SAP BW Reporting and Analysis
Key principles of company-wide reporting with SAP BW 3.5
1st Edition
Published on 28. April 2006
Book
Hardback
578 pages
978-1-59229-045-1 (ISBN)
Description
In this book you'll find everything you need to configure and execute Web reporting and Web applications, as well as detailed instruction to take advantage of the resulting possibilities for analysis and reporting in SAP BW.
First, you'll be introduced to the basic topics of BEx Query Designer, BEx Web Application Designer, BEx Web Applications, BEx Analyzer, and SAP Business Content. Then, expert guidance shows you, step by step, how to master the process of creating custom reports and analysis. That's just for starters. You'll also learn best practices for creating your own SAP BW Web Cockpit and much more.
Highlights include
Data Warehousing and SAP BW
Data Presentation Concepts and their Implementation in SAP BW
BEx Query Designer: Analysis and Definition of Data, Query Views and Elements
BEx Web: Web Framework, BEx Web Application Designer, Details of Web Items
Information Broadcasting: Online and Offline Reporting, Sending Reports, Publishing in the SAP Enterprise Portal
SAP Business Content: Elements and Areas of Use
Detailed Sample Scenario
Appendices: Includes BW Glossary, Sample Queries, Transaction Codes, Metadata Tables, Index
More details
Persons
Author
Norbert Egger is the Managing Director of the CubeServ Group, which specializes in BI solutions. In 1996, he established the world's first data warehouse based on SAP. Since then, he has implemented hundreds of projects with SAP BW and SAP SEM. He has many years of experience in the operation of SAP-based BI solutions.
Jean-Marie R. Fiechter has worked as a senior data warehousing consultant at CubeServ AG (Jona, Switzerland) since 2003 and is a certified SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence consultant. He has international, practical experience in the areas of data warehousing, business intelligence, massively parallel processing, and management information systems (MIS). For the past several years, he has taught data warehousing at various universities and colleges. In addition, he works as a BI instructor on behalf of SAP.
Jens Rohlf is the Managing Director of CubeServ GmbH, which specializes in business intelligence solutions and is headquartered in Flörsheim am Main, Germany. After studying business administration, he first worked in production controlling at Linotype-Hell AG in Kiel, Germany, and then established the SAP Business Intelligence area of autinform in Wiesbaden, Germany. He also served as the area's director. He has many years of experience with SAP R/3, SAP BW, and SAP SEM (with a focus on planning and the balanced scorecard) and has directed numerous projects in various industries.
Jörg Rose manages the competence area of business intelligence and performance management solutions consulting at CubeServ GmbH in Flörsheim, Germany. After studying European Business Administration in Cambridge and Berlin he graduated with a B.A. and MBA. For several years, Jörg Rose has been realizing business intelligence applications based on the SAP BW and SAP SEM technologies in global projects. One of his main areas of occupation is the identification of business requirements, the implementation of data, planning, and Balanced Scorecard models, as well as web-based and automated reporting solutions.
Oliver Schrüffer is a senior consultant for Business Intelligence solutions at CubeServ AG (Jona, Switzerland). He is also a certified Application Consultant for SAP Business Warehouse systems. Oliver Schrüffer has led and successfully implemented numerous SAP BW projects. In addition, he has many years of experience regarding B-to-C solutions on the Internet.
Content
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
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