Analytical views in SAP HANA Studio enable users to model multidimensional data for advanced analytics and reporting. While simple analytical views provide straightforward data aggregation and filtering, complex analytical views combine multiple data sources, hierarchies, and calculated measures to deliver deeper insights.
This article explains how to design and develop complex analytical views in SAP HANA Studio, leveraging SAP HANA’s powerful modeling capabilities to meet sophisticated business requirements.
Analytical views represent star-schema models combining fact tables (measures) and attribute views (dimensions). They enable aggregation, hierarchy management, and support input parameters for dynamic filtering.
Note: With SAP HANA 2.0 and newer, Calculation Views are recommended over Analytical Views. However, many existing landscapes still rely on Analytical Views, especially in legacy systems.
Complex Analytical Views typically include:
- Multiple fact tables or data sources joined logically.
- Hierarchies for drill-down reporting.
- Calculated measures and restricted measures.
- Input parameters and variables for flexible filtering.
- Integration of attribute views and derived calculations.
¶ 1. Launch SAP HANA Studio and Create an Analytical View
- Open SAP HANA Studio and switch to the Modeler Perspective.
- Right-click your package, select New → Analytical View.
- Provide a name and description.
¶ 2. Add Fact Table and Join Multiple Sources
- Select the main fact table containing key figures (e.g., sales data).
- Use the Join option to include additional fact tables or views.
- Ensure joins are logically correct (inner join, left outer join) based on business needs.
- Add related attribute views to bring in master data like customer, product, or region.
- These views provide descriptive texts and hierarchies.
- Use the Hierarchy tab to create hierarchies (e.g., Year → Quarter → Month).
- Hierarchies support drill-down in reporting tools.
¶ 5. Create Calculated and Restricted Measures
- Use Calculated Measures to define custom KPIs or ratios (e.g., Profit Margin).
- Restricted Measures allow filtering on measures (e.g., Sales only for a specific region).
- Define input parameters to allow dynamic filtering during query execution.
- For example, parameters for fiscal year, region, or customer segment.
¶ 7. Validate and Activate the View
- Validate the design to check for errors.
- Activate the view to make it available for consumption in reporting tools.
- Design Modular Views: Break complex logic into reusable attribute and analytic views.
- Minimize Data Redundancy: Reuse existing attribute views to avoid duplication.
- Use Input Parameters Wisely: Limit input parameters to essential filters to maintain performance.
- Test Performance: Check execution plans and optimize joins or calculations as needed.
- Document Thoroughly: Use descriptions and annotations for maintainability.
¶ Limitations and Considerations
- Analytical Views are deprecated in SAP HANA 2.0+; prefer Calculation Views for new developments.
- Complex logic might require pushing calculations to the database level or using SQL Script-based calculation views.
- Large data volumes may impact performance; leverage aggregation and data pruning techniques.
Creating complex analytical views in SAP HANA Studio remains a valuable skill for many SAP landscapes. By combining multiple data sources, hierarchies, and calculations, complex analytical views provide powerful multidimensional insights critical for strategic business decisions.
For new projects, transitioning to Calculation Views is recommended due to enhanced flexibility and performance capabilities. However, understanding the fundamentals of analytical views helps in maintaining and evolving existing SAP HANA environments effectively.
Keywords: SAP HANA Studio, Analytical Views, Complex Analytical Views, Hierarchies, Calculated Measures, Input Parameters, SAP HANA Modeling.