How to Use Open ODS Views and Composite Providers for Virtual Data Integration in SAP BW/4HANA

How to Use Open ODS Views and Composite Providers for Virtual Data Integration in SAP BW/4HANA

How to Use Open ODS Views and Composite Providers for Virtual Data Integration in SAP BW/4HANA

SAP BW/4HANA is a powerful data warehousing solution that enables you to integrate data from various sources and perform advanced analytics. One of the key features of SAP BW/4HANA is the ability to access remote data virtually without replicating it in the BW system. This can reduce data redundancy, improve performance and simplify data modeling.

But how can you achieve virtual data integration in SAP BW/4HANA? There are two main options: Open ODS Views and Composite Providers. In this blog post, we will explain what they are, how they differ, and when to use them for the best results.

What are Open ODS Views?

Open ODS Views are a type of InfoProvider that allow you to access remote data sources directly in SAP BW/4HANA. You can create Open ODS Views based on any source system that supports SAP HANA Smart Data Access (SDA), such as SAP S/4HANA, SAP HANA, or external databases.

Open ODS Views have several advantages:

  • They are easy to create and maintain. You don’t need to define any transformations, InfoObjects, or Data Transfer Processes (DTPs). You just need to specify the source system, the table or view name, and optionally map the fields to existing InfoObjects.
  • They offer built-in conversions and validations. Open ODS Views automatically apply the necessary conversions and format settings based on the associated InfoObjects. For example, if you link a field to an InfoObject with an ALPHA conversion exit, the Open ODS View will handle the conversion for you.
  • They enable master data integration. By linking fields to InfoObjects with master data attributes and texts, you can enrich your remote data with additional information from SAP BW/4HANA.

However, Open ODS Views also have some limitations:

  • They are not optimized for performance. Open ODS Views always apply conversions and validations, even if the source data is already in the required format. This can lead to performance degradation and increased resource consumption.
  • They do not support input parameters. If your remote data source is a calculation view with input parameters, you cannot use an Open ODS View to access it. You need to use a Composite Provider instead.

What are Composite Providers?

Composite Providers are another type of InfoProvider that allow you to combine data from multiple sources in SAP BW/4HANA. You can create Composite Providers based on any combination of InfoProviders, such as ADSOs, InfoCubes, Open ODS Views, or calculation views.

Composite Providers have several advantages:

  • They are flexible and powerful. You can use various operations, such as union, join, or projection, to merge and transform data from different sources. You can also define filters, aggregations, calculations, and currency conversions.
  • They support input parameters. If your remote data source is a calculation view with input parameters, you can use a Composite Provider to access it and pass values to the parameters dynamically.
  • They are optimized for performance. Composite Providers leverage the capabilities of SAP HANA to execute queries efficiently and in parallel.

However, Composite Providers also have some drawbacks:

  • They are more complex and time-consuming to create and maintain. You need to define the target structure, the join conditions, the mappings, and the transformations for each source. You also need to map the fields to InfoObjects manually for each source.
  • They do not offer built-in conversions and validations. Composite Providers do not apply any conversions or format settings based on the associated InfoObjects. You need to ensure that the source data is compatible with the target structure.

When to Use Open ODS Views vs Composite Providers?

The choice between Open ODS Views and Composite Providers depends on your specific requirements and scenarios. Here are some general guidelines:

  • Use Open ODS Views if you want to access remote data sources directly and simply in SAP BW/4HANA without any transformations or input parameters. Open ODS Views are ideal for quick prototyping and ad-hoc reporting.
  • Use Composite Providers if you want to combine data from multiple sources and perform complex transformations or input parameters. Composite Providers are ideal for advanced analytics and performance optimization.

Of course, you can also use both Open ODS Views and Composite Providers together for more flexibility and functionality. For example, you can create an Open ODS View based on a remote calculation view without input parameters, and then use it as a source for a Composite Provider that combines it with other InfoProviders or calculation views with input parameters.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have explained how to use Open ODS Views and Composite Providers for virtual data integration in SAP BW/4HANA. We have compared their advantages and limitations, and provided some tips on when to use them for the best results.

We hope you have found this post useful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI.

Tags: ,