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Data Reporting Documentation
Data Reporting Documentation
We know that with the use of Information Modeling feature in SAP HANA, we can create
different Information views Attribute Views, Analytic Views, Calculation views. These Views
can be consumed by different reporting tools like SAP Business Object, SAP Lumira, Design
Studio, Office Analysis and even third party tool like MS Excel.
These reporting tools enable Business Managers, Analysts, Sales Managers and senior
management employees to analyze the historic information to create business scenarios and to
decide business strategy of the company.
This generates the need for consuming HANA Modeling views by different reporting tools and
to generate reports and dashboards, which are easy to understand for end users.
Different reporting tools that are certified to be connected to SAP HANA Database (models and
tables) from SAP and the languages and client drivers it uses to interact with the database
system.
The above image shows three different layers for apart from SAP HANA, they are
1. Interaction Language
2. Connecting Drivers
3. Reporting Tools
Interaction Languages:
These are the languages in which the reporting tools sends the queries to Database platform
whenever reports are executed.
MDX:
This is the language used by reporting tools to access data from multi dimension objects in
database environment.
In our case, only MS Office uses this language to access get the data from SAP HANA. That’s
the reason it is the only the reporting tool that can access hierarchies from SAP HANA.
SQL:
This is standard database language that is used across all the platforms to access data from
database platform.
In our case, all the reporting tools that connects to SAP HANA using either ODBC or JDBC
drivers uses SQL as interaction language to send the queries.
SQLDBC:
This is the interaction language used by reporting tools when it connects to database platform
using BICS connection.
Connecting Drivers:
These are the objects used to establish the connection with database platforms like SAP HANA
and send the queries back to the system to get the data out.
Microsoft built driver for multi-dimensional reporting and request are sent using MDX (Multi
Dimension Expression) language to the database platform.
In our case, MS Excel uses ODBO driver and MDX language to interact with SAP HANA
system.
ODBC:
It stands for Open DataBase Connectivity built for relation reporting and uses SQL language to
interact with database platform.
It is widely adopted in the industry and we do have ODBC drivers for other platform like
LINUX and UNIX.
JDBC:
It stands for Java DataBase Connectivity built for relational reporting from Java community
which uses SQL as interaction language to send queries to the database platform.
BICS:
It stands for BI Consumer Services which is SAP proprietary diver that offers advantages for
OLAP access over MDX for multi-dimensional reporting.
This uses SQLDBC as interaction language to send queries to the database platform.
Reporting Tools:
Now let’s look at the overview of different reporting tools.
MS Excel:
Microsoft Excel has the powerful reporting inbuilt options available and one of them being
quickly build the reports using pivot tables and charts.
We can use MS Excel to connect to HANA using ODBO driver and MDX interaction
language. MS Excel is the only reporting tool that can access hierarchies built in SAP HANA
as it uses MDX as interaction language.
The other thing with MS Excel is we can only access the SAP HANA models that has the
property as ‘Cube’ in semantics (like Analytic Views and Calculation Views), however we
cannot access attribute views using MS Excel.
Business scenario:
Connection.
.
Click on ok.
Click on ok.
Here we see different packages. Those packages can be seen in sap hana.
Go back to sap hana.
Expand bestexpand contentselect any one packageexpand that
packageselect one view
Go back to excel.
Select one packageselect one analytic viewclick on next.
Click on finish.
Click on ok.
Here we see values and attributes.
Like this, select which one do you want to see selects those fields like gross
revenue.
Here we see gross revenue based on different company codes.
Lumira:
SAP Lumira is a self-service solution that allows analysts and decision makers to access,
transform, and visualize data.
SAP Lumira can be connected to HANA using BICS connection and SQLDBC as interaction
language.
With this we have seen different reporting tools and their connectivity options available on top of
SAP HANA and how they will be interacted with the system. In the upcoming articles let’s look
at each one of these reporting tools in details and how to create reports using them.
Lumira is one tool which rich visualization. Lumira can work as software as a
service and also on premise.
Click on startClick on all programsclick on sap business intelligenceunder
this click on sap lumira-under this click on sap lumira.
In order to, connect to sap hana.
It will show you all the HANA Modeling Views that have been recently used.
Click the Next command button after selecting the option "Connect to SAP
HANA". This will allow you to access the data in read mode and you can
visualize the data in the form of charts.
You should know the details of HANA system i.e. Host Name, Port Number, User
Name and Password.
Using sap hana data acquisition connector we can connect to sap hana.
User as best
Password as welcome123
Click on connect
Search our package and select our viewclick on create
Select Measures and Dimensions you want to add to the data set and click
the Create option.
Here we drag and dropping the company code, revenue, maktx and netrevenue.
I would like to see this data in different ways. That’s I am using different charts,
table etc.
diagram
Another example, we select donut chart. We see output in donut chart.
We can also see in heat map also. The output will be seen in heat map model.
Another example, here we take crosstab. The data will be display in crosstab
model.
Here how data will be seen in graphical representation. Data can be seen in
different ways like pie chart, cross tab, heat map, etc.
Analysis Office Edition for OLAP:
SAP Business Objects Analysis edition for OLAP (formerly Voyager) is an online analytical
processing (OLAP) tool for working with multi-dimensional data.
It provides access to a range of OLAP data sources, and can also combine information from
different OLAP data sources within a single workspace.
Analysis office for OLAP tool connects to SAP HANA using BICS connection and SQLDBC as
interaction language.
1. Relational connection
2. OLAP connection
1. Relational connection:
In relational connection when we create .CNS or .CNX are extensions.CNX are local
extension and .CNS are secure extension.
Universe is combination of “Data foundation” and “Business layer “and universe extension is
.CNX.
2. OLAP Connection:
Click on startclick on sap business intelligence click on sap business objects bi platform 4
clientclick on information design tool.
In system, click on down list buttonclick on insert session.
Click on ok.
Expand systemright click on connections.
Click next.
Expand saphere we see olap sources (sap BW & sap hana)
Click on close.
Double click on sap business object bi platform java bi launch pad (or) copy the URL and paste
in Google.
Right click on SAP Business Object BI platform Java BI Launch padclick on properties.
Click on logon.
Click on applicationsunder this click on analysis edition for OLAP
Double click on our view. Here we are not seen the technical names.
This is analysis 1.
We can create multiple analysis also.
For example,
Click on insert.
Drag and drop year into rows & drag and drop measure into column.
Now we can select what are the years you could be display.
Click on ok.
Now you see your selected years in analysis 1.
Expand the attribute yearunder this expand yearunder this expand favorite filtersnow you
see variant (year_1, 2, 3).
Suppose if you don’t want to filter in frontend we want to create a variable that restrict data at
runtime of the query. In such a scenario, we go to prompts.
Click on validate.
Filter is used to transfer the entire data in the front end then we need to filter.
Click on prompts.
Click on validate.
SAP Crystal Reports 2011/2013 is a Windows-based report design tool used to create powerful
reports with crystal clean pixel quality and format that can be published in the SAP Business
Objects Business Intelligence platform.
Crystal Reports 2011/2013 can be directly connected to SAP HANA system using either JDBC
or ODBC and uses SQL as interaction language.
CRE is mainly for formatted reports using in OLAP Connection we can connect to SAP
HANA.
Click on c drive.
Click on shortcuts.
Enter details
Name: saphana_cre
Server: saphana
Instance number: 00
Click on connect
Click on username: best
Password: welcome123
Click on ok
Search our package in search box but it takes long time. So you have another way is shown in
below.Select particular packageexpand the packageselect viewclick on ok
Go back to sap crystal report enterprise.
It shows previous connection, or would we like to use sap business objects BI platform and
connection by vendor.
I want to connect hana view, so click on browse repository which is under sap business objects
BI platform.
Click on add.
Enter connection display name as GNS.
Now we see another dialogue box as Test connection. Enter user name as best and password as
welcome123.click on ok.
Click on ok.
Just drag and drop required objects. Whatever objects you may require just drag and drop.
For example, drag and drop the company code, customer and revenue.
Click on refresh
Remove these company code and customer.
If you want to see object data preview then right click on object and select data preview.
Here we see the data of object company codeclick on close
Like above we can see customer data preview also.
So just drag and drop the objects that you want to require.
Click on refresh
SAP Business Objects Design Studio enables application designers to create analysis
applications and dashboards – based on SAP NetWeaver BW, SAP HANA and universe data
sources – for browsers and mobile devices (iPads, for example).
It is the product of choice when full support for SAP NetWeaver BW and SAP HANA data
models and engine capabilities is required.
The product offers a design tool that allows you to create applications easily and intuitively
without the need for native HTML and iPad UI programming skills.
Design Studio can be directly connected to SAP HANA using BICS connection and SQLDBC
language.
Design studio are run’s in HTML5.HTML5 is the runtime for the DS in order to create our
own apps based on mobile.
Description: HANA
Click on connect
Click on ok
Connection is successfully completed.
click on ok.
Click on ok.
Click on ok.
Once we click on ok the data source is accessed the view from sap hana
Under data source select the data sourceright click on itselect edit initial view
It displays a chart.
Suppose if you want to create dimension filter.
If you set to a mobile device then click on send to mobile device (qr code)
Click on ok
Click on excute locally
It gives view
Click on company code
Click on apply.
It change result according to required.
You can save the application as save as. It creates a design studio application. Click on
applicationclick on save as<--click on save
Explorer:
Explorer connects to SAP HANA directly using JDBC driver and SQL interaction language.
JDBC connection will connect explorer and hana. JDBC is connected in IDT.
We access these information views at information spaces. Once, we launch explorer we create
information space.
password as welcome123
click on ok.
Expand systemright click on connectionselect relational connection.
Enter resource name and description click on next.
when we create a connection we need to create a connection a jdbc connection.
explorer need explicitly jdbc connection to connect explorer and hana and access this in inside
the explorer.
password as welcome123
click on finish.
Refresh the connection.
Click on shortcuts.
Click on sap bobi platform java bi launch pad right click on itclick on properties.
Here copy the link.
It’s uploaded
You see our excel file data like company code, sales order, material and customer.
For example, a user wants to see certain attributes and so on. Then create view set at top of
information view.
Information views are nothing but the subset of main information spaces.
Click on home.
Click on filter.
Click on company code.
Click on done
It displays only filter objects. So, if you want to add more then click on add filter
Click on table
Click on ok
When you click on ok then you see this graphical view.
Click on vv010
Click on save as
In keyword, here we give one keyword for quick search like ccfav
Click on ok
So views are created
Click on copy URL for further using we use notepadpaste the url
This is my excel file want to search ccm2000.i remember the company code (ccm2000) but I
forget exploration view name then I go to this way.
Just I will type the company code on searchclick on search
Once we select this view. We see all author, link, description and last indexed.
Once click on company code
SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence is an ad-hoc reporting tool for business users with access
to the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform.
It allows business users to access and combine data from relational, online analytical processing
(OLAP), spreadsheet, or text file sources, using familiar business terms in a drag-and-drop
interface.
Workflows allow very broad or very narrow questions to be answered, and for further questions
to be asked at any point in the workflow.
Web-intelligence cannot directly connect to SAP HANA as of now and needs universe to
available on top of SAP HANA model. Universes are created using Information Design Tool
(IDT)
It’s predicted that in the coming versions of SAP BOBI, we might be able to connect web
intelligence to SAP HANA directly.
1. Connections
2. Universes
Connections: connections are of two types. Those are secure and local.
Here we see relational connections. These relational connections are type of local.
Password as welcome123
Instance number as 00
Click on close.
Click on finish.
Password as welcome123
Instance number as 00
Click on close.
Expand connection. Scroll down till found your created connection.
This connection (sec_webii) is already published. But local connection (local_webi) is not
published. It’s on local file system.
If we want to publish local connection then click on local connectionright click on itclick on
publish connection to repository.
Local connection should be used for hana business layer. First we need to create local and then
we publish secure connection.
Provide business layer name and data foundation name. Click on next
Hana business layer can create only local connection.
In sap hana studio, we already created data foundation. We just access the universe.
This connection is already created. That’s why it asking do you want overwrite it? <--Click on
yes.
Here connection is successfully published. Click on yes.
The use of repository is we can access the web intelligence. In order to access click on
repository.
Click on connections.
Click on change connection.
Click on save.
Now publish the business layer.
Click on next.
Click on finish.
Click on close.
Select connectionright click on itselect refresh folder for seeing our secure connection.
Go to startclick on computer.
Select c drive.
Double click on shortcut folder.
Select SAP Business Objects BI platform Java BI launch padright click on itselect
properties.
Copy the URL.
Select whatever columns you want to require. Drag and drop the columns.
Dashboards:
SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards (formerly Xcelsius) is a tool for data visualization and the
creation of dynamic, interactive and flashy dashboards.
Data can be updated dynamically from the SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform,
and exported to a variety of different formats that can be viewed by data consumers in standard
formats, such as PowerPoint, PDF, or Flash.
Dashboards cannot be directly connected to SAP HANA as of now and needs a universe on top
of SAP HANA model. Universes are created using Information Design Tool (IDT)
A. Packages
B. Column Tables
C. Synonyms
D. Information Models
Answer: B, D
2. Which of the following must you do in order to use SAP BusinessObjects Explorer on SAP
HANA data? (Choose two)
4. You have created an MS Excel report on SAP HANA data. On which of the following could
you store the Excel file and make it available for other users?
5. A company wants to use SAP BusinessObjects reporting tools. They cannot use Adobe Flash.
They require scheduled, ready-made reports. Which reporting tool do you recommend? (Choose
two)
A. Dashboards
B. Web Intelligence
C. Explorer
D. Crystal Reports
Answer: B, D
6. A customer wants to report on large amounts of SAP HANA data. The users want to drill from
the top aggregation level to the lowest granularity and try different types of graphical
representations of the data on the fly. Which SAP BusinessObjects reporting tool would you
recommend?
7. When you create a report in SAP BusinessObjects you notice that some columns of your SAP
HANA information model are not available in the report. How can you make the columns
available? (Choose two)
8. To connect Microsoft Excel to HANA Modeling views, which of the below can be used for
direct connectivity to create reports?
A. MDX Provider
B. SQL Provider
C. XS Engine
D. Name Server
Answer: A
9. Which of these reporting tools can consume hierarchies created in SAP HANA?
There are 3 correct answers to this question
A. SAP Crystal Reports for Enterprise
B. SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office
C. SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence
D. SAP BusinessObjects Design Studio
E. SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards
Answer: A, D, E
10. Which of the following connections is used for reporting in Microsoft Excel via the SAP
HANA MDX provider? Please choose the correct answer.
A. ODBC
B. JDBC
C. BICS
D. ODBO
Answer: D
11. Which tool do you use to develop HTML5 analytic applications that Employ advanced
scripting capabilities Offer direct connectivity to SAP HANA content Use an Eclipse based
authoring environment? Please choose the correct answer.
12. You want to add a calculated column to an SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence report.
In which application do you create the calculation to achieve best report performance?
13. Which connection method that is listed on the left can you use with the tools that are
available in the dropdown box on the right?
A. RFC
B. ODBC/JDBC
C. BICS
D. ODBO
Answer: A, B, C, D
14. Which SAP BusinessObjects reporting tool should you use to answer ad-hoc questions and
interact with shared information?
A. Crystal Reports
B. Dashboards
C. Explorer
D. Web Intelligence
Answer: D
15. Which connectivity options can you use to create a SAP BusinessObjects Universe on SAP
HANA? (Choose two)
A. OLAP connection using MDX
B. Relational connection using BICS
C. Relational connection using ODBC
D. Relational connection using MDX
E. Relational connection using JDBC
Answer: C, E
16. You want to report on data from SAP HANA using MS Excel. How can you achieve this?
(Choose two)
17. How can you improve the performance of a report that is based on SAP HANA data?
(Choose two)
A. Ensure that all SAP HANA tables are in the same schema.
B. Maintain appropriate constraint filters in SAP HANA.
C. Ensure that all calculations are pushed down to the SAP HANA database.
D. Gather new database statistics.
Answer: B, C
18. You need to run a Web Intelligence report that requires data from SAP HANA filtered for a
specific year based on ad hoc user input. For best performance, how would you achieve this?
SAP BOBI 4.1, SAP provides a new option "SAP HANA Business Layer" while
creating the universe using Information Design tool.
Before SAP BOBI 4.1 version, we need to create a derived table while
building data foundation and map the variable and input parameters.
SAP HANA Business Layer automatically creates a data foundation and
business layer based on selected SAP HANA Views.
SAP HANA Business Layer automatically detects the input parameter and
variables.
SAP Crystal Report help us to design, explore, visualize and provide report, which
can be run on web or enterprises applications. With SAP Crystal Report we can
create simple report or complex report.
Crystal report is a window based report writer that enables the programmer to
make reports from different data sources with a minimum of written code. Crystal
report can access data from various data-bases and can synchronize data from
multiple databases into a single report.
Yes, it is possible to create your own formulas in Crystal reports. For that from
insert menu item choose “Formula Field”. Write the formula in “Formula Editor”,
here you will see “Function Tree” , “Field Tree” , “Operator Tree” which will show
the report fields, functions supported by crystal reports, operators etc.
10. Mention what is the difference between OLAP and Data Mining?
OLAP: OLAP stands for Online Analytical Processing it is a reporting tool configured
to understand your database schema, dimensions and composition facts
SAP Lumira is new software by SAP to Analyze and Visualize data. By SAP Lumira
user can create a beautiful and interactive map, infograph, and charts. SAP Lumira
can import data from Excel, and other source.
SAP Lumira can access information view of SAP HANA directly. SAP HANA Perform
visual BI analysis using dashboard.
We can access only SAP HANA information view which has a property as 'CUBE' in
semantic, so we cannot access attribute view by MS Excel.
Relational Connection – To access data from a table and access regular RDBMS use
Relational Connection.
OLAP Connection – To access data from the application (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, SAP
BO) and data stored in Cube / Information View use OLAP connection.
15. What are Reporting Tools?
Web Intelligence and Crystal Reports are most common BI tools that are used for
reporting. WebI uses a semantic layer called Universe to connect to data source and
these Universes are used for reporting in tool. These Universes are designed with
the help of Universe design tool UDT or with Information Design tool IDT. IDT
supports multisource enabled data source. However, UDT only supports Single
source.
Main tools that are used for designing interactive dashboards- Design Studio and
Dashboard Designer. Design Studio is future tool for designing dashboard, which
consumes HANA views via BI consumer Service BICS connection. Dashboard design
(xcelsius) uses IDT to consume schemas in HANA database with a Relational or
OLAP connection.
SAP Lumira has an inbuilt feature of directly connecting or loading data from HANA
database. HANA views can be directly consumed in Lumira for visualization and
creating stories.
The idea is basically if you need to access data from a table or a conventional
database then your connection should be a relational connection but if your
source is an application and data is stored in cube (multidimensional like Info
cubes, Information models) then you would use an OLAP connection.
In Information design tool (IDT), you can create a relational connection to an SAP
HANA view or table using JDBC or ODBC drivers and build a Universe using this
connection to provide access to client tools like Dashboards and Web Intelligence as
shown in above picture.
You can create a direct connection to SAP HANA using JDBC or ODBC drivers
18. Mention what is the difference between OLAP and Data Mining?
OLAP: OLAP stands for Online Analytical Processing it is a reporting tool configured
to understand your database schema, dimensions and composition facts
Bex means Business Explorer. It allows end user to locate reports, analyze
information, view reports and can execute queries. The queries in workbook can be
saved to their respective roles in the Bex browser. It has following components Bex
analyzer, Bex Map and Bex web.
Analysis for Office is nothing but an SAP Business Objects adds on for MS Excel and
MS PowerPoint. The Excel add on is used in some scenarios by end users
occasionally but the PowerPoint plug-in is rarely used.
21. What is Business objects analysis for olap reporting with hana?
Universes are a middle layer between certain sources (SAP HANA in our case) and
some Business objects reporting tools. These are the tools that do not have direct
connectivity via standard connections to SAP HANA sources. SAP Web Intelligence is
a tool which was highly dependent on SAP Business Objects Universe as a middle
layer when connecting to SAP HANA. This is because Web Intelligence (Commonly
called WebI) had no native connectivity options to SAP HANA until the latest
version. But with the advent of Business Objects 4.1 SP3 (Service Pack 3), even SAP
Web Intelligence also connects directly to SAP HANA eliminating the need for
universes as a middle layer completely.
SAP Business Objects Explorer was also one of the first tools to be optimized with
SAP HANA. It also comes bundled with the SAP Business Objects license, adding to
the customer’s joy.
In recent times, SAP Lumira has surpassed SAP Business Objects Explorer as the
prime data exploration tool. Lumira is leaps and bounds more powerful in this
regard. But it requires a separate license, which may be a concern for some
customers. Anyways, Lumira is a separate tutorial. Let’s deal with Explorer for now.
26. If Net Weaver BW can be run on IMDB/HANA, why can't the Business Suite/ERP 6.0
is run too?
This is because it's not mature enough to support business critical applications.
From a technology perspective, it is anyways possible to run the Business Suite on
IMDB and SAP has trialed moving some large databases into IMDB already.
MDX Provider is used to connect MS Excel to SAP HANA database system. It provides
driver to connect HANA system to Excel and is further used for data modelling. You can
use Microsoft Office Excel 2010/2013 for connectivity with HANA for both 32 bit and
64 bit Windows.
ERR0RS:
Error 1: When a try to connect with Browse in crystal report getting the error below.
Then click on add repositories enter GNS and give credentials like BEST Welcome123 then you
can select server like
Below screen then you can start your work
Error2: Crystal Report Error
Having error for Crystal Report 2011 and Crystal Report Enterprise 4 on workstation machine.
Crystal 2011: When ever trying to execute the report gettimg the script error instead of parameter
screens.
Crystal Enterprise 4.0: when trying to modify or add some object to the report received the error.
Done the clean installation by deleting all the entries from registry but still having the same
issue. It was working fine before upgrading to SAP GUI 7.3.
Solution:
Regarding c4e error, try updating data source and see if there are unmapped fields. If any
unmapped fields are there, fix it. If you are having sub-reports, update data source of it, by
saving it separately and re add to main report.
Error 3: getting the following error while opening an existing crystal report
The data source is invalid:'[]
<com.businessobjects.semanticlayer.qt.internal.QTInternalException:
Query script generation failed. {0} (WIS 00013)>'. Please contact the maintainer of the data
source to
The server is SBOP BI Platform 4.0 SP6,
The crystal reports I am trying to access are part of SAP provided standard RDS reports, which
came as a packaged LCMBIAR file. Not sure as to what the error is. This package contains other
WEBI reports which are having no problems while accessing.
All the reports are based on data coming from SAP HANA DB.
Solution: Install HANA Client on BI 4.0 Server and BI 4.0 Client Desktops
1. Download the exact HANA client installer revision which matches the revision number
of the HANA server BI4 will be connecting to. eg: use HANA Client 1.0 Revision 12 or
latest to connect to HANA 1.0 SP2 server (HANA server GA version) or Revision 21 or
latest to connect to HANA 1.0 SPS3.
2. Run the HANA 64-bit Client installer on the BI 4.0 server (JDBC, 64 bit ODBC and
other drivers are also installed)
3. If you are publishing HANA Crystal Reports 20xx reports, also run the HANA 32-bit
Client installer on the BI 4.0 server
4. Run the HANA 32-bit Client installer on each BI 4.0 client/designer machine (JDBC, 32
bit ODBC and other drivers are also installed)
2. Locate the JDBC driver file: ngdbc.jar (the jar files in both the 32-bit and 64-bit client
install are identical, for the exact same HANA Client revision level)
Server Side Steps - JDBC configuration
BI4 connection server (Server Step 1)
Solution: for SP10 the prerequisite is SP5 R52 on the HANA side as one of the potential root
causes
Error 4:
Having a Lumira desktop trial version and trying to connect to HCP Trial Account Database
from the same.
Triying to open the Database Tunnel and used the option of acquiring data set using connection
to HANA one. Parameters used where are the local host, user and the dynamic password when
the tunnel is opened, as shown in some of the weblogs.
Lumira fails to connect, stating, unable to connect to local host.
Solution: