SAP Network Blog: The new SAP NetWeaver BW 7.30 hierarchy framework

The new SAP NetWeaver BW 7.30 hierarchy framework

Serge Daniel Knapp / Company: SAP Deutschland AG & Co. KG

Introduction

If you remember older releases of SAP NetWeaver BW hierarchies could only be loaded through the old 3.x data flow. In this case you needed the so called direct update functionality of the corresponding InfoSource for uploading the hierarchy. This InfoSource 3.x was connected to an 3.x DataSource through update rules.

Limitations of 3.x data flow for hierarchies

This data flow has to be used in SAP NetWeaver BW 7.x, too, and could not be migrated to the new data flow. Consequently you always had to deal with two types of data flows in your system. Besides the heterogeneous aspect the 3.x data flow for hierarchies had a lot of disadvantages:

First, hierarchy DataSources were available only for flatfile and SAP source systems. Besides, end users could only create own hierarchy DataSources for the flat file system.

Second you could not take full advantage of the new data flow, even some old data flow features (e.g. the start routine) could not be used. Furthermore, to change the structure of hierarchies during runtime you had to implement complex scenarios (e.g. with the help of the analysis process designer APD). The direct update functionality didn't allow you to load the hierarchy to a DSO or an other arbitrary object and manipulate it according to the end users' needs.

Third, monitoring was often unclear because the framework was not optimal for segments.

The new BW 7.30 hierarchy framework

With SAP NetWeaver BW 7.30 the hierarchy framework has been improved, you could now use the 7.x data flow with all its advantages.

First you are able to use any BW object as source for a hierarchy, you are not limited to a DataSource for hierarchies. This leads to simpler scenarios if you want to transform your hierarchy according to your needs. You just have to connect your hierarchy through a transformation and a data transfer process.

Within this transformation you are able to use all features of a transformation, for example start, end or expert routines. You are not limited as you were in the 3.x data flow.

You can use any DataSource as a source for your hierarchy, you are not restricted to hierarchy DataSources any more. This makes hierarchy extraction of SAP source systems possible, too.

Last but not least you are now able to take full advantage of all capabilities of the new data flow. You can distribute the data loaded from one DataSource to several hierarchies and you can use an arbitrary number of InfoSources in between the DataSource and your hierarchy. A very useful feature is the automatic filling of the fields CHILDID, NEXTID and LEVEL through the framework if they are not filled by the source (e.g. if only the PARENTID is provided).

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SAP Network Blog: The new SAP NetWeaver BW 7.30 hierarchy framework

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