Universe Design with SAP BusinessObjects BI

Preface ... 23
Acknowledgments ... 27
1. Introduction to the Semantic Layer ... 29


1.1 ... What Is a Semantic Layer? ... 29
1.2 ... A Well-Designed Semantic Layer ... 33
1.3 ... Semantic Layer Components ... 35
1.4 ... Deploying the Semantic Layer in SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 ... 42
1.5 ... SAP BusinessObjects BI Applications that Consume the Semantic Layer ... 44
1.6 ... Summary ... 53

2. Introduction to Information Design Tool ... 55


2.1 ... Installing Information Design Tool ... 56
2.2 ... Getting Started ... 58
2.3 ... Information Design Tool Interface ... 62
2.4 ... Help ... 67
2.5 ... Preferences ... 71
2.6 ... Data Preview ... 77
2.7 ... Summary ... 83

3. Local and Shared Projects ... 85


3.1 ... Authoring Resources in Local Project ... 86
3.2 ... Managing Local Projects ... 91
3.3 ... CMS Repository ... 96
3.4 ... Managing Sessions ... 102
3.5 ... Shared Projects ... 106
3.6 ... Managing Shared Resources ... 109
3.7 ... Summary ... 115

4.
Connecting to Data Sources ... 117

4.1 ... Data Sources Typology ... 117
4.2 ... Connection Persistence ... 123
4.3 ... Authentication Modes ... 127
4.4 ... Client and Server Deployment ... 133
4.5 ... Connection Parameters ... 137
4.6 ... Managing Connections ... 141
4.7 ... Data Preview ... 150
4.8 ... Summary ... 155

5. The Data Foundation ... 157


5.1 ... Creating a Data Foundation ... 159
5.2 ... Identifying Tables, Columns, and Keys ... 162
5.3 ... Identifying Joins, Keys, and Cardinalities ... 169
5.4 ... Derived Tables ... 184
5.5 ... Calculated Columns ... 191
5.6 ... Solving Loops (Alias Tables, Contexts, Shortcut Joins) ... 194
5.7 ... Chasm Traps and Fan Traps ... 206
5.8 ... List of Values ... 212
5.9 ... Parameters ... 218
5.10 ... The SQL Editor ... 223
5.11 ... Built-in Functions ... 226
5.12 ... Families, Comments, and Data Foundation Views ... 231
5.13 ... Data Foundation Search Panel ... 238
5.14 ... Data Foundation Editor ... 243
5.15 ... Checking Integrity ... 260
5.16 ... Previewing Data ... 267
5.17 ... Data Foundation Refresh Structure ... 269
5.18 ... Showing Dependencies ... 274
5.19 ... Data Foundation Parameters ... 277
5.20 ... Summary ... 282

6. Multisource Data Foundations ... 285


6.1 ... The Federation Technology ... 286
6.2 ... Multisource Data Foundations ... 290
6.3 ... Working with a Multisource Data Foundation ... 294
6.4 ... Federated Tables ... 301
6.5 ... Multisource Scenarios ... 334
6.6 ... Data Federation Administration Tool ... 344
6.7 ... Optimization Techniques ... 349
6.8 ... Summary ... 358

7. The Business Layer ... 361


7.1 ... The Business Layer Objectives ... 361
7.2 ... Creating the Business Layer ... 363
7.3 ... Objects ... 376
7.4 ... Folders ... 378
7.5 ... Dimensions ... 379
7.6 ... Attributes ... 387
7.7 ... Measures and Calculated Measures ... 391
7.8 ... Calculated Members ... 399
7.9 ... Named Sets ... 403
7.10 ... Analysis Dimensions ... 406
7.11 ... Hierarchies ... 408
7.12 ... Levels ... 410
7.13 ... List of Values ... 411
7.14 ... Parameters ... 423
7.15 ... Filters and Mandatory Filters ... 431
7.16 ... Navigation Paths ... 435
7.17 ... Index Awareness ... 439
7.18 ... Aggregate Awareness ... 441
7.19 ... SQL and MDX Editors ... 447
7.20 ... Object Common Properties ... 453
7.21 ... Object Formatting ... 461
7.22 ... Business Layer Queries ... 464
7.23 ... Built-in Functions ... 466
7.24 ... Business Layer Views ... 473
7.25 ... Business Layer Functionalities ... 476
7.26 ... Check Integrity ... 486
7.27 ... Show Dependencies ... 492
7.28 ... Business Layers Built on Multisource Data Foundations ... 495
7.29 ... Multidimensional Business Layer Refresh Structure ... 497
7.30 ... Business Layer Parameters and Query Governors ... 500
7.31 ... Recommendations for Building a Business Layer ... 507
7.32 ... Summary ... 508

8. Universe Query Panel ... 511


8.1 ... The Query Panel Interface ... 512
8.2 ... Creating Queries ... 516
8.3 ... Setting and Answering Prompts ... 530
8.4 ... Setting the Query Properties ... 536
8.5 ... Advanced Functionalities ... 538
8.6 ... Summary ... 546

9. Publishing and Retrieving Universes ... 547


9.1 ... Publishing a Universe Locally ... 548
9.2 ... Publishing a Universe in a CMS Repository ... 551
9.3 ... Retrieving a Local Universe ... 556
9.4 ... Retrieving a Universe from the CMS Repository ... 558
9.5 ... Information Design Tool Workflows ... 562
9.6 ... Summary ... 569

10. Securing Universes ... 571


10.1 ... Rights ... 572
10.2 ... Object Access Level ... 577
10.3 ... Security Profiles ... 579
10.4 ... Data Security Profiles ... 581
10.5 ... Business Security Profiles ... 587
10.6 ... Security Profiles Aggregation ... 598
10.7 ... Managing Security Profiles in Information Design Tool ... 604
10.8 ... User Attributes ... 606
10.9 ... Running a Secured Query ... 608
10.10 ... Summary ... 609

11. Working in Multilingual Environments ... 611


11.1 ... Languages and Locales ... 612
11.2 ... Translation Management Tool ... 615
11.3 ... Translating Universe Metadata ... 622
11.4 ... Multilingual Data in Relational Universes ... 627
11.5 ... Multilingual and Multidimensional Universes ... 632
11.6 ... Summary ... 634

12. Connecting to SAP ERP, SAP NetWeaver BW, and SAP HANA ... 635


12.1 ... Access to SAP NetWeaver BW ... 636
12.2 ... Access to SAP ERP ... 652
12.3 ... Access to SAP HANA ... 664
12.4 ... Migrating a Universe to SAP HANA ... 681
12.5 ... Summary ... 685

13. Comparing the Universe Design Tool and Information Design Tool ... 687


13.1 ... General ... 687
13.2 ... Connections ... 689
13.3 ... Data Foundation ... 692
13.4 ... Business Layer ... 693
13.5 ... List of Values and Parameters ... 695
13.6 ... Security ... 697
13.7 ... Miscellaneous ... 704
13.8 ... Universe Conversion ... 705
13.9 ... Converting Universes in Information Design Tool ... 712
13.10 ... Summary ... 715

The Authors ... 717
Index ... 719