SAP HANA Live is a powerful real-time data modeling framework that leverages the in-memory capabilities of the SAP HANA platform. At the core of SAP HANA Live are Analytic Views and Calculation Views, which are used to model business data for reporting and analytics. These views serve as a virtual data model (VDM) enabling real-time access to transactional data without data replication.
This article explores the purpose, differences, and best practices for creating Analytic Views and Calculation Views in the SAP HANA Live environment.
Analytic Views are used to model star-schema–like structures where a central fact table is enriched with related master data (attribute views) and measures (key figures). They are particularly useful for analytical use cases that involve aggregations, KPIs, and multidimensional reporting.
Calculation Views are more advanced and flexible modeling objects in SAP HANA. They support complex logic, custom calculations, and advanced transformations, making them suitable for both analytical and transactional use cases.
| Feature | Analytic View | Calculation View |
|---|---|---|
| Use Case | Simple analytics | Complex calculations |
| Modeling Type | Graphical only | Graphical or SQL script |
| Measures | Derived from fact table | Calculated and derived |
| Source Views | Attribute views, tables | Any view or table |
| Future-Proof | Deprecated in SAP HANA 2.0 | Fully supported |
⚠️ Note: Analytic Views are deprecated in newer versions of SAP HANA (2.0 and beyond). SAP recommends migrating all Analytic Views to Calculation Views.
✅ Best Practice: Use Analytic Views only for simple, legacy use cases and begin transitioning to Calculation Views.
✅ Best Practice: Use Graphical Calculation Views for most cases. Use SQL Script only when required for custom logic or performance.
In the context of SAP HANA Live, calculation views form the backbone of the Virtual Data Model (VDM):
Creating effective Analytic and Calculation Views is critical to realizing the full potential of SAP HANA Live. While Analytic Views served their purpose in earlier versions, Calculation Views are now the standard for building scalable, flexible, and real-time data models. By following the outlined steps and best practices, you can ensure optimal performance, easier maintenance, and a robust data foundation for reporting and analytics in SAP environments.
Keywords: SAP HANA Live, Analytic View, Calculation View, Virtual Data Model, HANA Modeling, SAP HANA Studio, SAP Web IDE, CDS Views, Real-Time Analytics.