Archive Information System
Use
The Archive Information System (AS) is a generic tool for indexing data archives that is fully integrated into the SAP data archiving environment . The indexes that are created, and which are called the Archive Information Structure, let you display the archived data.
Features
The archive information structure includes the following components:
Archive Retrieval Configurator (ARC)
The ARC enables you to create archive information structures with the help of field catalogs, and to fill the structures with data from the archive. The archive information structure, which represents a kind of archive index, provides the basis for archive data reporting.
In the Archive Retrieval Configurator, you can decide whether you want to store your archive information structures on the standard database of the SAP system or on a secondary database (Sybase IQ). Storing archive information structures on a Sybase IQ database provides faster access to your data and relieves the SAP system database as the archiving indexes are stored on an "external" database. For more information, see SAP Library for SAP ERP under 
Cross-Application Functions in SAP ERP 
Cross-Application Components Information Lifecycle Management
.
Archive Explorer
The Archive Explorer enables fast searches of archived data. It does this by accessing the archive information structures that have been created and then stored in transparent database tables using the Archive Retrieval Configurator. Furthermore, the Archive Explorer allows direct access of individual data objects in the archive, which can then be displayed in both technical and application-specific views.
See also: