Creating a Semantic Layer with SAP Business Objects Universe
- Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial Pdf
- Business Objects Information Design Tool
- Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial For Beginners
- Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial (for Beginners) - Part 1
- Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial Step By Step
BusinessObjects PDF Tutorials Business Objects is the deployment platform for analyzing the data and creating reports based on that. It is capable for creating any type of report that user demands from anywhere (using internet also). It is the main component for helping the organization for. Then I opened “SAP BUSINESS OBJECT INFORMATION DESIGN TOOL” which contains 2 layers i.e. BUSINESS LAYER & FOUNDATION LAYER. In the IDT we can see when it open up that in left hand side there are list of local projects on top and down to that there is repository resources list. NEW for 4.2 SP3 What's new in SAP BusinessObjects Information Design Tool 4.2 SP3 (2:56) video; NEW for 4.1 What's new in SAP BusinessObjects Information Design Tool 4.1 (5:50) interactive / video; NEW for 4.0 FP3 What's new in SAP BusinessObjects information design tool 4.0 Feature Pack 3 (5:14) interactive / video. You'll get an overview of SAP BusinessObjects BI, learn about the Information Design Tool, and see how the Universe semantic layer enables users to create reports without having to understand any of the underlying data structures. Opening and navigating the Information Design Tool Creating a new project Defining a new database connection. SAP BusinessObjects Information Design Tool. Course Version: 17. Test Business Layer Objects Lesson 4: Creating Measure Objects.
MOTIVATION
This material is an introduction to how to develop an SAP Business Objects Universe. It is aimed at students at universities, universities, and other educational institutions with limited experience with Business Intelligence.
It can be used in the classroom or for self-study.
On completion of the course, students will be able to understand the basic concepts of a universe and how to design and develop a universe.
The material also serves as a reference for occasional users of SAP systems.
This version of the notes is designed for the SAP BOBJ Enterprise version
This version of the notes is designed for the SAP BOBJ Interactive Analysis trail version
If you would like to become an SAP BO certified professional, then visit Tekslate - A Global online training platform:'SAP BO training and certification course'. This course will help you to achieve excellence in this domain.
Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial Pdf
LEARNING METHOD
The learning method used is “guided learning.” The benefit of this method is that knowledge is imparted quickly. Students also acquire practical skills and competencies. As with an exercise, this method explains a process or procedure in detail.
SAP Business Intelligence provides a broad range of reporting tools to facilitate the decision making of different end-users. These tools can interact with data from different data sources. SAP Business Objects provides a semantic layer (universe) that facilitates the interaction with data sources and the extraction of data. This tutorial provided you with a step by step explanation of how to construct a universe which will be utilized in later reporting exercises.
Scenario
Global Bike International (GBI) is a world-class bicycle company serving both professional and amateur cyclists. The company sells bicycles and accessories. In the touring bike category, GBI’s handcrafted bicycles have won numerous design awards and are sold in over 10 countries. GBI’s signature composite frames are world-renowned for their strength, low weight, and easy maintenance. GBI bikes are consistently ridden in the Tour de France and other major international road races. GBI produces two models of their signature road bikes, a deluxe and a professional model. The key difference between the two models is the type of wheels used, aluminum for the basic model, and carbon composite for the professional model. GBI’s off-road bikes are also recognized as incredibly tough and easy to maintain. GBI off-road bikes are the preferred choice of world champion off-road racers and have become synonymous with performance and strength in one of the most grueling sports in the world. GBI produces two types of off-road bikes, a men’s and women’s models. The basic difference between the two models is the smaller size and ergonomic shaping of the women’s frame.
GBI also sells an Accessories product line comprised of helmets, t-shirts, and other riding accessories. GBI partners with only the highest quality suppliers of accessories which will help enhance riders’ performance and comfort while riding GBI bikes. Figure 1 displays the GBI range of products.
Traditionally GBI was a wholesaler who sold their bikes to retailers who then resold the bikes to the end consumers. Recently GBI has decided to sell their bike to the end consumer via the internet.
Organizational Structure
GBI’s headquarters are located in Dallas and the European subsidiary company (GBI Europe) is based in Heidelberg, Germany. In regards to the GBI sales process, there are two sales organizations for America (Eastern US and the Western US) and two for Germany (Northern Germany and Southern Germany). All sales organizations have a wholesale distribution channel responsible for delivering the products to the customers. However, only one sales organization is required in each country to support internet sales. The diagram below displays the GBI organization to support the sales process.
Requirements
GBI management currently SAP ECC to manage and automate their business processes. They have discovered that one of their departments are using a Microsoft Access database to record sales data. The Department Heads have indicated that they would like the information provided in a user-friendly format. This will facilitate them to gain greater insight to their sales data to understand the trends and sales performance. In response to these concerns, it was decided to build a number of reports using SAP Business Objects Interactive Analysis. To provide the connection between the data source (Microsoft Access) and the reporting tool a universe needs to be created.
SAP Business Objects Universe
What is a Semantic Layer?
A semantic layer is a business representation of corporate data that helps end-users access data using common business terms.
Often when database developers build databases their main objectives involve the efficient creation, updating, and deletion of data. They are not usually concerned about whether nondatabase people understand the complexities of the underlying structures. While business users want to create reports based on the data contained in the database to facilitate decision making. The semantic layer insulates the business users from the underlying data complexity while ensuring the business is accessing the correct data sources and using consistent terminology.
The semantic layer enables users to use common business terms rather than the technical database language to access, manipulate, and organize information, it simplifies the complexity of the business data. The following diagram displays the various components of the semantic layer.
SAP Business Objects Universe:
A Universe is a semantic layer tool used in Business Objects to map the data in your data source using everyday terms. The Universe enables the user to create a query to extract the data from a data source, describe it using common business terms, and then analyze the data using different reporting tools. The Universe is used to run queries against the data source to extract data.
Below is an example of a Universe based on the GBI data. The Universe structure contains:
- Connection details to a data source
- SQL structures (called Objects) to map the database structures (columns, tables, and database functions)
- A schema of the tables and joins used in the database
On the right of the screen is the schema of the database. While on the left are Universe objects that are required for reporting. A Universe can be used to connect to a variety of data sources (Databases, Excel, XML, Text, Web Services. The release of SAP Business Objects 4.0 provided functionality to connect directly with SAP solutions and thus a universe is no longer required to connect to SAP.
Building a Universe
You use the Business Objects Universe Designer (also referred to as Universe Design Tool) to create a Universe. However, before you create a universe you need to create a database connection.
Creating a database connection:
A data access driver is the software that connects the Universe to your middleware. Data access drivers provided with Business Objects include IBM DB2, Informix, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Teradata, Hyperion, Generic OBDC. For this exercise, you are going to use OBDC connection drivers. OBDC (Open Database Connectivity) is Microsoft’s interface for accessing data in a heterogeneous environment of relational and non-relational databases.
You now need to select the appropriate driver for your data source. For this exercise, you will be using a Microsoft Access database.
You will notice that your new Data Source connection is listed.
Creating a Universe You create a Universe using the Universe Designer. To access the Universe Designer:
This wizard walks the user through the steps in creating a basic Universe. For the purpose of this exercise, you will initially use the wizard. You can see that there are four steps in the process.
Step 1: Define the universe parameters
This step involves linking your new universe to the database connection you created previously.
![Design Design](/uploads/1/3/4/6/134680023/133015632.jpg)
The Database Middleware Selection screen appears.
Type GBI Connection in the Connection Name field.
You will now need to select the OBDC driver for Microsoft Access 2007.
Scroll down till OBDC DriversMS Access 2007 appears
The following message should appear
Step 2: Create Classes and Objects:
A Universe uses classes and objects to represent the database’s structures. An object represents a column (data element), calculation, or function in a data source. It represents a meaningful entity, fact, or calculation used in the business environment. Objects are selected to construct a query. Once the query is performed, the objects are returned with values. A class is a logical collection of objects. Most classes in Business Objects correspond to a table in the database. But this may not be user friendly for a business user. The Create Initial Classes and Objects dialog screen lists the tables in the data source.
For in-depth understanding click on
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Key Concepts
- NEW for 4.2 SP3 What's new in SAP BusinessObjects Information Design Tool 4.2 SP3 (2:56)video
- NEW for 4.1 What's new in SAP BusinessObjects Information Design Tool 4.1 (5:50)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.0 FP3 What's new in SAP BusinessObjects information design tool 4.0 Feature Pack 3 (5:14)interactive /video
- Concept: Navigate the interface (6:50)interactive /video
- Concept: Create a universe (2:27)interactive /video
- Concept: Create a multisource-enabled universe (3:23)interactive /video
- Concept: Create joins (4:08)interactive /video
- Concept: Compare the information design tool to the universe design tool interactive
Getting Started
- NEW for 4.1 Create a universe using the Universe Wizard (2:17)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.0 FP3 Use a cheat sheet to create a universe (4:57)interactive /video
- Create a project (0:56)interactive /video
- Create a connection to a relational database (2:02)interactive /video
- Create a data foundation based on a single source relational database (2:35)interactive /video
- Create a business layer based on a single relational data source (1:33)interactive /video
- Publish a new universe file based on a single data source (2:33)interactive /video
- Retrieve a universe from a repository location (1:49)interactive /video
- Publish a universe to a local folder (1:25)interactive /video
- Retrieve a universe from a local folder (1:20)interactive /video
- Open a local project (1:29)interactive /video
- Delete a local project (1:58)interactive /video
- Convert a repository universe from a UNV to a UNX (4:04)interactive /video
- Convert a local universe from a UNV to a UNX (3:01)interactive /video
Connecting to Data Sources
- Create a connection shortcut (1:58)interactive /video
- View and filter data source values in the connection editor (2:00)interactive /video
- Create a connection to an OLAP data source (1:30)interactive /video
- Create an OLAP connection to SAP BW using BICS (2:32)interactive /video
- Create a relational connection to an SAP NetWeaver BW InfoProvider (2:07)interactive /video
- Create a relational connection to SQL Server using OLEDB providers (2:13)interactive /video
- Create a relational connection to an Excel spreadsheet or text file using ODBC drivers (2:38)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.0 FP3 Create a relational connection to an SAP ERP data source (1:45)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.0 FP3 Create an OLAP connection to an Oracle Essbase data source (1:39)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.1 Create a connection to an OData data source (1:32)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.1 Create an OLAP connection to an SAP HANA view (1:11)interactive /video
Building the Structure of a Universe
- Arrange tables in a data foundation (1:52)interactive /video
- View table values in a data foundation (1:11)interactive /video
- View values from multiple tables in a data foundation (1:31)interactive /video
- Filter table values in a data foundation (2:02)interactive /video
- Filter values from multiple tables in a data foundation (2:49)interactive /video
- Apply a wildcard to filter table values in a data foundation (2:14)interactive /video
- Apply a wildcard to filter values from multiple tables in a data foundation (2:22)interactive /video
- Sort and re-order table columns in a data foundation (1:14)interactive /video
- Edit table values in a data foundation (2:06)interactive /video
- Create an equi-join (2:12)interactive /video
- Create a theta join (1:50)interactive /video
- Create an outer join (3:17)interactive /video
- Create a shortcut join (1:53)interactive /video
- Create a self-restricting join using a column filter (2:11)interactive /video
- Modify and remove a column filter (1:43)interactive /video
- Detect join cardinalities in a data foundation (2:35)interactive /video
- Manually set join cardinalities in a data foundation (1:30)interactive /video
- Refresh the structure of a universe (2:41)interactive /video
- Create a calculated column using string values (1:48)interactive /video
- Create a calculated column using a date value (2:17)interactive /video
- Create a calculated column using numeric values (1:57)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.1 Create a data federation data flow (7:04)interactive /video
Creating the Business Layer of a Universe
- Create business layer folders (1:49)interactive /video
- Create business layer subfolders (1:58)interactive /video
- Create a business layer folder and objects automatically from a table (1:47)interactive /video
- Create a business layer subfolder and objects automatically from a table (1:53)interactive /video
- Create dimension objects automatically from a table (2:08)interactive /video
- Create a dimension (1:42)interactive /video
- Create an attribute (1:30)interactive /video
- Create a measure (2:27)interactive /video
- Hide folders and objects in a business layer (1:34)interactive /video
- Organize folders and subfolders in a business layer (2:18)interactive /video
- View table and object dependencies (1:33)interactive /video
- Create a custom navigation path (2:39)interactive /video
- Create a dimensional business layer from an OLAP data source (1:44)interactive /video
- Copy and paste folders and objects in a business layer (1:49)interactive /video
Filtering Data in Objects
- Create a pre-defined native filter (2:09)interactive /video
- Create a pre-defined business filter (2:05)interactive /video
- Create a pre-defined native filter using multiple objects (2:46)interactive /video
- Create a pre-defined business filter using multiple objects (2:52)interactive /video
Working with Derived Tables
- Create a derived table based on an existing table in a data foundation (3:09)interactive /video
- Create a derived table using the SQL Builder (3:03)interactive /video
- Merge tables in a data foundation (1:48)interactive /video
Visualizing Data in a Universe
- Run a business layer query (2:06)interactive /video
- Edit a business layer query (3:14)interactive /video
- Run a business layer query with pre-defined filters (3:23)interactive /video
- Profile column values in a chart (1:53)interactive /video
Connecting to SAP HANA
- Create a relational connection to SAP HANA (2:54)interactive / video
- Create a data foundation based on an SAP HANA view (3:45)interactive / video
- Create a business layer for a data foundation based on an SAP HANA view (6:45)interactive / video
- Create a data foundation based on SAP HANA tables (5:33) interactive /video
- Create a business layer for a data foundation based on SAP HANA tables (4:43)interactive / video
- Modify parameters to optimize an SAP HANA universe (2:57)interactive / video
- Create a relational connection to SAP HANA in the repository (3:22)interactive / video
- UPDATED for 4.0 FP3 Create a relational connection to SAP HANA (2:34)interactive / video
- UPDATED for 4.0 FP3 Create a data foundation based on an SAP HANA view (3:28)interactive / video
- UPDATED for 4.0 FP3 Create a business layer for a data foundation based on an SAP HANA view (4:42)interactive / video
- UPDATED for 4.0 FP3 Create a data foundation based on SAP HANA tables (4:52) interactive /video
- UPDATED for 4.0 FP3 Create a business layer for a data foundation based on SAP HANA tables (4:55)interactive / video
- UPDATED for 4.0 FP3 Modify parameters to optimize an SAP HANA universe (2:33)interactive / video
- UPDATED for 4.0 FP3 Create a relational connection to SAP HANA in the repository (3:09)interactive / video
![Sap business objects information design tool tutorial pdf Sap business objects information design tool tutorial pdf](/uploads/1/3/4/6/134680023/220425941.png)
Building a Multi-Source Universe
- Create a data foundation based on multiple MS Access connections (3:55)interactive /video
- Create a data foundation based on multiple RDBMS connections (4:06)interactive /video
- Add a connection to an existing multisource-enabled data foundation (2:32)interactive /video
- Create calculated columns in a multisource-enabled data foundation (5:08)interactive /video
- View values from multiple tables in a multisource data foundation (1:56)interactive /video
- Create a business layer based on a multisource MS Access data foundation (2:02)interactive /video
- Create a business layer based on a multisource RDBMS data foundation (2:06)interactive /video
- Run a query using objects from a multisource business layer (2:17)interactive /video
Working with Parameters and Lists of Values
- Create a list of values based on query results of business objects (2:18)interactive /video
- Create a list of values based on a hierarchy of business layer objects (2:12)interactive /video
- Create a static list of values (2:05)interactive /video
- Create a list of values based on a SQL expression (2:36)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.1 Create an index-aware prompt (2:00)interactive /video
- Assign a list of values to a business layer object (1:25)interactive /video
- Create a parameter (2:01)interactive /video
- Assign a parameter to a business layer object (1:57)interactive /video
- Test a parameter in a query (1:58)interactive /video
Resolving Loops in a Universe
Business Objects Information Design Tool
- Resolve a loop by automatically inserting an alias table in a data foundation (4:18)interactive /video
- Resolve a loop by manually inserting an alias table in a data foundation (4:22)interactive /video
- Resolve a loop by automatically inserting contexts in a data foundation (3:38)interactive /video
- Resolve a loop by manually inserting contexts in a data foundation (5:04)interactive /video
Applying Index Awareness
Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial For Beginners
- Set up primary key index awareness (2:59)interactive /video
- Set up foreign key index awareness (3:31)interactive /video
- Apply a WHERE clause restriction to a primary key index (3:09)interactive /video
- Apply a WHERE clause restriction to a foreign key index (3:50)interactive /video
- Set up multiple foreign key index awareness (3:50)interactive /video
Setting up Aggregate Awareness
Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial (for Beginners) - Part 1
- Insert aggregate tables into a data foundation (2:37)interactive /video
- Define aggregate aware objects in a business layer (5:51)interactive /video
- Set aggregation navigation in a business layer (2:38)interactive /video
Securing Universes
- Create a data security profile for connection and query options (5:33)interactive /video
- Create a data security profile that restricts access to specific rows (3:36)interactive /video
- Create a data security profile that defines replacement tables (3:54)interactive /video
- NEW for 4.0 FP3 Create a data security profile based on a custom user attribute (7:28)interactive /video
- Create a business security profile for query data (4:05)interactive /video
- Create a business security profile for filtered data (3:50)interactive /video
- Create a business security profile for display data (3:37)interactive /video
- Assign security profiles to users (7:41)interactive /video
- Assign security profiles to a group (3:08)interactive /video
Managing and Deploying Universes
- Identify local dependencies between universe resources (2:38)interactive /video
- Run an integrity check on a universe (3:31)interactive /video
- Insert a comment box in a data foundation view (1:35)interactive /video
- Apply color to tables that share the same information (2:58)interactive /video
- Organize a business layer with business layer views (1:32)interactive /video
- Create a custom data foundation view (2:19)interactive /video
- Create a custom data foundation view based on a selection of tables (2:06)interactive /video
Interacting with the BI Platform
Sap Business Objects Information Design Tool Tutorial Step By Step
- Open a session to a CMS system (2:02)interactive /video
- Close, re-open, and delete a CMS session (1:55)interactive /video
- Create a shared project (1:17)interactive /video
- Rename a shared project (1:46)interactive /video
- Synchronize a project (2:19)interactive /video
- Lock and unlock a shared resource (3:01)interactive /video
- Retrieve shared resource changes from the server (2:16)interactive /video
- Delete a shared project (1:35)interactive /video
To view the full IDT 4.0 playlist on Youtube, click here.