Business content (BI Content aka BCT) activation procedure

Here's short procedure depicting sequence how to proceed with BI Content activation:

1. On BI side: Activate all characteristics and key figures.

2. Activate all DSO objects and cubes.

3. Activate all 7.0 and 3.5 version of Infosources (w/o transfer rules).

4. On ECC side: Activate all DataSources needed for you data flow. Moreover remap all LIS.

5. Back on BI side: Replicate all DataSources as newly activated in ECC.

6. Assign DataSources and transfer rules for BW 3.5 version objects.

7. Activate all update rules and transformations. As a precondition, make sure the include rs_bct_update_df is active.

8. Activate multiproviders, infosets and queries.

9. All data-staging-objects like DTPs, InfoPackages and ProcessChains need to be created manually for 7.0 Objects.

For more details see note 921118.

SAP BI Standard Application Benchmarks

A set of BI Standard Application Benchmarks is part of SAP's standard benchmarks focusing on measuring performance of SAP BI solutions. It does evaluate a “navigation steps per hour” mean moreover it maps those navigation steps to the hardware components (CPU, memory, disk size).

By term navigational step a user interactions to query are considered.

The results are presented in unit called "SAP Application Performance Standard (SAPS)" which is a hardware independent unit of measurement. 

There are 2 BI benchmarks which replaced obsolete “SAP Business Information Warehouse (SAP BW) benchmark” from Jan 2008 and now on:

• BI-MXL benchmark - Business Intelligence mixed load benchmark: this involves measuring of both: data loading and query activity; both executed in parallel. The key figure is the number of query navigation steps/hour. This benchmark is performed w/o BI Accelerator.
• BI-D benchmark - Business Intelligence data mart benchmark: BI system (data mart) contains a static snapshot of data. Users run queries on this data. The key figure is the number of query navigation steps/hour.

An old SAP Business Information Warehouse (SAP BW) benchmark comprised from 2 phases:

• Load – loading of Master and transactional Data from flat files (in case of TD data flow is through PSA->IC); afterward aggregates/indexes are built. Additionally flow through PSA->DSO->IC is performed as well. Measured and evaluated is Key figure called “Throughput of data in rows/hour”.
• Query – Reports is querying BI system with several drilldown actions across the data. Measured and evaluated is Key figure called “Number of query navigation steps/hour”.

There is an organization (within SAP) responsible for benchmarking called as SAP Benchmark Council. See all available benchmarks fitting SAP application here.

Enhancement Information System enabling

 

Are you looking for objects related to Enhancement Information System in TA SE80 and you cannot find it?

 

All you need to do is enable it in settings of SE80, menu: Utilities -> Settings -> tab strip Workbench.

SAP Business Suite 7 – a different approach to upgrades?

Last week SAP announced new version of its flagship software Business Suite 7. Basically it is nothing new here since it is comprises just of the latest releases of the core applications (SAP Enhancement package 4 for SAP ERP 6.0, SAP CRM 7.0, SAP SRM 7.0, SAP PLM 7.0, SAP SCM 7.0) and the SAP NetWeaver 7.0 as technology platform.

What is interesting here is a quit rush atmosphere spread around this announcement; particular in terms of “new modular design” that allows customer to deploy modules (Enhancement Packages) step-by-step mode without big pain; means e.g. having a Big5 consultancy as system integrator. This atmosphere is forced by SAP AG’s CEO Leo Apotheker expression while blaming Big5 companies about propagating negative SAP perception because sending shoddy consultants on their SAP implementation projects. So possibly this is a new way of SAP implementation/upgrade would be in future. Some CIOs (e.g. of Roche) had expressed already that new synchronized release schedule is good for them and times of millions $ budget for system integrators are gone (see more here).

Downloading SAP Cryptographic Software

You would need this kind of software while you enabling SSL for you BW reporting or any other stuff. There is a separated folder on OSS from where you can download it. Navigate via service.sap.com/swdc to SAP Software Distribution Center then to folder Download -> SAP Cryptographic Software

 

Basically what is contained in here is; is a version of SAPCryptoLib so called SAPSECULIB.

Note that you have to agree with Germany Export Control Regulation since this software is a subject to export control regulation in Germany as the country of origin.

- update 08/05/2014 –

SAP Cryptographic Library (SAPCRYPTOLIB) has been moved within download area. My location is:

service.sap.com/swdc -> Installations and Upgrades -> Browse our Download Catalog ->  SAP Cryptographic Software -> SAPCRYPTOLIB

Currently available is SAPCRYPTOLIB v 5.5.5 path level 36 (5^th of Aug 2014)

See Note “397175 - SAP Cryptographic software - export control” for details on downloading restrictions.

Transporting ALV layouts

There is a possibility how to transport ALV layouts across systems in landscape. However it is quite tricky to get to this functionality. Basically you need to be navigated in your ALV output screen then go via menu Settings -> Layout -> Manage …

On this screen choose layout you want to transport and select menu: Transport

Afterwords assign transport request and it is done.