Report Development Tools C–1 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Contents What Is the SAP Open Information Warehouse? . C–2 Working With OIW Source and Meta Data C–5 Running OIW Reports in Excel . C–15 Getting the Most from SAP OIW: Tips & Tricks C–20 Review C–20 Where to Learn More . C–21 C In this chapter you will learn:  What the SAP Open Information Warehouse (OIW) is  How the SAP OIW is organized  How to prepare OIW source and meta data  How to download an OIW report into Microsoft Excel Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse What Is the SAP Open Information Warehouse? Reporting Made Easy C–2 What Is the SAP Open Information Warehouse? The SAP Open Information Warehouse (OIW) unifies the various information systems within the R/3 System into a single system. It pools various disparate information systems into a single, easy-to-use “information warehouse.” You can use the OIW to gain an overview of information units across the R/3 System. With the OIW you can overcome the boundaries that tend to exist among different information systems by easily combining particularly relevant information units into queries (for example, a sales report that combines stock and purchasing data, or a sales report that includes costing/profit information). All connected information systems automatically supply business data to the OIW. Note: The OIW was first delivered with Release 3.1G. It is available free-of-charge to R/3 customers. Although the OIW is still available, it is widely regarded as the precursor to the recently introduced SAP Business Information Warehouse (BW). For more information on the Business Information Warehouse, see chapters 7 through 11. The OIW was designed to provide users with: < A single source/toolkit to access different information (for example, logistics, finance, and costing) < An easier-to-understand user interface for data extraction and display < An improved report layout through the use of familiar PC applications such as Microsoft Excel The OIW is an open system because it provides a link to standard PC applications. To learn more about how the OIW establishes a link between the R/3 System and Microsoft Excel, refer to page C–4. The R/3 System makes the following source data available to the OIW: < Basic data in specific areas such as recruitment in HR, personnel administration in HR, and overhead cost controlling in CO < Some secondary data such as other areas of FI and CO (refer to OSS note 82836) < Information structures created and used by the Logistics Information System (LIS) Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse What Is the SAP Open Information Warehouse? Report Development Tools C–3 Basic Terminology OIW Information Catalog The OIW information catalog defines which data and access paths the OIW can retrieve. The customer can individually change the contents of the OIW information catalog when customizing the OIW. Generally, the OIW does not maintain its own data stores. It only holds links to certain data sources in the R/3 information systems. Before starting to use the OIW, make sure that the OIW customizing has been done in the R/3 System. The OIW Frontend will not work if the OIW information catalog is still empty. OIW Browser The OIW Browser is a standard dialog in the OIW Frontend for Microsoft Excel (see page C–4 for more information) that allows queries to be defined and modified. The OIW Browser shows all of the information objects that are currently available in OIW. It also allows the current definition of each of the queries to be viewed. Information objects can be copied (using drag and drop) from the OIW Browser into a query. The OIW Browser performs the following tasks: < Reads the OIW information catalog and displays it as a hierarchical listing. < Allows the user to define a query by inserting (or moving or deleting) columns and selections. < Keeps track of the query’s current definition and displays it to the user. < Constantly updates the OIW information catalog’s display so that only the selected information, which fits into the query, is displayed. Information Object An information object is a unit of information in the OIW Catalog (for example, material, plant, customer, and so on). Add-In An add-in is a supplementary program that helps extend the functionality of Microsoft Excel. You can use Microsoft Excel’s Add-in Manager to install an add-in. The add-in is automatically activated each time Excel is started. Data Sources Data sources are sets of information objects in the OIW Catalog that can be used in combination with the queries. A query on the OIW is valid only if there is at least one data source in the OIW that combines all of the information objects present in the query. Just like the information objects, each data source is also recorded in the OIW Catalog. Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse What Is the SAP Open Information Warehouse? Reporting Made Easy C–4 OIW Frontend for Microsoft Excel The OIW contains a programming interface to help users connect to external applications. The OIW Frontend for Microsoft Excel is based on this programming interface. It is delivered with the SAPgui on the installation CD. With Microsoft Excel’s add-in capability (In Excel, choose Tools → Add-Ins) you can use the OIW Frontend to construct queries in the OIW and embed them in Microsoft Excel worksheets. This linkage to Microsoft Excel offers the following benefits: < The OIW obtains the answers to queries without requiring you to understand all the access paths in the R/3 System. To use the OIW for data retrieval, you do not need any knowledge of the tables, programs, reports, or information systems, etc. < Direct and easy access to the layout and formatting options (for example, fonts, columns, graphics, etc.) available in Microsoft Excel. The OIW reports in Excel can be maintained with all the functions of Excel, Microsoft Office, and Visual Basic. The OIW Frontend for Microsoft Excel is implemented in the Add-in SAPOIW. When this add-in is opened—either manually or automatically—the OIW Frontend becomes active in Microsoft Excel. You can use the OIW Frontend toolbar or the menu options to embed new OIW queries in Microsoft Excel worksheets as array functions and to change existing embedded queries. When calculating the embedded array functions, the OIW Frontend automatically tries to call the corresponding OIW queries in the R/3 System. The results of these queries then appear as values of the array functions in the Excel worksheet. Since the queries are updated whenever the Excel “recalculation” function is executed, you can be sure that your data is consistent as long as the automatic calculation mode is selected in Excel and the OIW add-in is active. The OIW BAPI The OIW Frontend uses a normal SAP Business Application Programming Interface (BAPI) to read the OIW information catalog and to retrieve data. Therefore, external tools can access the same data that the OIW Frontend can deliver as a normal BAPI according to SAP’s Business Framework Architecture. The OIW offers two BAPI’s with the following methods: < OpenInfoWarehouse.GetData: Executes a query and delivers back the results. < OpenInfoWarehouse.GetCatalog: Reads the OIW information catalog. Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data Report Development Tools C–5 Working With OIW Source and Meta Data In this guided tour you will learn how to: < Define the OIW meta data. < Display the OIW information catalog. < Create a custom OIW information catalog. Guided Tour Defining the OIW Meta Data The OIW meta data represents information about all available source data that can be later transferred to the OIW Browser in Microsoft Excel. As not all available meta data might be used, specify only the data you want to use later. 1. From the SAP main menu, choose Tools → Business Engineer → Customizing, then Implement. projects → SAP Reference IMG. 2. In the implementation guide (IMG), select the area Cross Application Components, then the folder Open Information Warehouse. 3. To start maintaining the OIW meta data, choose the Execute icon to the left of Maintain OIW metadata. 2 3 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data Reporting Made Easy C–6 In this example, the following OIW meta data is needed: < Cost Center Accounting < Logistics (information structures containing sales and inventory data) < Personnel Management 4. In the Controlling section, select Cost Center Accounting. 5. In the Logistics section, select Standard info structures to include all standard LIS structures (S001- S499). 6. From the Administration area in the Personnel Management section, select Standard fields. 7. Choose Execute. This screen shows the requested meta data for the data source. 8. To view the list of the data sources of the OIW meta data, choose Display on the previous screen. 9. Choose Enter. 4 5 6 7 8 9 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data Report Development Tools C–7 Display Standard OIW Information Catalog The R/3 System contains a standard OIW information catalog based on the main components in Financial Accounting (FI), Controlling (CO), Logistics Information System (LIS), and Human Resources (HR). 1. To display the standard OIW information catalog, choose the Execute icon next to the appropriate line. The standard OIW information catalog includes most of the characteristics and key figures. 2. Choose Expand to display the hierarchy of each node. 1 2 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data Reporting Made Easy C–8 Creating a Self-Defined OIW Information Catalog If you need data from nonstandard information sources, such as self- defined LIS structures, you must create your own OIW information catalog. 1. Choose Maintain self-defined OIW information catalog. You can name and create your own OIW information catalog. 2. Choose Edit rename to give a unique name to your custom OIW information catalog. You can use any names and hierarchy structure to organize the objects and key figures. 3. Choose Create nodes to define the nodes for your OIW information catalog. 4. Enter the names of the nodes in the Create Node popup window. 5. Choose Create. 2 3 4 5 1 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data Report Development Tools C–9 At the lowest level, assign the information objects that represent the data fields of the data sources. 6. Choose Info obj. to create information objects for your OIW information catalog. 7. Select Create info objects for data source. 8. Choose Enter. This screen shows all available data sources from PA, LIS, CO, and HR. 9. For our first example, select ISS039 (not shown), which contains all objects and key figures of standard LIS Inventory controlling. 10. For the second example, select S600 (not shown), a customer- specific SIS structure containing objects and key figures. You can either keep all data sources, or deselect those you do not need. 11. Choose Enter. 8 7 6 11 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data Reporting Made Easy C–10 Your completed OIW information catalog should look like the one shown in the right column. 12. Choose Save to save your OIW information catalog. 13. Assign it to a change request (not shown here). Later, this self-defined OIW information catalog will be downloaded to the OIW Frontend. Activating the OIW Browser in Excel Now that you have created your own OIW information catalog, you are ready to export to Microsoft Excel via the OIW Frontend. 1. Open a new workbook file in Microsoft Excel. 2. From your Windows desktop, choose Start → Programs → SAP Frontend OIW frontend (3.1H) or the location where the OIW Frontend is available on your PC. 3. As shown below, the SAP Open Information Warehouse toolbar now becomes available in Excel. You can move it to any place or integrate it into your other toolbars. 12 Snapshot Automatic calculation on Define SAP double-click Automatic calculation off Logoff from R/3 Help R/3 System connection information Adjust results area Recalculate query Define query Show relationships [...]... Release 4.0B, you will find more information on the SAP Open Information Warehouse Go to R/3 Library → CA → Cross-Application Components → SAP Open Information Warehouse < OSS folder CA-OIW < The documentation on the OIW Customizing is available in the IMG in Release 3.1I For more information, refer to OSS note 0100475 < Release Notes 3.1H < OSS note 82836 (for more information on using OIW with data... Catalog button in the OIW Browser 1 From the SAP main menu, connect to the R/3 System that contains the OIW information catalog (not shown here) The R/3 System’s current OIW information catalog is now available in Excel, with all the direct data sources and the self-defined OIW information catalog Report Development Tools C–11 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta... the OIW Browser function Autom.calculation off 1 After opening the file, the previously saved data appears No update or refresh occurs Report Development Tools C–17 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Running OIW Reports in Excel 2 If the report is to be refreshed, choose Autom.calculation on If there is no active online connection to an SAP system, you need to log on 2 Otherwise, the report... data in rows and columns can be maintained The user can now: < Format the report < Print the report < Save the report Report Development Tools C–19 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Getting the Most from SAP OIW: Tips & Tricks Getting the Most from SAP OIW: Tips & Tricks < Make sure that all OSS notes have been applied < Restrict the OIW Excel reporting to a small amount of data The OIW is not... key users < C–20 Information modeling and design within the R/3 System Report execution and presentation for, and by end users Reporting Made Easy Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Where to Learn More Creating Reports with OIW < With R/3 as the source system for Excel-based reports, customizing activities include: Creation of meta data Creation/maintenance of a self-defined OIW information catalog.. .Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data Downloading/Refreshing the OIW Information Catalog in Excel The first time you use the OIW Browser, you will be asked to download the OIW information catalog from an R/3 System If you have used the OIW Browser before, you will see... S600OIWTEST3.XLS, a snapshot without any active links C–18 1 Reporting Made Easy Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Running OIW Reports in Excel 2 Using the OIW Browser, choose Snapshot 3 Choose Yes to confirm this action 2 A new workbook is automatically created and the result of the snapshot is stored 3 When you open this report later, the saved data appears There is no function to refresh... soon as you reopen the worksheets Another option is to make the OIW queries dependent on selection values that are obtained from cells in the Excel worksheet If you change the values in these selection cells, then the next time the Excel functions are calculated, they will automatically access the current data in the R/3 System Report Development Tools C–15 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Running... display the object as a key, and not as a description, deselect the flag in the OIW Browser for the first of each object that was entered twice in the columns C–14 Reporting Made Easy Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Running OIW Reports in Excel After this change, the material number is displayed as a key with a description The OIW Browser retrieves the key or the description from the material... an additional column containing the “unit of measure” related to the selected key figure is automatically added The OIW Browser displays the result as columns C–12 Reporting Made Easy Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse Working With OIW Source and Meta Data To avoid requesting too many records at once, you may want to use the selection criteria (recommended during testing) In this example, we . Excel Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse What Is the SAP Open Information Warehouse? Reporting Made Easy C–2 What Is the SAP Open Information Warehouse? . < Information structures created and used by the Logistics Information System (LIS) Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse What Is the SAP Open Information