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Combination of Data Providers in a QueryLocate this document in the navigation structure

Use

You use this function to combine data providers that belong to one query.

In some cases the data necessary for analysis is not provided by a single data provider. Rather, the system must retrieve the data from different data providers. If the data providers use the same data provision technology, it is possible to combine the data in this technology (for example, SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Search). For data providers using data provision technologies such as BAPI and Web Service, you can combine the data by implementing a special ABAP class for each search connector. In all other cases, you must combine the data from the different data providers during query processing.

Note

You can combine a maximum of two search connectors in a query. One of the search connectors is the primary search connector, the other the secondary search connector. This distinction specifies the position of the search connector in the join. The primary search connector is left side search connector, while the secondary one is the right side search connector. This also determines the order in which the system sends search requests to the search connectors, the primary search connector being the first to receive search requests.

Features

You can join data providers in the following ways:

  • In the configuration center, choose Start of the navigation path Define BCV Queries Next navigation step Combine Search Connectors End of the navigation path.

  • In Customizing, under Start of the navigation path Cross-Application Components Next navigation step Processes and Tools for Enterprise Applications Next navigation step Business Context Viewer Next navigation step Query Management Next navigation step Define BCV Queries End of the navigation path, you specify the required data under Query Join and Query Join Criteria. For More information, see Definition of Query Join and Definition of Query Join Criteria.

Recommendation

Using the configuration center is the recommended approach to making configuration settings in BCV. You should use Customizing only in exceptional cases. For more information, see Configuration Center.

The following methods are available for joining data providers:

  • Inner join

    In this method the result set contains a joint data record for each pair of data record of the first and the second data provider that match according to the join criteria you defined. You should use this type of join if the information from the second data provider is essential for the requested analysis.

    Example

    In an analysis of sales volume per city, the data provider Sales Order (SO) does not contain information about the city customers are located at. This information is contained in the Customer (CU) data provider. Therefore, these two data providers must be combined by the CUST_NO (customer number) field to provide the requested analysis.



  • Left outer join

    In this method the result set contains all joint data records resulting from the inner join, as well as a joint data record for each data record of the first data provider for which there is no matching data record of the second data provider. In the case of the latter, all fields of the second data provider in the joint data record are initial. You should use this type of join if the second data provider only provides auxiliary information that is not essential for the requested analysis.

    Example

    In the display of quality notifications that contain information regarding the reason of the complaint, the Quality Notification (QN) data provider contains damage codes only in their internal representation. The external representation is only available in the Damage Code (DC) data provider. Therefore, these two data providers must be combined by the CODE_GRP (code group) and D_CODE (damage code) fields to provide a textual description of damage codes.