Patrice Le Bihan, SAP, provided this ASUG webcast this past week on BI4 Feature Pack 3 (FP 3) with SAP Hana. As usual, anything presented is subject to change.
Patrice said this webcast was a continuation of FEATURED EVENTSconducted last October (recording available to all).
Agenda:
Data connectivity options
Analysis, exploration and reporting
Landscape Considerations
Appendix: Security
More information
Data Connectivity Options:
Figure 1: Source: SAP
Figure 1 shows what is possible today with BI4 GA version and the different client tools.
Figure 2, Source: SAP
Figure 2 shows what is available in Feature Pack 3 with HANA highlighted in red.
The main enhancement is Analysis OLAP, part of BI 4, will support HANA.
Semantic layer has some modeling improvement experience, security, authentication, single sign-on.
Crystal for Enterprise will have direct access to data sources like Crystal 2011/CR 2008 and you will be able to connect directly to SAP Hana without need for universe.
Figure 2 shows SAP HANA database as standalone.
Figure 3, Source: SAP
Figure 3 shows BW shows powered by HANA. HANA is the underlying database for BW. All reporting scenarios with BW work except SBO Explorer; SBO Explorer doesn’t go directly against BW (will start in HANA 1 SPS04, planned).
Analysis, Exploration and Reporting
Figure 4: Source: SAP
Feature Pack 3 and BI 4 GA shares the same approach
Figure 4 shows that Analytical Models are built like cubes in BW. You build model views in HANA studio and these are available for reporting dimensionally or relational (flat) way
Second approach (“Classical Models”) has several fact tables and the traditional universe is a good fit.
Figure 5: Source: SAP
Figure 5 shows building model views in SAP Hana studio
Attribute views, analytic views, and optionally calculated views for modeling can be built.
Views are then available in Analysis Office/OLAP, SBO Explorer, or MS Excel. What is new in FP 3 is Analysis OLAP can now be used.
Figure 6, Source: SAP
Figure 6 shows FP3 in SBO Explorer
Exploration views allow you to combine multiple visualizations in one screen. Support for time dimensions.
For SAP Hana, you will have variable support at design time – adding a variable on a view. End user does not see variables but the InfoSpace designer will.
Figure 7, Source: SAP
Figure 7 shows Analysis OLAP new features
It requires BI4 platform and you can access Analytic and Calculation views in SAP Hana. It supports HANA views.
Analysis OLAP and HANA does not support variables or hierarchies yet but it is coming.
Key functionalities – navigate / build – ability to have focused analysis and split into 2 frames with a time slider to work on a smaller subset of data.
You can bring multiple Hana views into a workspace, from multiple hana systems, and do a side by side analysis.
You cannot merge datasets inside same cross table but you can do side-by-side analysis.
Right now only Excel supports hierarchies.
Figure 8, Source: SAP
Figure 8 shows relational approaches. Patrice said it comes down to what you are familiar with and tools you have in your organization and audience
On the right, you can connect directly to HANA Analytic Calc views/tables from Crystal 2011/2008 and with FP3 Crystal for Enterprise connects directly
On the left, first you model the universe from the Information Design Tool, publish to repository and from their you consume universe from Web Intelligence, Dashboards, Crystal for Enterprise. “Model once, consume often”.
Figure 9, Source: SAP
With BI4 GA you can only access tables.
With FP3, you can access analytic and calculation views via ODBC/JDBC and browse the catalog.
Use case for CR for HANA does not change; you are looking at highly formatted reports for mass publication.
Figure 10, Source: SAP
Figure 10 shows Crystal for Enterprise.
You do not have to model a universe; Crystal for Enterprise will have direct access to SAP HANA. You will have the option of using local connection or use a secured connection on BI 4 repository.
Figure 11: Source: SAP
Views will be accessed in relational manner; talking SQL to HANA
Main improvement was to simplify and make modeling experience easier.
Data connection default array fetch from 5 to 1000.
Also they added a property for JDBC ODBC driver properties.
Top right of Figure 11 shows you can display by view type, and the related icons. You can also search the name.
You do not need edit SQL definition of measure and use the context menu to change its aggregation function.
Landscape Considerations
Figure 12: Source: SAP
You can now use the HANA database as a repository for BI 4 and audit database as shown in Figure 12. This is a deployment option with FP3.
See the patching update in Figure 12.
Security
Figure 13, Source: SAP
SSO authentication with Kerberos delegation, valid for Linux and Windows platforms only, Web Intelligence, Dashboards, Explorer, and Crystal Reports
Analysis OLAP does not support this.
Figure 14: Source: SAP
Figure 14 shows that SAP Hana supports 2 types of authentication. Internal authentication – user IDs and password is stored in Hana.
External authentication means the user ID is external and password check is performed by that directory.
FP3 supports second method as well now.
Figure 15: Source: SAP
Figure 15 shows all tools support internal security authentication.
More Information:
Patrice provided these links:
SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0 Documentation
ASUG Webinar of SBO BI 4.0 FP3 (ASUG logon required)
Overview of SBO BI 4.0 on SAP HANA
Best Practices for Optimal Data Models in SAP HANA and Analytics in SBO BI 4.0
Best Practices for Universe creation on SAP HANA
Patrice will be presenting at ASUG Annual Conference in May where you can meet him in person.
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