What is ERP?

- ERP is a package with the techniques and concepts for the integrated management of business as a whole, for effective use of management resources, to improve the efficiency of an enterprise. Initially, ERP was targeted for manufacturing industry mainly for planning and managing core business like production and financial market. As the growth and merits of ERP package ERP software is designed for basic process of a company from manufacturing to small shops with a target of integrating information across the company . Different types of ERP? - SAP, BAAN, JD Edwards, Oracle Financials, Siebel, PeopleSoft. Among all the ERPs most of the companies implemented or trying to implement SAP because of number of advantages aver other ERP packages. What is SAP? - SAP is the name of the company founded in 1972 under the German name (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) is the leading ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software package. Explain the concept of Business Content in SAP Business Information Warehouse? Business Content is a pre-configured set of role and task-relevant information models based on consistent Metadata in the SAP Business Information Warehouse. Business Content provides selected roles within a company with the information they need to carry out their tasks. These information models essentially contain roles, workbooks, queries, InfoSources, InfoCubes, key figures, characteristics, update rules and extractors for SAP R/3, mySAP.com Business Applications and other selected applications. Why do you usually choose to implement SAP? - There are number of technical reasons numbers of companies are planning to implement SAP. Its highly configurable, highly secure data handling, min data redundancy, max data consistency, you can capitalize on economics of sales like purchasing, tight integration-cross function. Can BW run without a SAP R/3 implementation? - Certainly. You can run BW without R/3 implementation. You can use pre-defined business content in BW using your non-SAP data. Here you simply need to map the transfer structures associated with BW data sources (InfoCubes, ODS tables) to the inbound data files or use 3rd part tool to connect your flat files and other data sources and load data in BW. Several third party ETL products such as Acta, Infomatica, DataStage and others will have been certified to load data in BW. What is IDES? - International Demonstration and Education System. A sample application provided for faster learning and implementation. What is WF and its importance? - Business Work Flow: Tool for automatic control and execution of cross-application processes. This involves coordinating the persons involved, the work steps required, the data, which needs to be processed (business objects). The main advantage is reduction in throughput times and the costs involved in managing business processes. Transparency and quality are enhanced by its use. What is SAP R/3? - A third generation set of highly integrated software modules that performs common business function based on multinational leading practice. Takes care of any enterprise however diverse in operation, spread over the world. In R/3 system all the three servers like presentation, application server and database server are located at different system. What are presentation, application and database servers in SAP R/3? - The application layer of an R/3 System is made up of the application servers and the message server. Application programs in an R/3 System are run on application servers. The application servers communicate with the presentation components, the database, and also with each other, using the message server. All the data are stored in a centralized server. This server is called database server. What should be the approach for writing a BDC program? - Convert the legacy system data to a flat file and convert flat file into internal table. Transfer the flat file into sap system called sap

data transfer. Call transaction(Write the program explicitly) or create sessions (sessions are created and processed ,if success data will transfer). Explain open SQL vs native SQL? - ABAP Native SQL allows you to include database-specific SQL statements in an ABAP program. Most ABAP programs containing database-specific SQL statements do not run with different databases. If different databases are involved, use Open SQL. To execute ABAP Native SQL in an ABAP program, use the statement EXEC. Open SQL (Subset of standard SQL statements), allows you to access all database tables available in the R/3 System, regardless of the manufacturer. To avoid conflicts between database tables and to keep ABAP programs independent from the database system used, SAP has generated its own set of SQL statements known as Open SQL. What are datasets? - The sequential files (processed on application server) are called datasets. They are used for file handling in SAP. What are internal tables check table, value table, and transparent table? - Internal table: It is a standard data type object, which exists only during the runtime of the program. Check table: Check table will be at field level checking. Value table: Value table will be at domain level checking ex: scarr table is check table for carrid. Transparent table: - Exists with the same structure both in dictionary as well as in database exactly with the same data and fields. What are the major benefits of reporting with BW over R/3? Would it be sufficient just to Webenable R/3 Reports? - Performance Heavy reporting along with regular OLTP transactions can produce a lot of load both on the R/3 and the database (cpu, memory, disks, etc). Just take a look at the load put on your system during a month end, quarter end, or year-end now imagine that occurring even more frequently. Data analysis BW uses a Data Warehouse and OLAP concepts for storing and analyzing data, where R/3 was designed for transaction processing. With a lot of work you can get the same analysis out of R/3 but most likely would be easier from a BW. How can an ERP such as SAP help a business owner learn more about how business operates? - In order to use an ERP system, a business person must understand the business processes and how they work together from one functional area to the other. This knowledge gives the student a much deeper understanding of how a business operates. Using SAP as a tool to learn about ERP systems will require that the people understand the business processes and how they integrate. What is the difference between OLAP and Data Mining? - OLAP - On line Analytical processing is a reporting tool configured to understand your database schema ,composition facts and dimensions . By simple point-n-clicking, a user can run any number of canned or userdesigned reports without having to know anything of SQL or the schema. Because of that prior configuration, the OLAP engine builds and executes the appropriate SQL. Mining is to build the application to specifically look at detailed analyses, often algorithmic; even more often misappropriate called reporting. What is Extended Star Schema and how did it emerge? - The Star Schema consists of the Dimension Tables and the Fact Table. The Master Data related tables are kept in separate tables, which has reference to the characteristics in the dimension table(s). These separate tables for master data is termed as the Extended Star Schema. Define Meta data, Master data and Transaction data - Meta Data: Data that describes the structure of data or MetaObjects is called Metadata. In other words data about data is known as Meta Data. Master Data: Master data is data that remains unchanged over a long period of time. It contains information that is always needed in the same way. Characteristics can bear master data in BW. With master data you are dealing with attributes, texts or hierarchies. Transaction data: Data relating to the day-to-day transactions is the Transaction data.

Name some drawbacks of SAP - Interfaces are huge problem, Determine where master data resides, Expensive, very complex, demands highly trained staff, lengthy implementation time. What is Bex? - Bex stands for Business Explorer. Bex enables end user to locate reports, view reports, analyze information and can execute queries. The queries in workbook can be saved to there respective roles in the Bex browser. Bex has the following components: Bex Browser, Bex analyzer, Bex Map, Bex Web. What are variables? - Variables are parameters of a query that are set in the parameter query definition and are not filled with values until the queries are inserted into workbooks. There are different types of variables which are used in different application: Characteristics variables, Hierarchies and hierarchy node, Texts, Formulas, Processing types, User entry/Default type, Replacment Path. What is AWB?. What is its purpose? - AWB stands for Administrator WorkBench. AWB is a tool for controlling, monitoring and maintaining all the processes connected with data staging and processing in the business information whearhousing. What is the significance of ODS in BIW? - An ODS Object serves to store consolidated and debugged transaction data on a document level (atomic level). It describes a consolidated dataset from one or more InfoSources. This dataset can be analyzed with a BEx Query or InfoSet Query. The data of an ODS Object can be updated with a delta update into InfoCubes and/or other ODS Objects in the same system or across systems. In contrast to multi-dimensional data storage with InfoCubes, the data in ODS Objects is stored in transparent, flat database tables. What are the different types of source system? - SAP R/3 Source Systems, SAP BW, Flat Files and External Systems. What is Extractor? - Extractors is a data retrieval mechanisms in the SAP source system. Which can fill the extract structure of a data source with the data from the SAP source system datasets. The extractor may be able to supply data to more fields than exist in the extract structure. How would you convert a info package group into a process chain? A: Double Click on the info package grp, click on the Process Chain Maint button and type in the name and descrition ; the individual info packages are inserted automatically. How do you replace a query result from a master query to a child query? A: If you select characterstic value with replacement path then it used the results from previuos query; for ex: let us assume that u have query Q1 which displaysthe top 10 customers, we have query Q2 which gets the top 10 customers for info object 0customer with as a vairable with replacement path and display detailed report on the customers list passed from Q1. What is modeling? It is an art of designing the data base. The design of DB depends on the schema and the schema is defined as representation of tables and their relationships. What is an info cube? Info cube is structured as star schema (extended) where a fact table is surrounded by different dim table that are linked with DIMids. And the data wise, you will have aggregated data in the cubes. What is extended star schema? In Extended Star Schema, under the BW star schema model, the dimension table does not contain master data. But it is stored externally in the master data tables (texts, attributes, hierarchies). The characteristic in the dimensional table points to the relevant master data by the use of SID table. The SID table points to characteristics attribute texts and hierarchies.

This multistep navigational task adds extra overhead when executing a query. However the benefit of this model is that all fact tables (info cubes) share common master data tables between several info cubes. Moreover the SID table concept allows users to implement multi languages and multi hierarchy OLAP environments. And also it supports slowly changing dimension. What is compression? It is a process used to delete the Request IDs and this saves space. What are the options available in transfer rule and when ABAP code is recquired during the transfer rule what important variables you can use? A: Assign info object, Assign a Constant , ABAP routine or a Formula When you write user exit for variables what does I_Step do? A: I_Step is used in ABAP code as a conditional check. 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. 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. 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. 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 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 dont 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. 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. How would you optimize the dimensions? A: Use as many as possible for performance improvement; Ex: Assume that u have 100 products and 200 customers; if you make one dimension for both ,the size of the dimension will be 20000; if you make individual dimensions then the total number of rows will be 300. Even if you put more than one characterstic per dimension, do the math considering worst case senerio and decide which characterstics may be combined in a dimension. 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. How many extra partitions are created and why? Two partitions are created for date before the begin date and after the end date. What are the options available in transfer rule? InfoObject Constant Routine Formula Under which menu path is the Test Workbench to be found, including in earlier Releases? The menu path is: Tools ABAP Workbench Test Test Workbench. Errors while monitoring process chains. A) During data loading. Apart from them, in process chains you add so many process types, for example after loading data into Info Cube, you rollup data into aggregates, now this rolling up of data into aggregates is a process type which you keep after the process type for loading data into Cube. This rolling up into aggregates might fail. Another one is after you load data into ODS, you activate ODS data (another process type) this might also fail.

In Monitor Details (Header/Status/Details) Under Processing (data packet): Everything OK Context menu of Data Package 1 (1 Records): Everything OK - Simulate update. (Here we can debug update rules or transfer rules.) SM50 Program/Mode Program Debugging & debug this work process. PSA Cleansing. A) You know how to edit PSA. I dont think you can delete single records. You have to delete entire PSA data for a request. Can we make a datasource to support delta. A) If this is a custom (user-defined) datasource you can make the datasource delta enabled. While creating datasource from RSO2, after entering datasource name and pressing create, in the next screen there is one button at the top, which says generic delta. If you want more details about this there is a chapter in Extraction book, its in last pages u find out. Generic delta services: Supports delta extraction for generic extractors according to: Time stamp Calendar day Numeric pointer, such as document number & counter Only one of these attributes can be set as a delta attribute. Delta extraction is supported for all generic extractors, such as tables/views, SAP Query and function modules The delta queue (RSA7) allows you to monitor the current status of the delta attribute What are the conversion routines for units and currencies in the update rule? A: Time dimensions are automatically converted; Ex: if the cube contains calender month and your transfer structure contains date, the date to calender month is converted automatically. Can you make an infoobject as info provider and why? A. Yes, When you want to report on characterstics or master data, you can make them as infoprovider. Ex: you can make 0CUSTMER as infoprovider and do Bex reporting on 0 CUSTOMER;right click on the infoarea and select Insert characterstic as data target.

What are the steps to unload non cumulative cubes? A: 1. Initialize openig balance in R/3(S278) 2. Activate extract structure MC03BF0 for data source 2LIS_03_BF 3. setup historical material docus in R/3. 4. load opening balance using data source 2LIS_40_s278 5. load historical movements and compress without marker update. 6. setup V3 Update 7. load deltas using 2LIS_03_BF Give step to step approach to archiving cubex. A: 1. double click on the cube (or right click and select change) 2. Extras -> Select archival 3. Choose fields for selection(like 0CALDAY, 0CUSTOMER..etc) 4. Define the file structure(max file size and max no of data objects) 5. Select the folder(logical file name) 6. Select the delete options (not scheduled, start automatically or after event) 7. activate the cube. 8. cube is ready for archival. What are the load process and post processing? A: Info packake, Read PSA and update data target, Save Hierarchy, Update ODS data object, Data export(open hub), delete overlapping requests. What are the data target administration task A: delete index, generate index, construct database statistics, initial fill of new aggregates, roll up of filled aggregates, compression of the infocube,activate ODS, complete deletion of data target. What are the parallel process that could have locking problems A: 1. heirachy attribute change run 2. loading master data from same infoobject; for ex: avoid master data from different source systems at the same time. 3. rolling up for the same info cube. 4. selecting deletion of info cube/ ODS and parallel loading. 5. activation or delection of ODS object when loading parallel. How do you transoform Open Hub Data? A: Using BADI What are the data loading tuning one can do? A: 1. watch the ABAP code in transfer and update rules; 2. load balance on different servers 3. indexes on source tables

4. use fixed length files if u load data from flat files and put the file on the application server. 5. use content extractor 6. use PSA and data target inparallel option in the info package 7. start several info packagers parallel with different selection options 8. buffer the SID number ranges if u load lot of data at once 9. load master data before loading transaction data. What is ODS? A: Operations data Source . u can overwrite the existing data in ODS. What is the use of BW Statistics? A: The sets of cubes delivered by SAP is used to measure performance for query, loading data etc., It also shoes the usage of aggregates and the cost associated with then. What are the options when definging aggregates? A: * groups accotding to characterstics H Hierarchy F fixed value Blank none How will you debug errors with SAP GUI (like Active X error etc) A: Run Bex analyzer -> Business Explorer menu item -> Installation check; this shows an excel sheet with a start button; click on it; this verifies the GUI installation ;if u find any errors either reinstall or fix it. How do you define exception reporting in the background? A: Use the reporting agent for this from the AWB. Click on the exception icon on the left;give a name and description. Select the exception from query for reporting(drag and drop). 1. What is SAP? SAP - Systems, Applications and products in data processing. 2. What is transaction code? A transaction code is a four-character command that tells the system location of a task 3. What is /n stands for? End current system task and go to new system task. 4. What is /o stands for? Create a new session and go to new system task without closing prior session. 5. What is BW? The SAP Business Information Warehouse allows you to analyze data from operative SAP applications as well as all other business applications and external data sources such as databases, online services and the Internet. 6.What is infoobject?

Business evaluation objects (for example, customers, and sales) are referred to as InfoObjects in BW. InfoObjects are the smallest components in BW. They are used to structure the information that is needed to create larger BW objects, such as InfoCubes or ODS Objects. 7.What is Datasource? DataSources are flat data structures containing data that logically belongs together. They are responsible for extracting and staging data from various source systems. 8.what is infosource? InfoSources are the group of InfoObjects that belong together from a business point ofview. It contains the transactional data obtained from the transactions in onlinetransactional processes (OLTP) and master data such as addresses of customers andorganizations, which remain unchanged for longer time period. An InfoSource is a quantity of information that logically belongs together, summarized into a single unit. InfoSources contain either transaction data or master data (attributes, texts and hierarchies). What is Star Schema? In Star Schema model, Fact table is surrounded by dimensional tables. Fact table is usually very large, that means it contains millions to billions of records. On the other hand dimensional tables are very small. Hence they contain a few thousands to few million records. In practice, Fact table holds transactional data and dimensional table holds master data. The dimensional tables are specific to a fact table. This means that dimensional tables are not shared to across other fact tables. When other fact table such as a product needs the same product dimension data another dimension table that is specific to a new fact table is needed. This situation creates data management problems such as master data redundancy because the very same product is duplicated in several dimensional tables instead of sharing from one single master data table. This problem can be solved in extended star schema. What is extended star schema? In Extended Star Schema, under the BW star schema model, the dimension table does not contain master data. But it is stored externally in the master data tables (texts, attributes, hierarchies). The characteristic in the dimensional table points to the relevant master data by the use of SID table. The SID table points to characteristics attribute texts and hierarchies. This multi step navigational task adds extra overhead when executing a query. However the benefit of this model is that all fact tables (info cubes) share common master data tables between several info cubes. Moreover the SID table concept allows users to implement multi languages and multi hierarchy OLAP environments. And also it supports slowly changing dimension. What is slowly changing dimension? Dimensions those changes with time are called slowly changing dimension. What is fact table? Fact table is the collection if facts and relations that means foreign keys with the dimension. Actually fact table holds transactional data. What is dimension table? Dimension table is a collection of logically related descriptive attributes that means characteristics. What is modeling? It is an art of designing the data base. The design of DB depends on the schema and the schema is defined as representation of tables and their relationships.

What is an info cube? Info cube is structured as star schema (extended) where a fact table is surrounded by different dim table that are linked with DIM'ids. And the data wise, you will have aggregated data in the cubes. How many tables does info cube contain? Actually info cube contains two tables E table and F (fact) table. What is the maximum no. of dimensions in info cube? 16(3 are sap defines and 13 are customer defined) What are the minimum no of dimensions in info cube? 4(3 Sap defined and 1 customer defined). What are the 3SAP defined dimensions? The 3 SAP defined dimensions are.. 1. Data packet dimension (P)..it contains 3characteristics.a) request Id (b) Record type (c) Change run id 2. Time dimension (T).it contains time characteristics such as 0calmonth, 0calday etc 3. Unit Dimension (U)it contains basically amount and quantity related units. What is the maximum no. of key figures? 233 What is the maximum no. of characteristics? 248 What is the model of the info cube? Info cube model is extended star schema. What are the data types for the characteristic info object? There are 4types: 1. CHAR 2. NUMC 3. DATS 4. TIMS How youll write date in BW? YYYYMMDD Q1. The BEx Web Analyzer: (More than one answer is correct) A. Is a standalone Web Application that can be called using a URL B. Can be called as an iView in the SAP Portal C. Allows you to save the data view after ad-hoc analysis. Answer: A, B, C The BEx Web Analyzer is a standalone, convenient Web application for data analysis that you can call using a URL or as an iView in the portal. The Web Analyzer allows you to execute ad hoc analyses on the Web: When you have selected a data provider (query, query view, InfoProvider, external data source), the data is displayed in a table with a

navigation pane. You can navigate to the data and use other Web Analyzer functions available in the application toolbar. For example, you can change the type of data display, use the information broadcasting functions to broadcast your analyses to others, and create printable versions of your analyses. In the Web Analyzer, you can save the data view generated from navigation and analysis as a query view by choosing Save View in the context menu, and you can save the ad hoc analysis by choosing Save As. When the query view is saved, only the data view is saved; when the ad hoc analysis is saved, the entire Web application is saved, including the properties of Web items and the layout of the data.

Q2. In which of the following can you implement currency translations? (More than one answer is correct) A. Query definition B. Query Run Time C. Transformation Rules D. Infopackage Answer: A, B, C The following diagram shows where the currency translation is possible in BI.

Q 3. What must be in place before you are able to define Exception Cells in the query definition? (Only one answer is correct) A. 1 Structure B. 2 Structures, both in the rows

C. 2 Structures, one in rows and one in columns D. 3 Structures E. No structures are required. Answer: C When you define selection criteria and formulas for structural components and there are two structural components of a query, generic cell definitions are created at the intersection of the structural components that determine the values to be presented in the cell. Cell-specific definitions allow you to define explicit formulas and selection conditions for cells as well as implicit cell definitions. This means that you can override implicitly created cell values. This function allows you to design much more detailed queries. You can define exception cells only for queries that have two structures. For example, you can use characteristic values in one structure and key figures in the other. You can then define cells if these prerequisites have been met. A cell is the intersection between two structural components. The term cell for the function Defining Exception Cells should not be confused with the term cell in Microsoft Excel. The formulas or selection conditions that you define for a cell always take effect at the intersection between two structural components. If a drilldown characteristic has two different characteristic values, the cell definition always takes effect at the intersection between the characteristic value and the key figure.

Q 4. With reference to Attributes in BI, which of the following statements are true? (More than one answer is correct) A. Attributes are stored against Characteristic in BI. B. Attributes are part of Metadata C. There are two types of Attributes Text and Navigation D. Navigation Attributes provide functionality similar to characteristic in query definition. Answer: A, C, D Attributes are part of Master Data and not Meta Data. Characteristic attributes can be converted into navigation attributes. They can be selected in the query in exactly the same way as the characteristics for an InfoCube. In this case, a new edge/dimension is added to

the InfoCube. During the data selection for the query, the data manager connects the InfoProvider and the master data table (join) in order to fill the Query. e.g. If you need the costs of the cost center drilled down by person responsible: You use the attribute Cost Center Manager for the characteristic Cost Center. If you want to navigate in the query using the cost center manager, you have to create the attribute Cost Center Manager as a navigation attribute, and flag it as a navigation characteristic in the InfoProvider. When executing the query there is no difference between navigation attributes and the characteristics for an InfoCube. All navigation functions in the OLAP processor are also possible for navigation attributes

Q 5. What is the definition of a restricted key Figure? (Only one answer is correct) A. A basic key figure of the InfoProvider whose values have been restricted by the use of a formula. B. A basic key figure of the Infoprovider that has been restricted by one or more characteristic selections. C. A basic key figure that is displayed in conjunction with a hierarchy. Answer: B You can restrict the key figures of an InfoProvider for reuse by selecting one or more characteristics. The key figures that are restricted by one or more characteristic selections can be basic key figures, calculated key figures, or key figures that are already restricted.

Q 6. You are planning to use Calculated Key Figures. Which of the following statements are true? (More than one answer is correct) A. Calculated Key Figures can be stored at Infoprovider level. B. Calculated Key Figures can be stored in the PSA C. Calculated Key Figures can be stored at Query level D. Calculated Key Figures stored at Query level can be reused Answer: A, C In the Query Designer, you use formulas to recalculate the key figures in an InfoProvider so that you can reuse them. Calculated key figures consist of formula definitions containing basic key figures, restricted key figures

or precalculated key figures. If you define a Calculated key figure at the InfoProvider level, you can use this calculated key figure in all queries based on this InfoProvider by moving the key figure into the rows or columns of the query using drag and drop. If you define a Calculated Key Figure at the Query level, it is valid only for the Query in question and cannot be resued.

Q 7. Your company wants to consolidate Cost Center data from an SAP system and an external system via a file interface. In the legacy system, the cost centre number is 13 characters long but the SAP system only allows 10 characters. Which one of the following approaches would you use recommend. (Only one answer is correct) A. Create a new InfoObject COSTC** to represent the 13 character cost center number. B. Change the delivered content object 0COSTCENTER Answer: B Unlike other SAP products, versioning allows both a customer version and SAP version of the same object, and they can be different. This approach leads to faster implementations and is generally taken in real life projects.

Q 8. In IP (Integrated Planning), the Infoprovider can be: (More than one answer is correct) A. Infocube B. DSO C. Multiprovider Answer: A, C The InfoProvider defines the data basis for planning. This involves real-time InfoCubes and MultiProviders. See InfoProviders. For real-time InfoCubes you can define permitted combinations of characteristic values in the form of characteristic relationships and create data slices for data that you want to protect.

Q 9. With reference to aggregation levels in IP, which of the following statements are true? (More than one answer is correct) A. Aggregation levels are used as InfoProviders for planning

B. an aggregation level is located on a real-time enabled InfoCube C. Aggregation levels can also be created on MultiProviders and Data Store Objects Answer: A, B Aggregation levels are used as InfoProviders for planning: with an aggregation level, you model levels whose data can be changed manually using input-ready queries or automatically using planning functions. An aggregation level is set using a set of characteristics and key figures from the underlying InfoProvider. The key figures included in the aggregation level are aggregated using the characteristics that are not included in the aggregation level. In the simplest case, an aggregation level is located on a real-time enabled InfoCube. For more information on the functioning principle of aggregation and saving the changed data records for an aggregation level by means of a simple example, see Simple Aggregation Level. Aggregation levels can also be created on MultiProviders.

Q 10. Why do we need to normalise a data model? (Only one answer is correct) A. to make it look good B. to increase performance C. To comply with the multidimensional modelling rules D. To avoid redundancy E. None of the above Answer: D Data normalization is a process in which data attributes within a data model are organized to increase the cohesion of entity types. In other words, the goal of data normalization is to reduce and even eliminate data redundancy, The advantage of having a highly normalized data schema is that information is stored in one place and one place only, reducing the possibility of inconsistent data. Please note that in the extended star schema only the Fact Table (and not dimension table) is normalized.

Q 11. Aggregates can be created for which of the following? (Only one answer is correct) A. Multiproviders

B. Virtual Providers C. DSO D. InfoCubes E. InfoCubes & DSO Answer: D Aggregates can be created only for InfoCubes. You can create multiple aggregates against the same infocube.

Q 12. Aggregates can be automatically proprosed by the BI system. Which of the following options are available? (More than one answer is correct) A. Propose from Query B. Propose from BI Statistics C. Propose from DSO Answer: A, B You can choose Proposals in the menu if you want the system to propose aggregates. You have the following options: Proposals from queries: The system considers the queries that are created for an InfoCube. Proposals from the previous navigation: The system evaluates the last navigational step that you carried out with a query. Proposals from BI Statistics (tables): The system considers BI statistical data (database tables). Proposals from BI Statistics (InfoCube): The system considers the data that is contained in the BI Statistics InfoCube. 1. What is BW Statistics and how is it used? Ans: The set of info cubes delivered by SAP as a part of SAP BIW which are useful in measuring the performance of how quickly a query is calculated, or how quickly data in loaded into BW and so on. BW statistics are the name suggest are useful in showing data about the costs associated with BW queries, aggregative data, OLAP, SAP business warehouse management. BW statistics can be enabled in SAP business warehouse using the menu path AWB >> Tool >> BW Statistics. This can result in significant reduction in overheads once individual data providers are enabled. To take an example, BW Statistics queries can be runtime queries,queries related to infocubes, mean time per query, use of infocubes etc. Finally, as part of the interview question, the candidate can also discuss how BW statistics can be installed. The Business content section of the AWB contains the settings for BW statistics. One can select the objects to be inserted for collection. After selecting the objects, the BW user must install the technical content i.e. the BW user role "SAP_BW_TCONT". After BW authorizations are complete, the last step is to install the infopackage groups for master data and transaction data. 2. In Data Ware housing what are the nine decision points? Ans: The nine Decision Points of Data Warehousing are: 1. Identify Dimension Tables. 2. Identify Attributes of entities.

3. Define granularity of the fact table. 4. Pre Calculated Key figures. 5. Slowly changing dimensions. 6. Define attributes of entities. 7. How long data will be kept. 8. Aggregates. 9. How often data is extracted. 3. How the dimensions are optimized? Ans: It system can be used as many as possible for performance, for instance it may be assumed that 100 products and 200 customers; if one dimension for both, the size of the dimension will be 20000; if it was made individual dimensions then the total number of rows will be 300. Even if they are taken more than one characteristic per dimension, the math considering worst case and decide which characteristics may be combined in a dimension. 4. What are the advantages of SID table? Ans: The SIC table Surrogate ID table is the interface between master data and the dimension table, and the advantages are: 1. Uses Numeric as indexes for faster access. 2. Master Data independent of info cubes. 3. Language support. 4. Slowly changing dimension support. 5. How can an info object as info provider and why? Ans: When the report on characteristics or master data, it can make them as info provided for example make 0CUSTOMER as info provided and do Bex reporting on CUSTOMER, right click on the info area and select Insert Characteristic as data target 6. What steps are involved to upload non cumulative cubes? Ans: The steps that are involved to upload non cumulative cubes are: 1. Initialize opening balance in R/3 (S278). 2. Activate extract structure MC03BF0 for data source 2LIS_03_BF. 3. Setup historical material documents in R/3. 4. Load opening balance using data source 2LIS_40_s278. 5. Load historical movements and compress without marker update. 6. Setup V3 update. 7. Load deltas using 2LIS_03_BF. 7. For info object what is the transfer routine? Ans: The transfer routine is like a start routine, this is independent of the data source and valid for all the transfer routines, it can be used this to define global data and global checks. 8. Give the Step to Step approach to archiving cubes? Ans: The Step to Step approach to Archiving Cubes is: 1. Double click on the cube or right click and select change. 2. Extras > Select archival. 3. Choose fields for selection like 0CALDAY, 0CUSTOMER, etc.

4. Define the file structure maximum file size and maximum number of data objects. 5. Select the folder logical file name. 6. Select the delete options not scheduled, start automatically or after event. 7. Activate the cube. 8. Cube is ready for archival. 9. What is the procedure to convert an info package group into a process chain? Ans: The procedure to convert an info package group into a process chain is by double clicking on the info package group, click on the Process Chain Maintenance button and type in the name and description, the individual info packages are inserted automatically. 10. How can a cube partitioned for which the data already exists? Ans: The cube cannot be partitioned if the data already exists the cube must be empty to do this, one work around is to make a copy of the cube A to cube B, export data from A to B using export data source, empty cube A, create partition on A, re-import data from B, and delete cube B. SAP BW Interview Questions What is ODS? It is operational data store. ODS is a BW Architectural component that appears between PSA ( Persistant Staging Area ) and infocubes and that allows Bex ( Business Explorer ) reporting. It is not based on the star schema and is used primarily for details reporting, rather than for dimensional analysis. ODS objects do not aggregate data as infocubes do. Data are loaded into an IDS object by inserting new records, updating existing records, or deleting old records as specified by RECORDMODE value. *-- Viji 1. How much time does it take to extract 1 million of records from an infocube? 2. How much does it take to load (before question extract) 1 million of records to an infocube? 3. What are the four ASAP Methodologies? 4. How do you measure the size of infocube? 5. Difference between infocube and ODS? 6. Difference between display attributes and navigational attributes? *-- Kiran 1. Ans. This depends,if you have complex coding in update rules it will take longer time,orelse it will take less than 30 mins. 3. Ans: Project plan, Requirements gathering, Gap Analysis, Project Realization 4. Ans: In no of records

5. Ans: Infocube is structured as star schema(extended) where in a fact table is surrounded by different dim table which connects to sids. And the data wise, you will have aggregated data in the cubes. ODS is a flat structure(flat table) with no star schema concept and which will have granular data(detailed level). 6. Ans: Display attribute is one which is used only for display purpose in the report.Where as navigational attribute is used for drilling down in the report.We don't need to maintain Nav attribute in the cube as a characteristic(that is the advantage) to drill down. Q1. SOME DATA IS UPLOADED TWICE INTO INFOCUBE. HOW TO CORRECT IT? Ans: But how is it possible?.If you load it manually twice, then you can delete it by request. Q2. CAN U ADD A NEW FIELD AT THE ODS LEVEL? Sure you can. ODS is nothing but a table. Q3. CAN NUMBER OF DATASOURCE HAS ONE INFOSOURCE? Yes of course. For example, for loading text and hierarchies we use different data sources but the same infosource. Q4. BRIEF THE DATAFLOW IN BW. Data flows from transactional system to analytical system(BW). DS on the transactional system needs to be replicated on BW side and attached to infosource and update rules respectively. Q5. CURRENCY CONVERSIONS CAN BE WRITTEN IN UPDATE RULES. WHY NOT IN TRANSFER RULES? Q6. WHAT IS PROCEDURE TO UPDATE DATA INTO DATA TARGETS? Full and delta. Q7. AS WE USE Sbwnn,SBiw1,sbiw2 for delta update in LIS THEN WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE IN LO-COCKPIT? No lis in lo cockpit.We will have data sources and can be maintained(append fields).Refer white paper on LO-Cokpit extractions. Q8. SIGNIFICANCE OF ODS. It holds granular data. Q9. WHERE THE PSA DATA IS STORED? In PSA table. Q10.WHAT IS DATA SIZE? The volume of data one data target holds(in no.of records) Q11. DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFOCUBES. Basic,Virtual(remote,sap remote and multi) Q12. INFOSET QUERY. Can be made of ODSs and objects Q13. IF THERE ARE 2 DATASOURCES HOW MANY TRANSFER STRUCTURES ARE THERE. In R/3 or in BW. 2 in R/3 and 2 in BW

Q14. ROUTINES? Exist In the info object,transfer routines,update routines and start routine Q15. BRIEF SOME STRUCTURES USED IN BEX. Rows and Columns,you can create structures. Q16. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT VARIABLES USED IN BEX? Variable with default entry Replacement path SAP exit Customer exit Authorization Q17. HOW MANY LEVELS YOU CAN GO IN REPORTING? You can drill down to any level you want using Nav attributes and jump targets Q18. WHAT ARE INDEXES? Indexes are data base indexes,which help in retrieving data fastly. Q19. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2.1 AND 3.X VERSIONS. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Refer documentation Q20. IS IT NESSESARY TO INITIALIZE EACH TIME THE DELTA UPDATE IS USED. Nope Q21. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF KPI'S? KPIs indicate the performance of a company.These are key figures Q22. AFTER THE DATA EXTRACTION WHAT IS THE IMAGE POSITION. After image(correct me if I am wrong) Q23. REPORTING AND RESTRICTIONS. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Refer documentation Q24. TOOLS USED FOR PERFORMANCE TUNING. ST*,Number ranges,delete indexes before load ..etc Q25. PROCESS CHAINS: IF U ARE USED USING IT THEN HOW WILL U SCHEDULING DATA DAILY. There should be some tool to run the job daily(SM37 jobs) Q26. AUTHORIZATIONS. Profile generator Q27. WEB REPORTING. What are you expecting?? Q28. CAN CHARECTERSTIC CAN BE INFOPROVIDER ,INFOOBJECT CAN BE INFOPROVIDER. Of course Q29. PROCEDURES OF REPORTING ON MULTICUBES. Refer help.What are you expecting??.Multicube works on Union condition

Q30. EXPLAIN TRANPORTATION OF OBJECTS? Dev ---> Q and Dev ---> P 1) What is process chain? How many types are there? How many we use in real time scenario? Can we define interdependent processes with tasks like data loading, cube compression, index maintenance, master data & ods activation in the best possible performance & data integrity. 2) What is data integrityand how can we achieve this? 3) What is index maintenance and what is the purpose to use this in real time? 4) When and why use infocube compression in real time? 5) What is mean by data modelling and what will the consultant do in data modelling? 6) How can enhance business content and what for purpose we enhance business content (becausing we can activate business content) 7) What is fine-tuning and how many types are there and what for purpose we done tuning in real time. tuning can only be done for infocube partitions and creating aggregates or any other? 8) What is mean by multiprovider and what purpose we use multiprovider? 9) What is scheduled and monitored data loads and for what purpose? Ans # 1: Process chains exists in Admin Work Bench. Using these we can automate ETTL processes. These allows BW guys to schedule all activities and monitor (T Code: RSPC). PROCESS CHAIN - Before defining PROCESS CHAIN, let us define PROCESS in any given process chain. Is a procedure either with in the SAP or external to it with a start and end. This process runs in the background. PROCESS CHAIN is set of such processes that are linked together in a chain. In other words each process is dependent on the previous process and dependencies are clearly defined in the process chain. This is normally done in order to automate a job or task that has to execute more than one process in order to complete the job or task. 1. Check the Source System for that particular PC. 2. Select the request ID (it will be in Header Tab) of PC 3. Go to SM37 of Source System. 4. Double Click on the Job. 5. You will navigate to a screen 6. In that Click "Job Details" button 7. A small Pop-up Window comes 8. In the Pop-up screen, take a note of a) Executing Server b) WP Number/PID 9. Open a new SM37 (/OSM37) command 10. In the Click on "Application Servers" button 11. You can see different Application Servers. 11. Goto Executing server, and Double Click (Point 8 (a)) 12. Goto PID (Point 8 (b)) 13. On the left most you can see a check box 14. "Check" the check Box 15. On the Menu Bar.. You can see "Process" 16. In the "process" you have the Option "Cancel with Core" 17. Click on that option. Ans # 2: Data Integrity is about eliminating duplicate entries in the database and achieve normalization.

Ans # 4: InfoCube compression creates new cube by eliminating duplicates. Compressed infocubes require less storage space and are faster for retrieval of information. Here the catch is .. Once you compress, you can't alter the InfoCube. You are safe as long as you don't have any error in modeling. This compression can be done through Process Chain and also manually. Ans#3 Indexing is a process where the data is stored by indexing it. Eg: A phone book... When we write somebodys number we write it as Prasads number would be in "P" and Rajesh's number would be in "R"... The phone book process is indexing.. similarly the storing of data by creating indexes is called indexing. Ans#5 Datamodeling is a process where you collect the facts..the attributes associated to facts.. navigation atributes etc.. and after you collect all these you need to decide which one you ill be using. This process of collection is done by interviewing the end users, the power users, the share holders etc.. it is generally done by the Team Lead, Project Manager or sometimes a Sr. Consultant (4-5 yrs of exp) So if you are new you dont have to worry about it....But do remember that it is a imp aspect of any datawarehousing soln.. so make sure that you have read datamodeling before attending any interview or even starting to work.... Ans#6 We can enhance the Business Content bby adding fields to it. Since BC is delivered by SAP Inc it may not contain all the infoobjects, infocubes etc that you want to use according to your company's data model... eg: you have a customer infocube(In BC) but your company uses a attribute for say..apt number... then instead of constructing the whole infocube you can add the above field to the existing BC infocube and get going... Ans#7 Tuning is the most imp process in BW..Tuning is done the increase efficiency.... that means lowering time for loading data in cube.. lowering time for accessing a query.. lowering time for doing a drill down etc.. fine tuning=lowering time(for everything possible)...tuning can be done by many things not only by partitions and aggregates there are various things you can do... for eg: compression, etc.. Ans#8 Multiprovider can combine various infoproviders for reporting purposes.. like you can combine 4-5 infocubes or 2-3 infocubes and 2-3 ODS or IC, ODS and Master data.. etc.. you can refer to help.sap.com for more info... Ans#9 Scheduled data load means you have scheduled the loading of data for some particular date and time you can do it in scheduler tab if infoobject... and monitored means you are monitoring that particular data load or some other loads by using transaction RSMON.