Using the BI Query Wizard 
Purpose
The BI Query Wizard walks you through the process of creating a query using one of a set of query templates. The wizard creates a data service in the Visual Composer workspace configured with the query you choose.
After you select a template, you step through a set of screens and select appropriate values from your data service to complete the wizard and generate the result. This result is supported by an underlying MDX (for OLAP data sources) or SQL (for relational data sources) statement.
You may also configure a query directly in a data service, by dragging the data service directly onto the Visual Composer workspace. For more information, see Configuring Queries Directly in Data Services.
Prerequisites
· You have defined at least one BI system in the portal. A BI system is a system based on the BI XMLA, BI ODBO, BI JDBC, or BI SAP Query Connector, or on the SAP Connector against a BW system.
· You have created an iView in which to place your query before you launch the BI Query Wizard.
· You are connected to a portal.
The BI Query Wizard and related functionality are installed by default with Visual Composer. However, if you try to access the BI Query Wizard and receive a BI Query Wizard not available message, you need to check that the required BI components have been properly installed. To do so, see sections 2.0 – 2.2 of the SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer Installation Manual, accessed from SAP Service Marketplace at service.sap.com/nw04intallation ®SAP VC..
Process Flow
The wizard’s workflow differs depending on which type of system and which template you choose. The basic process flow is as follows:
...
1. From the BI menu, choose BI Query Wizard
Select the data service upon which you want to base the query.
The list of available templates varies depending on the type of system (OLAP or Relational) you have selected.
If you have selected a BW Web API system, you select a query in this step. See Working With BW Query Views for more information.
4. Configure the query parameters
These parameters vary depending on the query you have chosen. In the Selecting a Query Template topic, click on the individual query template to see its specific path.
6. Click Finish
Wizard Interface and Navigation
The BI Query Wizard interface consists of three main sections:
· Navigation section
The navigation section consists of navigation trails. Future steps in the trail may change based on a selection you choose on a current screen. Your past steps remain constant.
· Main section
The main section is where you configure the parameters for your query.
· Buttons section
The buttons section consists of the following buttons:
BI Query Wizard Buttons
Button |
Function |
Help |
Provides screen-level context-sensitive help for any screen in the wizard. |
Back |
Steps to the previous screen (when enabled). When you click the Back button, the values you have selected on previous or subsequent screens are retained. |
Next |
Advances to the next screen in the wizard. Values you have selected on previous screens are saved. |
Finish |
Exits the wizard and saves your query. You may click Finish at any point while using the wizard. If you have completed all required screens, a data service (configured with a start port and a view on the output port) is saved to the workspace. If you have not completed every screen, values you have configured already are saved. |
Cancel |
Returns you to the workspace without saving a data service or query. You may at any time click Cancel while using the wizard. This returns you to the workspace without saving a data service or query. |
Wizard Terminology
The BI query functionality allows you to build queries on diverse OLAP (as well as relational) data sources defined in your portal. These may include Business Information Warehouse (BW) or non-BW data sources. In cases where BW terminology differs from general OLAP terminology, the BI Query Wizard and supporting tools use the general OLAP terminology. Refer to the glossary for definitions of specific terms if you are unclear.
Below is a short summary of some of the major differences between standard OLAP and BW terms:
OLAP and BW Terminology
OLAP Term |
BW Term |
characteristic |
|
key figure |
|
characteristic level |
|
hierarchy level |
For OLAP systems, we use the caption value from your data service to display in the wizard fields. For relational systems, we display the field name from your data service.
Result
Once you have completed all required wizard screens and clicked Finish, you return to the Visual Composer workspace, where a new data service has been created with the query you have configured.
The data service is configured automatically with a start input and a table view as output. These three elements together constitute a complete iView, ready for preview and deployment to your portal.
· If you have configured your query directly in a data service instead of using the BI Query Wizard, you must configure the input and output ports of your data service manually. See Configuring Queries Directly in Data Services for more information.
· For Heatmap templates, an HTML view that generates a heatmap is created on the URL port.
· For data services based on BW-native systems, an HTML view that displays the default Web template is generated on the URL port.
To continue working with your data service and query, see:
Example
For a complete end-to-end example of using the BI Query Wizard, see Example 4: BI iView.