InfoSource Types (SAP Library - Data Warehousing)

InfoSource Types

There are basically two types of InfoSources.

InfoSources with flexible updating

InfoSources with direct updating

In both cases uploaded data is transformed by the transfer rules, which have been created for the current combination of InfoSource and source system and for each InfoObject of the communication structure. A data target can be defined by several InfoSources which in turn can be defined by several source systems.

Note

An InfoSource for hierarchies can only be defined by one source system.

For characteristics, attributes or texts, a combination of flexible and direct updating is only possible for different source systems.

InfoSources with Flexible Updating

For an InfoSource with flexible updating, the data from the communications structure is loaded into the data targets (InfoCubes, ODS objects, master data) using update rules. Several data targets can be defined by one InfoSource. The InfoSource can contain transaction data as well as master data.

Note

This function is not implemented for hierarchies.

Before Release 3.0A only transaction data could be updated flexibly and it was only possible to update master data directly. Master data InfoSources were therefore distinguished from transaction data InfoSources. This is no longer the case as of Release BW 3.0A, since both transaction data and master data can be updated flexibly. You therefore cannot immediately see if it the InfoSource handles transaction data or master data with flexible updating. You should therefore specify which is the case when you define an InfoSource. This graphic is explained in the accompanying text

You have the following update options:

The data from InfoSources with master data or transaction data can be stored directly in ODS objects.

You can then update from ODS objects into further ODS objects, InfoCubes or master data tables using update rules.

It is also possible to update in InfoCubes or master data tables without having to switch between ODS objects.

InfoSources with Direct Updating

Master data (characteristics with attributes, texts or hierarchies) of an InfoObject can be updated directly (without update rules, only using transfer rules) to the master data table with an InfoSource with direct updating. To do this you must assign it application components. The characteristic is subsequently displayed in the InfoSource tree in the Administrator Workbench. You are able to assign DataSources and source systems to the characteristic from here. You are also able to load master data, texts, and hierarchies for the characteristic.

In the following cases you are not able to use an InfoObject as an InfoSource with direct updating:

The characteristic that you want to modify is characteristic 0SOURSYSTEM (source system ID).

The characteristic has neither master data, texts nor hierarchies. It is therefore impossible to load data for the characteristic.

The characteristic that you want to modify turns out to be a unit or a key figure.

To generate an export DataSource for a characteristic, the characteristic must also be an InfoSource with direct updating.