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Object documentationReal-Time InfoCubes Locate the document in its SAP Library structure

Definition

Real-time InfoCubes differ from Standard InfoCubes in their ability to support parallel write accesses. Standard InfoCubes are technically optimized for read accesses to the detriment of write accesses.

Use

Real-time InfoCubes are used in connection with the entry of planning data. See also Structure linkPlanning with BW-BPS in Overview. The data is simultaneously written into the InfoCube by multiple users. Standard InfoCubes are not suitable for this. You should use Standard InfoCubes for read-only access (for example, when reading reference data).

Structure

Real-time InfoCubes can be filled with data using two different methods: Using the transaction of BW-BPS to enter planning data and using BI staging, whereas planning data then cannot be loaded simultaneously. You have the option to convert a real-time InfoCube Select Convert Real-Time InfoCube using the context menu in your real-time InfoCube in the InfoProvider tree. By default, Real-Time Cube Can Be Planned, Data Loading Not Permitted is selected. Switch this setting to Real-Time Cube Can Be Loaded With Data; Planning Not Permitted  if you want to fill the cube with data via BI Staging.

During entry of planning data, the data is written to a real-time InfoCube data request. As soon as the number of records in a data request exceeds a threshold value, the request is closed and a rollup is carried out for this request in defined aggregates (asynchronously). You can still rollup and define aggregates, collapse, and so on, as before.

According to the database on which they are based, real-time InfoCubes differ from Standard BasisCubes in the way they are indexed and partitioned. For an Oracle DBMS this means, for example, no Bitmap indices for the fact table and no partitioning (initiated by BI) of the fact table according to the packet dimensions.

Reduced read-only performance is accepted as a drawback of real-time InfoCubes, in favor of the option of parallel (transactional) writing and improved write performance.

Creating a Real-Time InfoCube

When creating a new InfoCube in the Data Warehousing Workbench, mark the Real-Time indicator.

Converting a Standard InfoCube into a Real-Time InfoCube
Conversion with Loss of Transaction Data

If the Standard InfoCube already contains transaction data but you no longer need it (for example, test data from the implementation phase of the system), you proceed as follows:

...

       1.      In the InfoCube maintenance in the Data Warehousing Workbench choose, from the main menu, InfoCube ® Delete Data Content. The transaction data is deleted and the InfoCube is set to inactive.

       2.      Continue with the same procedure as with creating a real-time InfoCube.

Conversion with the Retention of Transaction Data

If the Standard InfoCube already contains transaction data from the production operation that you still need, proceed as follows:

Execute the SAP_CONVERT_TO_TRANSACTIONAL ABAP report under the name of the corresponding InfoCube. You should schedule this report as a background job for InfoCubes with more than 10,000 data records. This is to avoid a potentially long run-time.

Integration

The following typical scenarios arise for the use of real-time InfoCubes in BW-BPS.

1. Scenario:

Actual data (read-only access) and planned data (read-only and write access) have to be held in different InfoCubes. Therefore, use a Standard InfoCube for actual data and a real-time InfoCube for planned data. Data integration is achieved using a multi-planning area that contains the areas that are assigned to the InfoCubes. Here, access to the two different InfoCubes is controlled by the characteristic Planning area, which is automatically added.

Scenario:

In this scenario, the planned and actual data have to be together in one InfoCube. This is the case, for example, with special rolling forecast variants. Here you have to use a real-time InfoCube, since both read-only and write accesses take place. You can no longer load data directly that has already arrived in the InfoCube by means of an upload or import source. To be able to load data nevertheless, you have to make a copy of the real-time InfoCube that is identified as a Standard InfoCube and not as real-time. Data is loaded as usual here and subsequently updated to the real-time InfoCube.

 

 

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