How To Use Copy Data Flow in SAP BW 7.3

How to Use Copy Data Flow in SAP
BW 7.3
Applies to:
SAP BW 3.x & SAP BI Net Weaver 2004s. For more information, visit the EDW homepage.
Summary
In BW 7.3 we are getting a very handy option of Copy Data Flow .We use this function to copy Data
Warehouse objects and processes belonging to a data flow or process chain. In the subsequent sections we
will try to understand in detail the functionality of Copy Data Flow and how to use the copy data Flow in BW
7.3.
Author:
Company:
Vikram Srivastava
Infosys Technologies Limited
Created on:
09 December 2010
Author Bio
Vikram Srivastava is working as a Technology Analyst with Infosys Technologies Limited. He
has got a rick experience on various BW Implementation/Support Projects in both SAP BW 3.5
and SAP BW 7.0.
SAP COMMUNITY NETWORK

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How to Use Copy Data Flow in SAP BW 7.3
Table of Contents
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
Step by Step approach to use copy Data Flow: ................................................................................................. 4
Step 1:Start ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Step 2: Template ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Step 3: Number of copies ................................................................................................................................... 7
Step 4: Objects that cannot be copied ................................................................................................................ 8
Step 5: Process Chains ...................................................................................................................................... 8
Step 6: Source Systems ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Point to remember for Copy Source Systems: ............................................................................................... 9
Step 7:DataSources .......................................................................................................................................... 11
Step 8:InfoProvider ........................................................................................................................................... 12
Point to remember for Copy InfoProvider: .................................................................................................... 14
Step 9:Transformations: ................................................................................................................................... 14
Point to remember for Copy Transformations: .............................................................................................. 15
Step 10:Directly Dependent Processes: ........................................................................................................... 15
Step 11 & 12:Indirectly Dependent Processes and Other Processes: ............................................................. 16
Step 13:End Process: ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Related Content ................................................................................................................................................ 19
Disclaimer and Liability Notice .......................................................................................................................... 20

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Introduction:
In BW 7.3 we are getting a very handy option of Copy Data Flow .We use this function to copy Data
Warehouse objects and processes belonging to a data flow or process chain. In the subsequent sections we
will try to understand in detail the functionality of Copy Data Flow and how to use the copy data Flow in BW
7.3.
The data flow copy supports various scenarios:
We can use a data flow or a process chain as a master template for other data flows or process chains.
We can take a data flow or process chain from BI Content, copy it and then modify the copy according to the
requirements.
We can take a data flow or process chain for one source system from BI Content and then copy it for the
other source systems we need.
We can copy a data flow or process chain that is dependent on source system A for source system B or
various other source systems we need.
We create the copies in the development system and transport them to the production system. After creating
a 1:1 copy. we can also create multiple copies (1:n copy) from a template. As the development system
generally contains fewer source systems - and different ones - than the production system, we can create
dummy source systems and use these for the copies.
In the production system, we then assign the dummy source systems to the target source systems as
original source systems. Unlike when assigning one original source system to multiple target source systems
in the production system, the simplification is made already in the development system when using a 1:n
copy with dummy source systems in the data flow copy. Instead of it being applied just to the source systemspecific objects, it is applied to non source-system specific objects in the data flow or process chain.

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Step by Step approach to use copy Data Flow:

We can divide the entire copy flow in 13 steps as shown below.
The step that the wizard actually displays depends on the data flow being copied i.e based on the data flow
we are copying we will get the steps in the wizard .This will become more clear as we will go ahead with this
article since the data flow being demonstrated will not need 13 steps to get copied completely.
The graphic below provides a complete overview of the possible wizard steps:

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Step 1:Start
Go to RSA1, right click in the data flow we want to copy. We will get the option of Copy Data Flow.
Click on copy Data Flow, we will get the below screen which gives us an option to select Upwards,
Downwards and Upwards and Downwards data flow to select for copy for the data flow.

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Once we select the data flow system performs a dependency analysis and gives us an option of collecting
DTP and InfoPackages of the data flow.
After this we come to the Data Flow copy wizard which allows us to collect and copy the objects (starting
from the chosen start objects) belonging to a data flow, or to collect and copy a process chain together with
its processes and objects.
For moving to next step, click on Continue.

Also as stated earlier at this point of time we come to know the actual number of steps that will be required to
copy this data flow. These numbers of steps will change on depending the flow which is being copied. E.g ,
in this demonstration we are getting below steps.
In order to get a complete understanding of copy data flow we will discuss all the 13 steps in this article.

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We can get the status of copy process by usual Traffic light signal used in BW.
Step 2: Template
If one or more copy processes already exist for the start object, we can select a copy process as a template
for the current one. The wizard then takes over various settings from the template, the number of copies for
example. SAP recommend using a template if we want to keep the target objects from the template in the
Step 3: Number of copies

In this step, we set the number of copies.
We can create multiple copies in a single copy process. In this step, we define the number of copies in this
copy process. If we want to create more than one copy, use placeholders for the technical names and
descriptions of the target objects in the subsequent steps. We define how to fill the placeholders for each
copy in the Number of Copies step. If the copies are created at the end of the copy process, the place
holders are replaced by the character strings defined in this step.

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Step 4: Objects that cannot be copied

Some objects cannot be copied with the wizard. If the data flow to be copied contains objects of this kind (3.x
objects for example), these are displayed in this step. In this step we will get the option of using the original
objects in the copy or of not using them at all.
If we want to copy a 3.x data flow, SAP recommends migrating the data flow first before starting the copy
process.
Step 5: Process Chains

If we want to copy the data flow from a process chain, the process chain we have selected will be displayed
here, together with its sub chains. We can copy whether to copy the sub chains together with the process
chain
In our scenario we didnt get Step 4 and 5 hence after clicking Continue we moved to Step 6.

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Step 6: Source Systems

In this step copy assignments for the source system will be done .We cannot copy source systems, but we
can define whether a source system from the original data flow for the copy should be assigned to another
source system.
Point to remember for Copy Source Systems:

Source systems cannot be created or changed for a copy. However, we can map a different source system
(as a target object) to a original source system and then copy DataSources between these source systems in
the next step. This also allows us to change the type of the source system, for example to create an identical
file DataSource for an ERP DataSource or to create a copy of the DataSource in a dummy of the original
system.
To do this, we need to select the copy type for every original object by clicking on the symbol in the column
Type and mapping a target object if required. Note the following:
The wizard only displays the possible copy types for the relevant original object.
New GUIDs are only created during copying.
For a 1:n copy: Use the placeholder & in the technical object name.

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For a 1:n copy: Use the placeholder &VAR& in descriptions.
The following additional functions are available in the wizard:
If the column Check Result (Column next to Target Object in the above Diagram) displays a yellow
or red traffic light, we can display errors and warnings by clicking on the column.
We can use the checkbox Display Technical Object Name to switch between the technical object
name and the object description.
Entries for original objects that are automatically mapped to a target object (where no user
interaction is possible or necessary) are hidden by default. We can use the checkbox Display
Unchangeable Rows to hide these entries.
If we want to go to the next step, all the errors and warnings of this step are displayed. If we have not
selected a valid copy type or a valid target object for an original object, this is evaluated as an error. Once we
have corrected the errors, we can continue with the next step. Point to be noted is that the warnings are not
displayed again when the copy process is completed in the last step.

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Step 7:DataSources
We can copy Data-Sources within a single source system or between different source systems. If the target
source system is an SAP system, the copy is created using metadata replication, if this Data-Source is in the
target system. It is otherwise not possible to copy.
Now we need to select the copy type for every original object by clicking on the symbol in the column Type
and mapping a target object if required. On clicking the copy type we will get the below option for the Input
Value of the copy type. We can choose the correct option based on our need for the copy flow.

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Then we can specify the target object name for both description and technical name. If we dont select any
input value for copy type by default system will take the Use Original option.
Step 8:InfoProvider
We can copy InfoProviders or map them to an existing InfoProvider. The InfoObjects used in the original
object are not copied over. For the target object mapping, it is therefore important to have as much
agreement as possible between the original object and the target object, in order to have an accurate copy of
the transformations.

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Now, same as above, we need to select the copy type for every original object by clicking on the symbol in
the column Type and mapping a target object if required. On clicking the copy type we will get the below
option for the Input Value of the copy type. We can choose the correct option based on our need for the copy
flow.
Then we can specify the target object name for both description and technical name. If we dont select any
input value for copy type by default system will take the Use Original option.

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Point to remember for Copy InfoProvider:
If we overwrite an existing InfoProvider, the target object is modified accordingly in order to avoid
data loss. So if we have removed fields from the original object, for example, this change is not
included in the overwrite.
The following applies to the existing target InfoProvider: We cannot overwrite an existing
InfoProvider, as data could be lost. Therefore the copy type Overwrite is not available. Instead
we can use the copy type Merge which only transfers compatible changes from the original
object to the target object. So if we have removed fields from the original object, for example,
this change is not included in the merge. However the fields that exist in the original object are
filled in the target object.
To move to next step, click on Continue.
Step 9:Transformations:
In this step Transformations of source will be copied. When copying transformations, individual rules are only
copied if their source and target fields are contained in the target objects
Select the copy type for every original object by clicking on the symbol in the column Type and mapping a
target object if required. On clicking the copy type we will get the below option for the Input Value of the copy
type. We can choose the correct option based on our need for the copy flow. Please note the difference in
the option for input vales that we get in Transformations.

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Point to remember for Copy Transformations:
When copying transformations, individual rules are only copied if their source and target fields are
contained in the target objects.
During the copy process, if a different object is used instead of the source or target of the original
transformation, it may be the case that an individual rule is not copied because the source field or
target field of this individual rule is missing.
The sequence of the steps from 7 to 9 i.e from Copy DataSource till Copy Transformations is
defined by the dependency relationship between the objects. As transformations are dependent on
their source and target objects, the steps for copying the possible source and target objects from
transformations (DataSources and InfoProviders) appear before the step for copying
transformations. Hence If we want to copy the source and target object of a transformation, the copy
of the transformation relates to the copy of the source and target object rather than the source and
target object of the original transformation.
Step 10:Directly Dependent Processes:

In this step, the processes are displayed that depend on an object of the data flow object. For example, the
activation of data in a DataStore object depends on a DataStore object.
If the data flow object in question was copied or mapped to another object, the references to the new data
flow object will be adjusted when the process is copied.

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Step 11 & 12:Indirectly Dependent Processes and Other Processes:

In these two steps if we perform the data flow copy for a process chain, make the copy settings for the
processes in the following step. The wizard distinguishes here between Directly Dependent Processes,
Indirectly Dependent Processes and Other Processes.
These steps are displayed if the corresponding processes are contained in the process chains selected for
the copy process. For copy processes starting from a data flow object, the Directly Dependent Processes
appears (as explained above) if we define in the wizard that InfoPackages and data transfer processes
should be included in the copy.
Step 13:End Process:

This is the last step of copy Process. All the mappings that we have made in the previous steps have been
saved with the copy process. To trigger the copy process in this step, press Finish.

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Now in order to trigger the copy process in this step, we need to click on Finish.
Once we click on Finish. We get a popup where we can define whether we want to run the copy process in
the background or in the Dialog.
If we select the Background option , we will get the below popup.

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In order to display the status of Data flow copy Process , click on Yes.
Again we can get the status of copy process by usual Traffic light indicator used in BW. Just before clicking
on Finish on the End Process we will get the below Status shown (RHS one) if everything of Copy Process is
correct till now.

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Related Content
www.help.sap.com
www.sdn.sap.com
www.service.sap.com

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Disclaimer and Liability Notice

This document may discuss sample coding or other information that does not include SAP official interfaces and therefore is not
supported by SAP. Changes made based on this information are not supported and can be overwritten during an upgrade.
SAP will not be held liable for any damages caused by using or misusing the information, code or methods suggested in this document,
and anyone using these methods does so at his/her own risk.
SAP offers no guarantees and assumes no responsibility or liability of any type with respect to the content of this technical article or
code sample, including any liability resulting from incompatibility between the content within this document and the materials and
services offered by SAP. You agree that you will not hold, or seek to hold, SAP responsible or liable with respect to the content of this
document.

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