Creating InfoObjects

InfoObjects are divided into characteristics, key figures, units, time characteristics and technical characteristics. InfoObjects are the smallest information units in BW. They structure the information needed to create InfoProviders.

InfoObjects with attributes or texts can themselves also be InfoProviders (if used in a query).

Characteristics are sorting keys, such as company code, product, customer group, fiscal year, period, or region. They specify classification options for the dataset and are therefore reference objects for the key figures. In the InfoCube, for example, characteristics are stored in dimensions. These dimensions are linked by dimension IDs to the key figures in the fact table. The characteristics determine the granularity (the degree of detail) at which the key figures are stored in the InfoCube. In general, an InfoProvider contains only a sub-quantity of the characteristic values from the master data table. The attributes include the permitted values for a characteristic. XXL attributes are a special form of these attributes. You can save additional information on a characteristic as data type STRING or XSTRING in XXL attributes.

The key figures provide the values that are reported on in a query. Key figures can be quantity, amount, or number of items. They form the data part of an InfoProvider.

Units are also required so that the values for the key figures have meanings. Key figures of type amount are always assigned a currency key and key figures of type quantity also receive a unit of measurement.

Time characteristics are characteristics such as date, fiscal year, and so on.

Technical characteristics are used for administrative purposes only within BW. An example of a technical characteristic is the request number in the InfoCube. This is generated when you load a request as an ID and helps you locate the request at a later date.

Special features of characteristics:

If characteristics have attributes, texts or hierarchies at their disposal, then refer to these as master data-bearing characteristics. More information: Using Master Data and Master Data-Bearing Characteristics

Master data is data that remains unchanged over a long period of time. Master data contains information that is always needed in the same way. References to this master data can be made in all InfoProviders.

A hierarchy is always created for a characteristic. This characteristic is the basic characteristic for the hierarchy (basic characteristics are characteristics that do not reference other characteristics). Like attributes, hierarchies provide a structure for the values of a characteristic. The company location is an example of an attribute for Customer. You use this, for example, to form customer groups for a specific region. You can also define a hierarchy to make the structure of the Customer characteristic clearer.

Special features of key figures:

A key figure is assigned additional properties that influence the way that data is loaded and how the query is displayed. This includes the assignment of a currency or unit of measure, setting aggregation and exception aggregation, and specifying the number of decimal places in the query.