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Data Warehouse
Data Warehouse is a dedicated reporting and analysis environment based on the star
schema database design technique and requiring special attention to the data ETTL
process.
DataSource
A DataSource is not only a structure in which source system fields are logically
grouped together, but also an object that contains ETTL-related information. Four
types of DataSources exist:
If the source system is R/3, replicating DataSources from a source system will create
identical DataSource structures in the BW system. The maximum number of
characters allowed for a DataSource's technical name is 32.
Delta update
The Delta update option in the InfoPackage definition requests BW to load only the
data that have been accumulated since the last update. Before a delta update occurs,
the delta process must be initialized.
Development class
A development class is a group of objects that are logically related.
Display attribute
A display attribute provides supplemental information to a characteristic.
Drill-down
Drill-down is a user navigation step intended to get further detailed information.
ETTL
ETTL, one of the most challenging tasks in building a data warehouse, is the process
of extracting, transforming, transferring, and loading data correctly and quickly.
Free characteristic
A free characteristic is a characteristic in a query used for drill-downs. It is not
displayed in the initial result of a query run.
Full update
The Full update option in the InfoPackage definition requests BW to load all data that
meet the selection criteria specified via the Select data tab.
Generic data extraction
Generic data extraction is a function in Business Content that allows us to create
DataSources based on database views or InfoSet queries. InfoSet is similar to a view
but allows outer joins between tables.
Granularity
Granularity describes the level of detail in a data warehouse. It is determined by
business requirements and technology capabilities.
IDoc
IDoc (Intermediate Document) is used in SAP to transfer data between two systems.
It is a specific instance of a data structure called the IDoc Type, whose processing
logic is defined in the IDoc Interface.
Index
An index is a technique used to locate needed records in a database table quickly. BW
uses two types of indices: B-tree indices for regular database tables and bitmap
indices for fact tables and aggregate tables.
InfoArea
InfoAreas are used to organize InfoCubes and InfoObjects. Each InfoCube is assigned
to an InfoArea. Through an InfoObject Catalog, each InfoObject is assigned to an
InfoArea as well. The maximum number of characters allowed for the technical name
is 30.
InfoCube
An InfoCube is a fact table and its associated dimension tables in the star schema.
The maximum number of characters allowed for the technical name is 30.
InfoCube compression
InfoCube compression is a procedure used to aggregate multiple data loads at the
request level.
InfoObject
In BW, key figures and characteristics are collectively called InfoObjects.
InfoObject Catalog
InfoObject Catalogs organize InfoObjects. Two types of InfoObject Catalogs exist:
one for characteristics, and one for key figures. The maximum number of characters
allowed for the technical name is 30.
InfoPackage
An InfoPackage specifies when and how to load data from a given source system.
BW generates a 30-digit code starting with ZPAK as an InfoPackage's technical
name.
InfoSource
An InfoSource is a structure in which InfoObjects are logically grouped together.
InfoCubes and characteristics interact with InfoSources to get source system data.
The maximum number of characters allowed for the technical name is 32.
Key figure
Key figures are numeric values or quantities, such as Per Unit Sales Price, Quantity
Sold, and Sales Revenue. The maximum number of characters allowed for the
technical name is 9.
Line item dimension
A line item dimension in a fact table connects directly with the SID table of its sole
characteristic.
Logical system
A logical system is the name of a client in an SAP system.
Multi-cube
A multi-cube is a union of basic cubes. The multi-cube itself does not contain any
data; rather, data reside in the basic cubes. To a user, the multi-cube is similar to a
basic cube. When creating a query, the user can select characteristics and key figures
from different basic cubes.
Navigational attribute
A navigational attribute indicates a characteristic-to-characteristic relationship
between two characteristics. It provides supplemental information about a
characteristic and enables navigation from characteristic to characteristic during a
query.
Number range
A number range is a range of numbers that resides in application server memory for
quick number assignments.
ODS
RFC (Remote Function Call) is a call to a function module in a system different from
the caller'susually another SAP system on the local network.
Role
In Profile Generator, an authorization profile corresponds to a role. A user assigned to
that role also has the corresponding authorization profile. A user can be assigned to
multiple roles. The maximum number of characters allowed for the technical name is
30.
SID
SID (Surrogate-ID) translates a potentially long key for an InfoObject into a short
four-byte integer, which saves I/O and memory during OLAP.
Source system
A source system is a protocol that BW uses to find and extract data. When the source
system is a non-SAP system, such as a flat file or a third-party tool, the maximum
number of characters allowed for the technical name is 10. When the source system is
an SAP system, either R/3 or BW, the technical name matches the logical system
name. The maximum number of characters allowed for the technical name is 32.
Star schema
A star schema is a technique used in the data warehouse database design to help data
retrieval for online analytical processing.
Statistics
For a SQL statement, many execution plans are possible. The database optimizer
generates the most efficient execution plan based on either the heuristic ranking of
available execution plans or the cost calculation of available execution plans.
Statistics is the information that the cost-based optimizer uses to calculate the cost of
available execution plans and select the most appropriate one for execution. BW uses
the cost-base optimizer for Oracle databases.
System Administration Assistant
System Administration Assistant is a collection of tools used to monitor and analyze
general system operation conditions.
System landscape
The system landscape specifies the role of each system and the paths used in
transporting objects among the various systems.
Time-dependent entire hierarchy
A time-dependent entire hierarchy is a time-dependent hierarchy whose nodes and
leaves are not time-dependent.