In the SAP analytics and data modeling landscape, Core Data Services (CDS) views play a pivotal role in defining semantically rich data models that can be consumed across reporting and analytical tools. With the evolution of SAP’s platform—from classic SAP HANA Live views to modern SAP S/4HANA Embedded Analytics—CDS views have become the standard for data modeling.
A critical aspect of managing CDS views effectively, especially in enterprise environments, is versioning. This article introduces the concept of CDS View Versioning, explains its significance, and explores its relevance within the broader SAP HANA Live and SAP analytics context.
Core Data Services (CDS) views are metadata-driven semantic layers that define data models on the SAP HANA database. They enable developers to create reusable, extensible, and standardized business views that simplify reporting, analytics, and application development.
Unlike SAP HANA Live’s calculation views, CDS views are defined using SQL-based annotations and integrated closely with SAP S/4HANA, SAP BW/4HANA, and SAP Analytics Cloud.
Versioning refers to the practice of maintaining multiple versions of a CDS view definition over time. This is important because:
SAP transport management allows CDS views to be modified and transported between systems (development, testing, production). Each transport request acts like a version, but this is more about change lifecycle management than pure version control.
CDS views can have different names or suffixes to represent different versions (e.g., Z_SALES_V1, Z_SALES_V2), but this requires manual handling and can lead to fragmentation.
SAP introduced annotations like @Version and @Semantics.version to mark versions within CDS views, but support and usage are limited and primarily focused on application layer integration.
With modern ABAP Development Tools (ADT) and Git integration, version control is often managed externally via source control systems, allowing developers to track changes, branch, and merge CDS view definitions.
SAP HANA Live views are primarily calculation views in HANA Studio and do not inherently support sophisticated versioning mechanisms. Transitioning to CDS views enables better version control because:
As SAP continues to enhance its analytics and data modeling frameworks, CDS views have emerged as the cornerstone for flexible, extensible, and manageable data definitions. Versioning is a fundamental part of maintaining the integrity and evolution of these views in enterprise environments.
For organizations transitioning from SAP HANA Live to modern SAP S/4HANA analytics, understanding and implementing CDS View versioning is essential for ensuring seamless upgrades, backward compatibility, and robust analytics governance.
Mastering CDS versioning practices empowers SAP analytics professionals to deliver scalable and reliable reporting solutions aligned with business needs.