In SAP BW (Business Warehouse), extracting meaningful insights from data is achieved through queries that enable users to analyze business information effectively. One of the primary tools for designing such queries is the BEx Query Designer (Business Explorer Query Designer). This article provides an overview of creating basic queries using the BEx Query Designer, empowering users to build reports tailored to their analytical needs.
The BEx Query Designer is a graphical tool within SAP BW that allows users to create and manage queries on InfoProviders such as InfoCubes, DataStore Objects (DSOs), or MultiProviders. Queries are the foundation for reports and analysis in SAP BW and serve as the data source for various front-end tools like BEx Analyzer, SAP BusinessObjects, and SAP Analytics Cloud.
- User-Friendly Interface: Drag-and-drop functionality simplifies query creation.
- Flexibility: Define key figures, characteristics, filters, and conditions.
- Reusable Queries: Once created, queries can be saved and used across multiple reports.
- Rich Analytical Features: Supports conditions, variables, calculated key figures, and restricted key figures.
- Launch the BEx Query Designer from the SAP Business Explorer suite or via the SAP GUI.
- Connect to your SAP BW system and select the InfoProvider on which the query will be based.
- Choose an InfoProvider (e.g., InfoCube or DSO) containing the data you want to analyze.
- InfoProviders act as the source of data for your query.
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Characteristics: These are the dimensions or descriptive fields (e.g., Customer, Product, Time).
- Drag desired characteristics to the Rows or Columns axis.
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Key Figures: These are the numerical measures (e.g., Sales Amount, Quantity).
- Drag key figures onto the Columns axis for analysis.
- Filters restrict data based on certain criteria (e.g., only data for a specific region or period).
- Add filters by dragging characteristics to the filter pane and specifying values.
¶ 5. Set Up Conditions and Exceptions (Optional)
- Conditions highlight data that meets specific criteria (e.g., sales below target).
- Exceptions emphasize important data points using formatting.
¶ 6. Save and Execute the Query
- Save your query with a descriptive name.
- Execute the query directly within the BEx Query Designer or open it via other reporting tools.
| Component |
Description |
| Rows |
Characteristics placed on rows define the vertical axis (e.g., customers). |
| Columns |
Characteristics and key figures on columns define the horizontal axis (e.g., sales amount by year). |
| Free Characteristics |
Characteristics not displayed but available for filtering or drill-down. |
| Filters |
Criteria that restrict the dataset to relevant information. |
| Key Figures |
Numeric data elements that provide quantitative analysis. |
¶ Example: Creating a Sales Report by Customer and Month
- Select an InfoCube containing sales data.
- Drag Customer and Month characteristics to the Rows section.
- Drag Sales Amount key figure to the Columns section.
- Add a filter on Year to restrict the report to the current year.
- Save and run the query to see sales figures by customer and month for the selected year.
- Use Free Characteristics to enable flexible drill-down during report execution.
- Apply Restricted Key Figures to analyze subsets of data.
- Incorporate Calculated Key Figures for derived metrics (e.g., profit margin).
- Utilize Variables for dynamic filtering at runtime.
- Keep queries simple for performance optimization, especially with large datasets.
The BEx Query Designer is a fundamental tool for creating basic and advanced queries in SAP BW. It empowers users and developers to design customized reports that provide valuable insights into business data. By mastering the steps to build basic queries, users can harness the full potential of SAP BW to support informed decision-making across the organization.