Design a Data Flow

Use the data flow editor to design data flows that define how data is extracted from its source, transformed, and loaded to a target. The data flow editor can also be used to debug or refine existing data flows.
The following steps describe how to use the data flow editor to define a data flow from scratch.
  1. If the data flow editor is not already open, open it.
    When a data flow is defined from scratch, by default the canvas contains a target transform connected to the target object that was selected when the data flow was created.
  2. From the object palette, drag a source object to the canvas.
  3. Select the appropriate input and select OK.
  4. If your data flow requires input from more than one source, repeat steps 2 and 3.
  5. As needed, drag transforms from the object palette to the canvas and enter appropriate names.
    The transforms available in the object palette depend on the type of source datastore.
    The software automatically creates an ABAP group when you drag an ABAP Query, ABAP Aggregation or custom ABAP transform onto the canvas. This group must be first in the data flow. Sources are automatically placed inside this group. In order for data to progress through the data flow, you must connect the final transform inside the ABAP group to the ABAP Endpoint object.
    When using SAP HANA analytic or calculation views as a source, you must add an Aggregation transform after the source in your data flow.
  6. Connect transforms to each other to define the sequence of the data flow. Select the yellow square on the right edge of the upstream object and drag toward the yellow square on the left edge of the object that you want to connect to.

    The system executes the steps in left-to-right order. Connections are indicated by lines that connect the output of one object to the input of another.

  7. Double-click a transform to configure the details of how data passes through it.
    You can edit the column mappings, apply filters, create joins, and perform other actions.
  8. (Optional) View a sample of the design-time data at any point in the data flow where the Design-time Data Viewer () is available.
  9. When you are done editing the data flow design, select Done to save it and close the editor.
  10. In the task editor, select the data flow and select Validate.
    Based on the validation results, make any necessary changes to the data flow.
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