Maintaining Generic DataSources 

Use

Regardless of the application, you can create and maintain generic DataSources for transaction data, master data attributes or texts from any transparent table, database view or SAP Query InfoSet, or using a function module. This allows you to extract data generically.

Procedure

Creating Generic DataSources

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       1.      Select the DataSource type and give it a technical name.

       2.      Choose Create.

The screen for creating a generic DataSource appears.

       3.      Choose an application component to which the DataSource is to be assigned.

       4.      Enter the descriptive texts. You can choose any text.

       5.      Choose from which datasets the generic DataSource is to be filled.

                            a.      Choose Extraction from View if you want to extract data from a transparent table or a database view. Enter the name of the table or the database view.

After you generate the DataSource, you have a DataSource with an extraction structure that corresponds to the database view or transparent table.

For more information about creating and maintaining database views and tables, see the ABAP Dictionary Documentation.

                            b.      Choose Extraction from Query, if you want to use a SAP query InfoSet as the data source. Select the required InfoSet from the InfoSet catalog.

Notes on Extraction Using SAP Query

After you generate the DataSource, you have a DataSource with an extraction structure that corresponds to the InfoSet.

For more information about maintaining the InfoSet, see the System Administration documentation.

                            c.      Choose Extraction Using FM if you want to extract data using a function module. Enter the function module and extraction structure.

The data must be transferred by the function module in an interface table E_T_DATA.

Interface Description and Extraction Process

For information about the function library, see the ABAP Workbench: Tools documentation.

                            d.      With texts, you also have the option of extraction from domain fixed values.

       6.      Maintain the settings for delta transfer where appropriate.

       7.      Choose Save.

When extracting, look at SAP Query: Assigning to a User Group.

Note when extracting from a transparent table or view:

If the extraction structure contains a key figure field that references a unit of measure or a currency unit field, this unit field has to be included in the same extraction structure as the key figure field.

A screen appears on which you can edit the fields of the extraction structure.

       8.      Editing the DataSource:

○       Selection

When scheduling a data request in the SAP NetWeaver BW scheduler, you can enter the selection criteria for the data transfer. For example, you can determine that data requests are only to apply to data from the previous month.

If you set the Selection indicator for a field within the extract structure, the data for this field is transferred in correspondence with the selection criteria in the scheduler.

○       Hide field

You set this indicator to exclude an extraction structure field from the data transfer. The field is no longer available for the DataSource in SAP NetWeaver BW.

○       Inversion

Reverse postings are possible for customer-defined key figures. Therefore inversion is only active for certain transaction data DataSources. These include DataSources that have a field that is indicated as an inversion field, for example, the field update mode in the DataSource 0FI_AP_3. If this field has a value, then the data records are interpreted as reverse records in SAP NetWeaver BW.

If you want to carry out a reverse posting for a customer-defined field (key figure), set the Inversion indicator. The value of the key figure is then transferred in inverted form (multiplied by –1) into SAP NetWeaver BW.

○       Field only known in exit

You can enhance data by extending the extraction structure for a DataSource by adding fields in append structures.

The Field Only Known in Exit indicator is set for the fields of an append structure; by default these fields are not passed to the extractor from the field list and selection table.

Deselect the Field Only Known in Exit indicator to enable the Service API to pass on the append structure field to the extractor together with the fields of the delivered extract structures in the field list and in the selection table.

9. Choose DataSource → Generate.

The DataSource is saved in the source system.

Maintaining Generic DataSources

●      Change DataSource

To change a generic DataSource, in the initial screen of DataSource maintenance, enter the name of the DataSource and choose Change.

You can change the assignment of a DataSource to an application component or change the texts of a DataSource. Double-click on the name of the table, view, InfoSet or extraction structure to get to the appropriate maintenance screen. Here you make the changes to add new fields. You can also completely swap transparent tables and database views, though this is not possible with InfoSets. Return to DataSource maintenance and choose Create. The screen for editing a DataSource appears. To save the DataSource in the SAP source system, choose DataSource →  Generate.

If you want to test extraction in the source system independently of a BW system, choose DataSource  →  Test Extraction.

●      Delta DataSource

On the Change Generic DataSource screen, you can delete any DataSources that are no longer relevant. If you are extracting data from an InfoSet, delete the associated query. If you want to delete a DataSource, make sure it is not connected to a BI system.

For more information about extracting using SAP Query, see Extraction using the SAP Query.