Update Rules 

Definition

Update rules specify how the data (key figures, time characteristics, characteristics) is updated into the InfoProvider from the communication structure of an InfoSource. You are therefore connecting an InfoSource with an InfoProvider.

In release SAP NetWeaver 2004s, the concept of update rules is replaced with the new transformation concept. You can still create update rules, but we recommend that you use the new transformation concept. Transformation offers you an easy-to-use, graphic maintenance interface. You only need to create transformation rules, and no longer need to distinguish between transfer and update rules.

Use

An update rule must be specified for each key figure and the corresponding characteristics of the InfoCube. For a DataStore object, it must be specified for the data and key fields; for an InfoObject it must be specified for the attribute and key fields.

The following update types exist:

...

       1.      No update

       2.      Addition, minimum or maximum

       3.      Overwriting (DataStore objects and InfoObjects only)

A data target can be filled with data from several InfoSources. A record of the update rules must be maintained for each of these InfoSources. This describes how the data is written into the data target from the communication structure belonging to the InfoSource.

The InfoObjects of the communication structure belonging to the InfoSource are described in the update as source InfoObjects (meaning source key figure or source characteristic). The InfoObjects for the InfoCube, on the other hand, are described as target InfoObjects (meaning target key figure or target characteristic). Similarly, the InfoObjects of a DataStore object/InfoObject are called target InfoObjects (therefore, target data field or target key field).

Structure

There is an update rule for each key figure of the InfoSource. This consists of the rule for the key figure itself and the current rules for characteristics, time characteristics, and units assigned to it.