1.
What
are the extractor types?
Application
Specific
o
BW
Content
FI,
HR, CO, SAP CRM, LO Cockpit
o
Customer-Generated
Extractors
LIS,
FI-SL, CO-PA
Cross
Application (Generic Extractors)
o
DB
View, InfoSet, Function Module
2.
What
are the steps involved in LO Extraction?
The
steps are:
o
RSA5
Select the DataSources
o
LBWE
Maintain DataSources and Activate Extract Structures
o
LBWG
Delete Setup Tables
o
0LI*BW
Setup tables
o
RSA3
Check extraction and the data in Setup tables
o
LBWQ
Check the extraction queue
o
LBWF
Log for LO Extract Structures
o
RSA7
BW
Delta Queue Monitor
3.
How
to create a connection with LIS InfoStructures?
LBW0
Connecting LIS InfoStructures to BW
4.
What
is the difference between ODS and InfoCube and MultiProvider?
ODS:
Provides granular data, allows overwrite and data is in transparent
tables, ideal for drilldown and RRI.
CUBE:
Follows the star schema, we can only append data, ideal for primary
reporting.
MultiProvider:
Does not have physical data. It allows to access data from different
InfoProviders (Cube, ODS, InfoObject). It is also preferred for
reporting.
5.
What
are Start routines, Transfer routines and Update routines?
Start
Routines:
The start routine is run for each DataPackage after the data has been
written to the PSA and before the transfer rules have been executed.
It
allows complex computations for a key figure or a characteristic. It
has no return value. Its purpose is to execute preliminary
calculations and to store them in global DataStructures. This
structure or table can be accessed in the other routines. The
entire DataPackage in the transfer structure format is used as a
parameter for the routine.
Transfer
/ Update Routines:
They are defined at the InfoObject level. It is like the Start
Routine. It is independent of the DataSource. We can use this to
define Global Data and Global Checks.
6.
What
is the difference between start routine and update routine, when, how
and why are they called?
Start
routine can be used to access InfoPackage while update routines are
used while updating the Data Targets.
7.
What
is the table that is used in start routines?
Always
the table structure will be the structure of an ODS or InfoCube. For
example if it is an ODS then active table structure will be the
table.
8.
Explain
how you used Start routines in your project?
Start
routines are used for mass processing of records. In start routine
all the records of DataPackage is available for processing. So we can
process all these records together in start routine. In one of
scenario, we wanted to apply size % to the forecast data. For example
if material M1 is forecasted to say 100 in May. Then after applying
size %(Small 20%, Medium 40%, Large 20%, Extra Large 20%), we wanted
to have 4 records against one single record that is coming in the
info package. This is achieved in start routine.
9.
What
are Return Tables?
When
we want to return multiple records, instead of single value, we use
the return table in the Update Routine. Example: If we have total
telephone expense for a Cost Center, using a return table we can get
expense per employee.
10.
How
do start routine and return table synchronize with each other?
Return
table is used to return the Value following the execution of start
routine
11.
What
is the difference between V1, V2 and V3 updates?
V1
Update:
It is a Synchronous update. Here the Statistics update is carried out
at the same time as the document update (in the application tables).
V2
Update:
It is an Asynchronous update. Statistics update and the Document
update take place as different tasks.
o
V1 &
V2 don’t need scheduling.
Serialized
V3 Update:
The V3 collective update must be scheduled as a job (via LBWE). Here,
document data is collected in the order it was created and
transferred into the BW as a batch job. The transfer sequence may not
be the same as the order in which the data was created in all
scenarios. V3
update only processes the update data that is successfully processed
with the V2 update.
12.
What
is compression?
It
is a process used to delete the Request IDs and this saves space.
13.
What
is Rollup?
This
is used to load new DataPackages (requests) into the InfoCube
aggregates. If we have not performed a rollup then the new InfoCube
data will not be available while reporting on the aggregate.
14.
What
is table partitioning and what are the benefits of partitioning in an
InfoCube?
It
is the method of dividing a table which would enable a quick
reference. SAP
uses fact file partitioning to improve performance. We can partition
only at 0CALMONTH or 0FISCPER. Table
partitioning helps to run the report faster as data is stored in the
relevant partitions. Also table maintenance becomes easier. Oracle,
Informix, IBM DB2/390 supports table partitioning while SAP DB,
Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2/400 do not support table portioning.
15.
How
many extra partitions are created and why?
Two
partitions are created for date before the begin date and after the
end date.
16.
What
are the options available in transfer rule?
InfoObject
Constant
Routine
Formula
17.
How
would you optimize the dimensions?
We
should define as many dimensions as possible and we have to take care
that no single dimension crosses more than 20% of the fact table
size.
18.
What
are Conversion Routines for units and currencies in the update rule?
Using
this option we can write ABAP code for Units / Currencies conversion.
If we enable this flag then unit of Key Figure appears in the ABAP
code as an additional parameter. For example, we can convert units in
Pounds to Kilos.
19.
Can
an InfoObject be an InfoProvider, how and why?
Yes,
when we want to report on Characteristics or Master Data. We have to
right click on the InfoArea and select “Insert characteristic as
data target”. For example, we can make 0CUSTOMER as an InfoProvider
and report on it.
20.
What
is Open Hub Service?
The
Open Hub Service enables us to distribute data from an SAP BW system
into external Data Marts, analytical applications, and other
applications. We can ensure controlled distribution using several
systems. The central object for exporting data is the InfoSpoke. We
can define the source and the target object for the data. BW becomes
a hub of an enterprise data warehouse. The distribution of data
becomes clear through central monitoring from the distribution status
in the BW system.
21.
How
do you transform Open Hub Data?
Using
BADI we can transform Open Hub Data according to the destination
requirement.
22.
What
is ODS?
Operational
DataSource is used for detailed storage of data. We can overwrite
data in the ODS. The data is stored in transparent tables.
23.
What
are BW Statistics and what is its use?
They
are group of Business Content InfoCubes which are used to measure
performance for Query and Load Monitoring. It also shows the usage of
aggregates, OLAP and Warehouse management.
24.
What
are the steps to extract data from R/3?
Replicate
DataSources
Assign
InfoSources
Maintain
Communication Structure and Transfer rules
Create
and InfoPackage
Load
Data
25.
What
are the delta options available when you load from flat file?
The
3 options for Delta Management with Flat Files:
o
Full
Upload
o
New
Status for Changed records (ODS Object only)
o
Additive
Delta (ODS Object & InfoCube)
26.
What
are the inputs for an InfoSet?
The
inputs for an InfoSet are ODS objects and InfoObjects (with master
data or text).
27.
What
internally happens when BW objects like InfoObject, InfoCube or ODS
are created and activated?
When
an InfoObject, InfoCube or ODS object is created, BW maintains a
saved version of that object but does not make it available for use.
Once the object is activated, BW creates an active version that is
available for use.
28.
What
is the maximum number of key fields that you can have in an ODS
object?
16
29.
What
is the importance of 0REQUID?
It
is the InfoObject for Request ID. OREQUID enables BW to distinguish
between different data records.
30.
Can
you add programs in the scheduler?
Yes.
Through event handling.
31.
What
does a Data IDoc contain?
Data
IDoc contains:
o
Control
Record
Contains administrator information such as receiver, sender and
client.
o
Data
record
o
Status
Record
Describes status of the record e.g., modified.
o
32.
What
is the importance of the table ROIDOCPRMS?
It
is an IDOC parameter source system. This table contains the details
of the data transfer like the source system of the data, data packet
size, maximum number of lines in a data packet, etc. The data packet
size can be changed through the control parameters option on SBIW
i.e., the contents of this table can be changed.
33.
When
is IDOC data transfer used?
IDOCs
are used for communication between logical systems like SAP R/3, R/2
and non-SAP systems using ALE and for communication between an SAP
R/3 system and a non-SAP system. In BW, an IDOC is a data container
for data exchange between SAP systems or between SAP systems and
external systems based on an EDI interface. IDOCs support limited
file size of 1000 bytes. So IDOCs are not used when loading data into
PSA since data there is more detailed. It is used when the file size
is lesser than 1000 bytes.
34.
When
an ODS is in 'overwrite' mode, does uploading the same data again and
again create new entries in the change log each time data is
uploaded?
No.
35.
What
is the function of 'selective deletion' tab in the manage contents of
an InfoCube?
It
allows us to select a particular value of a particular field and
delete its contents.
36.
When
we collapse an InfoCube, is the consolidated data stored in the same
InfoCube or is it stored in the new InfoCube?
When
the cube is collapsed the data is stored in the same cube, data is
stored in F table before the compress and in E table after the
compression. These two tables are for the same cube.
37.
What
happens when you load transaction data without loading master data?
The
transaction data gets loaded and the master data fields remain blank.
38.
When
given a choice between using an InfoCube and a MultiProvider, what
factors to consider before making a decision?
One
would have to see if the InfoCubes are used individually. If these
InfoCubes are often used individually, then it is better to go for a
MultiProvider with many InfoCubes since the reporting would be faster
for an individual InfoCube query rather than for a big InfoCube with
lot of data.
39.
How
many hierarchy levels can be created for a characteristic InfoObject?
Maximum
of 98 levels.
40.
What
is the function of 'reconstruction' tab in an InfoCube?
It
reconstructs the deleted requests from the InfoCube. If a request has
been deleted and we want the data records of that request to be added
to the InfoCube, we can use the reconstruction tab to add those
records. It goes to the PSA and brings the data to the InfoCube.
41.
What
are secondary indexes with respect to InfoCubes?
It
is an Index created in addition to the primary index of the InfoCube.
When you activate a table in the ABAP Dictionary, an index is created
on the primary key fields of the table. Further indexes created for
the table are called secondary indexes.
42.
What
is DB Connect and where is it used?
DB
connect is a database connecting program. It is used in connecting
third party tools with BW for reporting purpose.
43.
What
is the common method of finding the tables used in any R/3
extraction?
By
using the transaction LISTSCHEMA we can navigate the tables.
44.
What
is the difference between table view and InfoSet query?
An
InfoSet Query is a query using flat tables while a view
table is a view of one or more existing tables. Parts of these tables
are hidden, and others remain visible.
45.
How
to load data from one InfoCube to another InfoCube?
Through
DataMarts data can be loaded from one InfoCube to another InfoCube.
46.
What
is the difference between extract structure and DataSource?
DataSource
defines the data from different source system, where an extract
structure contains the replicated data of DataSource and where we
define extract rules and transfer rules
Extract
Structure is a record layout of InfoObjects.
Extract
Structure is created on SAP BW system.
47.
What
is entity relationship model in data modeling?
An
ERD (Entity Relation Diagram) can be used to generate a physical
database.
It
is a high level data model.
It
is a schematic that shows all the entities within the scope of
integration and the direct relationship between the entities.
48.
What
is DataMining concept?
Process
of finding hidden patterns and relationships in the data.
With
typical data analysis requirements fulfilled by data warehouses,
business users have an idea of what information they want to see.
Some
opportunities embody data discovery requirements, where the business
user wants to correlate sets of data to determine anomalies or
patterns in the data.
49.
How
does the time dependency work for BW objects?
Time
Dependent attributes have values that are valid for a specific range
of dates (i.e., valid period).
50.
What
is I_ISOURCE?
Name
of the InfoSource
