Showing posts with label BW history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BW history. Show all posts

Saturday, December 19, 2020

SAP Business Warehouse 7.5

Update: a successor of BW 7.5 is being replaced by SAP BW/4HANA as it is not a legal successor of the BW rather it should be seen as a new product.

BW of version 7.5 was released 12.10.2015 and it is last release of the BW on any DB. By this version, the BW as classic one was discontinued. The product remains in maintenance mode as aligned with the maintenance strategy of NetWeaver 7.5 with end of mainstream maintenance set to 31.12.2027.

Below are enhancements delivered with the BW version 7.5:

 

·        All existing Planning Add-On´s based on SAP BW 7.40 are merged into SAP BW 7.50

·        Co-Existence of the Standard and the Embedded Planning Model

·        Planning application kit (PAK) feature completeness with BW-IP

·        PAK enablement of external Aggregation Level

·        Enhanced FOX productivity, usability and modularization

·        Enable InfoObjects as reference data

·        Access to InfoProvider of type DSO and planning on aDSO

 

·        Composite Provider (ComPro):

·        ComPro based on planning InfoCubes

·        Easy creation process

·        Conversion of existing MultiProviderand “old” ComPro

·        InfoArea Assignment

·        Semantic grouping of output structures

 

·        New SAP (HANA) Source System available

• New ability to leverage SAP HANA Smart Data Integration as provisioning technology

• Using SDI Adapter in SAP BW

• Simplified and unified source system connection to SDI, SDA and local HANA sources with the HANA Source system in BW

 

·        SAP HANA Smart Data Integration for SAP BW

·        Adding real-time streaming for various sources

·        Extends SAP HANA‘s Smart Data Access capabilities with new source adapters (Twitter, OData, File)

·        Supports direct access, (real time) replication and ETL for nearly any source

·        NLS support for aDSO with active tables*

·        Reporting value help (F4) can display posted values from near-line storage for aDSO

·        ComPro can use aDSO Objects with NLS in specific join scenarios

·        BW process type to create Database Statistics for NLS accesses (via Virtual Tables)

 

·        Transition to new BW on HANA objects (tool to transfer ComPro and aDSO):

·        Transfer existing data flows with traditional models into new BW on HANA optimized objects

·        Object copy (1:1, no data) of InfoCubes and DSO into aDSO

·        MultiProvider transfer/copy into ComPro

·        Generating copies of data flow objects, DTPs and Transformations

·        Collecting all necessary objects to rebuild the data flow downwards from a starting object

 

·        BW-Modeling Tools in Eclipse - BW Query Designer in Eclipse

·        Compatible with existing BExQueries –no migration/conversion required

·        Covers all BExQuery Designer functionality –plus extensions

·        HANA View Generation

·        Integrated Query Preview

·        New HANA Exit Variable via AMDP available

·        New Simplified formula editor (IF Operator)

·        Separate editor for Restricted Key Figures, Calculated Key Figures, Global Structures and Global Filters (feature complete with BW 7.5 SP1)

 

·        BW-Modeling Tools in Eclipse – InfoObject Maintenance in Eclipse

·        Covers all InfoObject functionality in a simplified maintenance

·        Support for INT8 Key Figures (overcome 2 billion limitation for integer values)

·        Enhanced Master Data Preview

·        Time characteristics as attributes for 0DATE, 0FISCPER, etc.

·        Disable Display Attributes in reference InfoObject

 

·        Automated generation of HANA Models

·        Enhancements for BW Queries

o   Support of Display Hierarchies (Pilot)

o   Availability of new HANA exit variable as AMDP

o   Support of IF THEN ELSE Formula Operator

o   Support of SAP Exit variables: 0CMONTH, 0CWEEK, 0CYEAR, 0CQUART, 0DAT

·        Enhancements for InfoObjects

o   BW Hierarchies are now includedfor the master data and master data provider

o   HANA view the XXL Attributes included in generated master data view

·        Enhancement for ComPro/aDSO

o   Usage of BW pruning information (meta data based) in generated views

o   Near-Line Storage access optimization for SAP IQ

 

·        UI5 based Monitoring

o   T-code BW4WEB - BW/4 COCKPIT

 

·        New settings for aDSO objects:

·        Extended non cumulative handling

·        Additional HANA Dynamic Tiering support for aDSO with Activation and Change Log set

·        Planning support for aDSO with “all characteristics are key, reporting on union” property set

·        Tool support for transfer existing objects to aDSO

·        Near-Line Storage support for various aDSO types

 

·        New settings for BW Search

 

·        New SAP Source System types on SAP BW on HANA (ODP Data Replication, Big Data or SAP HANA source system, File System (Manual Metadata, Data Using File Interface))

 

As of BW 7.5 SAP makes migration to SAP BW/4HANA easier as in this version customers can start with converting BW system to BW/4HANA as the system enables switched to several modes (compatibility/B4H/Ready for conversion). See more details about converting the BW to bw4han SAP BW/4HANA here.

The SAP BW 7.5 since SP16 enables a large number of SAC (SAP Analytics Cloud) features via the BW-live-connection. This makes this SP a "go-to release" for the best BW-SAC integration.

 

More information:

Online docu

2715030 - Considerations when using SAP BW and SAP S/4HANA Live Connections in SAC

Converting BW system to BW/4HANA

Tools for migrating to SAP BW/4HANA (B4H)

BW/4HANA: Custom ABAP code in transformations

BW/4HANA Simplifications (BW4SL)

SAP BW/4HANA (B4H) versions

SAP BW/4HANA (B4H) – what is it?

Saturday, September 17, 2016

SAP BW/4HANA (B4H) – what is it?

Soon after SAP introduced their HANA optimized ERP system (S/4HANA – 4th generation ERP system, 18 months back) another main product of SAP is emerging on HANA platform. It is SAP BW/4HANA (or B4H, BW4 or just B4) launched on Sep 7th 2016. Important information is that it is a new products and it is not successor of SAP BW at all. It is based on code fork (unlike BWonHANA (BoH) which code line is still shared with rest of supported DBs) of Any DB SAP BW and it will become primary development platform at SAP. This can indicate that in future there will only be new versions of B4H delivered. All other Any DB SAP BW will not follow current BW 7.5 version and these versions will not be maintenance mode.

According SAP there is following 4 corner stones of the new product:

1. Simplicity – only 4 basic types of objects (advanced DSO, Composite Provider, IO, Open ODS view) enhancement to already introduced “Field based modeling instead of InfoObjects based one”.

2. Openness – B4H can consume data from any source and data can be visualized by any major BI front end tool. Moreover any HANA table/view can be incorporated into B4H data model w/o data replication. SQL or native SQL data approach known in classic SAP BW scenarios is still possible.

3. Modern UIs – it shifts more towards Eclipse based tool – HANA Studio from all major use case perspectives like modeling/administration/user. Use of SAP GUI shall be more less obsolete for B4H. More parts of monitoring functions are SAP Fiori / UI5 based.

4. Performance – Calculations in newly developed data warehouse models shall be pushed down to database. This will bring speed to classic BW models that are being calculated on level of ABAP AS. Push down approach shall ensure enough “horse power” to deal with big data (e.g. via SAP VORA a bridge between classic RDBMS and distributed processing on a file system (hadoop).


More information:
Online docu SAP BW/4HANA 1.0
What is B4HANA – saphana.com
What is B4HANA - Thomas Zurek blog
Why B4HANA - Thomas Zurek blog
BW/4HANA FAQ - John Appleby blog
Making the leap to SAP BW/4HANA - John Appleby blog
SAP Influence page for B4H
SAP Support system component: BW-B4H

Sunday, February 24, 2013

SAP Business Warehouse 7.4

After almost 2 years and few months passed after BW 7.3 was released new version 7.4 is coming. Finally SAP people had some time to spend also on some other of their offerings except HANA :-) Unfortunately so far 7.4 is not providing any new functionality outside of regards to HANA. According BW roadmap available here focus also in future will be on HANA scenarios e.g. with connection to Business Suite on HANA. 

Following official information resources are available on BW 7.4:

Positioning of SAP NW BW powered by SAP HANA and SAP HANA Analytics Foundation


-      09/05/2013 Update –

There is a one limitation being in all BW’s version for long time. It is with regards to maximum length of characteristic value. It has a limit of 60 characters. Well it had the limit. As of BW release 7.4 SPS2 this limit is over. Up to 250 characters are now possible. Technically this is implemented by extending domain RSCHAVL which was changed from data type CHAR 60 to SSTRING (255 characters in length). Similarly text for characteristic can have in BW 7.4 up to 1333 characters. This is done by replacing structure RSTXTSML with RSTXTSMXL.

This is for first sight positive news however it has some negative glance. Such a long data type is threated by ABAP as so called "deep" type. Some of ABAP language statements cannot deal with such a long types. Therefore it might happen that some of custom code will defunct ending with runtime error.

You can use ABAP Test Cockpit (Transaction ATC). ATC is successor of CheckMan tool.
This info is taken from SAP Note 1823174 - BW7.40 Changes and customer-specific programs.


-      23/10/2013 Update –
SAP published a roadmap for NetWeaver BW 7.4 on SAP HANA. You can find it here. It covers Upcoming planned release / Future innovations of BW 7.4

BW 7.4 is replaced by SAP Business Warehouse 7.5 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

How determine SAP BW server version


Basically this is nothing else just the version of SAP BW. There are (of course) several ways how to find it out. 

1. Via menu System. The very basic and the most common way is to have a look to system status information. This can be done while you are logged into B system via SAP GUI. Here go to menu System->Status:


Here choose Component information:


He Here we see that BW is of version 7.00 and the highest Service Pack installed is no 20.

2. Table where this information can be find. Also you can have a look where information about all installed software components if stored. The table name is called CVERS. You need to supply SAP_BW into field COMPONENT. Here’s output:


Are you aware of any other ways? Tell it in the comment :-)


Thursday, November 4, 2010

Prerequisites for BW 7.3

BW 7.3 is almost here, should be released this month. To see all of its new features read this post. Therefore customers are asking how about to upgrade to this version. Unfortunately there are some limitations.


First of all platform version matter: You cannot upgrade to version 7.3 from version below 7.x. Sequence is to first upgrade to 7.x and afterwards you can go for 7.3. No 7.3 upgrade for systems based on 3.x. Version 7.x meant here is pure technical upgrade. So you do not need to have all the functionalities of 7.x in place but platform as in overall must be based on 7.

Secondly data flows: They do not need to be migrated into the 7.x fashion specifically but it is advisable. So this is not real prerequisite :-) Usually customers are performing just technical upgrade; just align with SAP’s maintenance matrix and do not loose support from SAP. After that they stop and to not deploy new features of 7.x like new authorization concept or new data flows. Framework of data flows in 7.3 seems to be much more powerful (copying of data flows, DTPs, process chains, repetition/reversing of migration etc.) comparing it to 7.0. However SAP advice to migrate to 7.x fashion right after you did technical upgrade to 7.x.

Thirdly new authorization concept: Old concept of the BW 3.5 reporting authorizations will technically no longer be available. Therefore again it is essential that before 7.3 upgrade you have migrated to new 7.x authorization concept.

I’m very excited about this new version of BW. Looking forward to hearing from you in blog comments as soon you touch this version :-)
See SDN’s official news and update page regarding SAP BW 7.3.
See Features of SAP BW 7.3
See collection of materials related to SAP BW 7.3 

Monday, October 4, 2010

Features of SAP BW 7.3

Thinking about upgrade to 7.3? Assessing it? Searching for pros/cons? Need reasoning to management? Let me briefly summarize all the exciting new features of new SAP BW 7.3:

·         Scalable data models with built-in Semantic Partitioned Object (SPO)
·         Optimized load performance for DataStore Objects and Master Data
·         Enhanced built-in analytical capabilities for SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator
·         BWA-based reporting on Data Store Objects (via Hybridprovider)
·         Query as an InfoProvider enabled for mass data handling
·         Optimized integration of SAP BusinessObjects BI Tools Xcelsius, WebI
·         Tighter integration with SAP BusinessObjects Data Services
·         Tighter Integration with SAP BusinessObjects Metadata Management
·         Combining real-time transactional data with historical data via HybridProvider
·         Smarter data flow modeling with remarkably reduced manual effort
·         Hierarchies integrated into SAP NetWeaver BW 7.x data flow
·         Flexible modeling environment for analytical indices
·         ABAP based Planning Modeler w/o requiring a Java stack
·         Faster system set-up with a wizard-based system configuration
·         Enhanced monitoring capabilities with new content for SAP NetWeaver BW
·         Administration Cockpit and integration in SAP Solution Manager
·         Data Transfer Process supports data extraction from MultiProviders
·         Enhanced Usability of BW Administration Cockpit through Xcelsius Integration of monitors
·         Mass Change function for authorizations

Beta version of SAP BW 7.3 was available for selected partners around July 2010. Ramp Up program is suppose to start in middle of October 2010. 

Check out official SAP information on SDN.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Collection of materials related to SAP BW 7.3

SDN Blogs:
BW 7.3: Simple modeling of simple data flows
Creation of New Data flow trough Wizard tool in SAP BW 7.3
BW 7.3: Input ready formulas in BW Integrated Planning
BW 7.3: Simple supervision of process chains 
BW 7.3: The New Planning Modeler  
BW 7.3: Transport support in BW landscapes
BW 7.3 dataflow modeller: What do I need to know?  
BW 7.3 hierarchy framework
BW 7.3: Data Validations and Performance Improvements for Planning Applications 
BW 7.3: Semantically Partitioned Objects (SPOs) built from BAdI – Consistent, Rule Based Modeling of Logical Partitions 
BW 7.3: Troubleshooting Real-Time Data Acquisition
BW 7.30: Data Flow Copy Wizard
Dataflow Copy Tool: How to use Dataflow Copy tool to speed up the development activity
Enhanced data flows in BI 7.3
BW 7.30: Graphical Data Flow Modeling
upgrade in less than 3 hours
Performance Improvements for DataStore Objects 
My favourite BW 7.3 and BI 4.0 blogs
SAP BW Developers SDN Blog series accompanying the BW 7.3 Ramp-Up phase
Basic features of BW 7.3 compared to BW 7.0 
What's New in the SAP BW Near-Line Storage Solution
Modeling integration between SAP Business Objects Data Services and BW | Part 1 of 2 – Connect Source System
Performance Improvements in Master-Data related scenarios and DTP Processing 
Modeling integration between SAP Business Objects Data Services and BW | Part 2 of 2 - Create DataSource  
New MDX test environment
Remodeling in SAP BI 7.00 
HANA and BW 7.30 - Part 1
HANA and BW 7.30 - Part 2
Remodeling on DSO
Restricting the value help in the variables screen of a query
Need a magician to connect JAVA to BW 7.30 after the installation … ?  
BW 7.3 news from BI at Amsterdam 
'Force Delta' in BW Dataflows
User Interface for Hybrid Providers
Hybrid Provider in a Nutshell
Précis about the HybridProvider
Simple supervision of process chains 
Data Flow Migration tool: Migrating 3.x flows to 7.3 flows and also the recovery to 3.X flow
Exporting Hierarchy using Open Hub Destination into Flat file from BW 7.3
Hierarchy Framework – a real-life example
Hierarchy loading becomes easier with the help of new framework
Easy queries on SAP NetWeaver BW
Different ways to delete Master data 

BW 7.3: Process Chain and the art of Wizardry

Pattern-based Partitioning using the SPO BAdI
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: BAdI Managed Maintenance 
Part 3: Partitioning Patterns
Part 4: Use Cases


New DSO activation logic: 
Performance Improvements for DataStore Objects
BW Fine Tuning on Netweaver BW 730 - Part 1
BW Fine Tuning on Netweaver BW 730 - Part 2

LSA Data Flow Templates Series:
I. Introduction 
II. Basics for Data Flow Templates
III. Layering data & logic
IV. Flow extensions - Corporate Memory (CM) & Harmonization InfoSOurce
V. Tactical Scalability - Flow split usingsemantic partitioning
VI. Scalability – Flow split and infosources
VII. Scalability – infosourecs & single ERP source
VIII. Scalability – Entire data flow split
IX. Scalability – Data flow split using a pass thru Datastore object
X. Scalability & Data domains – Strategic semantic partitioning of entire BW (SPLIT)
XI. Scalability & Data domains – Strategic semantic partitioning of entire BW (COLLECT)
XII. Scalability & Data domain – Business transformation layer



Upgrade to 7.3:
A BW 7.3 Upgrade this Summer?
The diary of a BW 7.3 Ramp-Up project (Part 1)
The diary of a BW 7.3 Ramp-Up project (Part 2)
The diary of a BW 7.3 Ramp-Up project (Part 3)
The diary of a BW 7.3 Ramp-Up project (Part 4)
The diary of a BW 7.3 Ramp-Up project (Part 5)

Upgrading to NetWeaver BW 7.3 - our story - Part 1, a brief history of mankind
Upgrading to NetWeaver BW 7.3: Our story part 2 - the long hard road 
Upgrading to NetWeaver BW 7.3 - Our story part 3, getting through cutover 
Upgrading to NetWeaver BW 7.3 - Our story part 4, how Project Santa became Project Valentine
Upgrading to BW7.3 the unconventional way


Othet blogs:

-    Update 25/01/2012 –
See Features of SAP BW 7.3