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SAP Variables 
Definition
In SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence, variables are a means of parameterizing queries.
Variables can also be used in Open Analysis Interfaces using various BI-specific enhancements to the MDX syntax. In this context, variables are called SAP variables.

For more information about BI-specific enhancements, see:
§ BI-Specific Enhancement: Schema-Rowset SAP VARIABLESsapurl_link_0007_0002_0009
§ BI-Specific Enhancement: MDX Syntaxsapurl_link_0007_0003_0009
Use
Variables function as placeholders for the following objects:
Name in SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence |
Name in OLE DB for OLAP Specification |
Characteristic values, hierarchy nodes, pre-calculated value sets |
MEMBER_UNIQUE_NAME |
Hierarchies |
HIERARCHY_UNIQUE_NAME |
Formula Variables |
Number Value |
Text Variables |
Strings |

Variables for characteristic values, hierarchy nodes and pre-calculated value sets differ from each other in the following ways for the SAP VARIABLES schema rowset REFERENCE_HIERARCHY:
§
With
characteristic variables, REFERENCE_HIERARCHY =
REFERENCE_DIMENSION.
§ With hierarchy node variables, REFERENCE_HIERARCHY is either filled with the technical name of the hierarchy or, with a variable hierarchy, it remains empty. Note: The hierarchy name must also be specified in member HryUnam for method GetMembers for the MDDataProviderBW Business object (see MDDataProviderBW.GetMemberspurl_link_0007_0004_0009).
§ With pre-defined value sets, REFERENCE_HIERARCHY is filled with the corresponding technical name and is never empty.
For more information, see BI-Specific Enhancement: SAP VARIABLES Schema Rowset.
Variables can be displayed as follows:
· a single value such as a MEMBER_UNIQUE_NAME
· an interval as value area
· or complex selection of values (such as a list of single values or intervals connected to one another with OR).
· selection options (special selection options can be entered via <option>, see BI-Specific Enhancement: MDX Syntax)

For more information about variables in BI, see the Business Explorer documentation via the following links:
§ Variable Typessapurl_link_0007_0007_0009
§ Variable Types and Processing Types: An Overviewsapurl_link_0007_0008_0009
§ Detailssapurl_link_0007_0009_0009