1.Data Modeling

○     Creating InfoObjects: Characteristics

○     Creating InfoObjects: Key Figures

○     Creating DataStore objects

○     And/or creating InfoCubes

○     And/or creating InfoSets

○     And/or creating MultiProviders

○     Or creating VirtualProviders

Creating InfoObjects: Characteristics  

Procedure

...

       1.      In the context menu of your InfoObject catalog for characteristics, select Create InfoObject.

       2.      Enter a name and a description

       3.      Specify a reference characteristic or a template InfoObject. If you choose a template InfoObject, you copy its properties and use them for the new characteristic. You can edit the properties as required. For more information about reference characteristics, see Tab Page: Compounding in the Reference InfoObject section.

       4.      Confirm your entries.

       5.      Maintain Tab Page: General. You have to enter a description, data type and data length. The following settings and tab pages are optional.

Maintain Tab Page: Business Explorer

Maintain Tab Page: Master Data/Texts

Maintain Tab Page: Hierarchy

       6.      Maintain Tab Page: Attributes. This tab page is only available if you have set the With Master Data indicator on the Master Data/Texts tab page.

Maintain Tab Page: Compounding

       7.      Save and Activate the characteristic you have created.

Before you can use characteristics, they have to be activated.

If you choose Save, the system creates all the characteristics that have been changed and saves the table entries. However, they cannot be used for reporting in InfoProviders yet. If there is an older active version, this is retained initially.

The system only creates the relevant objects created in the data dictionary (data elements, domains, text tables, master data tables, and programs) after you have activated the characteristics. Only then do the InfoProviders use the activated, new version.

In InfoObject maintenance, you can switch between any D, M, or A versions that exist for an InfoObject at any time.

Creating InfoObjects: Key Figures  

Procedure

...

       1.      In the context menu of your InfoObject catalog for key figures, select Create InfoObject.

       2.      Enter a name and a description

       3.      If necessary, define a reference key figure or a template InfoObject.

Template InfoObject: If you choose a template InfoObject, copy its properties to your new key figure so that you can edit them.

Reference key figure: With a reference key figure, the original value is filled from the referenced key figure. However, it is calculated differently with this key figure (either with other aggregations or with Elimination of Internal Business Volume in the query). When creating update rules, a key figure with a reference is not offered. Therefore, it is not possible to create update rules.

       4.      Confirm your entries.

       5.      Edit Tab Page: Type/Units.

       6.      Edit Tab Page: Aggregations.

       7.      Edit Tab Page: Additional Propertiess.

       8.      If you created your key figure with a reference, you get an additional Elimination tab page.

       9.      Save and activate the key figure you have created.

Key figures have to be activated before they can be used.

Save means that all changed key figures in the InfoObject catalog are created, and that the table entries are saved. However, they cannot be used for reporting in InfoProviders yet. The older active version is retained initially.

The system only creates the corresponding data dictionary objects (data elements, domains, programs) after you have activated the key figure. Only then do the InfoProviders use the activated, new version.

Creating DataStore Objects 

Procedure

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       1.      Select the InfoArea that you want to assign the DataStore object to, or create a new InfoArea. Choose Modeling ® InfoProvider  ® Create InfoArea.

       2.      In the context menu for the InfoArea, choose Create DataStore Object.

       3.      Specify a name and a description for the DataStore object, and choose  Create.

If you want to create a copy of an existing DataStore object, specify the DataStore object that you want to use as a template.

The DataStore object maintenance screen appears.

       4.      Add the InfoObjects:

The left side of the screen contains a number of different templates. These give you a better overview of a particular task. For performance reasons, the default setting is an empty template. You use the pushbuttons to select different objects as templates.

On the right side of the screen, you define the DataStore object. Using the drag and drop function, assign the InfoObjects in the key fields and in the data fields. You can select several InfoObjects at once. The system assigns navigation attributes automatically. These navigation attributes can be activated to analyze data in Business Explorer. If the navigation attributes are switched on, they are also displayed in the transformation (only if the DataStore object is the source) and can be updated.

Or:

You can also insert InfoObjects without selecting a template in the left side of the screen. This is useful if you know exactly which InfoObjects you want to include in the DataStore object. To do this, choose InfoObjects to Insert in the context menu for the node for key fields or data fields. In the dialog box that appears, you can enter and transfer up to ten InfoObjects directly or you can select them using input help. You can use drag and drop to move them.

There must be at least one key field.

Additional restrictions:

-         You can create a maximum of 16 key fields. If you have more key fields, you can merge (concatenate) fields into one key field using a routine.

-         You can create a maximum of 749 fields.

-         You can use 1962 bytes (minus 44 bytes for the change log).

-         You cannot include key figures as key fields.

       5.      In the context menu of the Data Fields folder you can Insert New Hierarchy Nodes. This allows you to sort the data fields in a hierarchy. You then get a better overview of large quantities of data fields in query definition.

       6.      Under Settings, you can make various settings and define the properties of the DataStore object. More information: DataStore Object Settings

       7.      Under Indexes, call the context menu to create secondary indexes. This improves the load performance and query performance of the DataStore object. The system automatically creates primary indexes.

If the values in the index fields uniquely identify each record in the table, select Unique Index from the creation dialog box. Errors can occur during activation if the values are not unique.

The system specifies the number of each index. To create a folder for the indexes, choose Continue from the dialog box. You can add the required key fields to the index folder using drag and drop.

You can create a maximum of 16 secondary indexes. The system also transports these automatically.

More information: Indexes

       8.      Use  Check to make sure that the DataStore object is consistent.

       9.      Save the DataStore object and activate it. When you activate the DataStore object, the system generates an export DataSource. You use this to update the DataStore object data to further InfoProviders.

Result

You can now create a transformation and a data transfer process for the DataStore object to load data. If you have loaded data into a DataStore object, you can use this DataStore object as the source for another InfoProvider. More information: Processing Data in DataStore Objects. You can display and delete the loaded data in DataStore object administration. More information: DataStore Object Administration.

 Creating InfoCubes 

Prerequisites

Ensure that all the InfoObjects you want to transfer in the InfoCube are available in an active version. Create any InfoObjects you need that do not already exist and activate them.

Instead of creating a new InfoCube, you can install an InfoCube from SAP BI Content.

Procedure

...

       1.      Create an InfoArea to which the new InfoCube should be assigned.

Choose Modeling ®  InfoProvider.

       2.      In the InfoArea context menu, choose Create InfoCube.

       3.      Select either Standard or Real Time as the InfoCube type. More information: Real-Time InfoCube

Choose Create.

If you want to create a copy of an already existing InfoCube, you can enter an InfoCube as a template.

The Edit InfoCube screen appears.

       4.      Adding InfoObjects:

On the left-hand side of the screen, there are various templates to choose from. These give you a better overview of a particular task. For performance reasons, the default setting is an empty template. You use the pushbuttons to select different objects as templates.

The InfoObjects to be added to the InfoCube are divided into the following categories: characteristic, time characteristic, key figure and unit.

On the right side of the screen, you define the InfoCube. Use drag and drop to assign the InfoObjects in the dimensions and the Key Figures folder. You can select several InfoObjects at the same time. You can also transfer entire dimensions using drag and drop. The system assigns navigation attributes automatically. These navigation attributes can be switched on to analyze data in the Business Explorer. If the navigation attributes are switched on, they are also displayed in the transformation (only if the InfoCube is the source) and can be updated.

Or:

You can insert InfoObjects without selecting a template in the left half of the screen. This is useful if you know exactly which InfoObjects you want to include in the InfoCube. In the context menu for the folders for dimensions or key figures, choose InfoObject Direct Input. In the dialog box that appears, you can enter and transfer up to 10 InfoObjects directly, or you can select them using input help. You can use drag and drop to reassign them.

       5.      Details and provider-specific properties:

If you double-click an InfoObject, the detail display for this InfoObject appears. In the context menu for an InfoObject, you can make additional settings under Provider-Specific Properties. You can find more information in the Provider-Specific Properties section in Additional Functions in InfoCube Maintenance.

       6.      Create dimensions: The data package, time, and unit dimensions are available by default. In the context menu for the Dimensions folder, you can create additional dimensions under Create New Dimensions.

More information: Dimension.

If a dimension only has one characteristic, or it has a large number of values, you need to set the Line Item or High Cardinality indicator. More information: Line Item and High Cardinality.

       7.         In the context menu for the Key Figures folder you can Insert New Hierarchy Nodes. This allows you to sort the key figures in a hierarchy. You then get a better overview of large quantities of key figures in query definition.

More information: Defining New Queries

       8.      Save or Activate the InfoCube.

Only an activated InfoCube can be supplied with data and used for reporting and analysis.

Next Step

Creating Transformations

Creating InfoSets 

Prerequisites

Make sure that the objects for which you want to define the InfoSet are active. Create any required InfoObjects that do not exist already and activate them.

Instead of creating a new InfoSet, you can transfer one of the InfoSets that are delivered with SAP Business Content.

Procedure

...

       1.      You are in the InfoProvider tree of the Modeling function area in the Data Warehousing Workbench.

Choose the Create InfoSet function from the context menu of the InfoArea in which you want to create an InfoSet. The Create InfoSet dialog box appears.

       2.      Enter the following descriptions for the new InfoSet:

¡        Technical name

¡        Long name

¡        Short name (optional)

       3.      In the Start with InfoProvider section, you determine which InfoProvider you want to use to start defining the InfoSet.

¡        Select one of the object types that the system offers you:

DataStore object

InfoObject

Standard InfoCube

¡        Choose an object.

If you want to choose an InfoObject, it must be a characteristic with master data. The system provides you with the corresponding input help.

       4.      Choose  Continue. The first time you call the InfoSet Builder you can choose between two display modes: network (DataFlow Control) or tree (TreeControl). While the network display is clearer, the tree display can be read by the ScreenReader and is suitable for visually-impaired users. You can change this setting at any time using the menu path Settings ® Display

The Change InfoSet screen appears.

For more information, see Editing InfoSets.

When you create an InfoSet, the system generates a corresponding entry for this InfoSet in the subtree of the InfoArea. The following functions are available from the context menu of this entry:

·         Display

·         Change

·         Copy

·         Delete

·         Display data flow

·         Object overview

If you want to create a new InfoSet you can also use transaction RSISET to call the InfoSet Builder. For more information, see Additional Functions in the InfoSet Builder.

 Creating MultiProviders 

Prerequisites

There is an active version of each InfoObject that you want to transfer to the MultiProvider. Create any InfoObjects that you require that do not already exist and activate them.

Instead of creating a new MultiProvider, you can install a MultiProvider from SAP Business Content.

Procedure

       1.      Create an InfoArea to which you want to assign the new MultiProvider.

Choose Modeling ® InfoProvider.

       2.      In the context menu of the InfoArea, choose Create MultiProvider.

       3.      Enter a technical name and a description.

       4.      Choose  Create.

       5.      Select the InfoProvider that you want to form the MultiProvider. Choose  Continue. The MultiProvider screen appears.

       6.      Use drag and drop to transfer the required InfoObjects into your MultiProvider. You can also transfer entire dimensions.

       7.      Use Identify Characteristics and Select Key Figures to make InfoObject assignments between MultiProviders and InfoProviders.

In a MultiProvider, each InfoObject in the MultiProvider must correspond to exactly one InfoObject in each of the InfoProviders involved (as long as it is available in the MultiProvider). If this mapping is not clear, you have to specify the InfoObject to which you want to assign the InfoObject in the MultiProvider.

See also, Consistency Check for Compounding.

       8.      Save or Activate the MultiProvider. Only active MultiProviders are available for analysis and reporting.

See also:

The additional functions in DataStore object maintenance are also available as additional functions in MultiProvider maintenance. The only exception is the last function listed for performance settings.

VirtualProviders 

Definition

InfoProvider with transaction data that is not stored in the object itself, but which is read directly for analysis and reporting purposes. The relevant data can be from the BI system or from other SAP or non-SAP systems.

VirtualProviders only allow read access to data.

Use

Various VirtualProviders are available. You use these in different scenarios.

For more information, see:

●      VirtualProvider Based on the Data Transfer Process

●      VirtualProvider with BAPI

●      VirtualProvider with Function Modules

●      Using InfoObjects as VirtualProviderss

Note that the system does not run existing exits or customer and application extensions (customer exit, BTE, BAdI) for direct access to the source system.