No No Yes

Hierarchical Custom

Characteristic Structure Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Selection of elements of a

custom structure in the report Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Support for 2 structures from

BEx Query Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Compounded Characteristics Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Page 31: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 31 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Support for Characteristic Data

Type NUMC Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Support for Characteristic Data

Type CHAR Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Support for Characteristic Data

Type DATS Yes Yes

Key Value as

String.

Description

Value as Date

Key Value as

String.

Description

Value as Date

Key Value as

String.

Description

Value as Date

Yes Yes Yes

Support for Characteristic Data

Type TIMS Yes Yes

As String

Value Only

As String

Value Only

As String

Value Only Yes Yes Yes

Support for Key Figures Data

Type Amount / Quantity Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Support for Key Figures Data

Type DATS Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Support for Key Figures Data

Type TIMS Yes Yes

As String

Value Only

As String

Value Only

As String

Value Only Yes Yes Yes

Information about configured

Filters in the BEx Query Yes No No No No No No No

BEx Text Elements Yes No No No No No No Yes

Page 32: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 32 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Type

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Optional Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Mandatory Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No

No

(only with

Default Values)

Characteristic Value Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Formula Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Hierarchy Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Hierarchy Node Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Hierarchy Version Variable Yes Yes No No No No No Yes

Key Date Variable Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Text Variables Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Page 33: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 33 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Processing Type

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

User Entry / Default Value Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Replacement Path Yes Yes Yes (3) Yes (3) Yes (3) Yes No Yes

Customer / SAP Exits Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Authorization Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

(3) To be able to use BEx Queries with Crystal Reports for Enterprise, Web Intelligence, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards the

BEx queries need to be configured to allow external access in the BEx Query Designer. For limits of BEx queries which are released

for external access please also take a look at SAP Note 820925.

In particular for the for the variable processing type Replacement Path:

Variables with replacement from query result are not supported, if the query again has variables that are ready for input.

Page 34: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 34 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Presentation

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Single Value Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes (6)

Multiple Single Value Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes (6)

Interval / Range Value Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes (6)

Selection Option Yes Yes Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2) Yes No Yes (6)

Selection Option Operator

Functionality (except Contains

Pattern)

Yes Yes Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2) Yes No Yes (6)

Selection Option Operator

Functionality - Contains Pattern No No

Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2) Yes No No

Selection Option Include /

Exclude Functionality Yes Yes

Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2)

Limited

Support (2) Yes No Yes (6)

PreCalculated Value Set Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes (6)

(2) Crystal Reports for Enterprise, Web Intelligence, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards are creating range variables for a selection

option variable from a BEx Query. In addition the option to include or exclude values and to select an operator is not supported.

(6) Design Studio 1.0 does not support the prompting.. Nevertheless designer can set the variable value per scripting.

Page 35: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 35 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Support for manual entry of

values Yes Yes No No No Yes - NA - Yes

Support for Variables in Defaults

Area of BEx Query Yes Yes No No No No No Yes

Support for single Key Date

Variable Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Support for multiple Key Date

Variables in single BEx Query Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes

Support for Hierarchy /

Hierarchy Node Variable

dependency

Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes

Support for cascading variables

for Compounded Characteristics Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No - NA - Yes

Support for Variable Default

Values Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Page 36: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 36 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Copy / Paste variable values

from clipboard Yes No No No No No - NA -

Planned for

release 1.1

Filling variable values from

Microsoft Excel File

Planned for

release 1.4 No No No No No - NA - No

Merge / Unmerge Variables Yes Planned for

release 4.1 No Yes No No - NA -

Planned for

release 1.1

Defining Variable Sequence in

the report No No Yes

Planned for

release 4.1 No No - NA - No

Variable Sequence based on

BEx Query Designer Yes Yes Yes Yes No No - NA -

Planned for

release 1.1

Support for validating values

before executing the report Yes Yes No No No No - NA -

Planned for

release 1.1

Read Mode for list of values

(master data, InfoCube) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No - NA -

Planned for

release 1.1

Page 37: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 37 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design

Studio

Currency / Unit Conversion

defined in BEx Query Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Currency / Unit Conversion

(Runtime) Yes No No No No No

Possible with

manual modeling No

Condition in Rows

(from BEx Query) Yes Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

Condition in Columns

(from BEx Query) Yes Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

Conditions for fixed set of

characteristics (from BEx Query) Yes Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

Condition for independent

characteristics (from BEx Query) Yes Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

Yes

Defining Conditions in the report Yes Yes Yes (5) Yes (5) Yes (5) No - NA - No

Exceptions (from BEx Query) Yes Planned for

release 4.1

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

- NA -

No

Not planned for

future release

Planned for

release1.1

Defining Exceptions in the report Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - NA - - NA - No

Constant Selection Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - NA - Yes

(5) the BI clients are able to create condition type of filters (for example, Top N) in the report but these filters are applied after the data has been retrieved

from SAP NetWeaver BW

Page 38: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 38 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Type

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Cell Editor Calculation Yes Yes Limited

Support (6)

Limited

Support (6)

Limited

Support (6) No No Yes

Local calculations (defined in

BEx Query) Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes

Defining Calculations in the

report (at run time) Yes Yes No Yes No Yes - NA - No

Exception Aggregation Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Zero Suppression Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes

Read Mode for characteristics

(master data, InfoCube) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

(6) Crystal Reports for Enterprise, Web Intelligence, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards to support BEx queries with two structures

and cell definitions created with the cell editor but in cases where the cell definition combines different data types, the resulting output in

these BI clients will be a string value instead of a numeric value.

Page 39: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 39 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Scaling Factor Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - NA - Yes (7)

Reverse Sign (+/-) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - NA - Yes (7)

Number of Decimals Yes Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

- NA - Yes (7)

Hide / Show the Element Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - NA - Yes (7)

Sort Characteristics Yes Yes No No No Yes - NA - Yes (7)

Display Options for

characteristics (Key, Key & Text,

Text)

Yes Yes

Elements can

be included as

part of the

report design

Elements can

be included as

part of the

report design

Elements can

be included as

part of the

report design

Yes - NA - Yes (7)

Result Rows (Show, Suppress) Yes Yes No No No No - NA - Yes (7)

Placement of subtotal (above /

below nodes) Yes Yes No No No No - NA - Yes (7)

(7) Design Studio: possible to define it in design time. But it‘s not possible to define/change it in ad-hoc manner in run time with Design Studio 1.0

Page 40: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 40 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Schedule a document Planned for 1.4

(BI 4.1) No Yes Yes No - NA - - NA - No

Create a Publication (=

Broadcasting)

Planned for 1.4

(BI 4.1) No Yes Yes No - NA - - NA - No

Support for Variable Variants Yes Planned for

release 4.1 No No No No - NA -

Planned for

future release

Support for Variable

Personalization

Planned for

version 1.4 No No No No No - NA -

Planned for

future release

Support for Report Report

Interface as Sender Yes

Planned for

release 4.1 Yes No Yes No - NA -

Planned for

future release

Support for Report Report

Interface as Receiver

Planned for

version 1.4 No No No No No - NA -

Planned for

future release

Page 41: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW

Prompting using BEx Query Variables

Page 42: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 42 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Prompting using SAP Variables

Optional and Mandatory parameters

Mandatory prompts will load the list of values

When possible consider using optional parameters for large list of values

Behavior has been changed with SAP BusinessObjects BI4 SP04 Patch 1 so that prompts

are not loading list of values automatically

Selection Option Variable

Currently only Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office and Analysis, edition for OLAP fully

support the Selection Option variable (operators, include / exclude)

Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, and Dashboards are creating an interval / range prompt

without the option to select an include / exclude operator

Using OpenDocument with Variables

When using OpenDocument with Variables, ensure the Key values are used as part of the

OpenDocument URL (not the description values)

Page 43: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 43 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Prompting using SAP Variables

Display Attributes

As part of the definition of Display Attributes in SAP NetWeaver BW it is also possible to

configure if the Display Attribute should be displayed as part of the F4 Help / List of Values

for a BEx Variable.

As large list of values can consume a lot memory, you should consider carefully if those

Display Attributes are really needed as part of the list of values and in case they are not

needed you should remove them from the list of value by changing the configuration in SAP

NetWeaver BW.

Page 44: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 44 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Prompting using SAP Variables

Restrictions

All the BI tools have options to restrict the volume of values for parameters

– Analysis, edition for OLAP : Property of the MDAS Server

– Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office : Settings in the tool

– Crystal Reports for Enterprise: Property for the Crystal Reports Application (CMC > Applications)

– Web Intelligence: Property of the Processing Server

Additional Option:

Starting with SAP NetWeaver BW 7.01 Support Package 09 / SAP NetWeaver BW 7.30

Support Package 3 customers can use the BAdI RSR_VARIABLE_F4_RESTRICT_BADI to

use a set of criteria to restrict the list of members for an input screen. For more information,

see F1 help for this BAdI (transaction SE18, enhancement spot

RSR_VARIABLE_F4_RESTRICT).

See Note 1416952

Page 45: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 45 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Prompting using SAP Variables

Variable Variants and Variable Personalization

Variable Variants for SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office is planned

for the version 1.3

Variable Variants for SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for OLAP is planned for the 4.1

release

Variable Variants for Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, and Dashboards is planned for the

release after 4.1

Support for Variable Personalization is planned for the release after the 4.1 release

Page 46: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW

Performance Considerations

Page 47: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 47 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Performance Considerations

BEx Query Design considerations

Currently the meta-data retrieval for the “design” of a report is based on the BEx Query

Try to create a compromise between “access to available data” and “performance”

Configure the BEx Query to “read data while navigation” (not in a single run) in transaction

RSRT

Monitor your SAP BW Statistics for Aggregates

Data Volume

Remember that SAP BW is a multi-dimensional engine (and not a “data pump”)

Try to leverage BI clients together, for example navigate from Analysis to Web Intelligence or

Crystal Reports

In case really large volumes of data are needed, consider also a DSO Layer with a relational

Universe

Page 48: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 48 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Performance Considerations

BI Platform sizing

Leverage the Sizing guide especially for the DSL Bridge server and create separate APS

with larger JVM configuration

http://sap.com/bisizing

Service Pack 04 Performance improvements

Browsing of BEx Queries

“Refresh” of reports (Crystal Reports, Web Intelligence, and Dashboards)

Planned 4.1 Performance improvements

Additional enhancements for the “run time” “Refresh” of reports

Performance improvements on the “Design Time” of reports

Page 49: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW

Hierarchical Reporting Capabilities

Page 50: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 50 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Support for Hierarchies with

Linked Nodes Yes Yes

Planned for

release 4.1

Planned for

release 4.1

Planned for

release 4.1 Yes No Yes

Support for time-dependent

Hierarchies Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Support for time-dependent

Hierarchy Structures Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Support for Hierarchies with

Temp Join Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Support for Hierarchy Versions

(without usage of Variables) No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No

Page 51: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 51 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Hierarchical Member selection

(nodes and leafs) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes

(only as filter) No Yes (8)

Member Selection based on

hierarchy levels Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes (8)

Show specific Hierarchy Levels Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No - NA - Yes (8)

Skip levels of a hierarchy Yes Yes No No No No - NA - Yes (8)

Show Leaf Members only Yes Yes No No No No - NA - Yes (8)

Ranking Data along a hierarchy Yes Yes No No No No - NA - No

Exchange of hierarchies in the

BI client tool Yes Yes No No No No No No

Expand to Level Functionality

(BEx Query Designer) Yes Yes No No No No - NA - Yes (8)

Expand to Level Functionality

(Run Time) Yes Planned for 4.1 No No No No - NA - No

(8) Design Studio: possible to define it in design time. But it‘s not possible to define/change it in ad-hoc manner in run time with Design Studio 1.0

Page 52: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 52 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements

Analysis,

edition for

Microsoft

Office

Analysis,

edition for

OLAP

Crystal

Reports for

Enterprise

Web

Intelligence

Dashboards

(BICS in BIP)

Explorer

(BW

Accelerator)

Relational

Universe

(BI4 UNX)

Design Studio

Compact Axis in the Rows

(Display as hierarchy) Yes Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

- NA - Yes(8)

Compact Axis in the Columns

(Display as hierarchy) Yes Yes

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

No

Not planned for

future release

- NA - Yes(8)

Hierarchical Report Design Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No - NA - Yes(8)

Hierarchical charting No Yes Yes Yes Yes No - NA - No

(8) Design Studio: possible to define it in design time. But it‘s not possible to define/change it in ad-hoc manner in run time with Design Studio 1.0

Page 53: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW

Best Practices on BEx Query Design

Page 54: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 54 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Best Practices on BEx Query Design

Overall recommendation

BEx Queries are recommended as data sources for all the SAP BusinessObjects BI

products

BEx Queries offer significant functionality to create customized data sources that meet end-

user requirements, such as Calculated Key figures, Restricted Key figures and SAP

Variables.

You do NOT want one BEx Query for one report

(…. And not one BEx Query for all reports either)

Focus the implementation strategy on limiting the number of BI Queries by sharing common

elements

The BI Client tool and report definition is the primary influence factor on how much data is

being retrieved from SAP NetWeaver BW

In some situations extremely large queries and universes can adversely affect performance

Page 55: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 55 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Best Practices on BEx Query Design

“Allow External Access” option has to be set in the properties of the BEx query

Placement of Characteristics / Key Figures have no direct impact for the BI tools

For large sets of key figures, use the option - “Use Selection of Structure Members” in

transaction RSRT (Query Monitor) as part of the Query Properties

Query Read Mode should be configured to read data while navigate (Transaction RSRT,

Query Monitor)

Leverage the capabilities of the Restricted Key and Calculated Key Figures

Leverage SAP Variables as part of the BEx Query

– Can be shared across queries, minimizing development downstream

– List of Values are being generated automatically

Page 56: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 56 Public

Time based structures / calculations

– Leverage EXIT Variables as part of the BEx query

Data Level Security & SAP NetWeaver BW

– Use BI authorizations for data level security

Items not supported via direct InfoCube access:

– Variables (e.g. Authorization Variables)

– Restricted or calculated Key figures

– Filters

– Custom structures

– Navigational attributes

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Best Practices on BEx Query Design

Page 57: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 57 Public

Remember… there is no Universe on top of your BEx Query

All changes to descriptions need to be part of your BEx Query

All variables / prompts need to be part of your BEx Query

– Report based filters can not be shared across

All necessary calculations should become part of your BEx Query

– Performance Consideration

– Allows sharing across multiple BEx Queries and reports

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Best Practices on BEx Query Design

Page 58: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 58 Public

OLAP Connections in SAP BusinessObjects 4.x

You can define an OLAP Connection pointing to

… your SAP NetWeaver BW system

… your InfoProvider

… your BEx Query

Consider how you are securing your BEx Queries today

Are you already using authorization objects to limit the number of BEx Queries and

InfoProviders ?

>> A single connection to SAP NetWeaver BW could be an option

… also consider your report designers

>> A single connection will means to navigate the InfoArea > InfoProvider levels for

each report design

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW Best Practices on BEx Query Design

Page 59: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 59 Public

Your BI Strategy should start with the business requirements, not with the

DWH

Key Points to Take Home

SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x allows you to re-use your existing BEx queries,

but make sure you understand the limitations per BI client

The direct connection to SAP NetWeaver BW removes the need for the

Universe, but make sure you have everything in the BEx queries

Page 60: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 60 Public

Additional Resources

Reporting and Analysis with SAP BusinessObjects

(2nd Edition)

(SAP Press, 2012) Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI

Platform 4.x with SAP NetWeaver

(SAP Press, 2011)

Mastering SAP BusinessObjects

Analysis, edition for OLAP with SAP

NetWeaver BW

Interactive eBook:

Kindle Edition

Best Practices for integration SAP

BusinessObjects BI 4.x with SAP

NetWeaver BW

Kindle Edition

Page 62: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

Appendix

Page 63: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 65 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

The following tables outline the level of support for BEx query elements and

typical BEx query functionality by comparing the available meta-data and

functionality of SAP BusinessObjects BI 4 Service Pack 05 compared to XI 3.1

OLAP Universes.

The comparison is solely done for Web Intelligence and SAP BusinessObjects

Explorer, as XI 3.1 OLAP Universes are only supported using Web Intelligence

and SAP BusinessObjects Explorer.

Page 64: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 66 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

InfoProvider Dimension No No Yes

Characteristics Yes Yes Yes

Key Figures Yes Yes Yes

Free Characteristics Yes Yes Yes

Restricted Key Figures Yes No Yes

Calculated Key Figures Yes No Yes

Display Attributes Yes Yes Yes

Navigational Attributes Yes Yes Yes

BEx Query Filter Yes No Yes

Defaults (1) No No No

(1) Defaults in this context refers to the Defaults area in the BEx Query Designer and not to default values for SAP variables in a BEx Query.

Page 65: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 67 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Custom Key Figure Structure Yes No Yes

Custom Characteristic Structure Yes No Yes

Hierarchical Custom Key Figure Structure No No No

Hierarchical Custom Characteristic Structure Yes No No

Selection of elements of a custom structure in

the report Yes No No

Support for 2 structures from BEx Query Yes No Yes

Compounded Characteristics Yes Yes No

Page 66: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 68 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

BEx Query Elements Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Support for Characteristic Data Type NUMC Yes Yes Yes

Support for Characteristic Data Type CHAR Yes Yes Yes

Support for Characteristic Data Type DATS Key Value as String.

Description Value as Date Yes

Key Value as String.

Description Value as Date

Support for Characteristic Data Type TIMS As String Value Only Yes As String Value Only

Support for Key Figures Data Type Amount /

Quantity Yes Yes Yes

Support for Key Figures Data Type DATS Yes Yes Yes

Support for Key Figures Data Type TIMS As String Value Only Yes As String Value Only

Information about configured Filters in the BEx

Query No No No

BEx Text Elements No No No

Page 67: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 69 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variables Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Optional Variables Yes No Yes

Mandatory Variables Yes No Yes

Characteristic Value Variables Yes No Yes

Formula Variables Yes No Yes

Hierarchy Variables Yes No Yes

Hierarchy Node Variables Yes No Yes

Hierarchy Version Variable No No No

Key Date Variable Yes No Yes

Text Variables Yes No No

Page 68: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 70 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variables Processing Type Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

User Entry / Default Value Yes No Yes

Replacement Path Yes (2) No Yes (2)

Customer / SAP Exits Yes No Yes

Authorization Yes No Yes

(2) To be able to use BEx Queries with Crystal Reports for Enterprise, Web Intelligence, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards the

BEx queries need to be configured to allow external access in the BEx Query Designer. For limits of BEx queries which are released

for external access please also take a look at SAP Note 820925.

In particular for the for the variable processing type Replacement Path:

Variables with replacement from query result are not supported, if the query again has variables that are ready for input.

Page 69: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 71 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variables Presentation Option Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Single Value Yes No Yes

Multiple Single Value Yes No Yes

Interval / Range Value Yes No Yes

Selection Option Limited Support (3) No Limited Support (3)

Selection Option Operator Functionality (except

Contains Pattern) Limited Support (3) No Limited Support (3)

Selection Option Operator Functionality -

Contains Pattern Limited Support (3) No Limited Support (3)

Selection Option Include / Exclude Functionality Limited Support (3) No Limited Support (3)

PreCalculated Value Set Yes No No

(3) Crystal Reports for Enterprise, Web Intelligence, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards are creating range variables for a selection

option variable from a BEx Query. In addition the option to include or exclude values and to select an operator is not supported.

Page 70: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 72 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variables Presentation Option Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Support for manual entry of values No - NA - Yes

Support for Variables in Defaults Area of BEx

Query No No No

Support for single Key Date Variable Yes No Only Limited support

Support for multiple Key Date Variables in single

BEx Query No No No

Support for Hierarchy / Hierarchy Node Variable

dependency Yes No Yes

Support for cascading variables for

Compounded Characteristics Yes - NA - No

Support for Variable Default Values Yes No Yes

Page 71: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 73 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Copy / Paste variable values from clipboard No - NA - No

Filling variable values from Microsoft Excel File No - NA - No

Merge / Unmerge Variables Yes - NA - No

Defining Variable Sequence in the report Planned for release 4.1 - NA - No

Variable Sequence based on BEx Query

Designer Yes - NA - No

Support for validating values before executing

the report No - NA - No

Read Mode for list of values (master data,

InfoCube) Yes - NA - Yes

Page 72: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 74 Public

SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Currency / Unit Conversion defined in BEx

Query Yes No Yes

Currency / Unit Conversion (Runtime) No Possible with manual modeling No

Condition in Rows

(from BEx Query)

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

Condition in Columns

(from BEx Query)

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

Conditions for fixed set of characteristics (from

BEx Query)

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

Condition for independent characteristics (from

BEx Query)

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

Defining Conditions in the report Yes (4) - NA - Yes (4)

Exceptions (from BEx Query) No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

No

Not planned for future release

Defining Exceptions in the report Yes - NA - Yes

Constant Selection Yes - NA - Yes

(4) the BI clients are able to create condition type of filters (for example, Top N) in the report but these filters are applied after the data has been retrieved

from SAP NetWeaver BW

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SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Cell Editor Calculation Limited Support (5) No Limited Support (5)

Local calculations (defined in BEx Query) No No No

Defining Calculations in the report (at run time) Yes - NA - Yes

Exception Aggregation Yes No Yes

Zero Suppression No No No

Read Mode for characteristics (master data,

InfoCube) Yes Yes Yes

(5) Crystal Reports for Enterprise, Web Intelligence, and SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards to support BEx queries with two structures

and cell definitions created with the cell editor but in cases where the cell definition combines different data types, the resulting output in

these BI clients will be a string value instead of a numeric value.

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SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Scaling Factor Yes - NA - No

Reverse Sign (+/-) Yes - NA - No

Number of Decimals No

Not planned for future release - NA -

No

Not planned for future release

Hide / Show the Element Yes - NA - Yes

Sort Characteristics No - NA - No

Display Options for characteristics (Key, Key &

Text, Text)

Elements can be included as

part of the report design - NA -

Elements can be included as

part of the report design

Result Rows (Show, Suppress) No - NA - No

Placement of subtotal (above / below nodes) No - NA - No

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SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Support for Hierarchies with Linked Nodes No No No

Support for time-dependent Hierarchies Yes No Limited (6)

Support for time-dependent Hierarchy Structures Yes No Limited (6)

Support for Hierarchies with Temp Join Yes No Yes

Support for Hierarchy Versions (without usage of

Variables) Yes No No

(6) SAP BusinessObjects XI 3.1 OLAP Universes are created using the Universe Design Tool and there is no option available to

configure a key date when authoring the XI 3.1 OLAP Universe. Based on this situation the XI 3.1 OLAP Universe will always be authored

based on the system date and the authored Universe will only consider meta-data for time-dependent objects based on the system date.

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SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Hierarchical Member selection (nodes and leafs) Yes No Yes

Member Selection based on hierarchy levels Yes No No

Show specific Hierarchy Levels Yes - NA - No

Skip levels of a hierarchy No - NA - No

Show Leaf Members only No - NA - No

Ranking Data along a hierarchy No - NA - No

Exchange of hierarchies in the BI client tool No No No

Expand to Level Functionality (BEx Query

Designer) No - NA - No

Expand to Level Functionality (Run Time) No - NA - No

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SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Compact Axis in the Rows (Display as

hierarchy)

No

Not planned for future release - NA -

No

Not planned for future release

Compact Axis in the Columns (Display as

hierarchy)

No

Not planned for future release - NA -

No

Not planned for future release

Hierarchical Report Design Yes - NA - No

Hierarchical charting Yes - NA - No

(8) Design Studio: possible to define it in design time. But it‘s not possible to define/change it in ad-hoc manner in run time with Design Studio 1.0

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SAP BusinessObjects BI & SAP NetWeaver BW Supported meta-data & functionality

Variable Functionality Web Intelligence 4.x using

Direct BICS Connectivity

Web Intelligence 4.x using

Relational Universe (BI4 UNX)

Web Intelligence 4.x using XI

3.1 OLAP Universe (UNV)

Schedule a document Yes - NA - Yes

Create a Publication (= Broadcasting) Yes - NA - Yes

Support for Variable Variants No - NA - No

Support for Variable Personalization No - NA - No

Support for Report Report Interface as Sender No - NA - No

Support for Report Report Interface as Receiver No - NA - No

Page 79: Best Practices for Integrating SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x With SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP ERP

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