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Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse

Contents
What Is the Business Information Warehouse? ....................................................2 Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview .............................2 Business Information Warehouse Terminology....................................................9 Business Information Warehouse Reporting Environment ................................10 Review ...................................................................................................................13

In this chapter you will learn: How the Business Information Warehouse (BW) works as an enterprise-wide information hub The overall architecture of the Business Information Warehouse environment Important concepts and terminology related to the Business Information Warehouse

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What Is the Business Information Warehouse?

A component of SAPs New Dimension product, the Business Information Warehouse (BW) is an enterprise-wide information hub. It enables you to analyze data from R/3 applications or any other business application, including external data sources such as databases and the Internet. The SAP Business Information Warehouse also offers easy integration with other New Dimension products, such as the SAP Advanced Planner and Optimizer (SAP APO), the SAP Business to Business (SAP B2B), and the SAP Strategic Enterprise Management (SAP SEM). Additionally, the Business Information Warehouse is a core element of SAPs MySAP.coms reporting strategy. The Business Information Warehouse is a comprehensive end-to-end data warehouse solution with optimized structures for reporting and analysis. To help knowledge workers quickly mine the business data in an enterprise, BW is equipped with preconfigured information models and reports, as well as automatic data extraction and loading methods. With an easy-to-use Microsoft Excel based user interface, you can create, format, and analyze reports. Built for high performance, the Business Information Warehouse resides on its own dedicated server. Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) and reporting activities are therefore separated, and system performance is not compromised. Note: The chapters in this section cover the reporting functionality as of BW Release 1.2B. For product information, white papers, customer case studies, and other materials on the Business Information Warehouse, visit SAPNet or the Business Information Warehouse Information Center at http://www.sap.com/bw.

Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview

The Business Information Warehouse includes a relational Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), automated data extraction and staging tools, a preconfigured data repository, a user-friendly front-end (the Business Explorer) , and an Administrator Workbench) . As shown on the next page, there are three layers in the Business Information Warehouse architecture: < Business Explorer: As the top layer in the BW architecture, the Business Explorer (BEx) serves as the reporting environment (presentation and analysis) for end users. It consists of the BEx Analyzer and the BEx Browser for analysis and reporting activities. With its easy-to-use graphical interface, the Business Explorer provides standard functionality such as Microsoft Excel and Internet technologies integrated with advanced evaluation

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and business tools, such as currency translation, and pre-defined report builders for various reporting areas. For more information, page 4. < Business Information Warehouse Server: As the middle layer, the Business Information Warehouse server has two primary roles: Data warehouse management and administration: These tasks are handled by the production data extractor (a set of programs for the extraction of data from R/3 OLTP applications such as logistics, controlling, etc.), the staging engine, and the Administrator Workbench. The OLAP processor is for multi-dimensional data views and is preconfigured with business models derived from the R/3 System. Data storage and representation: These tasks are handled by the InfoCubes in conjunction with the data manager, the meta data repository, and the optional Operational Data Store (ODS).

For more information, see page 5.

Business Explorer
BEx Analyzer BEx Analyzer BEx Browser BEx Browser
Reporting and analysis environment for users

InfoCube Meta Data Repository

OLAP Processor OLAP Processor

Business Information Warehouse Server

Application layer to facilitate data storage and retrieval; database layer to maintain the data

ODS
Staging Engine Staging Engine

Administrator Workbench Administrator Workbench

BAPI

Source Systems
R/3 R/3 File File
External External System System

SAP SAP BW BW

Multiple information sources include R/3 systems, nonSAP systems, files, SAP BW, etc.

<

Source Systems: As the bottom layer, the source systems serve as the sources for raw business data. The Business Information Warehouse environment can include a wide range of data sources, including R/3 (OLTP) systems, external systems, and files, as well as the SAP BW system. For more information, see page 7.

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Business Application Programming Interfaces (BAPIs) enable communication among the various components of the Business Information Warehouse. By using BAPIs, the Business Information Warehouse remains open for integration with additional applications and tools where needed.

What Is the Business Explorer (BEx) ?

The reporting environment of the Business Information Warehouse, the Business Explorer (BEx) helps you analyze business data. It enables end users to locate reports, view reports, and analyze information. In the Business Explorer you can execute queries, create linked report output (organized in workbooks), present data from multiple application areas, systems, and more. You can save queries in workbooks that can be assigned for use in other areas known as channels.

How Is the Business Explorer Organized?

The Business Explorer has the following components:
Business Explorer Browser

A graphical interface for organizing reports in the BW. The BEx Browser is used to access R/3 transactions, reports, and Web sites. For more information, see chapter 10.
Business Explorer Analyzer

The BEx Analyzer is an Excel-based interactive environment where analyses and queries are defined by selected characteristics and key figures. You can analyze the selected data by freely navigating through multi-dimensional data and built-in business functions. Presentation in Excel also allows users to take a report view and manipulate it as a document. For instance, you can add additional calculations or notes, charts and graphics, combine different reports in one workbook, or distribute reports via e-mail. For more information, see chapter 8.

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Business Explorer
Business Explorer Business Explorer Browser Browser

Query Definition Query Definition Microsoft Excel

Analyzer Analyzer

OLAP Processor OLAP Processor

InfoCatalog InfoCatalog

InfoCube

InfoCatalog

Business Information Warehouse Server

What Is the Business Information Warehouse Server?

The Business Information Warehouse server is the name given to the application layer which facilitates data storage and retrieval. It houses the following main components: < < < < < < Administrator Workbench Staging Engine Meta Data Repository InfoCube Operational Data Store (ODS) OLAP Processor

What Is the Administrator Workbench?

Acting as the control system of the Business Information Warehouse, the Administrator Workbench allows the BW administrator to perform all data warehouse modeling and maintenance tasks within a single, unified environment. The Administrator Workbench has the following components: < < < < Meta Data Maintenance to allow the administrator to specify and maintain the InfoCubes, ODS definitions, and technical data. Scheduler to schedule the transfer of data from your source system at regular intervals. Data Load Monitor to supervise the load and staging processes. Data Access Monitor to obtain statistics on BW usage.

For more information, see chapter 11.

What Is the Meta Data Repository?

Meta data is information on information. It is central to the data warehouse concept. An active meta data repository documents and controls the entire data warehouse environment. Meta data is used to describe the source, history, and many other aspects of data. The Meta

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Data Repository contains both business-related (for example, definitions, descriptions, and rules used for reporting) and technical (for example, structure and mapping rules for the data extraction and staging process) meta data. With the Business Content (for more information, see 7) SAP delivers ready to run preconfigured meta data. For more information, see Business Information Warehouse online documentation.

What Is the Staging Engine?

The Staging Engine is employed to implement data mapping and transformation as a fully automated, meta data driven process. Application Link Enabling (ALE), SAPs persistent messaging middle-ware, is used for data transport from OLTP platforms to the BW server. Initiated by its Scheduler, the Staging Engine requests an extract from an OLTP system. Production data then undergoes a series of transformation, mapping, and condensing steps before it is stored in the InfoCubes, the central data containers of BW. For more information, see Business Information Warehouse online documentation.

What Is an InfoCube?
The central data containers which form the basis for reports and analyses in BW are called InfoCubes. InfoCubes contains two types of data: key figures and characteristics (see Appendix G, Glossary). An InfoCube is a set of relational tables that are arranged in a star schema with a large fact table for recording transaction data at the center and several dimension tables around the fact table. The fact table contains the key figures of the InfoCube while the dimension tables contain the characteristics of the cube. InfoSources (see below) supply data to InfoCubes. A query in the Business Explorer always refers to exactly one InfoCube. For more information, see Business Information Warehouse online documentation.

Customer Dimension
C Customer No. Chain
InfoObject (characteristic)

Office

Head Office

Fact Table
C T Quantity Sold Revenue Discount Sales Overhead Stock Value

InfoObject (key figure)

Time Dimension
T Period Fiscal Year

InfoCube: Profitability by Customer

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What Is the Operational Data Store?

The ODS is a central store of requested data within the BW system. The Operational Data Store (ODS) contains non-aggregated data, is organized as a set of relational tables, and is used as an intermediate store for the staging process. The ODS is a store in which transaction and master data from different source systems can be stored in the technical format of the source systems. For more information, see Business Information Warehouse online documentation.

What Is the OLAP Processor?

The OLAP processor is the analytical engine of BW. It uses a multidimensional database for analyzing and presenting various types of data, such as summarized OLTP data, and market and syndicated data. The OLAP processor allows many different types of analyses (for example, drilldown to various levels of details). Additionally, it offers other business functions such as currency translation. For more information, see Business Information Warehouse online documentation.

What Are Source Systems?

Systems that provide data for extraction to the Business Information Warehouse are known as Source systems. The Business Information Warehouse supports various types of source systems: < < < < < R/3 systems as of Release 3.0D (with Business Content) R/3 systems prior to Release 3.0D (BW regards them as external systems) Non-SAP systems or external systems (connected via BAPIs) File systems SAP Business Information Warehouse system

Data provision mechanisms in R/3 OLTP systems include extraction programs that export the data from the extract tables and send it to the Business Information Warehouse in the required format.

Business Content in the Business Information Warehouse

SAP delivers preconfigured and extendable intelligence called Business Content to help with information deployment, data presentation, data analysis, data warehouse management, and data extraction and transformation. Business Content consists of preconfigured role and task based information models. Based on consistent meta data, these information models include channels, workbooks, queries, InfoCubes, InfoObjects, extractors, and InfoSources (see below).

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Business Content (Release 1.2B)

Channels Channels
Information deployment

10+

Common Metadata

Workbooks Workbooks
Data presentation

180+

InfoObjects InfoObjects

1000+

Queries Queries
Data analysis

180+

InfoCubes InfoCubes
Data warehouse management

45+ 90+

Extractors and InfoSources Extractors and InfoSources

Data extraction and transformation

The goal of Business Content is to make relevant information available to selected user roles in an enterprise. To speed up the implementation, the Business Content includes both general and industry-specific business content. Before modeling your own InfoCubes, or building new queries in the Business Information Warehouse, it is recommended to check if a similar evaluation already exists in the BW Business Content. To illustrate the BW reporting in subsequent chapters, we will use the SD DemoCube from the BW Business content. For more information on Business Content, see the Business Information Warehouse online documentation. Technical and Demo Content In addition to the Business Content described above, BW also includes Technical Content and Demo Content. Technical Content is intended for Data Warehouse administrators, consultants, and SAP development support. Demo Content encompasses sample data and can be used as illustrative material (for example the Sales and Distribution (SD) DemoCube and Profitability Analysis (PA) DemoCube). Before you can you work with the Business Content objects, you must activate them. For more information on how to

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activate the SAP DemoCube, see chapter 11.

Business Information Warehouse Terminology

To help you become familiar with some of the terms covered in this and later chapters, we have included a brief explanation of the following terms: InfoObject, InfoSource, InfoCatalog, and Business Content.

InfoObject
An InfoObject is a generic term for characteristics and key figures in the Business Information Warehouse. InfoObjects are used in InfoCubes and in the three structures that are relevant for data requestsextract, transfer, and communication structures.

InfoSource
An InfoSource is a set of logically associated information which can contain transaction data (stored in InfoCubes) and master data (attributes, texts, and hierarchies stored in separate tables). InfoSources describe all the information available for a business transaction or type of business transaction (for example, cost center accounting).

InfoCatalog
The InfoCatalog (see graphic below) is a tree-like structure that displays a list of available BW workbooks. The various InfoCatalog trees contain SAP-delivered workbooks and userdefined workbooks that are available to user groups, individual users, and as favorite queries (user favorites). The structure of the subtrees can be freely defined by the administrator. For more information, see chapter 10.
You can view the workbooks according to:

< < <

Channels Channels assigned to specific users User favorites

Workbooks in Channels and Favorites can be accessed using the BEx Browser.

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Business Information Warehouse Reporting Environment

The Business Information Warehouse is an information hub for enterprise-wide use at all hierarchical levels. From office workers to top executives, most of a companys employees can access comprehensive, flexible, and powerful queries. The evaluations and analyses are tailored to meet particular needs. Shown below is a typical BW landscape in an enterprise.
Field Sales Rep Sales Manager Chief Financial Officer Operations Manager

Business Explorer
Internet

Business Explorer

Business Explorer

Business Explorer

Business Business Information Information Warehouse Warehouse Server Server

R/3 OLTP (different versions)

SAP BW System

External System

Data File

You analyze the data stored in the Business Information Warehouse by defining queries for the InfoCubes. After a query has been created, the results are embedded into a workbook.

Note: Internet capabilities are available with Release 2.0 of the Business Information Warehouse

What Is a Query?
A query is a data evaluation based on the selection of characteristics and key figures. Queries can be configured according to the way you want to view and navigate through data. Users define queries to analyze the data from an InfoCube. In chapter 9 you will learn how to create a query in the Business Information Warehouse.

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What Is a Workbook?
A workbook is a multi-functional report in Microsoft Excel. Workbooks integrate data output, graphical displays, and multi-functional queries, all with the spreadsheet capabilities of Microsoft Excel (see sample workbook shown below). In the next chapter you will learn how to create a workbook template in the Business Information Warehouse.

Incorporates corporate logo or other graphical elements Allows presentation of annotated analysis of report data Offers a graphical view of the report result. Use the pushbuttons to drill down.

Provides pushbuttons to display another worksheet of other queries

Integrates Business Explorer toolbar

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The graphic below shows the relationship between the Business Explorer and the Business Information Warehouse server. Typically, the first step is to define a query in the Excelbased BEx Analyzer. Once a query has been defined, the Meta Data Manager facilitates the retrieval of meta data from the Meta Data Repository. The BEx Analyzer requests the data from the query and presents the current view of the stored data. The query results are presented in a workbook. Only the data that is currently required in the Business Explorer is transferred from the InfoCube to the query. If a new data view is needed, the OLAP processor retrieves the data from the InfoCube. The OLAP processor builds the query from the InfoCube data and provides methods for navigating through the data in several dimensions. The data from both the current and previous Business Explorer drilldown always remains on the application server.
Execute

Business Explorer

Query Definition Query Definition

4
Drilldown

BEx BEx Analyzer Analyzer

6
Optional: Store or retrieve workbook

Business Information Warehouse Server

Application Layer

Meta Data Manager Meta Data Manager

OLAP Processor OLAP Processor

Database Layer

Meta Data Repository

InfoCube

InfoCatalog

Where Do We Go From Here?

This chapter presented an overview of reporting in a Business Information Warehouse environment. To help build a good foundation for the material covered in subsequent chapters, we introduced you to the BW architecture, concepts, and terminology. With the

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help of a business example, you will learn how to use the Business Information Warehouse to create a workbook in the next chapter.

Review
< The Business Information Warehouse is an enterprise-wide information hub. It allows you to analyze data from R/3 and non-SAP applications in an Excel-based user interface. The Business Information Warehouse includes a relational data processor, automated data extraction and staging tools, a preconfigured data repository, a user-friendly frontend (the Business Explorer), and an Administrator Workbench. The Business Information Warehouse architecture has three layers: Business Explorer: Reporting and analysis front-end for knowledge workers (top layer). Business Information Warehouse Server: Application layer to facilitate data storage and retrieval (middle layer). Source Systems: Data sources, including R/3 systems, non-SAP systems, data files, and SAP BW systems (bottom layer). The Business Explorer has two components: BEx Browser (to organize workbooks into channels and clusters) and BEx Analyzer (to create consumer, standard and ad hoc reports). The Business Information Warehouse server components include: Administrator Workbench: Serves as the BW control system. Meta Data Repository: Contains business-related and technical meta data. Staging Engine: Implements data mapping and transformation as a meta data driven process. InfoCube: Central data container where key figures and characteristics reside. Operational Data Store (ODS): A central temporary store of requested data within the BW system. OLAP Processor: Analyzes summarized OLTP data. The Business Information Warehouse terminology includes the following: InfoObject: Generic term for key figures and characteristics. Business Content: Provides all the objects needed to extract and display OLTP data. InfoSource: Set of logically associated information which can contain transaction and master data. Query: Data evaluation based on the selection of key figures and characteristics. Workbook: Multi-functional report in Microsoft Excel where queries are embedded.

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