Creating InfoCubes 

Prerequisites

Ensure that all InfoObjects that you wish to transfer into the InfoCube are actively available. Create any required InfoObjects that do not exist already, and activate them.

If you want to define an InfoCube in the same way as an InfoSource, then the communication structure for the InfoSource should be available in an active form.

Instead of creating a new InfoCube, you can transfer an InfoCube from SAP’s Business Content.

Procedure

Create an InfoArea, to which the new InfoCube should be assigned.

For this, choose Modeling ® InfoProvider.

Using the context menu for the InfoArea, choose Create InfoCube.

Select the type of InfoCube:

Choose Create.

If you want to create a copy of an existing InfoCube, you can enter an InfoCube as a template.

You go to the InfoCube maintenance.

Transferring InfoObjects:

The InfoObjects that are to be added to the InfoCube are divided into the categories characteristic, time characteristic and key figure. You have to transfer at least one InfoObject from each category. You select the category from the tabstrip.

Transfer the characteristics, by selecting the relevant characteristics and assigning them to the InfoCube with the aid of the arrow keys. Compound or referenced characteristics are automatically transferred over.

Editing (making revisions to the sequence in the InfoCube) functions are available.

Template Selection

You can choose different templates. The default setting is always "All InfoObjects". By setting a template filter, you achieve greater clarity with regard to a particular task (fewer InfoObjects for selection).

You can select an InfoSource (still only the InfoObjects for the communication structure of the InfoSource are displayed), an InfoCube, an ODS Object, or an InfoObject catalog as a template. A simple way of constructing an InfoCube, that is identical to the communication structure of an InfoSource, is by setting the template, selecting all fields and transferring into the InfoCube.

Setting a template can affect either all InfoObject types or just the current one.

Detail View of Functions

Assigning the Characteristics to Dimensions

You get to the definition and assignment screen for dimensions using the pushbutton Dimensions (F8).

Define the required dimensions. You can also read more about dimensions.

If no dimensions exist yet, then you define them using the Create function. Enter descriptions for all dimensions.

Flag the dimensions in certain cases as line items. You can find further information under Line Item Dimension.

Additionally, you have the option of giving dimensions the indicator High Cardinality. This function needs to be switched on if the dimension is larger than ten percent of the fact table. Then you can create B tree indexes instead of Bitmap indexes.

Choose the tabstrip Assign, select the characteristics to be dimensioned, position the cursor on the dimensions to be assigned to this characteristic, and choose Assign (or double click on the assigned dimension).

You can also assign graphically the characteristics that are not assigned (pushbutton). You can select and assign the unassigned characteristics on the tree-like display of the dimensions and characteristics. Note that for graphical assignments, no changes are permitted to the assignment of a dimension, rather only to an assignment of characteristics that are still free.

The arrow keys can be used for scrolling through the dimensions.

If the InfoCube has been activated once, then individual characteristics or key figures can no longer be deleted. You can only insert additional characteristics or key figures.

Exception: After the function InfoCube ® Delete Data, the InfoObjects are released again.

Transfer time characteristics.

Maintenance of time characteristics follows in the same way as for characteristics. You do not need to maintain any dimensions, as all time characteristics are assigned with the dimension ‘time’ implicit in them.

Transfer the key figures

This step is carried out in a similar way to the characteristics. The unit InfoObjects in the InfoCube, which you can display for inspection, result implicitly from the list of transferred key figures.

Save or Activate the InfoCube.

Only an activated InfoCube can be supplied with data and used for reporting.

Next Step

Creating Update Rules

Creating Aggregates

See also:

SAP Demo Cube