SAP Query: How to Use, and Expand use

SAP Query: How to Use, and Expand use ] Tammy Powlas Fairfax Water ASUG Volunteer SAP Mentor [ GRAZIELLA SBALCHIERO ASUG INSTALLATION MEMBER MEMBER SINCE: 2009 [ APRIL ZANELLI ASUG INSTALLATION MEMBER MEMBER SINCE: 2005 [ ARVIND SINGH

[ Fairfax Water Largest Water Utility in Virginia 1.7 million customers AAA bond rating 400 employees Fairfax Water produces, on average, 160 million gallons of water per day. One out of five Virginians gets their water from Fairfax Water 2

[ Learning Points What is SAP Query How to set up SAP Query Creating Reports with SAP Query Key Questions before using SAP Query Discuss how to use with BusinessObjects (BW not required) 3

[ Learning Points What is SAP Query How to set up SAP Query Creating Reports with SAP Query Key Questions before using SAP Query Discuss how to use with BusinessObjects (BW not required) 4

[ What is SAP Query? SAP Query is a powerful, easy-to-use, reporting tool used to create reports from any ECC module or Solution Manager (any ABAP back end) with limited or no development Can query from one or more tables Used to be known as ABAP Query Provides users a wide range of output such as lists, statistics, ranked lists and easy downloads to Excel Before using, check if SAP standard reports might already meet your requirements 5

[ Basic Principle of Reporting Tools Define Generate List Source: SAP 6

[ Reporting Options SAP provided reports Custom coded reports (ABAP) SAP Query QuickViewer Transaction SQVI single use query Module specific Information Systems LIS, Report Painter, Report Writer, PMIS, SIS Third Party Business Warehouse/BusinessObjects 7

[ Why Use SAP Query? Allows end users to develop, change, and execute their own queries User-Friendly end-user tool that requires no ABAP skills No custom code to write and support Users can start using fast More flexible than custom code users can easily change queries Queries are easy to administer and support All SAP Query functionality is supported in release upgrades Queries can be written against any ECC application module Can be used for Operational BI Reporting (Crystal, Enhancement Pack 5) 8

[ Learning Points What is SAP Query How to set up SAP Query Creating Reports with SAP Query Key Questions before using SAP Query Discuss how to use with BusinessObjects (BW not required) 9

[ Use Cases A use case captures the contract between stakeholders of a system about its behavior under various system conditions The primary actor initiates an interaction with the system to accomplish some goal Casual User Power User Report Developer 10

[ Configuration Use Case Actor: Report Developer Description: Configuration of SAP Query Successful criteria: InfoSets and User Groups created Two Components: User (query) groups InfoSets 11

[ Configuration/How to set up SAP Query Configuration steps: Create User Groups Assign Users to User Groups Create InfoSet Assign InfoSet to User Group 12

[ Create User Group User groups are a collection of SAP users grouped together Does not have anything to do with security Access to data is still controlled by authorizations How it works: Assign each user to one or more user groups The queries assigned to one of the user groups when created All users in that group can see the queries when running SQ01 You assign the users of SAP Query by entering the user in user group (Transaction SQ03) A collection of SAP users grouped together 13

[ Creating User Groups, aka Query Groups Global area or standard area User Groups Create/Change/Delete Assign InfoSets Source: SAP 14

[ SAP Query: Assigning User Groups All users in a user group Access the same InfoSets See all queries for the user group Can have different authorization for creating and changing queries For example, we created user groups for: Accounts Payable Customer Care Center HR/Payroll General Ledger Consider creating along departmental lines 15

[ Step 1 Create User Groups SQ03 Queries from assigned user group show up here to access 16

[ Step 1 Create User Groups SQ03 Enter transaction SQ03 Enter a User Group Name Click Create Enter a group description Click Save Select Assign Users and InfoSets 17

[ Step 2 Assign Users to User Groups Enter the user IDs for all the users you want in the group Click Save 18

[ DEMO CREATING AND ASSIGNING A USER GROUP 19

[ Create InfoSets InfoSets is a source of data InfoSets can also be used in QuickViewer (SQVI), Crystal and a variety of BusinessObjects products Define data and field in the InfoSet InfoSets can be defined as: An ECC table An ABAP program A Logical Database (LDB) most common and a best practice 20

[ Possible Data Sources Table join (inner, outer) Inner joins only data records that have join conditions are displayed in tables Outer joins data records that do not have any join conditions are also included in the left-hand table Table (direct read) for a single table Logical database Database tables that are determined in the structure of the logical database Best practice is to create an InfoSet from a Logical Database 21

[ What are Logical Databases? Logical databases are a pre-arranged hierarchical subset of data 250 are in NetWeaver 7.0, pre-delivered by SAP Explore using transaction SE36 Security is already built in Common Logical Databases: PnP HR Personnel Administration BRM Accounting Documents MSM Material master FMB - Funds Management (based on BCS) 22

[ Step 3 - Create InfoSets Enter transaction SQ02 Enter a name for InfoSet First you decide whether the InfoSet belongs to the standard or global area Click Create All SAP objects begin with prefix /SAPQUERY/ Consider using naming conventions to ensure standards are followed for naming consistency 23

[ Step 3 - Create InfoSets Enter a Name for InfoSet (title) Select a data source Click Enter 24

[ Step 3 - Create InfoSets Section A Section B The Change InfoSet screen is divided into 3 areas: A list of tables in logical database B list of field Section C groups C Field Details 25

[ Step 3 - Create InfoSets B Datasets are divided into logical units. These are called field groups. You have to assign a field to a field group so that the user can output the field is in the list. Field groups are classified to provide a logical division of data Only the items in the B section will be seen by users when creating reports You create Field Groups using the Create button to make logical groupings of your fields 26

[ Step 3 Create InfoSets Section A Section B Add fields to each field group by right clicking on them in Section A and selecting add field to field group or drag them over 27

[ Step 3 Create InfoSets Generate The system manages every InfoSet in two versions: A generated version and a revised version. When you are finished adding fields: 1. Click Save 2. Click Generate to build InfoSet; checks for errors 3. Click Back to return to main screen of Infoset 28

[ Questions to ask about adding fields to InfoSets Which fields contain data for your company? Ask your users How will you organize data in field group? Think of your power users Like a good reporting who, what, where, when, how 29

[ Field Groups Allow for Organization within InfoSets Organizes data by logical groupings Pull only the fields needed Helps with security as users only see what they need to see 30

[ DEMO CREATING INFOSETS 31

[ Step 4 - Assign Each InfoSet to a User Group Select InfoSet Click Role/User Group Assignment Sl Select User Group created in Step 2 Click Save 32

[ DEMO ASSIGNING USER GROUPS TO INFOSETS 33

[ SAP Query Configuration Summary Configuring is easy, but need to plan Can use the InfoSets in QuickViewer and Crystal and other BusinessObjects products (enhancement package 5) You should plan What fields will be in InfoSets How to manage into Field Groups How to manage your users Standardize naming conventions Be sure to add your own user ID to your newly created group 34

[ Learning Points What is SAP Query How to set up SAP Query Creating Reports with SAP Query Key Decisions before using SAP Query Discuss how to use with BusinessObjects (BW not required) 35

[ Query Use Case Actor: Power User Description: Creates Query Successful criteria: Query successfully created and executed A Query can be: Basic list - a single line data report Statistical list a report that calculates averages / percentages Ranked list a specially sorted report Basic lists are most common 36

[ Steps to Create Reports with SAP Query 1. Enter the report a name 2. Enter a title/format 3. Select field groups 4. Select fields 5. Add fields to the selection screen 6. Maintain order and output of fields 7. Enter Selection Screen 8. View report 37

[ Creating SAP Query Report Enter SAP Query with transaction SQ01 Enter a name for your report Click Create Select InfoSet from the list Use a naming convention for your reports so you can locate your queries quickly 38

[ Navigating Between Screens Navigation Level Title Format Field Groups Field Selection Selection Fields Source: SAP 39

[ Title Format Screen Enter a title for your report (required input field) The change lock box check box will prevent other users from changing your report 40

[ Select Field Groups InfoSets are divided into field groups, forming logical groups of data Select the field groups that contain the fields you want to output or include on the selection screen 41

[ Select Fields Select fields from fields groups to be output in your report 42

[ Add Fields to Selection Screen You select fields to appear on the selection screen as criteria To create a basic list report, click the Basic List button 43

[ Basic List Line Structure Set up what you want your report to look like Indicate the order and output of your fields and indicate any counts or totals Click Save Press F8 to execute your report or click the Test toolbar icon 44

[ Your Finished Report Complete selection criteria Click Execute 45

[ Your Finished Report 46

[ DEMO CREATING A QUERY 47

[ Executing Query Use Case Actor: Casual User Description: Executes Query Successful criteria: Query successfully executed 48

[ Learning Points What is SAP Query How to set up SAP Query Creating Reports with SAP Query Key Questions before using SAP Query Discuss how to use with BusinessObjects (BW not required) 49

[ Key Questions before using SAP Query What is the client/transport strategy? Will you use the standard or global application area? Who will own the InfoSets? Who will create the reports? What can you base your queries on? Security.. 50

[ Transport Strategy A popular best practice is to design InfoSets in development, transport them to production, and create/maintain queries and user groups in live production environment This is what we do at Fairfax Water Also worked where nothing was transported and SAP Query developed occurred in production 51

[ Will you use the Standard or Global Application Area? Determining which application area you use will impact where reports will be stored and which clients they will be available A popular practice is to create objects in the standard area and keep them client-specific Move items to the global area when transporting to production We use both 52

[ Who Owns the InfoSets? It is important to ensure that your InfoSets are designed, configured, and tested A well trained team member should own them, work them in the development client, and transport them to QA, and then production You need to ensure that you have the right data 53

[ What Can you Base Queries on? SAP Query allows you to create queries based on: Logical databases (LDBs) Programs Tables Table join combinations The source of the data is key to ensure that queries run efficient and provide accurate output An InfoSet can be created on any of these. Best practice is to use the Logical database 54

[ How to Manage End Users Users are assigned via a special role in production to user groups Key users can use SQ01 to create queries Since most queries are based on logical databases, security to tables is addressed even though a user may see a query for finance, if they don t have underlying access to the tables then they cannot execute it 55

[ Security Options Set security so that some users can create reports, while others only execute them Use LDB as source, user security is already built in so users see only what allowed to use 56

[ Comparison Readily Available in ECC SAP Standard Reports SAP Provided tools: Report Writer Report Painter SAP Query QuickViewer Custom Coded Reports Requires Purchase / Implementation Business Warehouse / BusinessObjects Third Party add-ons 57

[ Learning Points What is SAP Query How to set up SAP Query Creating Reports with SAP Query Key Decisions before using SAP Query Discuss how to use with BusinessObjects (BW not required) 58

[ Using InfoSets to Connect to BusinessObjects w/o BW Crystal Reports (CR) is able to connect to SAP ECC CR has direct connectivitiy to the ABAP dictionary CR can connect to the InfoSet and InfoSet/SAP Queries in SAP http://www.sap-press.com/products/reporting- and-analytics-with-sap-businessobjects.html ihsap i h l 59

[ DEMO CREATING CRYSTAL REPORT AGAINST ECC SAP QUERY 60

[ DEMO CREATING CRYSTAL REPORT AGAINST ECC INFOSET 61

[ DEMO SETTING UP ALV USING CRYSTAL 62

[ TransientProvider, Enhancement Package 5 Enterprise Reporting Self Service Reporting Data Visualization Analysis Search & Exploration Crystal Reports 2011 Crystal Reports for Enterprise Web Intelligence Dashboards (Xcelsius) Analysis Office Analysis OLAP BusinessObjects Explorer Semantic Layer Direct Access Universe Based Access Direct Access Transient Provider SAP HCM SAP SD SAP FIN 3 rd Party Data Source: www.sdn.sap.com/irj/boc/bi-solution-architecture - Ingo Hilgefort

[ ECC InfoSets, Enhancement Package 05 Transient Provider allows you to connect via a BEx Query in the local BI client of your SAP ERP system to a classic InfoSet and in that way provide real-time ERP data to your end-users in that way expose operational data to SAP BusinessObjects tools Works like an operational infoprovider or remote cube 64

[ Steps to Create Analysis Workbook Against ECC InfoSet Create InfoSet Set Property to Release - SQBWPROP Create BEx Query against InfoSet Select BEx Query as a data source in Analysis 65

[ DEMO USING ANALYSIS OFFICE TO QUERY AGAINST ECC DATA 66

[ Pros / Cons of Transient Provider Pros: Operational BI Real-time reporting, no modeling, no loading Cons: No hierarchies, no display attributes, no currency translation Not all InfoSets are available for use 67

[ Tips InfoSets can be used with SQVI but the Infoset needs to be in the standard, not global area, otherwise you will receive error message AQ100 InfoSet not found InfoSets using logical database read the data hierarchically If you have created a QuickView and you want to convert it to a SAP Query report, follow these three steps: Navigate to the main screen of SAP Query (SQ01) Following menu path Queries > Convert QuickViews Select the QuickView from the dropdown box, and click the green check mark, and name the SAP query, and click the green check mark again 68

[ Tips Avoid creating query user groups with the same list of users. It is confusing and can become difficult to maintain. When learning SAP Query, practice in the test/quality environment and graduate to live client only after thorough understanding di Don t rename field names within the InfoSet 69

[ Return on Investment No ABAP Development Required Fast option for ad hoc reporting out of ECC You own it! It is part of your toolset no additional development required InfoSets can be a source of data for Crystal Reports and with ECC Enhancement Package 5 you can use InfoSets with other BusinessObjects tools 70

[ Best Practices InfoSets are to be created in a development client and tested in a test client before moving to production Use Logical Databases as security within those logical databases will be handled for you. Develop naming conventions 71

[ Key Learnings SAP Query is a quick way to report out of ECC with no development required InfoSets can be used as a data source to BusinessObjects Crystal and other BusinessObjects tools with ECC Eh Enhancement Package 5 As an SAP ECC customer, you own this tool! Start using it today. 72

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[ ASUG 2011 UPCOMING CONFERENCE 75

[ ASUG BI/EIM Influence Sessions at TechED Session Code Description Date / Time BI150 The BusinessObjects Universe: An Update From the SAP 9/14 9:15 am BusinessObjects Semantic Layer Influence Council BI151 ASUG Influence Council: SAP BusinessObjects Analysis 9/14 10: 30 am BI152 SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise Influence Council 9/15 4:30 pm BI250 SAP BusinessObjects Explorer Casual User Influence Council 9/14 4:30 pm BI251 Best Practices for SAP NetWeaver BW and SAP 9/13 2:00 pm BusinessObjects BI BI252 SAP BusinessObjects Mobile BI Influence Council 9/14 2:00 pm EIM250 EIM350 Enterprise Data Warehouse Customer Influence Council Update SAP BusinessObjects Information Management Influence Council 9/15 2:00 pm 9/13 3:15 pm 76

[ @tpowlas 77