What's
New in BI with SAP NetWeaver 7.0
This list provides an overview of the changes made to the BI documentation since SAP NetWeaver '04.
Ramp-Up Start (Support Package Stack 04)
Data Warehousing
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
Changed terminology |
Release note:
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The Data Warehousing Workbench replaces the Administrator Workbench. |
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The following functional enhancements have been made for the DataStore object: · New type of DataStore object · Enhanced settings for performance optimization of DataStore objects |
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Functional enhancements have been made in the definition of InfoSets. |
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The transformation replaces the transfer and update rules. |
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New database functions support you in optimizing performance. |
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Functional changes have been made to the documents. |
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New authorization objects have been added. |
Release note:
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Remodeling of InfoProviders supports you in information lifecycle management. |
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Repartitioning and reclustering support you in information lifecycle management. |
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The following changes and new features apply to the DataSource: There is a new object concept for the DataSource. Options for direct access to data have been enhanced. From BI, remote activation of DataSources is possible in SAP source systems. |
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The data transfer process distributes the data within BI. It replaces the InfoPackage for updating data from the PSA, and the Data Mart Interface for updating data from one InfoProvider to another. |
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Functional changes have been made to the Persistent Staging Area (PSA). |
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The InfoPackage is only used for loading into the PSA when the new concepts (transformation, DataSource, data transfer process) are used. |
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BI supports real-time data acquisition. |
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The process chains have been functionally enhanced. |
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BI provides functions for background management of BI processes. |
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BI provides functions for archiving request administration data. |
BI Platform
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
Time-dependent hierarchies can be analyzed temporally in a query with a key date derivation type. |
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In addition to relational aggregates, the BI accelerator allows you to improve the performance of BI queries when reading data from an InfoCube. |
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Quantity conversion enables key figures with different units to be converted into a uniform unit of measure. |
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There is a new concept for analysis authorizations (previously: reporting authorizations). |
Support Package Stack 05
SAP NetWeaver 7.0 SP Stack 05 contains the following new features and enhancements:
BI Suite: Business Explorer
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
The Business Explorer provides a newly implemented version of the tools. There is also a new tool, the BEx Report Designer. Within enterprise reporting you can use this tool to create formatted reports that are optimized for presentation and printing. |
BI Platform
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
Business planning with SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence provides a complete solution that is integrated into the BI system and can be used to create and use planning scenarios and other applications. This solution is called BI Integrated Planning. This planning tool uses the same data basis as BW-BPS and can run in parallel in a system. |
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You use the TREX search engine to search for BI metadata in different modes: the simple search is a pure text search; the advanced search provides a function for searching by attribute and a function for searching according to specific restrictions, as well as a full-text search. On the Metadata Indexing tab page for the BI metadata search in the Administration functional area of the Data Warehousing Workbench, you can use Metadata Search/ Documents to check the required settings and to index metadata. |
Support Package Stack 06
SAP NetWeaver 7.0 SP Stack 06 contains the following new features and enhancements:
Data Warehousing
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
The open hub destination now has its own maintenance interface and can be connected to the data transfer process as an independent object. |
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A unified maintenance interface for DataSources makes it easier to create and change DataSources in BI. You can create and update DataSources for file source systems, UD Connect, DB Connect, and Web services here. You can display DataSources from SAP source systems and define various properties for the DataSources. Emulation supports the display of 3.x DataSources in DataSource maintenance and the use of the 3.x DataSource in a data flow with transformations. The migration of 3.x DataSources supports the conversion of old data flows to a data flow with transformation and data transfer processes. This allows you to use real-time data acquisition, for example. |
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The BI accelerator monitor is used for the technical administration and maintenance of the BI accelerator. It provides an overview of the current status of the BI accelerator. |
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When errors occur it can be useful to record system responses in the form of traces for the BI accelerator. SAP support has tools to evaluate these traces. |
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In the Translation functional area of the Data Warehousing Workbench, you can collect all the dependent objects for one or more metadata objects in the BI system and then translate their short and long texts. With the integration into the translation planner and the translation environment (transaction SE63), this procedure has changed. |
BI Platform
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
A trace is a self-contained quantity of logged user actions. The trace tool environment (transaction RSTT) has special tools to record and play back traces (trace tool) as well as to process automatic regression tests (computer-aided test tool). The trace tool environment replaces the OLAP trace tool (transactions RSRTRACE and RSRCATTTRACE) and provides all of the functions necessary for a clearly enhanced application area. |
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The following enhancements and changes have been made in the area of manual planning in BW-BPS: ● +/- sign determination when you enter plan data has been improved. ● BW-BPS uses the lock management concept of BI Integrated Planning. ● Handling comparison columns in the planning layout: Reference data and plan data that is to be edited are handled separately so that reference data is not locked. |
Automatic Sign Assignment (Result section) Locking Transaction Data (Lock Management section) Customizing with Reference to the Locking Concept (section on handling comparison columns in the planning layout) |
You can use the BW-BPS Status and Tracking System (STS) with BI Integrated Planning. This is useful if you are already using BW-BPS with the Status and Tracking System but want to use additional functions from BI Integrated Planning. |
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An example of how to integrate a BEx Web application has been added to the documentation on the Web Interface Builder in BW-BPS, along with information about the enhancement options provided by class CL_UPWB_BSP_APPL. |
Integration of BEx Web Applications Creating IFRAMEs for BEx Web Applications Filter Values from BW-BPS Variables Filter Values from Row Selection in Planning Layouts Enhancements for Web Interfaces
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BI Suite: Business Explorer
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
Query Design: BEx Query Designer ● A newly implemented variable editor allows variables to be defined and edited. In addition, new functions are available such as replacing a variable with another variable or defining noncontextual variables. ● Quantity conversion: In the properties of the selections and restricted key figures, you can set a target quantity for the structural component. ● Publishing to the portal: You can publish queries directly to the Portal Content Directory (PCD) as iViews from the menu bar. |
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BEx Web Web Application Design: BEx Web Application Designer ● The parameters for the Chart Web item have been simplified. In the Chart Designer, you can assign values from the current color palette using direct input. The documentation has been extended to include the new Gantt diagram and MTA chart types. ● In the Web Application Designer, a migration tool is available. You use this to migrate Web templates from SAP BW 3.x format to SAP NetWeaver 7.0 format. ● The Properties Pane Web item allows you to display and change the properties of a Web item. ● Depending on the business case, you need to address some basic questions when creating Web applications. These questions allow you to use the BEx Web Application Designer and BEx Web Design API to design Web applications that match your requirements. In addition, examples are given of typical aspects of Web application design. ● Enterprise Reporting ● You can use the BEx Report Designer to easily and intuitively create reports that are optimized for presentations and printing. Tasks for System Administration You can reorganize and delete bookmarks. BI Patterns The documentation has been extended to include the Information Consumer Pattern. |
Chart, Assigning Colors and Chart Types Migration Tool and Migrating Web Templates Creating a Web Application and Web Application Examples --------------------------------------------------------------- Functions of the Report Designer, Working with the Report Designer, Creating Reports with the Report Designer --------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
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General Services in BEx You can create print versions of BI applications. To do this, you first export the selected Web application or workbook to PDF format. You can then print the PDF version. A dialog is provided to support you in creating print versions. You use this dialog to specify the layout of the print version. |
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Information Broadcasting The documentation has been extended and includes information about using text variables. |
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Integrating Content from BI into the Portal ● You can publish queries from the BEx Query Designer, Web applications from the BEx Web Application Designer, and reports from the BEx Report Designer as iViews to the Portal Content Directory (PCD). ● BEx Web applications or queries can be displayed as iViews in various portals with the help of various concepts. ○ Portal from SAP NetWeaver 7.0 ○ SAP Enterprise Portal 6.0 ○ Portal from third-party provider |
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BEx Analyzer In the BEx Analyzer, you can execute a report on the Web without starting the Web Application Designer. You can drill down and collapse the characteristics in a report by double-clicking them. You can change the position of a design item in a workbook using drag and drop. |
Support Package Stack 07
SAP NetWeaver 7.0 SP Stack 07 contains the following new features and enhancements:
Data Warehousing
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
New authorization objects have been added. |
Release note:
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The migration of update rules, 3.x InfoObjects, and transfer rules is supported. |
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Near-line storage has been added to information lifecycle management. |
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A where-used list for requests makes it possible to display dependent target requests for a source request. |
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The Administration functional area of the Data Warehousing Workbench has been enhanced. |
Release note:
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The documentation for TLOGO objects has been updated. |
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On the Metadata Indexing tab page for the BI metadata search in the Administration functional area of the Data Warehousing Workbench, you can use Metadata Search/ Documents to check the settings required for the BI metadata search and to index the metadata. The user interface has been redesigned. |
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The entry section for technical content has been updated. |
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Certification of partner content allows you to officially document the technical quality of your content for your customers. |
BI Platform
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
Processing of subqueries can now be performed independently of the type of InfoProvider. |
Processing Queries; see also Not Using Parallel Processing. |
Using the new BIA index maintenance wizard, you can create and activate a BI accelerator index, each in one step, and then fill or delete it as necessary. The relevant parts of the BI accelerator documentation have been modified accordingly. |
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Functions have been added to the BI accelerator monitor (Goto menu, BI Accelerator menu). |
Using the BI Accelerator Monitor |
Numerous new tests for the BI accelerator are now available in the analysis and repair environment. |
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The area of BI query runtime statistics has been documented in detail. |
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The documentation for BI Integrated Planning has been extended.
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Authorizations for BI Integrated Planning For modeling planning scenarios in the planning modeler: ● Changing Variable Values in the Planning Modeler ● Standard Planning Function Types, in particular Forecasting Creation of Planning Applications ● Creating Planning Applications in the BEx Analyzer ● Creating Planning Applications in the BEx Web Application Designer ● As part of the Web Design API: Commands for Planning Applications ● In the BEx Analyzer: Functions for Manual Planning |
The documentation of the BW-BPS Web Interface Builder has been revised and enhanced with respect to the design templates and the new BW-BPS design. |
BI Suite: Business Explorer
New Features and Changes |
Link to Documentation |
Query Design: BEx Query Designer Changes have been made to the definition of noncontextual variables in the variable editor. Only exit variables can be marked as noncontextual. |
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BEx Web Web Application Design: BEx Web Application Designer There is now a new Script Web item, which can be used to insert JavaScript functions into Web templates. In the Dropdown Box Web item, the Fixed List of Options: Manual Update (STATIC_OPTION_LIST_MANUAL) data binding type has been added. The examples "Creating Planning Applications in the BEx Web Application Designer" and "Using JavaScript in the Dropdown Box Web Item" have been added to the examples for Web applications. Web Design API Various data provider commands and their parameters have been documented in more detail. You can now use parameters to call Web applications. To enhance Web applications, a JavaScript API is now available, with which you can also execute commands within JavaScript functions to achieve a more flexible design for your Web Application. The heatmap (also smart map) and milestone trend analysis (MTA) chart types are now documented. Enterprise Reporting Reports from the Report Designer are displayed in the portal (Web) using the standard Web template for reports. Using conditional formatting, individual characteristic values can be highlighted in a report with a dynamic section. In the BEx Report Designer, you can create a balance sheet that contains assets and liabilities next to each other. |
Data Binding Type STATIC_OPTION_LIST_MANUAL Creating Planning Applications in the BEx Web Application Designer Using JavaScript in the Dropdown Box Web Item --------------------------------------------------------------- Data Provider Commands for Axes Data Provider Commands for Characteristics Data Provider Commands for Documents Commands for Planning Applications Using Parameters to Call Web Applications Standard Web Template for Reports Creating Conditional Formatting Balance Sheet: Arranging Assets and Liabilities Beside Each Other
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General Services in BEx The search functions in the BEx open dialog now include an advanced search in BI object attributes as an additional search method. You can now overwrite existing BI objects when you save new BI objects. There are some restrictions you need to note when using the various BEx tools and runtimes from SAP BW 3.x and SAP NetWeaver 7.0. |
Runtime and Design-Time Cross-Dependencies: SAP BW 3.x and SAP NetWeaver 7.0 |
Support Package Stack 08
As of SAP NetWeaver
7.0 SP Stack 08, you can find more information about new features in and
enhancements to the documentation, as well as new functional features and
changes, under
Release Notes by NetWeaver Systems and
Standalone Engines in
the relevant sections:
● Release Notes for Usage Type BI
● Release Notes for Usage Type BI Java