BW 1.

2B Report Development Tools 11

Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the
Business nformation
Warehouse
Contents
What Is the Business Information Warehouse? ..................................................12
Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview..........................12
Business Information Warehouse Terminology..................................................18
Business Information Warehouse Reporting Environment ...............................19
Review....................................................................................................................112


In this chapter you will learn:
How the Business
Information Warehouse
(BW) works as an
enterprise-wide
information hub
The overall architecture of
the Business Information
Warehouse environment
Important concepts and
terminology related to the
Business Information
Warehouse
Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
What Is the Business Information Warehouse?

Reporting Made Easy
12
What s the Business nformation Warehouse?
A component of SAPs New Dimension product, the Business Information Warehouse (BW)
is an enterprise-wide information hub. It enables you to analyze data from R/ 3 applications
or any other business application, including external data sources such as databases and the
Internet. The SAP Business Information Warehouse also offers easy integration with other
New Dimension products, such as the SAP Advanced Planner and Optimizer (SAP APO),
the SAP Business to Business (SAP B2B), and the SAP Strategic Enterprise Management
(SAP SEM). Additionally, the Business Information Warehouse is a core element of SAPs
MySAP.coms reporting strategy.
The Business Information Warehouse is a comprehensive end-to-end data warehouse
solution with optimized structures for reporting and analysis. To help knowledge workers
quickly mine the business data in an enterprise, BW is equipped with preconfigured
information models and reports, as well as automatic data extraction and loading methods.
With an easy-to-use Microsoft Excel based user interface, you can create, format, and
analyze reports. Built for high performance, the Business Information Warehouse resides on
its own dedicated server. Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) and reporting activities are
therefore separated, and system performance is not compromised.


Note: The chapters in this supplement cover the reporting functionality as of BW
Release 1.2B. For product information, white papers, customer case studies, and other
materials on the Business Information Warehouse, visit SAPNet or the Business
Information Warehouse Information Center at http://www.sap.com/bw.
Business nformation Warehouse Architecture: An Overview
The Business Information Warehouse includes a relational Online Analytical Processing
(OLAP), automated data extraction and staging tools, a preconfigured data repository, a
user-friendly front-end (the Business Explorer) , and an Administrator Workbench) .
As shown on the next page, there are three layers in the Business Information Warehouse
architecture:
< Business Explorer: As the top layer in the BW architecture, the Business Explorer (BEx)
serves as the reporting environment (presentation and analysis) for end users. It consists
of the BEx Analyzer and the BEx Browser for analysis and reporting activities. With its
easy-to-use graphical interface, the Business Explorer provides standard functionality
such as Microsoft Excel and Internet technologies integrated with advanced evaluation
and business tools, such as currency translation, and pre-defined report builders for
various reporting areas. For more information, page 14.
Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview

BW 1.2B Report Development Tools
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< Business Information Warehouse Server: As the middle layer, the Business Information
Warehouse server has two primary roles:
Data warehouse management and administration: These tasks are handled by the
production data extractor (a set of programs for the extraction of data from R/ 3
OLTP applications such as logistics, controlling, etc.), the staging engine, and the
Administrator Workbench. The OLAP processor is for multi-dimensional data views
and is preconfigured with business models derived from the R/ 3 System.
Data storage and representation: These tasks are handled by the InfoCubes in
conjunction with the data manager, the meta data repository, and the optional
Operational Data Store (ODS).
For more information, see page 15.

BEx Browser
BEx Browser
BEx Analyzer
BEx Analyzer
Meta Data
Repository
Administrator Workbench
Administrator Workbench
Staging Engine
Staging Engine
R/3
R/3
SAP
BW
SAP
BW
File
File
External
System
External
System
BAPI
Business Explorer
Business
Information
Warehouse Server
Source Systems
Reporting and analysis
environment for users
Application layer to
facilitate data storage
and retrieval; database
layer to maintain the
data
Multiple information sources
include R/3 systems, non-
SAP systems, files, SAP
BW, etc.
OLAP Processor
OLAP Processor
InfoCube
ODS


< Source Systems: As the bottom layer, the source systems serve as the sources for raw
business data. The Business Information Warehouse environment can include a wide
range of data sources, including R/ 3 (OLTP) systems, external systems, and files, as well
as the SAP BW system. For more information, see page 17.

Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview

Reporting Made Easy
14

Business Application Programming Interfaces (BAPIs) enable communication among the
various components of the Business Information Warehouse. By using BAPIs, the
Business Information Warehouse remains open for integration with additional
applications and tools where needed.

What s the Business Explorer {BEx} ?
The reporting environment of the Business Information Warehouse, the Business Explorer
(BEx) helps you analyze business data. It enables end users to locate reports, view reports,
and analyze information. In the Business Explorer you can execute queries, create linked
report output (organized in workbooks), present data from multiple application areas,
systems, and more. You can save queries in workbooks that can be assigned for use in other
areas known as channels.
How s the Business Explorer Organized?
The Business Explorer has the following components:
Business Explorer Browser
A graphical interface for organizing reports in the BW. The BEx Browser is used to access
R/ 3 transactions, reports, and Web sites. For more information, see chapter 4.
Business Explorer Analyzer
The BEx Analyzer is an Excel-based interactive environment where analyses and queries are
defined by selected characteristics and key figures. You can analyze the selected data by
freely navigating through multi-dimensional data and built-in business functions.
Presentation in Excel also allows users to take a report view and manipulate it as a
document. For instance, you can add additional calculations or notes, charts and graphics,
combine different reports in one workbook, or distribute reports via e-mail. For more
information, see chapter 2.
Query Definition
Query Definition
Analyzer
Analyzer
Microsoft Excel
OLAP Processor
OLAP Processor
Business Information Warehouse Server
InfoCatalog
InfoCatalog
Business Explorer
Business Explorer
Browser
Business Explorer
Browser
InfoCube InfoCatalog

Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview

BW 1.2B Report Development Tools
15
What s the Business nformation Warehouse 8erver?
The Business Information Warehouse server is the name given to the application layer
which facilitates data storage and retrieval. It houses the following main components:
< Administrator Workbench
< Staging Engine
< Meta Data Repository
< InfoCube
< Operational Data Store (ODS)
< OLAP Processor
What s the Administrator Workbench?
Acting as the control system of the Business Information Warehouse, the Administrator
Workbench allows the BW administrator to perform all data warehouse modeling and
maintenance tasks within a single, unified environment. The Administrator Workbench has
the following components:
< Meta Data Maintenance to allow the administrator to specify and maintain the InfoCubes,
ODS definitions, and technical data.
< Scheduler to schedule the transfer of data from your source system at regular intervals.
< Data Load Monitor to supervise the load and staging processes.
< Data Access Monitor to obtain statistics on BW usage.
For more information, see chapter 5.
What s the Meta Data Repository?
Meta data is information on information. It is central to the data warehouse concept. An
active meta data repository documents and controls the entire data warehouse environment.
Meta data is used to describe the source, history, and many other aspects of data. The Meta
Data Repository contains both business-related (for example, definitions, descriptions, and
rules used for reporting) and technical (for example, structure and mapping rules for the
data extraction and staging process) meta data. With the Business Content (for more
information, see 17) SAP delivers ready to run preconfigured meta data. For more
information, see Business Information Warehouse online documentation.
What s the 8taging Engine?
The Staging Engine is employed to implement data mapping and transformation as a fully
automated, meta data driven process. Application Link Enabling (ALE), SAPs persistent
messaging middle-ware, is used for data transport from OLTP platforms to the BW server.
Initiated by its Scheduler, the Staging Engine requests an extract from an OLTP system.
Production data then undergoes a series of transformation, mapping, and condensing steps
before it is stored in the InfoCubes, the central data containers of BW. For more information,
see Business Information Warehouse online documentation.
Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview

Reporting Made Easy
16
What s an nfoCube?
The central data containers which form the basis for reports and analyses in BW are called
InfoCubes. InfoCubes contains two types of data: key figures and characteristics (see
Appendix G, Glossary). An InfoCube is a set of relational tables that are arranged in a star
schema with a large fact table for recording transaction data at the center and several
dimension tables around the fact table. The fact table contains the key figures of the
InfoCube while the dimension tables contain the characteristics of the cube. InfoSources (see
below) supply data to InfoCubes. A query in the Business Explorer always refers to exactly
one InfoCube. For more information, see Business Information Warehouse online
documentation.

Quantity Sold Revenue Discount Sales Overhead Stock Value C
Period Fiscal Year T
Customer No. Chain Office Head Office C
Fact Table
Time Dimension
Customer Dimension
InfoCube: Profitability by Customer
T


What s the Operational Data 8tore?
The ODS is a central store of requested data within the BW system. The Operational Data
Store (ODS) contains non-aggregated data, is organized as a set of relational tables, and is
used as an intermediate store for the staging process. The ODS is a store in which
transaction and master data from different source systems can be stored in the technical
format of the source systems. For more information, see Business Information Warehouse
online documentation.
What s the OLAP Processor?
The OLAP processor is the analytical engine of BW. It uses a multidimensional database for
analyzing and presenting various types of data, such as summarized OLTP data, and
market and syndicated data. The OLAP processor allows many different types of analyses
(for example, drilldown to various levels of details). Additionally, it offers other business
functions such as currency translation. For more information, see Business Information
Warehouse online documentation.
InfoObject (characteristic)
InfoObject (key figure)
Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview

BW 1.2B Report Development Tools
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What Are 8ource 8ystems?
Systems that provide data for extraction to the Business Information Warehouse are known
as Source systems. The Business Information Warehouse supports various types of source
systems:
< R/ 3 systems as of Release 3.0D (with Business Content)
< R/ 3 systems prior to Release 3.0D (BW regards them as external systems)
< Non-SAP systems or external systems (connected via BAPIs)
< File systems
< SAP Business Information Warehouse system
Data provision mechanisms in R/ 3 OLTP systems include extraction programs that export
the data from the extract tables and send it to the Business Information Warehouse in the
required format.
Business Content in the Business nformation Warehouse
SAP delivers preconfigured and extendable intelligence called Business Content to help with
information deployment, data presentation, data analysis, data warehouse management,
and data extraction and transformation. Business Content consists of preconfigured role and
task based information models. Based on consistent meta data, these information models
include channels, workbooks, queries, InfoCubes, InfoObjects, extractors, and InfoSources
(see below).

90+
45+
180+
180+
10+
Channels
Channels
Workbooks
Workbooks
Queries
Queries
InfoCubes
InfoCubes
Extractors and InfoSources
Extractors and InfoSources
C
o
m
m
o
n

M
e
t
a
d
a
t
a
InfoObjects
InfoObjects
1000+
Business Content (Release 1.2B)
Data extraction and transformation
Data warehouse management
Data analysis
Data presentation
Information deployment


Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Terminology

Reporting Made Easy
18
The goal of Business Content is to make relevant information available to selected user roles
in an enterprise. To speed up the implementation, the Business Content includes both
general and industry-specific business content.
Before modeling your own InfoCubes, or building new queries in the Business Information
Warehouse, it is recommended to check if a similar evaluation already exists in the BW
Business Content.
To illustrate the BW reporting in subsequent chapters, we will use the SD DemoCube from
the BW Business content. For more information on Business Content, see the Business
Information Warehouse online documentation.


Technical and Demo Content
In addition to the Business Content described above, BW also includes Technical Content
and Demo Content. Technical Content is intended for Data Warehouse administrators,
consultants, and SAP development support. Demo Content encompasses sample data
and can be used as illustrative material (for example the Sales and Distribution (SD)
DemoCube and Profitability Analysis (PA) DemoCube). Before you can you work with
the Business Content objects, you must activate them. For more information on how to
activate the SAP DemoCube, see chapter 5.
Business nformation Warehouse Terminology
To help you become familiar with some of the terms covered in this and later chapters, we
have included a brief explanation of the following terms: InfoObject, InfoSource,
InfoCatalog, and Business Content.
nfoOb]ect
An InfoObject is a generic term for characteristics and key figures in the Business
Information Warehouse. InfoObjects are used in InfoCubes and in the three structures that
are relevant for data requestsextract, transfer, and communication structures.
nfo8ource
An InfoSource is a set of logically associated information which can contain transaction data
(stored in InfoCubes) and master data (attributes, texts, and hierarchies stored in separate
tables). InfoSources describe all the information available for a business transaction or type
of business transaction (for example, cost center accounting).
nfoCatalog
The InfoCatalog (see graphic below) is a tree-like structure that displays a list of available
BW workbooks. The various InfoCatalog trees contain SAP-delivered workbooks and user-
defined workbooks that are available to user groups, individual users, and as favorite
queries (user favorites). The structure of the subtrees can be freely defined by the
administrator. For more information, see chapter 4.

Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Reporting Environment

BW 1.2B Report Development Tools
19

Business nformation Warehouse Reporting Environment
The Business Information Warehouse is an information hub for enterprise-wide use at all
hierarchical levels. From office workers to top executives, most of a companys employees
can access comprehensive, flexible, and powerful queries. The evaluations and analyses are
tailored to meet particular needs. Shown below is a typical BW landscape in an enterprise.

Business Explorer Business Explorer Business Explorer
Business
Information
Warehouse
Server
Business
Information
Warehouse
Server
R/3 OLTP
(different versions)
SAP
BW System
External
System
Data
File
Internet
Sales Manager Chief Financial Officer Operations Manager Field Sales Rep
Business Explorer

Workbooks in Channels and
Favorites can be accessed
using the BEx Browser.
You can view the workbooks
according to:

< Channels
< Channels assigned to
specific users
< User favorites
Note: Internet capabilities are available with Release 2.0 of the Business Information Warehouse
Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Reporting Environment

Reporting Made Easy
110
You analyze the data stored in the Business Information Warehouse by defining queries for
the InfoCubes. After a query has been created, the results are embedded into a workbook.
What s a Ouery?
A query is a data evaluation based on the selection of characteristics and key figures.
Queries can be configured according to the way you want to view and navigate through
data. Users define queries to analyze the data from an InfoCube. In chapter 3 you will learn
how to create a query in the Business Information Warehouse.
What s a Workbook?
A workbook is a multi-functional report in Microsoft Excel. Workbooks integrate data
output, graphical displays, and multi-functional queries, all with the spreadsheet
capabilities of Microsoft Excel (see sample workbook shown below). In the next chapter you
will learn how to create a workbook template in the Business Information Warehouse.



Integrates Business Explorer toolbar
Allows
presentation of
annotated
analysis of report
data

Incorporates
corporate logo or
other graphical
elements

Provides push-
buttons to
display another
worksheet of
other queries
Offers a graphical
view of the report
result.
Use the push-
buttons to drill
down.
Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Business Information Warehouse Reporting Environment

BW 1.2B Report Development Tools
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The graphic below shows the relationship between the Business Explorer and the Business
Information Warehouse server. Typically, the first step is to define a query in the Excel-
based BEx Analyzer. Once a query has been defined, the Meta Data Manager facilitates the
retrieval of meta data from the Meta Data Repository. The BEx Analyzer requests the data
from the query and presents the current view of the stored data. The query results are
presented in a workbook. Only the data that is currently required in the Business Explorer is
transferred from the InfoCube to the query. If a new data view is needed, the OLAP
processor retrieves the data from the InfoCube. The OLAP processor builds the query
from the InfoCube data and provides methods for navigating through the data in several
dimensions. The data from both the current and previous Business Explorer drilldown
always remains on the application server.

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BEx
Analyzer
BEx
Analyzer
Execute
Query Definition
Query Definition
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1
Meta Data Repository
Meta Data Manager
Meta Data Manager
2
3
4
InfoCube
OLAP Processor
OLAP Processor
5
6
InfoCatalog
Optional:
Store or
retrieve
workbook


Where Do We Go From Here?
This chapter presented an overview of reporting in a Business Information Warehouse
environment. To help build a good foundation for the material covered in subsequent
chapters, we introduced you to the BW architecture, concepts, and terminology. With the
help of a business example, you will learn how to use the Business Information Warehouse
to create a workbook in the next chapter.
Chapter 1: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse
Review

Reporting Made Easy
112
Review
< The Business Information Warehouse is an enterprise-wide information hub. It allows
you to analyze data from R/ 3 and non-SAP applications in an Excel-based user
interface.
< The Business Information Warehouse includes a relational data processor, automated
data extraction and staging tools, a preconfigured data repository, a user-friendly front-
end (the Business Explorer), and an Administrator Workbench.
< The Business Information Warehouse architecture has three layers:
Business Explorer: Reporting and analysis front-end for knowledge workers (top
layer).
Business Information Warehouse Server: Application layer to facilitate data storage
and retrieval (middle layer).
Source Systems: Data sources, including R/ 3 systems, non-SAP systems, data files,
and SAP BW systems (bottom layer).
< The Business Explorer has two components: BEx Browser (to organize workbooks into
channels and clusters) and BEx Analyzer (to create consumer, standard and ad hoc
reports).
< The Business Information Warehouse server components include:
Administrator Workbench: Serves as the BW control system.
Meta Data Repository: Contains business-related and technical meta data.
Staging Engine: Implements data mapping and transformation as a meta data
driven process.
InfoCube: Central data container where key figures and characteristics reside.
Operational Data Store (ODS): A central temporary store of requested data within
the BW system.
OLAP Processor: Analyzes summarized OLTP data.
< The Business Information Warehouse terminology includes the following:
InfoObject: Generic term for key figures and characteristics.
Business Content: Provides all the objects needed to extract and display OLTP data.
InfoSource: Set of logically associated information which can contain transaction
and master data.
Query: Data evaluation based on the selection of key figures and characteristics.
Workbook: Multi-functional report in Microsoft Excel where queries are
embedded.