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)
© 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
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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.
© 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
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP
Data Connectivity and Meta-Data Support
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP ERP
Performance Considerations
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW
Support for BEx Query Elements across the BI Suite
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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)
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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.
© 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
© 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
© 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)
© 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.
© 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.
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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.
© 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.
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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.
© 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
© 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
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW
Prompting using BEx Query Variables
© 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)
© 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.
© 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
© 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
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW
Performance Considerations
© 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
© 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
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW
Hierarchical Reporting Capabilities
© 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
© 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
© 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
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.x & SAP NetWeaver BW
Best Practices on BEx Query Design
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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
Thank you
Contact information:
Contact details:
Twitter : @ihilgefort
Blog : www.mastering-sap-and-businessobjects.com
Appendix
© 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.
© 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.
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 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.
© 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.
© 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
© 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
© 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
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 75 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)
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.
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 76 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)
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
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 77 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)
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.
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 78 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)
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
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 79 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)
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
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved. 80 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)
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
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved.
© 2013 SAP AG. All rights reserved.
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