techbytes

SAP BIBO 4.0 portfolio boasts of multiple reporting solutions. At times it might be confusing which tool to pick. Although one tool for all scenario doesn't exist, a refined set of reporting requirements should make it clear which tool to use for which scenario. Each tool has its own stronghold and weak areas. Crystal Reports : If we want pixel perfect reports, we will go for Crystal Reports. Mostly if requirement is to design report according to legal requirements or companies follow rigid format of reporting. Also Crystal reports is ideal, if we want to place lot of data in the report like year end results for stock holders. Also we can make the content dynamic by using variables. They can be broadcast/shared with business users.                              However the report format has to be pre-built and regular business users might find it difficult to deal with tool. We require power users to built t...

We will have a look at how BIBO suite reporting tools can interact with Data Modeled in HANA. Although most of the semantic layer options(Column aliases,filters etc) are also available in HANA modeler semantics node, building Universe on HANA gives existing users ease of use. As we have large existing user base who are good at designing Universe and also some options make sense to create in universe rather than in HANA modeler. *Universe still uses JDBC/ODBC  Connection to  interact with SAP HANA. It does add any      overhead/performance issue while interacting with HANA. It merely used as a passage. *Although explorer can be connected via Universe, it is recommended to connect HANA directly. As   Explorer is optimized for HANA(no need to build/refresh indexes and HANA provides real-time  data). *As Excel uses MDX query language, we can use it to display Hierarchies(parent-child/level) from HANA.

BW on HANA We have 4 ways to make use of HANA data in BW. 1.        Virtual providers Virtual providers which are actually meant for real-time reposting based on data from OLTP systems directly (the whole data loading into Datasource, DTP execution and loading into infosource happens just right when query is executed in real time) can be used for consuming analytic/calculation views in BW. When we create virtual providers we have new option “Based on HANA”, which will ask you to input schema name and model name. Once model is selected then we start with modelling process in workbench. We have to select characteristics, key figures for our virtual info provider. Then we can map these to fields from HANA model (F4 help is provided). Here by providing BW Infoobjects will can make use of BW master data while reporting.  That’s all and virtual provider is ready for consumption using reporting tools. 2.        Transi...