SAP SAP BW Syllabus

What is a Source System in SAP BW?

A Source System is a system that supplies data to BW. Types include SAP systems (via extractors), non-SAP databases (DB Connect), flat files, web services, SAP HANA, ODP, and BI systems.

What is ODP (Operational Data Provisioning) in SAP BW?

ODP is a framework for efficient data extraction and replication that supports delta handling via the Operational Delta Queue (ODQ), used as the recommended source-system connection in modern BW.

What is the difference between full extraction and delta extraction?

Full extraction transfers the entire dataset each time, while delta extraction transfers only new or changed records since the last load, improving performance and reducing load volume.

What is a DataSource in SAP BW?

A DataSource is a structure that defines the fields of data extracted from a source system, forming the interface for data acquisition and mapping into the BW staging area.

What is the PSA (Persistent Staging Area)?

The PSA is the initial inbound storage layer in classic BW where extracted raw data is stored in the same format as the source before transformation, enabling error handling and reprocessing.

What does ETL stand for and what are its phases?

ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load: Extract data from source systems, Transform (cleanse, map, calculate, aggregate) it, and Load it into target InfoProviders.

What is a Transformation in SAP BW?

A Transformation defines how source fields are mapped and converted into target fields, handling field mapping, rules (direct assignment, constant, formula, routine), unit/currency conversion, and data cleansing.

What are the main rule types available in a BW transformation?

Direct Assignment, Constant, Formula, Read Master Data, Routine (ABAP), Time Update, Unit/Currency Conversion, and Initial (no transfer).

What are the types of routines available in a BW transformation?

Start Routine (runs before mapping on the whole package), End Routine (runs after mapping on result package), Expert Routine (replaces standard logic entirely), and Field/Characteristic Routine (per field).

What is a Data Transfer Process (DTP) in SAP BW?

A DTP controls the transfer of data from a source to a target within BW, defining extraction mode (full/delta), filters, error handling, and package processing during the load.

What is the difference between a Transformation and a DTP?

A Transformation defines the logic of how data is mapped/converted between source and target; a DTP defines and executes the actual data transfer process (extraction mode, filters, error handling) using that transformation.

What extraction modes can be set in a DTP?

Full (all matching data) and Delta (only new/changed records since last request). Delta DTPs manage their own delta status independent of the InfoPackage.

What is an error stack (error DTP) in SAP BW?

The error stack is a request-based table that stores erroneous records from a DTP load so they can be corrected and reloaded via an Error DTP without reprocessing the entire dataset.

What is an InfoPackage in SAP BW?

An InfoPackage specifies which data to load from a source system into the PSA/inbound layer, including selection criteria, update mode, and scheduling for the extraction step.

What is a Process Chain in SAP BW?

A Process Chain is a sequence of scheduled, interdependent background processes (loads, activations, index builds, etc.) used to automate and control the flow of data warehousing tasks.

What are the three types of process in a Process Chain?

1) Start Process (defines trigger/scheduling), 2) individual application processes (e.g., DTP execution, DSO activation), and 3) collection/connector processes (AND, OR, EXOR) that control branching logic.

What do the AND, OR, and EXOR connectors do in a Process Chain?

AND (all predecessors must finish before continuing), OR (continues each time any predecessor finishes), and EXOR (Exclusive OR — continues only for the first predecessor that finishes).

What is the BEx Query Designer?

BEx Query Designer is the tool used to define queries on InfoProviders by selecting characteristics and key figures into rows, columns, and free characteristics, and defining filters, restricted/calculated key figures, and variables.

What is the difference between a Restricted Key Figure (RKF) and a Calculated Key Figure (CKF)?

An RKF is a key figure restricted (filtered) by one or more characteristic values; a CKF is a key figure derived by a mathematical formula/calculation using existing key figures. For example a CKF margin ratio $= \frac{\text{Profit}}{\text{Revenue}}$.

What are the types of BEx variables and their processing types?

Variable types: Characteristic value, Hierarchy, Hierarchy node, Text, Formula. Processing types: Manual entry/default, Replacement path, Customer exit, SAP exit, and Authorization.

What is BEx Analyzer?

BEx Analyzer is a Microsoft Excel-based analysis and reporting tool (an Excel add-in) that lets users execute BW queries, navigate data, and build interactive workbooks with design items.

What is the difference between BEx Analyzer and BEx Web Analyzer?

BEx Analyzer is an Excel-embedded desktop tool for OLAP analysis, while BEx Web Analyzer is a browser-based, ad-hoc analysis tool running on the SAP BW Java/portal stack requiring no local installation.

Name key SAP BW reporting/front-end tools.

BEx Query Designer, BEx Analyzer, BEx Web Application Designer (WAD), BEx Report Designer, SAP Analysis for Office, SAP Lumira, SAP BusinessObjects (Web Intelligence, Design Studio), and SAP Analytics Cloud.

What is SAP Analysis for Office?

SAP Analysis for Office (AO) is a modern Microsoft Office add-in (Excel and PowerPoint) for multidimensional analysis of BW and HANA data, positioned as the successor to BEx Analyzer.

What is an aggregate in classic SAP BW and what is its purpose?

An aggregate is a materialized, pre-summarized subset of an InfoCube's data stored redundantly to speed up query response by reading fewer records. On HANA, aggregates are obsolete due to in-memory processing.

What is a BW Accelerator (BWA)?

BW Accelerator was an in-memory, index-based appliance (based on TREX) that accelerated query performance by storing compressed InfoCube data in memory. It has been superseded by SAP HANA.

List common SAP BW performance optimization techniques.

Building aggregates/BWA, partitioning (logical and physical), indexing, compressing InfoCube requests, using line-item dimensions, query read modes, OLAP caching, parallel processing in DTPs, and using HANA-optimized objects.

What is InfoCube request compression (collapse)?

Compression moves data from the F fact table (request-based, with request IDs) into the E fact table (compressed, without request IDs), reducing table size and improving query performance, but requests can no longer be individually deleted.

What is the difference between logical and physical partitioning of an InfoCube?

Logical partitioning splits data across multiple InfoProviders combined by a MultiProvider; physical partitioning divides a single InfoProvider's fact table at the database level (e.g., by fiscal year/period) for faster access and maintenance.

What are common SAP BW administration transactions and tools?

RSA1 (Data Warehousing Workbench / Administrator Workbench), RSPC (Process Chain maintenance), RSMO/RSRQ (monitor loads), RSA3 (extractor checker), RSA5/RSA6 (DataSources), and RSKC (permitted characters).

What is a CompositeProvider in BW/4HANA?

A CompositeProvider is a virtual InfoProvider that combines data from multiple InfoProviders (aDSOs, Open ODS Views, HANA views) using UNION and JOIN operations for reporting, replacing classic MultiProviders and InfoSets.