Adding In-database Data from SAP BW


Follow the steps below to add a connection with in-database data to SAP BW.

  1. Select File > Add Data Tables.

  2. In the Add Data Tables dialog, click Add > Connection To > SAP BW.

  3. In the  SAP BW Connection dialog, enter the information and credentials for the data source you want to connect to.

  4. Click Connect.

    Response: Spotfire connects to the specified server, and retrieves the names of the available catalogs, cubes and BEx queries.

  5. In the Catalog drop-down list, you can narrow down the amount of listed cubes. Cubes containing BEx queries are listed, but you can also select (All cubes) if you do not want to narrow down the selection.

  6. In the Cube or query drop-down list, select the cube or query of interest.

    Comment: If a name is preceded by a dollar sign ($) in the drop-down list, it is a cube, otherwise it is a BEx query.

  7. Click OK.

    Response: The Data Selection in Connection dialog opens.

  8. Comment: If you selected a BEx query with variables, the BEx variables will automatically be added to the Data selection in connection list. If a variable is 'Mandatory' or 'Mandatory not initial', you must define a value or configure prompting  for that variable, unless a default value has been defined already. Click on each variable to display its settings and click Define Value to specify values for each variable.

  9. In the left pane, click on the object of interest, and then click Add >.

    Comment: If you select the cube icon, you will get all data in the cube. When it comes to hierarchies, you always have to add the entire hierarchy to the list, but you can limit data further, see step 12.

    Response: The selected data is added to the Data selection in connection list.

  10. Dimension columns and hierarchies can be further limited by clicking on the selected column or hierarchy in the Data selection in connection list and then, in the Settings pane, clicking Limit....

    Response: The Limit Data dialog opens.

  11. Clear the check boxes for categories that you want to remove from the selection.

  12. Click OK to close the Limit Data dialog.

  13. When you are done with the data selection, click OK.

    Response: The connection is added to the Data tables list in the Add Data Tables dialog.

  14. In the Add Data Tables dialog, make sure the data table, and not the connection, is selected in the Data tables list and, under Load method, click Keep data external.

  15. Click OK.

Tip: Do all of the data selection work in a shared data connection and save it to the library instead of adding it to the analysis directly. This way you can reuse the work you have done later, or share your selections with others.

See also:

Working With Data from SAP BW

Best Practices for the SAP BW Connector