Business Content Objects BEx MiscQueries
Business Content Objects BEx MiscQueries
The following is an overview of the individual steps in the procedure: These steps are subsequently
explained in more detail.
1. Navigate to the Data Warehousing Workbench to install Business Content (selection of
objects, settings for the transfer, starting the transfer).
2. Assign relevant source systems.
3. Group objects to be included, determine mode of collection for the objects.
4. Determine the view of the objects.
5. Transfer the objects in Collected Objects.
6. Check the settings for the Collected Objects with reference to the Install,Match or
Copy and Active Version Available functions.
7. Make settings in the selection list and Transfer.
8. Correct errors.
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SAP Crystal Reports
Business Case
Let’s consider a real-life example from project implementation that there is a business need
to develop few reports on Contracts (Overview) InfoCube (0TE_C01). The SAP team tried
finding the InfoCube in the list of available InfoProviders. The screenshot is given below:
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Data Warehousing Workbench: Modeling
There are various panes in the left-hand side of the screen: Modeling, Administration,
Transport Connection, Documents, BI Content, Translation, and Metadata Repository. Go to
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Data Warehousing Workbench: BI Content
The left pane shows the categories of objects and right pane shows the objects selected for
activation. By selecting ‘InfoProviders by Info Areas’, you will get to see the complete list of
InfoProviders in the middle pane by Info Area. As we already know that we need to just
install ‘0TE_C01’ InfoCube, we can select ‘Object Types’ in the left pane. The screenshot is
given below:
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BI Content: Object Types
As a prerequisite, you need to make sure that you have the appropriate Source system
selected. You need to select source system with utmost care. The installation of Business
Content (DataSource/ Update Rules/ Transfer Rules etc.) is completely dependent on the
source system. Select the source system by clicking on highlighted in the below screen:
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Select Source System
Before you select the object, you also need to make sure that you have the appropriate
Grouping selected. You have multiple options to choose from:
Only Necessary Objects: This activates only the required objects, without installing the
data flow above and below the object.
In Data Flow Before: This activates all the objects that are providing data to the chosen
object.
In Data Flow Afterwards: This activates all the objects that are accessing data from the
chosen object.
In Data Flow Before and Afterwards: This activates the entire data flow. I.e., activates all
the objects that are providing data to the chosen object and that are accessing data from
the chosen object.
As we’re clear that we need to install just the InfoCube, we will choose the ‘Only Necessary
Objects’ as per the below screen:
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BI Content: Grouping of Objects
In addition, you also need to make sure that you have the appropriate Collection Mode
selected. You have multiple options to choose from:
Collect Automatically: This collects all the required objects automatically when you drag
your object into the ‘Collection Object’ screen.
Start Manual Collection: This involves manually collecting all the required objects for
your selected object.
We will choose the ‘Collect Automatically’ option as per the below screen:
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BI Content: Collection Mode
Let us now select the InfoCube in the Middle Pane to choose ‘0TE_C01’ InfoCube. The
screenshot is given below:
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BI Content: Selecting the Required Objects
Double click on ‘Select Objects’ highlighted in the above screen and select InfoCube
‘0TE_C01’. The screenshot is given below:
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BI Content: Selecting the Required Objects
Now, click on highlighted in the below screen:
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Transferring the Selected
Objects
The following screen appears:
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BI Content: Collected Objects
The installation can be performed in the following four ways:
Simulate Installation: This checks for any errors during installation.
Install: This activates the selected objects in the foreground.
Install in Background: This activates the selected objects in the background by creating
background jobs that can be used for monitoring.
Install and Transport: This activates and transport the selected objects to the next system.
Let’s choose ‘Install’ option as per the screen highlighted below to install the 0TE_C01
InfoCube.
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Installation of the Collected Objects
This completes the installation of the Contracts (Overview) InfoCube.
Conclusion
SAP BW Business Content helps in quick and cost-effective implementation. It offers
template/model which can serve as a reference during the implementation. The model is
created from the learnings/experiences of various other implementations. Hence,
every SAP BW consultant needs to understand the purpose and usage of SAP BW Business
Content to avoid creating customized data flows when you already have preconfigured
objects to serve the purpose. This helps in reducing time and costs of implementation.
Now that we have installed an InfoCube in this tutorial, it’s time for you to try other object
types. The more you try installing various object types, the better will be your effectiveness
in leveraging the same in your real-time projects.
ETL stands for Extraction, Transformation, and Loading. ETL is considered as an essential
component of a data warehousing system.
To avoid interference with the source systems, a temporary working area needs to host the
extracted data. Commonly addressed as the data staging area, some writers also refer to this
as the construction site of a data warehouse. The warehouse shows the needed data and
how to store it. The sources of the different data may be located at various servers across
the company’s computer network. All data extracted from multiple sources must be held at
one place. After that, data transformation can be efficiently performed. The data stagingarea
requires reconciling of data structures of both the source systems and the warehouse. The
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created flat files and/or databases meet these needs. In order to automate a data
warehouse population process, an ETL procedure must be developed.
Ideally, developing an ETL tool may consume about half of the time of a warehouse project.
An ETL tool must map the source and the destination for each piece of data. It must be
specified with the correct paths of the data sources and corresponding destinations. This
enables the ETL tool to pull the data from the given sources and send it to the right
destinations in the warehouse. Moreover, the ETL tool must also clearly define what data to
be pulled from each source and what transformation is to be performed for it. SAP BW ETL
provides a collection of objects and tools that allow users to import, export, and transform
heterogeneous data between one or multiple types of data formats, such as MS Excel, text
files, SAP ECC, etc.
Data Extraction
The first stage of a SAP BW ETL process is data extraction from the numerous source
systems. In almost all the cases, this is the most difficult aspect of ETL. Correct extraction of
the data sets the stage for how consequent processes go further.
A big part of creating a data warehouse is pulling data from various data sources and
placing it in a central storage area. Hence, this is a very challenging step to accomplish.
Data extraction is basically the process of selecting, transporting and consolidating the
source data to the SAP BW ETL environment. The extraction phase converts the data into a
common format which would be suitable for transformation processing.
SAP BW offers standard extractors; however, you can still design your own extractor based
on your own requirements. Most extractors that extract SAP application transaction data
are delta-enabled. During the time of posting, the transactions are written to the delta
queue. They are then extracted to SAP BW. You can also extract data directly from the
tables/views which use DB Connect and UD Connect interfaces. Similarly, flat files
interface allows extraction to SAP BW from flat files. There are many other extraction
interfaces in SAP BW. These include staging BAPIs, web services, etc.
Acquiring data requires info packages. You can set various parameters to acquire data as
per the following screen:
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SAP BW Info Package
SAP BW’s staging layer (Persistent Staging Area – PSA) stores the extracted data.
Data Transformation
This stage transforms and relates the data extracted from numerous resources; this is
another important task after data extraction. In the transformation step, a series of functions
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or rules apply to the extracted data from the source. This derives the data for loading into
the final target. Some data sources will require very little or even no manipulation of data.
Take for example if an organization has much of its data in flat files and operational
systems while we build a data warehouse. We have to relate data from all of these
numerous sources to handle data extracted from any of these source systems.
Data Loading
The last stage of the SAP BW ETL process is data loading. For the data to generate reports,
you need to fill the data targets with the data in the staging database. This step only looks
uncommon. Several lookups may be necessary to perform before calculating some values
for the data target.
Take into account that such data transformations can be performed at one of the two stages:
while extracting the data from the beginning or while loading data into the dimensional
model. Clients need to wait for complete data extraction before transforming it to make sure
that they can extract the data first. Prior to extraction, if you have any information about
dimensions, proceed and transform the data while extracting it.
SAP BW’s Data Transformation Process (DTP) pushes the data to the data targets.
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SAP BW Data Transformation Process (DTP)
Conclusion
Organizations can build their own data transformation tool. This is the ideal way for a small
number of data sources that reside in the same type of storage. Because of the similar
system architecture and common data structure, the work involved in developing the
needed transformation lessens. This method also saves license costs and training the
employees in the new tool. However, if the transformations become more refined during
the time or there is a need to integrate other systems, the intricacy of such an ETL system
raises and the manageability falls considerably. Also, building an own tool from scratch
often is a waste of time.
Many ETL tools are available on the market. Increasingly, corporations are purchasing ETL
tools to help in the creation of ETL processes. The significant advantage in using available
ETL tools is that they are optimized for the ETL process. They provide connectors to
common data sources such as xml, mainframe systems, databases, flat files, etc. These tools
also implement data transformations across multiple data sources with ease and
consistency. Readily available features include joining, aggregation, and sorting.
SAP BW’s reliable data acquisition and information processing capabilities make it one of
the best among many other renowned commercial tools.
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What is Business Content?
From years of experience, SAP have created Pre configured Solutions to meet most of the reporting
scenarios..
Goto help.sap.com to see all the available queries , cubes, DSO, Transformations....
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw74/helpdata/en/c8/28ba0f00c34f299da32bd91d286fc0/frameset.htm
Finance
logistics
HR
Expand to see reporting scenarios..
Name of datasource, cube, Multiprovider, Query are given with data flow...
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now lets see how to activate all this objects in BI system..
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In grouping tab we have 4 options...
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Only necessary Objects : Collects only the necessary objects needed for activation
Data Flow before : Collects all the objects under the Current object. In our case, Our object is Cube.. all
the underlying objects like Datasource, Transformations, All infoobjects needed for this will be activated
Data Flow Afterwards : Collects all the objects coming above, our case... Multi providers, Queries....
Dataflow Before and Afterwards : All the objects above and below will be collected...
Select grouping as Data flow before and after... and click on install
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Now we can see all the objects Before and after are grouped under our cube ...
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SAP BI Content: Installation, Activation
BI Content:
BI Content provides selected roles within a company with the information that they need to carry
out their tasks. SAP Net Weaver Business Warehouse delivers pre-configured authorization objects
under the collective term BI content. To understand this we take an example of a sales manager,
who wants all the information like sales, market share, product quality, sales and service cost etc…
to enable him to make effective decision. A BI content role will bring all this data together in the
form of workbooks and queries carrying exactly the information the sales manager needs. No
sensitive & confidential information from the HR department are shown to him
Benefits of BI Content:
Below mentioned are the benefits of using BI Content.
Be used in particular industries without being modified
Be modified, meaning you can customize it to any degree of detail
Serve as a template or an example for customer-defined Business Content
Immediate access to interpreted information.
Ready-to-go reports, data models, extractors, transformations
Significant cut down of implementation time and costs
Consistency of operational processes with management processes
Easily extensible
Automatic improvements to the information model
Data consistency and integrity
Rich set of standard key performance indicators
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BI Content Objects:
Business Content includes:
SAP extractor programs
Data Sources
Process Chains
InfoObjects
InfoSources
Data targets (Info Cubes and DSO objects)
Variables
Queries
Workbooks
Transformations and Update Rules
Web templates
oles
Activation of BI Content:
Steps to view and activate objects available via BI Content:
Step 1)
1. Go to Transaction Code RSA1.
2. Click the “Ok” button.
Step 2)
1. Browse to the tab “BI Content”.
2. Click on “Object Types.”
Step 3)
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You can browse the BI Content using different views. In attached screenshot, the content is grouped
by “Object Type”.
1. Click on “Select Objects” for required Object Type. Each object type is meant for a different
role in an organiztion
2. In the subsequent screen, select the required objects.
3. Click on“Transfer Selection”.
Step 4)
The selected objects and all the objects on which they are dependent are added hierarchically.
1. Select / deselect required objects
2. Click on “Install” Button
3. Click on Install from the drop-down.
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1. Go to Transaction Code RSA1
2. Click the “Ok” button
Step 2)
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When the Info Set Builder is called for the first time, the below two display mode
options as
The tree display can be read by the Screen Reader and is suitable for visually-
impaired users.
You can change this setting at any time using the menu path Settings -> Display.
Step 3)
If you want to choose an Info Object, it must be a characteristic with master data.
The system provides you with the corresponding input help.
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Step 4)
Step 5)
Select the insert Info provider button shown below, to choose the infoprovider
with which data is to be joined.
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Step 6)
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Step 7)
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Process chains provide graphical scheduling & monitoring features to help
in automation, visualization & monitoring of tasks / processes.
Process chains are integrated into portal based BI administration cockpit.
Process Chains can be thought of as flowcharts which are scheduled to
wait in background & triggered for an event by another process.
1. Check View
2. Planning View.
Step 1)
Step 2)
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Click Check Mark
Step 3)
A new window pops-up. Click on “New” icon to create a new “Start Process”.
Step 4)
Step 5)
The subsequent screen is used to assign time-based or event based trigger for
the process chain.
1. Click on the option “Direct Schedule” to schedule the process chain for a
specific time.
2. Click on the button “Change Selections” to enter the details for Scheduling
the Process chain for execution.
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Step 6)
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Click save
Step 7)
Step 8)
Step 9)
A new pop-up window appears. Here you can choose the required InfoPackage.
Step 10)
There are 2 ways to do this – Right click on first step. Click on “Connect With” -
>“Load Data”
Another way is to select the “Start Variant” and keep the left mouse button
pressed. Then move mouse button to the target step. An arrow should follow your
movement. Stop pressing the mouse button and new connection is created. From
the start process to every second step there is a black line.
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The Process chain appears as below after a Connection between the Start
variant and Infopackage is created.
For any subsequent step, we can choose if the successor step shall be executed
only if the predecessor.
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SAP will verify if all steps are connected and have at least one predecessor.
Logical errors are not detected. If we get warnings or “Chain is OK”message, we
can activate it. If the check identifies some errors , we have to remove the errors
first.
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Alternatively press the button “Schedule”.
The chain will be scheduled as background job and can be viewed in SM37
transaction code. You will find a job named “BI_PROCESS_TRIGGER”. All the
Process chains are scheduled with same job name.
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REG: Aggregates, compression, roll up and partition
Aggregates:
Aggregates are used to improve query performance. Say you have cube with 30 characteristics and
everytime you run query on this cube, it is hitting 10 characteristics frequenty.
So to improve the query performace create Aggregate on those characeirstics. instead of seraching for
data in Cube, query will hit the Aggregate first.
Compression:
As we all know, we have two tables in info cube for transaction data(F-table and E-Table). F-table will
store facts data and E-table will store compressed data. COmpression also used to improve the query
performance and loading performance.
Query Performance:
1) COmpression is nothing but removing request number an aggregating key figure values based
characteristics data. We can get same sales documnet in different request(lets assume we got same
sales document 5 times into cube in different request). When we compress it will become one record
based on sales document number, so when we execute query system has to pick only one record
instead of 5 records. this will improves query performance.
Loading Perfromance:
It is recommended to delete and re-create the index when we load the data into cube. Deleting index will
delete the index for data in Ftable and re-creates. If you have huge uncomressed data in cube(F-table is
high), delete and create index steps will take log time to complete.
Roll Up: This is nothing bu updating the lastest transaction data to aggregates(if you have any
aggregates on cube).
Partitoning:
This is also used to improve the query performance and we can do partitioning in two ways
i) Logical partitioning
ii) Physical partitioning(database level partitining)
Compression: When you compress, BW does a group by on dimensions and a sum on measures... this
eliminates redundent information. Compressed infocubes require less storage space and are faster for
retrieval of information.
Aggregates: Independent structures where summary data is stored within separate, transparent
InfoCubes. Transparency: Users do not notice if aggregate is hit or not. Improved query performance by
reducing the amount of data to be read from DB.
Aggregates can improve query performance considerably, but keep in mind that they also impact the
load performance.
Rolup: Updating the latest data to aggregates.
Partition: Improves the performance needs without the need of disturbing the data that is already existing
in the infocubes. Once partition is done we can also redefine partitions( Repartitioning) without deleting
the data in the infocubes
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This activity is necessary for using aggregates and BIA as you load the data in infocube, it doesn't get
loaded to aggregates or BIA automatically. So as to populate data in aggregates and BIA we need
Rollup.
Compression
This helps in deleting request ID from loaded request and aggregates the data based on other attribute
values and moves it to E table. Due to compression at the time of query execution system need not
access lot of requests and then do the aggregation. It helps to improve the query performance as well as
loading performance.
infocube partitioning.
There can be physical partitioning or logical partitioning and both of them helps to improve the query
performance, this is used in scenarios when there is lot of transaction data available and you can
differentiate this data per yearwise e.g. One infocube for year 2006, one for 2007 and so on.And all of
these cubes are combined under multiprovider.
Aggregates:
Aggregates are used to improve query performance. Say you have cube with 30 characteristics and
everytime you run query on this cube, it is hitting 10 characteristics frequenty.
So to improve the query performace create Aggregate on those characteristics. Instead of seraching for
data in Cube, query will hit the Aggregate first.
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Compression:
As we all know, we have two tables in info cube for transaction data(F-table and E-Table). F-table will store
facts data and E-table will store compressed data. COmpression also used to improve the query
performance and loading performance.
Query Performance:
Compression is nothing but removing request number an aggregating key figure values based
characteristics data. We can get same sales documnet in different request(lets assume we got same sales
document 5 times into cube in different request). When we compress it will become one record based on
sales document number, so when we execute query system has to pick only one record instead of 5
records. this will improves query performance.
Loading Performance:
It is recommended to delete and re-create the index when we load the data into cube. Deleting index will
delete the index for data in Ftable and re-creates. If you have huge uncomressed data in cube(F-table is
high), delete and create index steps will take log time to complete.
Roll Up:
This is nothing but updating the lastest transaction data to aggregates which is loaded to Info Cube (if you
have any aggregates on cube).
Partitioning:
This is also used to improve the query performance and we can do partitioning in two ways
i) Logical partitioning
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http://forums.sdn.sap.com/thread.jspa?threadID=154800
http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/607a8ad7-3a2d-2e10-9697-
907f7277c483?QuickLink=index&overridelayout=true
SAP Business Explorer (SAP BEx) is the Business Intelligence Suite of SAP NetWeaver and provides
flexible reporting and analysis tools for strategic analyses and decision-making support within a
business. These tools include query, reporting and analysis functions.
You can use BEx Information Broadcasting to distribute objects created with Business Explorer by e-
mail, either as precalculated documents with historical data, or as links with live data.
Features
The graphic below outlines the functional areas of the Business Explorer and how they relate to SAP
Enterprise Portal and SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer.
BEx applications are created using the various tools in Business Explorer Suite or SAP NetWeaver
Visual Composer. They can then be published to SAP Enterprise Portal.
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Analyzing data based on multidimensional data sources (OLAP reporting) makes it possible to
analyze multiple dimensions simultaneously (like time, location, and product). You can implement
any number of variance analyses (such as plan-actual comparison, fiscal year comparison). The data
is displayed in a table and acts as the starting point for detailed analyses that can be used to provide
answers to a large variety of questions. A range of interaction options, such as sorting, filtering,
swapping characteristics, and local calculations allow flexible navigation through the data at
runtime. You can also display data graphically (such as bar charts or pie charts). You can also
evaluate geographical data (for example, characteristics such as Customer, Sales Region, and
Country) on a map. You can also use exception reporting to determine deviating and critical objects,
to broadcast messages on deviating values by e-mail, or to distribute the messages to the universal
worklist in the portal.
You can perform a detailed analysis of BI information on the Web and in Microsoft Excel.
BEx Web
Web Application Design
Web Application Design allows you to use the generic OLAP navigation in Web applications for
simple or highly individual scenarios. You can use standard markup languages and Web Design
API to implement highly customized scenarios with user-defined interface elements. Web
application design comprises a broad spectrum of interactive Web-based business intelligence
scenarios that you can adjust to meet your requirements by using standard Web technologies.
BEx Web Application Designer
You can use this BEx Web Application Designer, the desktop application used to create Web
applications, to generate HTML pages that contain BW-specific contents such as tables, charts or
maps. Web applications are based on Web templates that you create and edit in Web Application
Designer. You can save the Web templates and access them from the Web browser or the portal.
Once they are executed on the Web, Web templates are referred to as Web applications.
BEx Web Analyzer
BEx Web Analyzer is a standalone, easy-to-use Web application for data analysis. You can call it
using a URL or as an iView in the portal. In Web Analyzer, you can open a data provider (query,
query view, InfoProvider, or external data source) and use ad hoc analysis to create views of BW
data (query views) that you can then use as data providers for other BEx applications. You can also
distribute and save the results of your ad hoc analysis as required.
Report Designer
Report Designer is an easy-to-use design tool that you can use to create formatted reports optimized
for presentation and printing. Report Designer provides extensive formatting and layout functions
that you can use to create corporate balance sheets or HR master data sheets to suit your needs, for
example.
PDF Generation
The integrated PDF generation function allows you to print Web applications and reports in various
formats. See Creating Print Versions of BEx Applications.
BEx Patterns
BEx patterns are Web applications that are tailored to the requirements of particular user groups.
BEx patterns are used to provide a uniform display of BW data. You can configure BEx patterns to a
certain extent using the Pattern Wizard from the Web Application Designer.
BEx Analyzer
BEx Analyzer is an analysis, reporting, and design tool in Business Explorer, which is integrated
into Microsoft Excel. In BEx Analyzer, you can analyze selected InfoProvider data and use it for
planning by navigating in queries created in BEx Query Designer. You can do this using the context
menu or drag and drop functions.
You can design the interface for your queries by inserting design items such as dropdown boxes,
radio button groups, and pushbuttons into your Excel workbook. A workbook thus becomes a
complete query application.
See Analysis & Reporting: BEx Analyzer
BEx Information Broadcasting
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BEx information broadcasting allows you to make BEx objects and BW objects available to a wide
range of users, according to your requirements.
Using BEx Broadcaster, you can precalculate Web templates, queries, query views, reports, and
workbooks and publish them to the portal, distribute them by e-mail, or print them. In addition to
precalculated documents containing historical data, you can also generate online links to queries
and Web applications.
The Business Explorer portal role illustrates the various options that are available when working
with BEx objects and BW objects in the portal.
See BEx Broadcaster.
Integration in the Portal
You can integrate the business contents from SAP BW and SAP BEx into the portal. Integration is
performed using BEx Broadcaster, KM content, SAP Role Upload, or the Portal Content Studio. You
can create objects with various display types in the portal, depending on the type of integration.
More information: Overview: Integration and Display Types of BEx Objects and BW Objects.
The portal allows you to access applications from other systems and sources, like the Internet or
intranet. Using one single entry point, you can access both structured and unstructured information.
In addition to content from Knowledge Management, business data from data analysis is available
from the Internet and intranet.
See Integration of BEx and BW Objects in the Portal.
Integration with SAP BusinessObjects
The integration of SAP BusinessObjects broadens the scope for reporting tools with Business
Explorer. This integration comprises the following:
Integration with Xcelsius Enterprise to visualize BW data in dashboards
Integration with Crystal Reports to create form-based reports based on BW data
Query Designer is a desktop application for creating queries, and plays an important role in the
Business Explorer Suite. The queries created can be displayed as data providers for Web
applications, reports, and workbooks or can alternatively be displayed in BEx Web Analyzer.
This section describes the appearance of Query Designer and explains how you can customize it
according to your requirements.
Features
As well as the menu bars and toolbars, BEx Query Designer comprises the following screen areas:
InfoProvider
Rows/Columns
Filters
Tasks
Properties
Messages
Where-Used List
Documents
Cells
Exceptions
Conditions
For more information about the screen areas, which you can also display using the menu bar and
the Viewtoolbar, seeMenu Bar Functions in Query Designer.
You can personalize the appearance of Query Designer.
When you start Query Designer, a standard view is displayed automatically. This shows the
InfoProvider screen area on the left, the Filter area in the middle, and the Rows/Columns
area underneath as a tab page. The Properties area is shown on the right, and the Tasks area
is displayed underneath as a tab page. In the lower area, the Messages area is displayed in
collapsed form. If you drag the cursor over the Messages area, it expands automatically.
You can use the View menu to show and hide screen areas such as Propertiesor Messages, as
well as the toolbars.
You can move the toolbars to any position. Depending on where you position the object, it is
either anchored or appears as a hovering toolbox. The screen areas can be arranged on top of
one another as tab pages.
Using the View → Predefined → Standard View menu option, you can return to the
standard view. If you prefer to use the view you are familiar with from Query Designer
in SAP BW 3.x, choose View → Predefined → SAP BW 3.x View.
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Working with BEx Query Designer
General Concepts
BEx Query Designer provides you with a high degree of flexibility and ease of operation. It is
structured according to the following concepts.
Error Handling, Correction Help, Messages and Warnings
The error handling concept in Query Designer allows you to create and edit objects without
disrupting your work. Query Designer informs you of errors by underlining incorrect or incomplete
objects in red. However, your work will not be disrupted by error messages appearing in popups.
Error messages are displayed in the Messages screen area instead. Warnings and information are
also displayed here. The messages are displayed in groups for improved clarity. They are displayed
in the following categories, which you can expand and collapse as needed:
Messages for the current query
Messages about elements stored on the server that were loaded for use in the query by
Query Designer.
Status messages
Correction help is available in several places:
In the context menu for the incorrect objects - underlined in red
In the context menu for the error message in the Messages screen area
In the Query Designer menu bar under Help
In the Tasksscreen area
With the Explain These Errors menu option, the error message text is displayed in the Documents
screen area. By choosing Jump to Error, you can return to the object that has errors. The Correct
These Errorsmenu option provides situation-specific context-sensitive correction options.
Tasks
In the Tasks screen area, Query Designer provides various situation-specific context-sensitive
editing options. These functions can be called either from the context menu or the menu bar. The
Tasks area is intended for users who do not work very often with Query Designer or do not have
much experience with the tool. The tasks make it easier for you to find the required functions. The
tasks also provide correction help for incorrect objects, together with further explanations.
Working with Unfinished Objects
You can define new objects (formulas, selections, restricted and calculated key figures, exception
cells, variables, conditions or exceptions) wherever you need them. The object (without a definition)
is created and is given a standard name. You can change the name directly at the object. The object
can be used in other objects without a definition. You can decide whether to define it immediately
or later. A message is appears in the Messages screen area reminding you to define the object..
Automatic Generation of Technical Names
The system automatically generates technical names for reusable objects you create (variables,
restricted key figures or calculated key figures). As long as you have not yet saved an object, you
can change its technical name in the relevant dialog. Once you have saved the object, you cannot
change the technical name again. The generation rule is (VAR/RKF/CKF)_<date><time>, for
example RKF_20050818122045. If you have not yet saved the object, and the generated technical
name has not been changed, a warning appears informing you that you should change the technical
name.
Automatic generation of technical names ensures that the objects are unique immediately and
allows you to work with unfinished objects.
Simultaneous Editing of Multiple Objects
You can edit several objects at the same time. The objects should all be of the same type, so that you
can use all available options when working with each one. If a function is not allowed for all of the
selected objects, it will not displayed.
The Edit and New functions for selections, formulas, variables, restricted or calculated key figures
do not allow simultaneous editing of multiple objects. The Technical Name input field is also
hidden when editing the properties of multiple objects at the same time. Since the technical name
must always be unique, Query Designer does not allow simultaneous editing.
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For drag and drop operations with multiple objects, it proceeds as if drag and drop is being
performed for all objects allowed for this operation. The drag and drop operation is not executed on
objects that may not be dragged to the selected location.
If you want to delete multiple objects at the same time, Query Designer proceeds as in drag and
drop operations. All deletable objects are deleted. Objects that cannot be deleted (for example,
reusable objects that are part of other queries) are not deleted. The relevant information is displayed
in the Messages screen area.
Reusable Properties
The properties for query components show you whether the setting has been defined locally at the
object or at the underlying object. You can decide yourself whether to use a local setting or to use
the default value. If you use the default value, the local object references the default value. If you
reference another object, you can only edit the referenced object (the default value) when making
settings. The change is visible automatically in all other objects that use the default value.
More information:Properties and How They Are Derived
Procedures
To create a query, proceed as follows:
Click on the plus or minus symbols to expand or collapse the directories. This allows you to display
the list of all key figures in the InfoProvider by expanding the key figure node in the InfoProvider
tree.
Using drag and drop or the temporary storage location (Ctrl C - Ctrl V), you can drag
characteristics, key figures, and reusable objects from the InfoProvider to the directories in Query
Designer (Filter, Rows, Columns, Free Characteristics).
Using the secondary mouse button, you can call all functions offered in the current context menu.
First select the required query component and then choose a menu option from the context menu.
If you double-click an element in Query Designer, the standard function is called for this element.
You can also call the standard function from the context menu, where it is displayed in bold. If, for
example, you double-click a characteristic, the dialog box for restricting the characteristic appears. If
you double-click on a calculated key figure, for example, the Change Calculated Key Figure dialog
box appears.
You can cut objects and paste them in another location. With the Edit menu or an object's context
menu, you can use the Cut function. The object will not be deleted immediately. It will continue to
be displayed here at first. Once you use the Pastefunction (from the context menu or Edit menu) at a
new location, the object disappears from the old location and appears at the new one. This ensures
that the object is not removed if you forget to insert it in another location. If you forget to insert the
object and cut and paste another object instead, the clipboard with the object you cut before is not
overwritten. The object you cut before remains at the old location.
Remove or Delete
If you want to remove objects from the query, choose Remove from the object context menu. If you
want to delete a reusable object, choose Delete from the context menu. Deletion means that the
object is deleted from the BW server and is no longer available in a query. Removing means that the
object is removed locally from the query but remains available in other queries provided that it is a
reusable object.
Edit Text Directly at the Object
When a new object is created, it is displayed with a standard name. If you click on the standard text,
the cursor appears directly on the standard text of the object, and you can overwrite it.
Defining Queries
The selection screen is displayed for all InfoProviders that you can define a new query for.
1. From your history, or from all available InfoProviders under InfoAreas, select the
InfoProvider that you want to base your query on.
Note
If you want to show the technical name of the InfoProvider, choose the Technical Name
On/Off icon.
2. The available objects for the InfoProvider you selected are displayed as a directory tree in the
InfoProvider screen area.
Note
You can sort the objects of the InfoProvider alphabetically (either in descending or ascending
order) by clicking the corresponding arrows in the title bar. If you click three times, the
system displays the data in the default order again (from top to bottom: Structures, Filter,
Key Figures, and Dimensions).
The Filter screen area contains empty directories for the filter selection; the
Rows/Columnsscreen area contains empty directories for the rows, the columns, and the
free characteristics of the query. The preview of the results area for the query can be found at
the bottom right. This area is also empty initially.
For more information about the process for creating a query, seeWorking with BEx Query
Designer, under Proceed as follows to create a query
3. Make the selections for the filter of the query. Note that the filter selection has a restricting
effect on the entire query, which means that all the InfoProvider data is aggregated with the
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filter selection. In the InfoProvider directory tree, select the characteristics or the key figure
that you want to base the query on.
o Characteristics
Expand the required dimension directory and first select one or more characteristics that
you want to restrict to one or more values, a variable, a value interval, or a hierarchy node
from the InfoProvider. Expand this characteristic and using drag:
One or more single values to the filter's Characteristic Restrictions area
One or more characteristics to the filter's Characteristic Restrictions area. Click the
right mouse button on a characteristic to display the context menu and choose Restrict.
Now select a characteristic value interval or a hierarchy node (more
information:Restricting Characteristics).
o Key figure
Decide whether to base all the query data on the numerical values of just one key figure
or to base it on multiple key figures. If you want to base the query on the numerical
values of just one key figure, select the relevant key figure for the InfoProvider tree and
drag it to the Filter area. You can also use a restricted or calculated key figure (more
information:Defining Restricted Key Figures andDefining Calculated Key Figures).
4. If required, define default values for the filter by dragging the required filter values into the
filter's Default Values area. More information:Filters.
5. Specify which characteristics, key figures, or structures you want to be available for
navigating through the query data. Drag the corresponding directories of the characteristics
in the InfoProvider tree to the directories Rows, Columns, orFree Characteristics in the
Rows/Columns screen area, or drag the structure directories into the rows or columns.
Note
If a characteristic has a compound characteristic, the compound characteristic is
automatically added during the drag and drop action. This also applies to copying and
pasting.
The compound characteristic is always added to the characteristic restrictions of the filter.
For example, characteristic Country is compounded to characteristic Region. If you drag the
Region characteristic to the Free Characteristics area, the characteristic Country appears
automatically in the Characteristic Restrictions area of the filter.
You can use any number of characteristics in the query. Note however that the number of
characteristics in the drilldown is restricted. An unlimited number of characteristics is
permitted in the Free Characteristics area. Note, however, that the rows and columns can
contain a maximum of 50 - <number of structures> characteristics only.
If the query does not contain a structure, a total of 50 characteristics are permitted in the
rows and columns. If you use one structure, 49 characteristics are permitted, and with two
structures, 48 characteristics are permitted in the rows and columns.
If you have not selected any key figures for the filter, define one or more key figures either in
the rows or columns of the query. Drag a key figure from the Key Figuresdirectory in the
InfoProvider tree to either the Rowsor Columns directory. Query Designer automatically
generates a new structure that contains the selected key figure; the structure has the default
description Key Figures.
You can also define a new calculated key figure and use it for the query. For example,
instead of "Sales revenue", define the key figure "Price", which is calculated by dividing
"Sales revenue" by "Quantity". Select the Key Figures directory in the InfoProvider tree and
in the context menu, choose New Calculated Key Figure.
You can restrict key figures to characteristic values, characteristic value intervals, or
hierarchy nodes by selecting the key figure and choosing Edit in the context menu. "Sales
revenue in first quarter" is an example of a restricted key figure.
By placing the characteristics, key figures, or structures either in the rows or columns
directory, you configure the first navigational state of the query (start view). In the lower
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right area of the screen, you can see a preview of the results area of the query. This is
displayed in the start view that you selected.
Note
You can use drag and drop to change how the key figures and characteristics are arranged in
the rows and columns until the preview displays the results area you want.
6. Once you have created the query, you can check the query definition by choosing Query →
Check in the menu bar.
7. Choose Query → Properties in the menu bar if you want to change the Description,settings
for Result Position, Display Options and Number Display, or Key Date for the query. More
information:Query Properties
8. Save the query. Enter a Technical Name and a Description for the query. The Technical
Name must uniquely identify the query; meaning that the name may appear only once
across all InfoProviders in the BW system. The technical name can be up to 30 characters in
length and must begin with a letter.
Result
The query has been saved and can now be:
Used in BEx Analyzer as a data provider for design items
Used in Web Application Designer as a data provider for Web items
Displayed in BEx Web Analyzer: Choose Query → Execute…
You can analyze the query data in Business Explorer.
More Information:
Creating Reusable Structures
Properties of Query Components
Menu Bar Functions in Query Designer
Authorizations for Query Definition and Information Broadcasting
More information about displaying and sorting key figures in a hierarchy:Creating InfoCubes
More information about using non-cumulative InfoCubes as InfoProviders:Performance Tips
Result
The query has been saved and can now be:
Displayed in the BEx Web Analyzer
Used in the BEx Web Application Designer as a data provider for Web items
Used in the BEx Analyzer as a data provider for design items
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reference another object, you can only edit the referenced object (the default value) when making
settings. The change is visible automatically in all other objects that use the default value.
More information: Properties and How They Are Derived
Activities
You call the property dialog by selecting the corresponding query component in the query. For the
row or column properties, click on the free area in the pane in question. The corresponding property
dialogs are shown in the Properties screen area.
BEx Web Application Designer
Use
Web application design, with the BEx Web Application Designer as its main tool, allows you to use
generic OLAP navigation for your BW data in Web applications for simple or highly individual
scenarios. Web application design incorporates a broad spectrum of Web-based business
intelligence scenarios, which you can adjust to meet your individual needs using standard Web
technologies.
Features
Using the BEx Web Application Designer , the central desktop application used to create Web
applications, you can generate HTML pages that contain BW-specific content such as tables, charts
or maps. These objects, which retrieve BW data from a data provider and place it in a Web
application as HTML, are known as Web items. For more information about the Web items
available, see Web Items . Web Applications are based on Web templates that you create and edit in
the Web Application Designer. You can save the Web templates and access them from the Web
browser or the portal. Once they are executed on the Web, Web templates are referred to as Web
applications.
Business Explorer Web application design allows you to create highly individual scenarios with
user-defined interface elements by using standard markup languages and the Web design API. You
can adjust and enhance the individual Web templates (the HTML pages that determine the structure
of Web applications). For more information, see Web Design API .
BEx Analyzer
Use
BEx Analyzer is an analytical, reporting and design tool embedded in Microsoft Excel. In BEx
Analyzer, you can analyze and plan with selected InfoProvider data using the context menu or drag
and drop to navigate in queries created in BEx Query Designer.
You can design the interfaces for your queries by inserting design items (controls) such as analysis
grids, dropdown boxes and buttons into your Excel workbook. This allows you to transform your
workbook into a query application.
Features
BEx Analyzer's functionality is divided into two modes, each with a dedicated toolbar and menu
path:
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Analysis mode - for executing OLAP analyses on queries
Design mode - for designing the interface for query applications
Analysis Mode
Working in analysis mode, you can accomplish the following types of tasks:
Launch BEx Query Designer in order to define queries
Analyze selected InfoProvider data by navigating interactively within these queries
Navigate and analyze using the context menu or drag and drop
Use OLAP functions like filtering, drilling and sorting
Use planning functions
Precalculate and distribute workbooks with BEx Broadcaster
For advanced programming capabilities, embed your own customized VBA programs
(Visual Basic for Applications)
Save workbooks in your favorites or in your role on the server, or locally on your computer
You can access analysis mode from either the dedicated analysis toolbar or from the menu in BEx
Analyzer.
See also:
Analysis Mode
Design Mode
Working in design mode, you can accomplish the following types of tasks:
Design the interface for your queries by embedding design items such as the analysis grid,
dropdown boxes, radio button groups, and buttons into your Microsoft Excel workbook
Customize your workbook with Excel's formatting and chart functionality
You can access design mode from either the dedicated design toolbar or the menu in BEx Analyzer.
See also:
Design Mode
Note
For general information about how messages and errors are communicated in BEx Analyzer,
seeGeneral Error and Message Handling.
For more information about restrictions in BEx Analyzer, seeRestrictions in BEx Analyzer.
Integration
The graphic below provides an overview of how BEx Analyzer integrates into the Business Explorer
Suite:
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Activities
To start BEx Analyzer, from the Windows Start menu, choose Programs → Business Explorer →
Analyzer.
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InfoSet. An InfoSet is a join between ODS objects and/or InfoObjects. It is a definition of the
conditions that determine how the objects should be joined.
MultiProvider. A MultiProvider is a combination of data from separate InfoProviders. It
does not contain data; data comes from the separate InfoProviders.
An InfoObject catalog is an application-specific organization of InfoObjects, either characteristics or
key figures.
To report against a cube, you must create a BW synonym that describes it to the adapter. To create a
synonym for a query cube, you first create the BEx query. In the query properties, set the Extended
Query Properties to Allow external access to this Query.
Top of page
BEx Query Terminology
The basic building blocks of a query cube are:
Characteristics. Characteristics, also called dimensions, are classifications such as Region or
Time, that you use to analyze and compare business performance.
Attributes. Attributes, also called properties, are additional information about a characteristic.
For example, the material characteristic might have attributes such as color or weight.
Key Figures. Key figures, also called measures or facts, are quantifiable values used in
evaluating performance. An example of a key figure is sales revenue.
Calculated Key Figures. These key figures are not stored in the data. They are
defined in the BEx query and evaluated at run time.
Restricted Key Figures. These key figures are filtered by selecting one or more
characteristics. They can be filtered versions of basic key figures, calculated key
figures, or other restricted key figures.
Hierarchies. Hierarchies are groupings of characteristics according to individual evaluation
criteria. For example, a customer characteristic can be grouped by geographical location,
industry, or some other criteria. A characteristic can have multiple hierarchies.
Variables. Variables are parameters of a query. They are set in the query definition and may
get their values in different ways. For example, some variables are given default values and
others require the user to enter a value. For more information about variables, see Variable
Types and Reporting With Variables.
Filters. Filters are used to restrict the output of a request. Although not included in a
WebFOCUS synonym, they affect the outcome of a WebFOCUS request.
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Defining New Business Explorer Queries
How to:
Select an InfoProvider to Query
Create a Query
Filter a Query
You must define an SAP Business Explorer query before reporting from an SAP BW InfoProvider.
This query serves as a template for data extraction from the cube.
Note: The information that follows is based on SAP BW Business Explorer documentation. SAP BW
BEx documentation is available from http://help.sap.com.
Top of page
Procedure: How to Select an InfoProvider to Query
1. The Business Information Warehouse must contain at least one InfoProvider before you can
define a new query. Start the Business Explorer Analyzer.
2. From the BEx toolbar, choose Open.
You will see the selection screen for all existing workbooks.
3. Choose Queries.
The selection screen displays all available queries.
4. Choose New.
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You will see the selection screen for all InfoProviders for which you can define a new query
or queries.
5. Select the InfoProvider that has the data on which the query should be based. To display
technical names for InfoProviders, set the Technical name on/off icon to On.
The available objects in the InfoProvider you have selected are displayed as a directory tree
in the left part of the screen.
Next, you will select the objects for the query and drag them to the appropriate boxes to build the
query.
Top of page
Procedure: How to Create a Query
The right area of the BEx screen contains selection boxes for the filter selection, the rows, the
columns, and the free characteristics of the query.
Perform the following steps to create a query:
1. Click the plus or minus sign to the left of the dimension or Key Figures you want to query.
The object list will expand and display a list of all the available Key Figures or
characteristics.
2. Drag and drop characteristics and Key Figures from the InfoProvider into the selection box
of the query definition.
These may be filters, rows, columns, and free characteristics.
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Procedure: How to Filter a Query
You can filter queries in order to place restrictions on them. Filter selection restricts the entire query.
To select fields you want to use to filter the query, complete the following:
1. From the object list of the InfoProvider, select the characteristics or the key figure upon
which the query should be based.
Note: Since they are used in definitions, fields selected as filters are not displayed in the
Adapter for SAP BW metadata. They are used to screen the data and thus contain no
information to be reported on. If you wish to screen data and report from it, see Restricting
Query Characteristics or Restricting and Calculating Key Figures.
2. Drag the object to the Filter box.
3. Right-click the object in the filter box. A dialog box opens showing the possible filter
definitions for the object.
4. Select either a single member, a range of members, or a variable for the filter.
Top of page
Restricting Query Characteristics
How to:
Restrict Characteristics
When defining a query, you may restrict characteristics to a single characteristic value, a value
interval, a hierarchy node, or a characteristic value variable.
Top of page
Procedure: How to Restrict Characteristics
1. Choose the characteristic from the InfoProvider for which you want to select a value range.
2. Drag the characteristic into the appropriate selection box of the query definition (rows or free
characteristics).
3. Select the characteristic you wish to restrict (or filter). Using the right mouse button,
select Restrict from the Context menu.
4. Choose whether you want to restrict the characteristic to a single value, a value interval, or a
hierarchy node.
Tip: You can enter the characteristic values or hierarchy nodes you want to use, or you can
display a list of all possible values by clicking the magnifying glass to the right of the input
field.
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5. Confirm your entries by clicking OK.
Top of page
Restricting and Calculating Key Figures
How to:
Restrict Key Figures
Calculate Key Figures
Define a Formula
You can restrict Key Figures to characteristic values, characteristic value intervals, or hierarchy
nodes. For example, a restricted key figure would be Sales revenue in 1st quarter.
You can also restrict the Key Figures of the InfoProvider for the query definition, or, using a
formula, you can calculate new Key Figures from the (basic) Key Figures:
Restricted Key Figures. (Basic) Key Figures for the InfoProvider that are restricted (filtered)
by selecting one or more characteristics.
Calculated Key Figures. Formulas that consist of (basic) Key Figures for the InfoProvider
and/or calculated Key Figures that have already been created.
Top of page
Procedure: How to Restrict Key Figures
1. Drag a (basic) key figure into the key figure selection box. Alternatively, select the header of
the selection box for rows or columns and, using the right mouse button, select New
Structure from the Context menu.
2. Select the Structure directory, and, using the right mouse button, choose New
Selection from the Context menu. The New Selection screen opens.
3. Enter a description of the restricted key figure in the text fields located in the upper part of
the screen.
4. Underneath the text fields, on the left, is the directory of all the objects available in the
InfoProvider. Use the empty field on the right-hand side of the screen for the definition of
the new selection.
5. Using drag and drop, choose a key figure from the InfoProvider, and restrict it using a
selection of one or more characteristic values.
6. Select OK. The newly restricted key figure is defined in the structure.
Top of page
Procedure: How to Calculate Key Figures
1. Create a new structure in the rows or columns of the query definition by highlighting the
row or column directory using the right mouse button and selecting New Structure in the
Context menu.
2. Drag a (basic) key figure of the InfoProvider into the directory of the new structure.
3. Select the Structure directory, and choose New Formula. The Formula Definition screen
opens.
4. Enter a description of the formula in the text fields located in the upper part of the screen.
Note: The entry field for the formula is underneath the text fields. In the bottom left of the screen are
all of the operands available for the formula definition. These are the Key Figures that you have
already defined in the structure, and all of the formula variables in the Variables directory that have
been created in the variable maintenance.
The functions available as operators are on the right-hand side of the screen. These are symbols for
the basic arithmetic operations and directories with calculation functions such as percentage or
trigonometric functions. To the right of the operators is a number block.
Top of page
Procedure: How to Define a Formula
1. Choose the operands you want to use, and insert them in the entry field for the formula by
double-clicking or by using drag and drop.
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2. Choose the calculation functions you want to use by either clicking the symbols for the basic
arithmetic operations, double-clicking to select the individual values, or dragging the entire
key figure into the formula box.
3. Select the number values for the formula by clicking the number block.
4. Define your formula using the available operands and operators.
If you want to use a variable that is not contained in the operands, you must create the
variable first.
5. Check the formula definition for correctness by pressing the scale icon.
6. Enter the name of the formula column in the description box.
7. Select OK. The newly calculated key figure is defined in the structure.
Top of page
Viewing Query Properties and Releasing for OLAP
To view the properties of a query, click the Query Properties icon on the toolbar. The Query
Properties dialog box opens.
To release a query for OLAP, click the Query Properties icon on the toolbar and check the
following in the Query Properties dialog box:
Allow External Access (for SAP BW releases 3.x and higher).
Release for OLE DB for OLAP (for SAP BW releases prior to 3.x).
This enables the query to be displayed as a QUERY_CUBE for reporting purposes. The query
elements (hierarchy levels, measures, variable, and properties) will be mapped to corresponding
OLAP elements to create a synonym.
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Business Explorer – Architecture
SAP Business Explorer consists of multiple tools that can be used to design queries and to
perform report analysis, create web applications. The BEx Web Analyzer, Report Designer
and Query Designer uses BI content in SAP NetWeaver BW system and communication
happens using BI Consumer Service also called as BICS.
The content developed using Business Explorer can be published in the NetWeaver
Portal or can also be used in Composite Applications.
The following image shows the functional area/ basic architecture of SAP Business
Explorer suite −
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The next in line is SAP Business Explorer Suite that contains multiple tools to perform
query analysis and design and for Report formatting. The Web Application Development
(WAD) can be used for application development and content can be published on to the
portal or composite applications using Broadcasting Information.
The BEx Analyzer provides an option for excel integration and you can analyze selected
InfoProvider data and use it for planning by navigating in queries created in a BEx Query
Designer.
At the top, you have the presentation layer that is used to publish the objects that are
created using SAP Business Explorer. The NetWeaver Portal can be used for publishing
the project or you can also use them in composite applications or analyze further using
Microsoft Excel.
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To integrate a SAP BW system to BusinessObjects tools, you can create a BICS
connection to the BEx query. You can select a Cube while creating an OLAP connection
using the BICS connection.
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Select SAP logon screen, BW system as per your SAP GUI system.
In the next window, you need to enter your Login Credentials. Enter the Client, User,
Password and the Language.
This will open the SAP Business Explorer NetWeaver Query Designer. You will not be able
to see the home screen for the SAP BEx Query Designer.
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Business Explorer – Functions in a Query Designer
On the left side of the home screen of the Query Designer, you have the InfoProvider pane
– it has the name of the Infocube and the list of all the characteristics and key figures
available under that Infocube. It also shows all the Calculated Key figures and Restricted
Key figures in the Infocube.
In the middle pane, you have the Characteristics Restrictions – it shows all the filters
that have been used in the query. You have 4 tabs under the characteristics restriction,
which are −
Filter
Rows/Columns
Conditions
Exceptions
Let us now discuss each one of these in detail.
Filter − Here you can see the list of dimensions in the query on which the filter has been
applied to restrict the values in the query.
Rows/Columns − In this tab, you can see the list of dimensions and key figures under
rows and columns section. You can also see the free characteristics and preview under
this tab.
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Conditions − In this tab, you define the Condition like ranking of the values under key
figures. You can select Top 5 values, Top 10 values and under conditions in the query.
You can select different Operator functions to pass these Conditions.
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Exceptions − You can also add Exceptions/Alert to key figures. You can create an
Exception and keep it inactive by unchecking the check box.
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On the right side of the home screen, you have the Query Properties. You can see the
description, technical name and the InfoProvider.
How to see BEx Query name, InfoProvider for a query?
To open the properties of a query, go to the Query button at the top → Open.
You will see the list of all the queries available. It shows the Query description and not
Technical name of the query. Select the query for which you want to see the technical
name and InfoProvider.
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To see the technical name, description and InfoProvider name and other properties you
should select the Query. On the right hand side, you can see the Query Properties. If you
can’t see the query properties, you can also use the Query Properties button at the top.
The Technical name, InfoProvider, Description and Key date is shown under the
GENERAL tab.
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At the bottom, you have the Message pane. It is used to check the query consistency. If
there is any issue in the query, it shows an error message in red or any other warnings too.
You can also open the BEx Query Designer from the BEx Web Application Designer.
Navigate to Tools → BEx Query Designer in the Web Application Designer or It can also
be accessed via the BEx Report Designer → Tools → BEx Query Designer.
To define a new query, you need to navigate to Query → New in the Query Designer.
The next step is to make the selection screen for all the InfoProviders that you can define
in a new query.
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In the history tab, you can see all the recently used InfoProviders. From all the available
InfoProviders under InfoAreas, select the InfoProvider that you want to use. You can also
search for an InfoProvider in History or under InfoAreas.
Once you add the InfoProvider, it is added to the InfoProvider pane. The list of all the
available objects are then shown in their hierarchical structure. Drag the characteristics
that you want to add to the Character Restrictions.
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Note that the filter screen area contains empty directories for the filter selection and the
Rows/Columns screen area contains empty directories for the rows, the columns, and the
free characteristics of the query.
The preview of the results area for the query can be found at the bottom right of the
screen.
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The filter selection has a restricting effect on BEx query. All the data from the InfoProvider
is aggregated with the filter selection.
You can also add the default values to the filter. You can double click on any of the
characteristics and it will open a new window to make the default value selection.
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When you expand each characteristic value under the Default selection, you can see the
selected default values.
You can also add Conditions/Exceptions to a BEx query. Navigate to the View tab →
Exceptions/Conditions.
It is also possible to drag and drop to change how the key figures and characteristics are
arranged in the rows and columns until the preview displays the results area you want.
You can also define a new calculated key figure and can be added to the BEx Query in the
Query Designer. To create a new calculated/restricted key figure, right click on the Key
figure → Select.
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A Restricted Key figure is defined as the key figure which can be restricted with the
Characteristics.
A Calculated Key figure is defined as the key figure which is calculated using other key
figures based on some formula. A calculated key figure is global to all the queries in the
InfoProvider.
You can save the query by clicking on the save button at the top.
Enter the Technical Name and Description of the query. The technical name of the query
should be unique to all the InfoProviders in the SAP BW system. You can add a name of
up to 30 characters in length.
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You can select the location where you want to save the query. You can choose the
Favorite folder or can also assign to a specific role.
Variables
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Restricted Key Figures
Calculate Key Figures
To see the where the objects are used, you can select the Where Used List in the context
menu.
To check the details of an object, go to the context menu and click on the Display button. It
shows you the following information −
Technical name
Identifier
Last changed by
Date/Time
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As mentioned, various objects can be reused in queries at global level.
Variable
In a Query Designer, you can define Variables to pass the value at run time. They can be
used in web applications and other queries as a placeholder. To define Variables for any of
the objects in query, you must open the Variable Editor.
You can open the Variable editor by clicking on the below option in the Query Designer.
This option is available in the Query Properties of all the components where you can pass
constant values.
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You can also click on the drop down button and can access different options to create/edit
variables.
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Restricted Key Figures
A Restricted Key Figure is defined as a key figure which can be used to restrict the values
in a query based on the characteristics.
To define a new Restricted Key figure, navigate to Restricted Key figure folder → Context
Menu and New Restricted Key Figure.
This will create a New Restricted Key Figure and the properties for the restricted key figure
are displayed in the Properties screen area.
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Define the technical name and description and click on the save button to save the key
figure. To edit the restricted key figure, click on the Edit button or double click on the name
in the hierarchical structure.
In the detailed view, you can see the directory of all objects available in the InfoProvider
and on the right side you have an empty field to define the key figure.
Calculated Key Figure
You can also calculate the key figures in InfoProvider by using some formulas. Calculated
key figure can be based on other key figures, restricted key figures or pre-calculated key
figures.
To define a new calculated key figure, right click on the Key figure folder → New.
This will add the Calculated Key figure in the hierarchical structure and properties for the
calculated key figure are displayed in the Properties screen area.
To define the calculation formula for the key figure, double click on the Calculate Key
Figure. You have an option to define the Calculated Key figures in the General Tab.
Drag any other key figure and Operator from the Operators section. You have different
Operators available under this section.
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You can also define Aggregation for new Calculated Key figures.
The following function types are available under the General tab to define the calculation
for the New Calculated Key Figures −
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Basic Functions
Percentage Functions
Data Functions
Mathematical Functions
Trigonometric Functions
Boolean Operators
Once you define the formula, click on the OK button as shown in following screenshot.
You can also go to the Properties tab of the Calculated Key figure. You can define different
properties for a new key figure and can also edit an existing key figure −
Description
Display
Number format
Currency translation
Local calculations
Aggregation behavior
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Business Explorer – Setting Query Properties
You can access the query properties by selecting the icon as shown in the following
screenshot.
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Variable Sequence Tab − This tab consists of variables listed in the query. You can also
arrange the Variable sequence defined in the query.
Display Tab − You have Display options and document links inside the Display tab. Under
the Display Option, you can adjust formatting after Refreshing, Scaling Factor, or Hide
Repeated Key Figures.
You can create a document link for Metadata, Master Data and InfoProvider for a query.
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Rows/Column Tab − This is used to define where results are displayed for a query.
Rows − Above or Below
Column − Left or Right
Suppress Zeros − This option can be used to specify whether columns or rows containing
zeros are to be displayed or not.
Effect on − This field can be used to specify whether suppression of zeros should be
applied to both rows/columns or only to rows or columns.
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Value Display Tab − This tab is used to display the +/- value in the query and zero value
display.
Planning Tab − You can define if a query should start in the change mode or the display
mode.
For the queries that are not input ready, the Start Query in the Change Mode checkbox is
always inactive and cannot be changed. When there is input ready queries, the check box
is active.
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Calculate Inverse Formulas − Using this option, Inverse formulas are used to recalculate
input-ready formulas in planning the applications.
Characteristic Properties
Properties of Characteristic Restrictions and Default Values
Attribute Properties
Selection/Formula/Cell Properties
Structure Properties
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Filter Properties
Variable Properties
Condition Properties
Exception Properties
Row/Column Properties
In the Query Designer, you can derive properties of each component from the other object
or can also set its value. You can also see the object name and can derive properties from
the following objects −
The selection can derive properties from −
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Business Explorer – Analysis Mode in Analyzer
When BEx analyzer is started, the menu bar and the BEx Analyzer-tool bar is displayed.
You can also access the BEx Report Designer and the Web analyzer from BEx analyzer →
Tools option.
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How to Open a Workbook and Query in the BEx Analyzer?
You can open a workbook or a query in the BEx Analyzer toolbar. To open a query,
navigate to BEx Analyzer → Open Query.
To open a workbook, navigate to the BEx Analyzer → Open Workbook.
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Refresh
You can also control the automatic refreshing of the workbook in the BEx Analyzer. For
activating this, navigate to BEx Analyzer → Refresh.
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Global Settings
This option can be used to configure the Global settings and it allows you to enter the
setting that is applicable to the full application.
There are other options that you can select from the BEx Analyzer drop down box. You can
access the SAP Documentation on the BEx Analyzer by going to the “Application Help”
option.
There are 11 design items from which you can select under the Design Toolbar. When you
click on the Design Toolbar, you can find the following options −
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The last option is Workbook setting, which can be used to configure the general functions
to workbooks in the Analyzer. All the design items that you insert in the workbook are
shown in the end of the list under the Design Tools.
To open the properties of the design item, click on the design item in the list.
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Under the Properties of the Design Item, you can define different fields such as −
General
Associated charts
Clipping.
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Business Explorer – Creating Planning Applications
A Planning application can contain a planning function such as – Copy, Save or Delete,
or Selection List, etc. Let us see how to create a planning application.
To start with, you need to check the security settings. Choose Tools → Macro → Security
and set the indicator for Trust access to the Visual Basic Project.
Create a new workbook and to put the title of workbook move to the required cell in the
workbook → Enter the Title and assign a font to it.
To design the workbook, move to the Design mode. Navigate to Design Toolbar → Design
Mode as shown in the following screenshot.
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To show the query results with the actual and plan data, move to the relevant cell and
select Insert Analysis Grid in the Design toolbar and open the properties of the design item
as mentioned in the previous topic.
Go to the General tab of the Properties and select create a new data provider and it will
open the dialog box which displays the name of current data provider.
To define start view of the data provider, click on the Query view and a dialog box appears.
The next step is to select the required query or the query view and the select Open. This
will allow the system to insert the name of the InfoProvider on which the query is created
and this information is displayed in the InfoCube field as shown below −
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Once your data provider is configured, click OK and this will take to Properties of Analysis
Grid design item. You should select the check box for Apply Formatting and Allow
Navigation.
In a similar way, add the dropdown box to the required cell and select Properties. Select
the configured data provider and check the option Label Indicator. Now, the next step is to
go to the Dimensions tab page, you need to select the dimensions for which you want to be
able to select values in the dropdown as shown in following screenshot.
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The next step is to add the push button for this special function. Go to the Design Toolbar
and add a design item type Button.
Go to the context menu of the button and select Planning specific command → Select the
required planning function and data provider.
Planning function − PF_Copy
Planning function − PF_Revaluate01
Planning function − PF_Delete
Click on the Finish button and select the save button.
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Business Explorer – Performing Local Calculations
Using local calculations, you can perform calculations on the numbers based in the current
report view. For example, to perform a sum of the top 10 products in the list.
There are a few functions that can be used to perform Local Calculations −
Calculate Result As
You can use this function to recalculate the result rows in the BEx Web Application as per
certain criteria. You override the standard calculation using local calculations. It includes
only those numbers in the calculation appear in the current application view.
This function can be used in the following areas −
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Calculate Single Values As
This function is used to recalculate single values in web applications as per certain
selection criteria.
This function can be used in the following areas −
= Equal To
Not Equal To
Greater Than
>= Greater Than or Equal To
< Less Than
<= Less Than or Equal To
[] Between
][ Not Between
There are different operators that can be used for Ranked List Condition −
Top N
Top %
Top Total
Bottom N
Bottom %
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Bottom Total
In the Exception section area, select New Exception from the context menu as shown in
the following screenshot.
Select the Exception and Right Click → Edit. This will open the Change Exception window.
The next step is to define the Exception in the change exception window. There are
different alert levels that you can select.
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You can select from the following Operator types −
= Equal To
Not Equal To
Greater Than
>= Greater Than or Equal To
< Less Than
<= Less Than or Equal To
[] Between
][ Not Between
Display Tab
You can define if an exception affects the data cells or the characteristic cells. As per the
defined setting, highlighting for the exception is displayed on the numbers for the selected
key figure or the text for the most detailed characteristic value.
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Business Explorer – Working with BEx Objects
In Business Explorer, you can create several objects that comprises to make a web
application. In each BEx tool, you can create different objects that perform multiple
functions.
BEx Query
A BEx query contains characteristics and key figures that can be used to analyze data in
the BW System. These objects in the query are imported from the InfoProvider. These
queries are used in the BEx Applications.
You can open BEx Queries directly in the default view in the BEx Web Analyzer or BEx
Analyzer and they can be executed to create planning applications and data analysis in the
BEx Analyzer.
On the right side, under the Properties pane, you can see the query Properties −
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Description
Technical Name
Global Settings
Type of Variable
Processing By
Reference Characteristic
Filters
Filters are used to apply data restrictions and they ensure that certain user groups have
limited data access. It is also possible to create multiple filters for an InfoProvider. Filters
can be applied on queries in Query Designer or in planning applications.
To apply filters in query, you can drag the characteristics or key figures to a filter pane.
These can be further restricted by applying single values, range of values or multiple
values.
Variables
In the Query Designer, you can define Variables to pass the value at run time. They can be
used in web applications and other queries as a placeholder. To define Variables for any of
the object in query, you must open the Variable Editor.
You can open the Variable editor by clicking on the following option in the Query Designer.
This option is available in the Query Properties of all the components, where you can pass
the constant values.
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Structure
A structure in a BEx query is used to define the axes framework in a table. When you
define structure, it defines the sequence of characteristics and key figures in rows and
columns in a BEx query.
To define a new structure, you need to navigate to the Row/Column section in the Query
Designer → Select New Structure from the context menu.
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Right-click on Structure and go to New Selection. Here, you can add Key figures and
characteristics and these can be added to the Preview tab under the Row and Column
section.
There are various other objects that you can manage under different Business Explorer
Tools.
Query Views
Data Providers
Bookmarks
Reusable Web Items
Workbooks
Broadcast Settings
Dashboards
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You can also publish the queries so that it can be used by other users or can also publish
to Portal Content.
To publish a query, you need to navigate to the Publish option in the Query Designer. You
can also share a query via the BEx Broadcaster.
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In a similar way, you can also save and reuse other objects in a Business Explorer. The
following objects can be saved and reused −
Query Views
Data Providers
Bookmarks
Reusable Web Items
Workbooks
Broadcast Settings
Dashboards
In the next chapter, we will learn in detail about the accessibility mode in SAP Business
Explorer.
Analyzer
Query Designer
Report Designer
Web Application Designer
Let us now understand in detail about the above given tools.
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Analyzer
The Analyzer under Business Explorer is a reporting and designing tool, which provides
integration with Microsoft Excel. You can use this tool to analyze data in an Info Provider
under SAP BW. This can be used for planning by writing queries in a BEx Query Designer.
Query Designer
The BEx Query Designer can be used to analyze the data in InfoProviders under the
SAP BW System. You can define the characteristics and the key figures in a Query
Designer to analyze the data in any InfoProvider.
Report Designer
A Report Designer can be used to create formatted reports by using extensive formatting
options and these reports can be used for printing and can be generated in different
formats such as – PDF.
For Example −
Invoice
Balance Sheets
Sales Report, etc.
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Once you expand this folder, you can see the full set of Business Explorer tools as
mentioned in the previous topics.
BEx Analyzer
BEx Query Designer
BEx Report Designer
When the installation is done as a part of the frontend package with SAP GUI, you can also
use BEx Web Application Designer (WAD). This tool is not available in Release 7.10 or
higher if SAP GUI is not installed on the client machine.
Hardware and Software Requirements
Hardware Requirements − System should meet all the requirements for Microsoft Excel
2003 and Windows XP or Vista.
Software Requirements −
Windows XP or Vista
Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0
Microsoft Excel 2003 or higher
To perform the installation of the frontend tools, you need an installer or a CD which
contains the setup file. The user should have an administrator privilege to run the installer
file.
Start SapBISetup.exe by using run as administrator option if you are not logged in with an
administrator user. This will open the setup wizard as shown in the following screenshot.
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When you click on Next, you need to select the frontend tools that you want to install.
Under the Product Selection, you should select SAP Business Explorer.
It also shows you the required disk space requirement.
Make the selection of frontend tools, click on Next. You need to select the target drive
where you want the installation to be done. Once you select the target drive, click on Next
and it will start the setup installation.
You can see the status in the Progress bar, and once it is 100% done, installation is
completed for the frontend tools.
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Your Business Explorer is now successfully configured and ready to use. You can navigate
to Business Explorer folder under Program Files and verify the installation by checking
following tools shown in the screenshot given below.
Bex Browser
The Business Explorer Browser (BEx Browser) makes it possible for you to access all document types of
the Business Information Warehouse that are assigned to your role or that you have stored in your
favorites. You can select and open documents assigned to you in the BEx Browser or store and manage
new documents in the BEx Browser.
Document types that you can work with in the BEx Browser are:
· BW workbooks
· Crystal Reports
Bex Analyser
The Business Explorer Analyzer (BEx Analyzer) is the analysis and reporting tool of the Business
Explorer that is embedded in Microsoft Excel.
Features
You can call up the BEx Query Designer in the BEx Analyzer, in order to define queries. Subsequently,
you can analyze the selected InfoProvider data by navigation to the query created in the Query Designer
and create different query views of the data. You can add the different query views for a query or for
different queries to a work book and save them there. You can save the workbook in your favorites or in
your role on the BW Server. You can also save the workbook locally on your computer.
Beyond that, you can precalculate the workbook and distribute it by e-mail to recipeients or you can
export it to the Enterprise Portal and make it accessible to other employees in the company.
You can start queries in a standard view (with a Standard Web Template set up in Customizing) in the
Web browser and forward the URL or continue to navigate on the Web. Similarly, you can export the
Web query to MS Excel 2000.
Overview of the Functional Area of the BEx Analyzer:
· BEx toolbar
You access the functions of the BEx Analyzer from the BEx toolbar, which takes you to the BEx Open
dialog box where you can open existing queries, or to the BEx Query Designer where you can create
new queries or change existing queries.
· Evaluating Query Data
The BEx Analyzer offers convenient functions for evaluating and presenting InfoProvider data
interactively. In the BEx Analyzer, you can add queries to workbooks, navigate within them and refresh
the data. You can also process the queries further in Microsoft Excel or display them in the Web browser
in a default view.
Navigation of a query allows you, for example, to filter characteristics on a single value, drilldown on all
values for a characteristic, regroup characteristics and key figures in the rows and columns of the results
area, or hide key figures. Navigation results in different views of the InfoProvider data. In addition, a
range of further functions is available which allow you to edit a query interactively (for example, sorting,
cumulated output, among others). In addition, you can use the editing functions in Microsoft Excel in
order to set up individual format templates, to print results areas, or to create graphics.
· Queries in Workbooks
Queries are inserted into workbooks so you can display them. When you insert a query, a link is made
between the cell areas of the worksheet and the data of the InfoProvider upon which the query is based.
A link therefore exists between the Business Explorer and the Business Information Warehouse Server
(BW Server).
When inserting a query into the workbook, a VBA routine is automatically generated in the workbook.
You can also connect the Business Explorer with your own VBA programs (Visual Basic for Applications).
You can create workbook templates, into which you can insert your queries. Workbook templates can
contain pre-determined items for the area of the query, formatting settings, logos, VBA macros, and so
on.
· Precalculating workbooks
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You can precalculate and distribute workbooks with the BEx Broadcaster, which is a Web application you
get to form the BEx toolbar. The system generates MS Excel workbooks with historical data. You
determine the time for precalculation yourself: You can have workbooks precalculated at a predefined
time or they can be precalculated whenever data in the underlying InfoProvider changes. You can have
the precalculated workbooks sent by e-mail or you can export them into the Enterprise Portal, where you
can make them available to employees within your company.
Activities
To start the BEx Analyzer, choose Start ® Programs ® SAP Front-end Business Information Warehouse
® SAP Business Explorer Analyzer.
You can also access the BEx Analyzer via SAP Easy Access ® SAP Business Information Warehouse ®
SAP Menu ® Business Explorer ® Analyzer or in the Business Explorer Browser using the Business
Explorer Analyzer symbol in the menu bar.
.....................................................................................................................
"The Business Explorer Browser (BEx Browser) makes it possible for you to access all document types
of the Business Information Warehouse that are assigned to your role or that you have stored in your
favorites. You can select and open documents assigned to you in the BEx Browser or store and manage
new documents in the BEx Browser."
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_bw33/helpdata/en/7a/87583c2439e66fe10000000a114084/frameset.htm
"The Business Explorer Analyzer (BEx Analyzer) is the analysis and reporting tool of the Business
Explorer that is embedded in Microsoft Excel."
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_bw33/helpdata/en/ba/45583ca544eb51e10000000a114084/frameset.htm
Refer to the below URL. The pdf file may help you.
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/58fd9183-0e01-0010-f183-
fdc9019f77ab
Assign points if this helps u...
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