Access to External Data Sources 

Use

Four different UDI options (Universal Data Integration) are available for you to access external data sources. Access is based on BI Java Connectors or the SAP BI Connector.

BI Java Connectors are a group of four JCA-enabled (J2EE Connector Architecture) resource adapters that allow you to connect applications with various data sources. Four BI Java Connectors are available:

·        BI JDBC Connector, for connecting to relational JDBC data sources

·        BI ODBO Connector, for connecting to OLE DB for OLAP-compliant data sources

·        BI SAP Query Connector, for connecting to data from SAP operational applications

·        BI XMLA Connector, for connecting to XMLA-compliant data providers such as SAP’s BW

Prerequisites

You have made the settings required for your area of application in Customizing under SAP Customizing Implementation Guide ® SAP NetWeaver ® Business Intelligence ® UDI Settings by Purpose. 

 

Features

The following graphic provides an overview of the available UDI options:

You can use UD Connect and the BI Java SDK to access external data sources. Here you can use all available BI Java Connectors.

There are also two other options available on the front end. In this way, you can access data providers from third parties that have an XMLA or ODBO interface in the BEx Report Designer, BEx Web Application Designer and in the BEx Web Analyzer. The connections to these data providers are configured in the portal with the BI ODBO Connector and the BI XMLA Connector. This provides query views that are based on external sources, BI functions such as analytical services (OLAP), broadcasting and documentation integration, for example.

In the Visual Composer, you can also access various data sources using the BI Java Connectors. With SAP NetWeaver BI, we recommend access using the SAP BI Connector, with which you can use BEx Queries or Query views that already exist.