SAP-Analysis-for-Office
SAP Analysis for Office (AO) is a powerful Microsoft Excel add-in that allows business users to analyze SAP data directly within Excel, combining the familiarity of Excel with the power of SAP BW and SAP HANA. Creating your first workbook in SAP Analysis for Office is an essential step to harness this tool for effective reporting and analytics.
This article guides you through the process of creating your first workbook, enabling you to connect to SAP data, build queries, and format your reports efficiently.
SAP Analysis for Office integrates SAP data sources into Excel, enabling interactive analysis, ad hoc reporting, and data visualization. It supports both SAP BW queries and SAP HANA Live views, making it versatile for various analytics scenarios.
Before you start, ensure that:
- SAP Analysis for Office is installed on your machine.
- You have valid SAP system credentials with authorization to access SAP BW or SAP HANA data.
- Microsoft Excel (2016 or later recommended) is installed.
¶ Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel and Launch SAP Analysis for Office
- Open Excel.
- Go to the Analysis tab added by SAP Analysis for Office.
- Click Insert Data Source or Open Data Source.
- Select your SAP system from the list or create a new connection by entering the SAP system details (Application Server, Instance Number, System ID).
- Log in using your SAP credentials.
- After connecting, you can select a predefined SAP BW Query or a SAP HANA View.
- For beginners, choosing a SAP BW Query is straightforward since it is pre-built by BW consultants.
- Navigate through the folders or search for the query you want to analyze.
- Select the query and click OK.
¶ Step 4: Retrieve Data and Build Your Workbook
- SAP Analysis for Office imports the query structure and data into your Excel workbook.
- The result appears as a pivot table with dimensions (rows and columns) and key figures (measures).
- Use Excel’s native features to format the report, such as adjusting column widths, applying styles, or adding charts.
- Use the Design Panel of SAP AO to filter data, swap rows and columns, or add additional key figures.
- You can also drag and drop characteristics to rows or columns to reshape your report.
- To update the report with the latest SAP data, click Refresh on the Analysis toolbar.
- The workbook fetches current data without losing your layout or formatting.
- Save the workbook locally or on a shared network drive for collaboration.
- Consider saving as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (.xlsm) if you plan to automate refreshes or add macros.
- Start with simple queries to get comfortable with navigating and formatting data.
- Explore the Analysis tab options like filtering, sorting, and drilling down for deeper insights.
- Use the Insert Filter feature to allow end users to slice and dice data interactively.
- Leverage Excel formulas alongside SAP data to perform additional calculations.
Creating your first workbook in SAP Analysis for Office is a straightforward process that combines the power of SAP data with the flexibility of Excel. With practice, you’ll be able to build dynamic, interactive reports that help your organization make data-driven decisions efficiently.