SAP HANA is a platform, independent from AS ABAP, used for high-performance analysis of large volumes of data. SAP HANA works with the
SAP HANA database, which is based on in-memory technology.
AS ABAP can access the SAP HANA database of a standalone SAP HANA appliance (combined hardware and software system) using a
secondary connection and, for example,
ADBC. Various tools and accelerators
are available for replicating data from the database of an AS ABAP to the SAP HANA database, to enable high-performance analyses.
Furthermore, an SAP HANA database can be implemented as the
standard AS ABAP database. The database tables and other AS ABAP objects managed in ABAP Dictionary are then saved in the
ABAP database schema. Database tables of this type can be accessed using Open SQL, Native SQL, or
AMDP. With respect to ABAP programs,
SAP HANA databases behave in this case in the same way as a regular relational database. All HANA-specific functions are wrapped by the
database interface and access is optimized to the greatest extent possible. It also enables access to the special entities
SAP HANA views and
database procedures written in SQL Script.
To exploit the in-memory properties of the SAP HANA database in an optimum way, however, application
logic must be passed in a suitable form from the application server to the SAP HANA database. This can be done, for example, using suitably programmed
joins or by using
SQL expressions in
Open SQL or in
ABAP CDS. If the anchor methods in Open SQL or ABAP CDS are not enough, parts of the application logic must be programmed separately under
SAP HANA XS in a tool such as
SAP Web IDE for SAP HANA. The following methods are available, with the most complex listed first:
Attribute views - Selected columns of joins between tables. Attribute views are created in a graphical tool and transformed internally to SQL.
Analytic views - A combination of table data and aggregated data from one or more tables. Analytic views are created in a graphical tool and transformed internally to SQL.
Calculation views - A combination of table data or data from other views in which complex conditions
and calculations are possible. Calculation views are either created in a graphical tool and transformed internally to SQLScript or can be programmed using SQLScript.
Programming of dedicated database procedures in
L. This programming is only allowed internally at SAP and not for customers and partners.
The self-programmed HANA objects are managed by SAP HANA XS. Here, current
SAP HANA XSA objects are distinguished from the preceding
SAP HANA XSC objects. The XSC objects are intended for migration to XSA.
The following sections show specific methods that can be used when accessing entities of the SAP HANA database from ABAP programs: