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Creating an Open ODS ViewLocate this document in the navigation structure

Open ODS views allow the flexible integration of external data sources into BW, without the need to create InfoObjects. In BW modeling tools, you can create simple Open ODS views and enhance them in stages for closer data integration.

Creating a Simple Open ODS View
  1. You are in the BW Modeling tools. In the context menu for your BW project, choose Start of the navigation path New Next navigation step Open ODS View End of the navigation path.
  2. In the dialog box for creating an Open ODS view, you specify the name of the Open ODS view and the name of the InfoArea assignment. You also specify semantics and the source object of the Open ODS view.

    More information: Specifying Semantics and Source for Open ODS View

  3. In the Open ODS view maintenance screen, you specify the structure of the Open ODS view. To do this, sort the fields of the source object into field categories of the Open ODS view. The selection of categories available for assigning fields depends on the semantics of the Open ODS view. Field categories for facts include characteristics, key figures, currencies or units.

    The properties of the Open ODS view fields are set by either the source of the Open ODS view field or a system default. The properties are different for fields of different categories. They describe, for example, the aggregation behavior for key figures. For characteristics, for example, the properties specify whether the characteristics are authorization-relevant.

    More information:

    Specifying the Structure of the Open ODS View

    Displaying Initial Properties for Open ODS View Fields

  4. You can now check, save and activate the Open ODS view. This means the view is now available for use and you can virtually use the data source of the Open ODS view, for example, in BW queries. In further steps you can also flexibly enhance the Open ODS view.
    1. Check the Open ODS view (Check BW Object).

      The system displays the check log in the problems view in BW modeling tools.

    2. [Optional:] Check the query behavior of the Open ODS view, by using the standard query in the BW query monitor.

      More information: BW Reporting Preview View

    3. Save (Save) and activate (Activate BW Object) the Open ODS view.
Additional Editing for Open ODS Views
  1. If you perform further editing on an Open ODS view, you can specify various properties and combine the data source of the Open ODS view with BW models (InfoObjects).

    • You can adjust and change the properties of the Open ODS view fields. In particular, you can add associations of other Open ODS views and/or InfoObjects to fields:

      • Using associations on fields of type "characteristic", you can link an Open ODS view to master data and texts of other Open ODS views or InfoObjects. This allows you to inherit properties from the associated object, assign additional key fields (compounding) and use texts and navigation attributes of the associated objects in queries on the Open ODS view.

      • In the case of fields with type "key figure", you can add associations to InfoObjects. This is particularly relevant if you want to reuse formulas or variables (defined on the associated InfoObject) in queries.

    • As with an InfoObject, the Open ODS view can combine language-independent semantics for the attribute keys with language-dependent semantics for texts. You can add extra semantics for an Open ODS view that you initially created with one of the two other semantics (texts or attributes).

    • You can swap the source object in the Open ODS view.

    More information:

    Changing Properties for Fields of Type "Characteristic"

    Changing Properties for Fields of Type "Key Figure"

    Adding Texts or Attributes

    Replacing the Source of an Open ODS View

  2. After you have finished the additional editing, check, save and activate the Open ODS view.