Virtual InfoCubes with Services 

Definition

A virtual InfoCube with services is an InfoCube that does not physically store its own data in BW. The data source is a user-defined function module. You have a number of options for defining the properties of the data source more precisely. Depending on these properties, the data manager provides services to convert the parameters and data.

Use

You use a virtual InfoCube with services if you want to display data from non-BW data sources in BW without having to copy the data set into the BW structures. The data can be local or remote. You can also use your own calculations to change the data before it is passed to the OLAP processor.

This function is used primarily in the SAP Strategic Enterprise Management (SEM) application.

In comparison to the RemoteCube, the virtual InfoCube with services is more generic. It offers more flexibility, but also requires more implementation effort.

Structure

When you create an InfoCube you can specify the type. If you choose Virtual InfoCube with Services as the type for your InfoCube, an extra Detail pushbutton appears on the interface. This pushbutton opens an additional dialog box, in which you define the services.

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       1.      Enter the name of the function module that you want to use as the data source for the virtual InfoCube. There are different default variants for the interface of this function module. One method for defining the correct variant, together with the description of the interfaces, is given at the end of this documentation.

       2.      The next step is to select options for converting/simplifying the selection conditions. You do this by selecting the Convert Restrictions option. These conversions only change the transfer table in the user-defined function module. The result of the query is not changed because the restrictions that are not processed by the function module are checked later in the OLAP processor.

Options:

○     No restrictions: If this option is selected, no restrictions are passed to the InfoCube.

○     Only global restrictions: If this option is selected, only global restrictions (FEMS = 0) are passed to the function module. Other restrictions (FEMS > 0) that are created, for example, by setting restrictions on columns in queries, are deleted.

○     Simplify selections: Currently this option is not yet implemented.

○     Expand hierarchy restrictions: If this option is selected, restrictions on hierarchy nodes are converted into the corresponding restrictions on the characteristic value.

       3.      Pack RFC: This option packs the parameter tables in BAPI format before the function module is called and unpacks the data table that is returned by the function module after the call is performed. Since this option is only useful in conjunction with a remote function call, you have to define a logical system that is used to determine the target system for the remote function call, if you select this option.

       4.      SID support: If the data source of the function module can process SIDs, you should select this option.
If this is not possible, the characteristic values are read from the data source and the data manager determines the SIDs dynamically. In this case, wherever possible, restrictions that are applied to SID values are converted automatically into the corresponding restrictions for the characteristic values.

       5.      With navigation attributes: If this option is selected, navigation attributes and restrictions applied to navigation attributes are passed to the function module.
If this option is not selected, the navigation attributes are read in the data manager once the user-defined function module has been executed. In this case, in the query, you need to have selected the characteristics that correspond to these attributes. Restrictions applied to the navigation attributes are not passed to the function module in this case.

       6.      Internal format (key figures): In SAP systems a separate format is often used to display currency key figures. The value in this internal format is different from the correct value in that the decimal places are shifted. You use the currency tables to determine the correct value for this internal representation.
If this option is selected, the OLAP processor incorporates this conversion during the calculation.

Dependencies

If you use a remote function call, SID support must be switched off and the hierarchy restrictions must be expanded.

Description of the interfaces for user-defined function modules

Variant 1:

Variant 2:

Additional parameters for variant 2 for transferring hierarchy restrictions, if they are not expanded:

With hierarchy restrictions, an entry for the 'COMPOP' = 'HI' (for hierarchy) field is created at the appropriate place in table I_T_RANGE (for FEMS 0) or I_TX_RANGETAB (for FEMS > 0), and the 'LOW' field contains a number that can be used to read the corresponding hierarchy restriction from table I_TSX_HIER, using field 'POSIT' .  Table i_tsx_hier has the following type:

Variant 3:

SAP advises against using this interface.

The interface is intended for internal use only and only half of it is given here.

Note that SAP may change the structures used in the interface.

Method for determining the correct variant for the interface

The following list describes the procedure for determining the correct interface for the user-defined function module. Go through the list from top to the bottom. The first appropriate case is the variant that you should use:

If Pack RFC is activated: Variant 1

If SID Support is deactivated: Variant 2