SAP BW Reporting and Analysis

Preface ... 13
Foreword ... 15
Introduction and Overview ... 17

1. Data Warehousing and SAP BW ... 23
... 1.1 Introduction ... 23
... 1.2 The Data Warehouse Concept ... 23
... 1.3 Basic Characteristics of a Data Warehouse Solution ... 26
... 1.4 Architecture of SAP BW: Overview ... 38

2. Data Retrieval Concepts and Their Implementation in SAP BW ... 53
... 2.1 Introduction ... 53
... 2.2 Process Steps Involved in Data Retrieval ... 58
... 2.3 The Data Retrieval Components of SAP BW ... 66

3. Sample Scenario ... 87
... 3.1 The Model Company: "CubeServ Engines" ... 87
... 3.2 Requirements of the Case Study ... 89
... 3.3 Procedure and the SAP Components Involved ... 92
... 3.4 Details of Reporting Requirements ... 94

4. The SAP Business Explorer Query Designer ... 99
... 4.1 Data Analysis with SAP Business Information Warehouse-The Query Concept ... 99
... 4.2 Reusable Query Elements ... 111
... 4.3 Definition of Data ... 128
... 4.4 Presentation and Formatting ... 165
... 4.5 Variable Definitions in Detail ... 178
... 4.6 Analysis Functions ... 190
... 4.7 Query Views ... 196
... 4.8 Conclusion ... 198

5. The BEx Web ... 199
... 5.1 The Web Framework of SAP: Terms and Functions ... 200
... 5.2 The BEx Web Application Designer ... 216
... 5.3 The BEx Web Analyzer ... 227
... 5.4 The BEx Web Application Design ... 231
... 5.5 Web Items in Detail ... 260
... 5.6 Web Item Library ... 345
... 5.7 Command URLs ... 350
... 5.8 Web Design API for Tables ... 354
... 5.9 BEx Mobile Intelligence ... 362

6. Information Broadcasting ... 365
... 6.1 Problem ... 365
... 6.2 Sending Reports via Information Broadcasting ... 367
... 6.3 Publishing Reports in SAP Enterprise Portal via Information Broadcasting ... 390
... 6.4 Publishing Reports in SAP Enterprise Portal via BEx Broadcaster ... 402
... 6.5 Finding Content in SAP Enterprise Portal ... 412
... 6.6 Information Broadcasting During Report Execution ... 415

7. SAP Business Content ... 423
... 7.1 Elements of SAP Business Content ... 424
... 7.2 Using SAP Business Content for Reporting ... 424
... 7.3 SAP Business Content Roles ... 425
... 7.4 SAP Business Explorer Workbooks ... 428
... 7.5 SAP Business Explorer Web Templates ... 430
... 7.6 Queries ... 437
... 7.7 Currency Translation Types ... 441
... 7.8 Conclusion ... 443

Appendix
A. Abbreviations ... 445
B. Queries ... 447
C. Formula Operators ... 473
D. Attributes and Values of BEx Web ... 479
E. Transaction Codes ... 505
F. Metadata Tables ... 509
G. Glossary ... 513
H. Literature ... 561
I. The Authors ... 563

Index ... 567