Title: Setting Up and Using InfoProviders in SAP BW/4HANA
Subject: SAP-BW/4HANA in SAP Field
In SAP BW/4HANA, InfoProviders are the fundamental building blocks used to store, model, and analyze data. They represent the different types of objects that provide data to reporting and analytics tools. Understanding how to set up and use InfoProviders is essential for efficient data warehousing and reporting in SAP BW/4HANA.
This article discusses the various InfoProviders in BW/4HANA, how to configure them, and best practices for their usage.
InfoProviders are objects in SAP BW/4HANA that store or represent data for reporting purposes. They can physically store data or act as virtual views combining data from various sources.
InfoProviders provide the data foundation for analytical queries, dashboards, and data integration scenarios.
Compared to classic BW, BW/4HANA simplifies InfoProviders by focusing on fewer, more powerful types:
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Advanced DataStore Object (Advanced DSO)
- Primary object for data storage in BW/4HANA.
- Supports detailed, consolidated, and reporting data layers.
- Can be modeled in different modes (standard, write-optimized, direct update).
- Supports real-time data loading and flexible modeling.
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CompositeProvider
- Virtual InfoProvider that combines data from multiple InfoProviders.
- Supports union and join operations on InfoProviders.
- Ideal for building complex reporting scenarios without physically duplicating data.
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Open ODS View
- Virtual InfoProvider representing external data sources or database tables.
- Enables direct reporting on external data without data replication.
- Supports integration with non-BW data stores, including HANA views.
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Calculation View (HANA Native)
- Used for complex calculations and advanced data modeling directly on the HANA database.
- Can be consumed in BW queries via Open ODS Views or CompositeProviders.
- Use BW Modeling Tools in Eclipse.
- Define the fields, key fields, and data type.
- Select the type (Standard, Write-Optimized, or Direct Update) based on your use case.
- Activate the Advanced DSO to generate underlying HANA tables.
- In Eclipse, create a new CompositeProvider.
- Add InfoProviders (Advanced DSOs, Open ODS Views, other CompositeProviders) as sources.
- Define the join or union conditions.
- Map the output fields for reporting.
- Activate the CompositeProvider.
- Use BW Modeling Tools to define an Open ODS View.
- Specify the external data source or database table/view.
- Define the semantic attributes and mappings.
- Activate the Open ODS View.
- Create Analytical Queries on InfoProviders using the Query Designer or Eclipse tools.
- Queries can access data directly from Advanced DSOs, CompositeProviders, or Open ODS Views.
- These queries can then be consumed by SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Fiori apps, or other BI tools.
- Prefer Advanced DSOs for data persistence instead of InfoCubes.
- Use CompositeProviders to combine data flexibly without duplicating data storage.
- Leverage Open ODS Views for virtual access to external data sources, reducing data redundancy.
- Keep the data model simple and layered for easy maintenance and performance.
- Regularly monitor InfoProvider activation and data load processes for errors.
InfoProviders are the core data storage and modeling components in SAP BW/4HANA. By efficiently setting up Advanced DSOs, CompositeProviders, and Open ODS Views, organizations can create flexible, high-performance data models that meet modern analytics needs.
Mastering InfoProviders is crucial for delivering real-time insights and enabling agile business decision-making.