Data Providers 
Data Providers
Definition
Data Providers
are objects that deliver data. When you navigate through the data, or parameterize the call-up, it may change the status of the data provider. A data provider can supply any number of items with data.Structure
Generic Attributes
Generic attributes are attributes that are valid for every data provider. You need these attributes as soon as you begin to create a data provider.
Attribute |
Description |
DATA_PROVIDER ( or name ) |
Logical name of the data provider This name is used to attach items to a particular data provider, and to send commands to the data provider. The name must be unique within the Web template |
WBID ( or DATA_PROVIDER_WBID ) (optional) |
Key assigned to the Excel workbook, under which you stored the data provider in the Business Explorer. You have to have saved the workbook in BW (favorites, roles). If you do not specify this parameter, the workbook ID (WBID) of the Web template is used instead. |
You cannot change these attributes with a
command URL.Commands
It is possible to apply commands, such as filters, to data providers. In most cases, you must specify parameters for these commands. With some commands, it is possible to specify a whole list of parameter values. The parameter name is given an index "_1", "_2". In this rest of this document, this index is referred to as "parameter name_N"
There is at least one example given for every command. This is displayed in the same syntax as described under
Command URLs.All commands have the following parameters in common:
Parameter |
Description |
CMD |
Name of the command Most commands are triggered by this parameter. As well as this type of command, there are also generic commands with parameters that you are able to assign to other commands. Generic commands are always applied after the named command. |
DATA_PROVIDER DATA_PROVIDER_N |
Name of the data provider You are able to apply a command to several data providers. You either specify a particular data provider, or display a list of possible data providers, or restrict the number of data providers by using wildcards (MULTI=X). The command is applied to all these data providers, as long as they support this action.
You must specify the data provider(s). |
MULTI |
Using the DATA_PROVIDER as a reference If MULTI is set to X, the command is applied to all the data providers that have DATA_PROVIDER in their name. * means all data providers, for example.
This parameter is optional. X = Yes, = No |
Applying the command to the data provider DP 1
<SAP_BW_URL DATA_PROVIDER=DP 1 CMD=... ...>
Applying the command to the data providers DP 1 and DP 1
<SAP_BW_URL DATA_PROVIDER_1=DP 1 DATA_PROVIDER_1=DP 2 CMD=... ...>
Applying the command to all the data providers that contain USA in their name
<SAP_BW_URL DATA_PROVIDER=*USA* MULTI=X CMD=... ...>
Views
A view is a snapshot of a particular set of data from a BW query. When you call up the Web template, a view (not a database view) is created on the server with the saved navigation status.
Views have the following attributes:
Attribute |
Description |
View ID
You cannot change this attribute with a command URL. |
Key for a view The View ID that you specify, determines the initial status of the view. The View ID identifies a view within a workbook. The WBID enables you to use views from different workbooks in a Web template. |
WBID ( or DATA_PROVIDER_WBID ) (optional)
You cannot change this attribute with a command URL. |
Key for the Excel workbook, under which you stored the data provider in the Business Explorer. You have to have saved the workbook in BW (favorites, roles). If you do not specify this parameter, the WBID of the Web template is used instead. |
VARIANT (optional)
You cannot change this attribute with a command URL. |
Name of the variant used to fill the variables When you save a view, the current variable values are saved with it. You can overwrite the values by specifying a variant (optional). You create variants from the variable screen. |
STYLE_SHEET (optional) |
Path to a stylesheet that you want to use to display F4-Help. If you do not specify anything here, the Web template stylesheet is used instead. |
HOME_FRAME (optional) |
Name of the main frame If you use HTML frame technology to display the data, and you want to display the F4 Help in a separate frame to the Web template, for views, you have to specify in the HOME_FRAME attribute, the name of the frame where the Web template is displayed. You also have to specify the attribute TARGET_HELP_FRAME for the navigation block item. |
You can apply the following commands to a view:
Alert Monitor
The Alert Monitor displays the results of background processes run in the Reporting Agent. The results from exception reporting are shown in the Alert Monitor.
Since there is only one data source for the Alert Monitor, there is no need to set up the Alert Monitor as a separate data provider. The Alert Monitor item generates a suitable data provider for itself automatically, and transfers the filter operations to this data provider automatically.
This means you do not have to create a data provider for the Alert Monitor manually.
See also:
Alert Monitor