Page 1 of 11

SAP HANA enterprise search: Introduction + Links

Search @ SAP / Content

Hi colleagues,
Here is an introduction and some links to SAP HANA enterprise search (short:
Enterprise Search):

Introduction
Enterprise Search is a model-driven framework for the search enablement of
business objects. The framework resides within the SAP NetWeaver Application
Server ABAP (NW AS ABAP) and SAP HANA.
For a recent feature list etc. read below.
Currently we are working on
◾ ranking improvements
◾ the migration to CDS and OData
◾ an ABAP-free search runtime

External roadmap: https://service.sap.com/~sapidb/012002523100020290742015E.pdf

Naming and License History

◾ Enterprise Search started as "Embedded Search" in NW AS ABAP 7.01,
which was the basis of Business Suite 7, which includes ERP 6.04, PLM 7.0, CRM
7.0, SRM 7.0, ...
◾ The name "Embedded Search" meant, that it was an integral part of a NetWeaver
system and that using it required no extra license.
◾ There was an approach to sell an enhanced feature set as a
separate product and license as "SAP NetWeaver Enterprise
Search". The last release was NW ES 7.3. The product was not a big success.
Therefore we decided in 2014 to put it into sunset phase, which means we still
provide service, but the product cannot be sold anymore. For details see:
https://jam4.sapjam.com/#wiki/show/78799
◾ Part of the sunset decision for SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Search was to integrate
its most requested features right into Embedded Search. The most prominent
feature was the cross-system search. But this made the name "Embedded Search"
already a bit outdated...
◾ With NW 7.40 we migrated our search framework to HANA and became part of the
HANA story (read below).
◾ As most internal and external customers referred to us anyway as "Enterprise
Search", we decided to adapt: With NW 7.50 we changed the name from
"Embedded Search" to "SAP HANA enterprise search" for OneVoice, in short:
"Enterprise Search".

HANA license options:

https://jam4.sapjam.com/groups/2qBfdf8qMV3CEAYh8sxFKr/documents/GyFREUbZk9p5Q
I0qLb8stR

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 2 of 11

Bottom line: The name is now Enterprise Search. It's an integral part of SAP HANA and
SAP NetWeaver. And it requires no extra license as long as the customer uses it for SAP
standard applications (Business Suite etc.).

Release Mapping
NW 7.01 is the basis of ERP (ECC) 6.04, PLM 7.00, SRM 7.00, CRM 7.00
NW 7.02 is the basis of ERP (ECC) 6.05, PLM 7.01, SRM 7.01, CRM 7.01
NW 7.03/7.31 is the basis of ERP (ECC) 6.06, PLM 7.02, SRM 7.02, CRM 7.02
NW 7.40 is the basis of ERP (ECC) 6.17, PLM 7.47, SRM 7.03, CRM 7.13 ... , which
can run on HANA (SoH)
NW 7.50 is the basis of ERP (ECC) 6.18, PLM 7.48, SRM 7.04, CRM 7.14 ... , which
can run on HANA (SoH)
and of S/4HANA on-Premise, which only runs on HANA
NW 7.60 ff is the basis of S/4HANA Cloud, which only runs on HANA

Enterprise Search on HANA
Status
◾ Enterprise Search has been released to be run on HANA with NW 7.40 SP04 (in
NW 7.40 it is still named "Embedded Search"). There is no planning for a retrofit to
lower releases or enhancement packs. If customers start a new project, you
should advise them to start with the most recent Support Package Stack available!
◾ We enhanced our framework in order to send the search requests directly to
HANA, instead of addressing a separate TREX.
◾ A new so-called File Loader enables loading text content of external binary files
into HANA, in order to make it searchable. The most important usage is loading
KPro files. For details concerning the File Loader see
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/HDBSearch/ina.fileloader+delivery
◾ A new generic Fiori Search UI is provided with the Fiori Launchpad.
◾ The old generic Search UI (in Web Dynpro ABAP, start via transaction
ESH_SEARCH) is still supported. But basically not used in S/4HANA anymore.
◾ Note that the new HANA-optimized search models of the Business Suite are
bound to the Fiori Launchpad via a Business Function (switch).
◾ For customers, who don't want to use HANA yet as their transactional database
(OLTP): You should ask them to consider running Enterprise Search on a HANA
sidecar. For details read the cookbook: How to install a HANA Sidecar for
Enterprise Search

Guidance
◾ For customers and sales colleagues: New projects should be started on
HANA or on a HANA sidecar. This ensures that the customer benefits from
future developement progress. TREX is still supported, but will not be
developed any further. TREX requires additional admin know-how and
activity.
◾ For administrators: HowTo migrate Enterprise Search from TREX to HANA:
https://service.sap.com/sap/support/notes/2054157

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 3 of 11

◾ For application developers: New search models should be based

directly on the transparent database tables of the application!
(Metadata Provider Type = Data Base Tables)
◾ Old search models (not directly based on database tables; Metadata Provider
Type = DDIC) are still supported on HANA. But such models of course still require
data replication and thus a data extraction to be programmed by the application. -
But at least the customer does not need to install a separate TREX: We create the
required additional tables (corresponding to the former TREX indexes) directly in
HANA.
◾ Mixed models (containing nodes with and without replication) are not directly
supported. But you can join a model w/ replication with a model w/o replication.

For details see the NW 7.40 Developer's Guide below.

Current restrictions - and from the recent past

◾ Restricted support of multilingual systems: No substitute language sequence
("language vector") for result item texts. SAP note 1730102
◾ No extraction and search of file attachments/documents (KPro documents, PLM
Document Management System, etc.) - A solution based on our new File Loader
has been provided with ERP 6.17 SP08 (based on NW 7.40 SP10 and HANA SPS
09) in Mai 2015.
◾ Restricted search on classification data (CA-CL). - A solution has been provided
with ERP 6.17 SP08 (based on NW 7.40 SP10), see SAP note 2074166. This
solution is still replication-based. A replication-free solution is currently being
worked on.

Mandatory SAP notes
◾ Always try to start your project with the latest support package. The RTC dates
can be obtained here:

https://service.sap.com/~form/sapnet?
_FRAME=CONTAINER&_OBJECT=011000358700000294692004
◾ Check the corresponding SAP Release Information Note (RIN) for mandatory SAP
notes to be installed before you start searching in a system.

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1611041016
◾ Until NW 7.40 SP09 (including), a lot of notes needed to be installed. This was
eased by collective notes. See:

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/HDBSearch/Collective+Notes

Value Proposition for Enterprise Search on HANA

Now, after we made full text and fuzzy search directly available in HANA, why
should you still go for Enterprise Search?
◾ Support for complex business objects with multiple nodes. Including relations
between business objects.
◾ Facetted search with minimized HANA resource consumption.
◾ Complex authorization checks, including path-based authorizations (ACL). No late
filtering outside of HANA.
◾ Search for business objects including their attached files.
◾ Re-usable wherever you need it: At the very start as well as within an
existing context of a business transaction (value help).

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 4 of 11

◾ Unified search. Across multiple object types and across multiple systems in one
single search.
◾ Generic powerful Fiori Search UI.
◾ New with NW 7.50: Advanced ranking by "concept of me", including crowd-based
self-learning.

Enterprise Search on TREX and BWA

TREX 7.1
Enterprise Search is included in NW AS ABAP. Therefore the Enterprise Search
framework itself does not require an extra server, nor an extra license. But up to NW
7.03/7.31 it requires a TREX 7.1 server. (Note that in NW 7.03/7.31 our
search framework is still named "Embedded Search".)
TREX always runs on a separate server. Up to TREX 7.1, the license is included in the
SAP NetWeaver license. Which in return is included in the application licenses (ERP,
CRM, ...).
BWA 7.2
The technical successor of TREX 7.1 is BWA 7.2.
BWA 7.2 is compatible to TREX 7.1, but it requires an extra license and has a reduced
PAM: Open the PAM at http://support.sap.com/pam
search for: bw accelerator
and find: SAP BW ACCELERATOR 7.2
click on it and download the PDF. For certified hardware go to page 8.

BWA 7.2 is only required for running Operational Data Provisioning (ODP)
along with Enterprise Search. ODP is available from NW 7.03/7.31 on.
For Enterprise Search alone, BWA is not required. It might be advantageous for
performance reasons.
Limited support for TREX from NW 7.40 on
From NW 7.40 on, new search models are usually designed to be run on HANA and to
directly search on the database tables of the applications. (Metadata Provider Type =
Data Base Tables). If such models are to be run on a TREX, the application doesn't
need to extract the data itself and replicate them to TREX: This is done automatically
by the generic data extractor of the Enterprise Search framework. But the application
still needs to create changepointers! (Described in the NW 7.31 Developer's Guide)
Be prepared that from NW 7.50 on, new search models are mainly tested on HANA,
not so much on TREX anymore.

Features and UI of Enterprise Search

Modelling
◾ Support for elaborate node models. Usually the nodes correspond to ABAP
database tables.
◾ The nodes can contain file content.
◾ Nodes can contain multilingual text.
◾ Easy modelling of ABAP authorization check objects.

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 5 of 11

Elaborate path-based authorization checks can be modeled, too.

(At search runtime, both types of authorization check are executed right within
HANA/TREX.)
◾ Multi-level extension concept for industries, partners and customers
◾ "Virtual models" for reducing or combining basic models

Advanced Features and Search Integration

◾ Cross-system search ("Remote Search")

Available with NW 7.40 SP07. Note that all involved systems must be at least of
NW 7.40 SP07.
◾ File Loader

The File Loader enables loading the text content of external binary files into
HANA, in order to make them searchable.
The most important usage is loading KPro files. For details concerning the File
Loader see:
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/HDBSearch/ina.fileloader+delivery
Available with NW 7.40 SP10.
◾ Searching on external data

If you want to search on external databases, you should make available the
relevant database columns in your central HANA.
You can do this by using HANA Smart Data Integration (SDI):
http://scn.sap.com/community/developer-
center/hana/blog/2014/11/27/hana-sp9-data-provisioning--overview

Available with HANA SP9.

License and pricing:
https://jam4.sapjam.com/groups/2qBfdf8qMV3CEAYh8sxFKr/documents/GyFRE
UbZk9p5QI0qLb8stR

Standard Fiori Search UI (from NW 7.40 on)

Enterprise Search is always available in the header of the Fiori Launchpad.
◾ Simple Search
◾ Full text search across attributes and text areas
◾ Type ahead
◾ Across multiple business object types
◾ Across multiple systems

◾ Advanced Search

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 6 of 11

◾ Fulltext search in combination with attribute-specific filtering and facets (see

below)

◾ Result list
◾ Ranked list of heterogenous business object types
◾ "Why found?" - Search term highlighting
◾ Detail data area
◾ "Interactive Navigation" (aka "facetted search")
◾ Drill down from object categories into certain business object types
◾ Further drill down along segmentation of attribute values (facets)
◾ Related Actions: Related searches and business actions can directly be
triggered per result instance.

For screenshots see presentation below: "SAP Enterprise Search on HANA -

Overview and Roadmap"

Standard Web Dynpro Search UI (transaction ESH_SEARCH, from NW 7.02 on)

For screenshots see presentation below: "Accessing EAM Data via SAP NetWeaver
Enterprise Search"
Note that in S/4HANA, ESH_SEARCH is not available anymore, because Enterprise
Search has been integrated into the header of the Fiori Launchpad.

Search API
◾ External
◾ For frontend integration, browser-based

Soon to come, on HANA XSA (formerly: XS2).

◾ For server integration

We are working on extensions for OData ...and are already serving pilots.

◾ Internal (= not released for customers or partners)

Available for ABAP-based server integration. -> Ask me

Primary contacts for customers and partners

◦ Product management: Markus Fath - markus.fath@sap.com
◦ Consulting: Ralf Reinhard - ralf.reinhard@sap.com

Links to further information

End User Documentation
◾ Full Text Search

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/en/4c/efaab4d1f24067e10000000a15
822b/content.htm

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 7 of 11

Admin Guide
◾ English

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/en/77/3d61cec12a4c1088d78ac909b
9abb4/frameset.htm
◾ German

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/de/77/3d61cec12a4c1088d78ac909b
9abb4/frameset.htm

Setup of Fiori Search

◾ General introduction

http://help.sap.com/fiori_bs2013/helpdata/en/12/af5252b10d5a64e10000000a423
f68/content.htm
◾ Configuration of SAP Web Dispatcher

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_uiaddon10/helpdata/en/57/7d77c891954c21a19c242
694e83177/frameset.htm

Demo
◾ Application-specific

If you want to do a demo on Enterprise Search, you should clarify the

scenario before with the application-specific solution management and ask the
colleagues to select the appropriate demo system. Then you should book your
demo at:
https://portal.wdf.sap.corp/go/demo
◾ Generic UX

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/UsbtySuite/Enterprise+Search+Demos
For generic Fiori Search demos you may contact Joachim Mette.

Sizing Guide for SAP Enterprise Search on HANA

http://service.sap.com/~sapidb/012002523100016933862015E
My personal advice: Do a POC with at least 10% of the most critical customer's data.
Then you have a good basis for scaling out.

Supported languages on HANA

https://proddps.prod.jpaas.sapbydesign.com/dps/d/preview/25b7c010f64c45f5a48fb73
4d3b90648/4.2.3_SPS%2009/en-
US/SAP_HANA_Text_Analysis_Language_Reference_Guide_en.pdf

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 8 of 11

Supported file formats on HANA (ISYS filters)

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/DAT/Supported+Document+Formats

Some TREX links

◾ Introduction (internal Wiki)

http://pwdf6311.wdf.sap.corp:1080/trex/TREXPortal/index.psp?section=intro
◾ Sizing Guide for using TREX with Enterprise Search

http://service.sap.com/~sapidb/011000358700000682642007E
◾ Supported languages on TREX

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/en/48/69ec20509507dce10000000a4
2189d/content.htm?
frameset=/en/40/83505303bd5616e10000000a114cbd/frameset.htm
◾ Supported file formats on TREX (Stellent filters)

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/en/48/65bf0c01ed31cbe10000000a4
2189d/content.htm?
frameset=/en/40/83505303bd5616e10000000a114cbd/frameset.htm

Search Modeler documentation (transaction ESH_MODELER)

◾ English

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/en/b6/e51604ca9a480bb8d58111a83
7b4ae/frameset.htm
◾ German

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw75/helpdata/de/b6/e51604ca9a480bb8d58111a83
7b4ae/frameset.htm

Developer Guides
◾ NW 7.50 pilot: CDS

Wiki:
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/HDBSearch/Open+CDS+Search+Views

◾ NW 7.50 Adaptations for S/4HANA

Business Suite Wiki: https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki//x/ZJHzZ

Recording 2015-06-17: https://sap.emea.pgiconnect.com/p645da6g54e/

◾ NW 7.40 (for Enterprise Search on HANA)

https://cprojects.sap.com/sapintern
(bD1kZSZjPTUwMSZkPW1pbg==)/doc_ov_allversions.htm?

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 9 of 11

p_col_id=86CC2E44C13C8341B71E425268C148FE&p_area_id=AB826A92094B
3B4F9DAC5C59AC9B7AAD&p_topic_id=E0C26187A391D8F1821E001A4BECA
B10&p_doc_id=E207C7DA00AA38F19FF0005056944808&p_role=

Recording of a Workshop on 2013-01-29 (English)

https://sap.emea.pgiconnect.com/p81544143

◾ NW 7.02 and NW 7.03/7.31 (Public on SCN!)

http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-4022

Recording of a Workshop on 2010-01-22 (German)

https://sap.emea.pgiconnect.com/p43413326/

◾ NW 7.01

https://cprojects.sap.com/sapintern
(bD1kZSZjPTUwMSZkPW1pbg==)/doc_ov_allversions.htm?
p_col_id=86CC2E44C13C8341B71E425268C148FE&p_area_id=AB826A92094B
3B4F9DAC5C59AC9B7AAD&p_topic_id=E0C26187A391D8F1821E001A4BECA
B10&p_doc_id=E13B9CCDF3C03FF187080050568F0390&p_role=

Troubleshooting Embedded Search

◾ Public on SCN Wiki

http://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/x/ZQAKDw
◾ Public SAP note

1587221 - The search result is not as expected

◾ Presentations with links to recordings (internal)

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/EPSEARCH/Troubleshooting+Embedded+S
earch

Supported business objects

◾ S/4HANA

\\DWDF213.wdf.sap.corp\usability_BS\Workstreams\Search\60_Team\ModelS

◾ Business Suite on HANA (SoH)

External: SAP note 1999463 - HANA-Enabled Search Models in the SAP

Business Suite

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 10 of 11

Internal:
\\DWDF213.wdf.sap.corp\usability_BS\Workstreams\Search\20_Scope\HANA
Search Adoption.xlsx
(Paste this link into your browser and go to tabstrip: Models Inventory)

◾ Business Suite 7 + Extensions 2010/2011

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/BSExcellence/Enterprise+Search+Models+O
verview
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/download/attachments/143460693/Business_Suite_Tem
plates.xls

Enterprise Search Wiki
◾ Expert-of-the-Week, Primary Support Guide and much more...

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/display/EPSEARCH

◾ HANA DB Search for Business Suite on HANA (Fiori)

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/display/HDBSearch

◾ Enterprise Search ECF Team, Milestone Page

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/ESEARCHECF/Milestone+Page

Application-specific Wikis and more

◾ Business Suite

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/UXSuiteSearch/Search+Development+system+set
up+at+Business+Suite
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/HDBSearch/Business+Suite+on+HANA
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/BSExcellence/Enterprise+Search

◾ Fiori

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/FastFioriplanning/Fiori+-+Development

◾ CRM Web Client UI

https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/WEBCUIF/How+to+Guides+Enterprise+Sear
ch
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/WEBCUIF/How+to+Guides+Search

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016
 Page 11 of 11

◾ EAM Simplicity (EAM = Enterprise Asset Management)

https://zinnovationdiscovery-
supportportal.dispatcher.hana.ondemand.com/#/innovation/6CAE8B27FCC31ED5A99
5CA1EED5A222A
https://wiki.wdf.sap.corp/wiki/display/EAM/Enterprise+Search

Presentations for customers

◾ "SAP Enterprise Search on HANA - Overview and Roadmap"

https://jam4.sapjam.com/groups/4WKRDd4v70uRgMPythMCzn/documents/ZLVk
zpLRC8jkrq79NSHSYO
◾ “Accessing EAM Data via SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Search” (SES -> Embedded
Search -> SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Search)

https://cprojects.sap.com/sapintern
(bD1kZSZjPTUwMSZkPW1pbg==)/fol_de.htm?
p_col_id=86CC2E44C13C8341B71E425268C148FE&p_area_id=AB826A92094B
3B4F9DAC5C59AC9B7AAD&p_topic_id=E0F33842106DF8F19D8A0050568F03
90&p_role=purchaser&p_proc_id=&p_proc_info=&p_action=display

Enjoy SAP ! - Klaus Irle

#enterprise_search

https://jam4.sapjam.com/wiki/show/1jGi6KaE0BAeETtjgFwCaW?print=1 2/9/2016