Create a Basic Universe

SAP Crystal Server 2011

SAP BusinessObjects Edge Business Intelligence (BI)
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (BI) Solutions

Create a Basic Universe: Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

Define semantic layer and explain the purpose of a universe
Describe the universe development lifecycle
Create an information design tool project
Create connections to relational and OLAP data sources
Describe the data foundation and business layer resources

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Agenda

SAP BusinessObjects universe

Information design tool
Universe development lifecycle

Creating a basic universe

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

Target Audience

This course is intended for the following audiences:

Solution consultants who need to install and deploy a business
intelligence solution including a semantic layer (universe)
Solution consultants creating a universe for any of the following
platform packages

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

SAP Crystal Server 2011

Edge BI 4.x (all versions)
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence platform 4.x (all versions)

The Information Design Tool

Data Warehouse Schemas

Data warehouse schemas can be highly complex

Creating simple reports with traditional tools requires extensive technical knowledge

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Advantage of the Universe for Business Users

Traditional Reporting

IT Report Designers

Data source

Business
End users

Self Service Query and Reporting

Business
End users

Data source
Self service query
and reporting tools

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Universe

Abstract Complexity Data Structure

A universe is the semantic layer

Hides the complexity of the data structure

Provides data access to end users via

familiar business terminology

Sales Revenue

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What is a Universe?

End user interface

BI Launch Pad
Business
End users

Explorer

Crystal Reports

Report / Dashboard
Designers

Crystal Dashboards

Web Intelligence

Business Analysts
Materials
Inventory

Universe Designers
Purchase
Orders

Universe Design interface

Information design tool
Universe design tool

Reporting Data Sources

Data Warehouse
Administrators
/Designers
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The New Semantic Layer in SAP BusinessObjects 4.0

Design Tool Applications
Information design tool

Universe design tool

New generation design tool

Same as universe designer XI

3.x

Most existing universes can be opened and

converted to the new format by this tool

Information design tool

Universe
*.unx

Still shipped in order to enable the smoothest

possible transition

Classic BusinessObjects
Universe
*.unv
Application Components

Information engine
Query & computation
enables querying and computational capabilities to BI
clients during report consumption

Connection server
Connectivity
Component that establishes the connectivity
to data sources

Query server
Data federation engine
Enables MSU (Multi-Source Universe) functionality
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The Universe Project

A project is a named workspace for universe resources.
Connections
Data Foundations
Business Layers

Relational Connection
OLAP Connection

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User Interface
Menu bar and toolbars

Tabs to switch between

resource in the workspace
Project components

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Universe Development Lifecycle

Preparation

Identify Universe Scope

Build a project team

Analysis

Identify candidate objects

Relational modeling

Planning

Create a project
Plan the architecture

Implementation
Testing

Deployment
Updating / Maintenance
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Adopt standards

Plan connections and data foundation

Plan and build business Layer
Quality Assurance

Architecture
Production Environment

Grant User Access

Conduct Training

Universe maintenance

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Creating a Universe

Concept: Create a Universe

Overview
In this concept presentation, you will review the steps involved in the
end-to-end process of creating a new universe file:
Creating a local project

Connecting to a data source

Creating a schema of tables and joins
Creating classes and objects that make up the business layer
Publishing the universe to the repository as a UNX file

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

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Tutorial: Create a Project

Overview
Creating a project is the first step for creating a universe file, as it
contains all the necessary universe resources: connections, data
foundations, and business layers.
Please note that creating a project is optional if you already have a
project. Each project can contain resources for multiple universes.
You do not need to create a new universe for each project.
In this tutorial, you will create a new project to contain all your
universe resources.

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

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Tutorial: Create a Connection to a Relational Database

Overview
Creating a connection is the second step for creating a
universe file. A connection is initially stored in a local
project as a local file on the file system, and can be
published as a secure connection to the repository. A
connection is an independent resource that can be used
by multiple data foundations.
In this tutorial, you will create a new connection to an MS
Access data source.

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

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Tutorial: Create a Data Foundation Based on a Single

Source Relational Database
Overview
Creating a data foundation is the third step for creating a
universe. Prior to creating a data foundation you must have
created a project and a connection to a relational database.
A data foundation contains a schema of tables and joins
from one or more relational databases. Note that you do
not need to create a data foundation for OLAP data
sources.
In this tutorial, you will create a new data foundation that
contains the universe structure.

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

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Tutorial: Create a Business Layer Based on a Single

Relational Data Source
Overview
Creating a business layer is the fourth step for creating a
relational database universe. Prior to creating a business
layer, a project, a connection, and a data foundation must
have been created. A business layer is the collection of
metadata objects that you create based on a data
foundation.
In this tutorial, you will create a new business layer that
contains the universe classes and objects.

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

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Tutorial: Publish a New Universe File Based on a Single

Data Source
Overview
Once all universe resources are created within a project,
the final step is to publish the universe as a UNX file to the
repository. For relational sources, the universe is the
publication of a data foundation, a connection and a
business layer. For OLAP sources, the universe is the
publication of a connection and a business layer.
In this tutorial, you will complete the creation process by
publishing the universe to a repository.

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Creating an OLAP Universe

Creating an OLAP Universe

To create an OLAP universe

Create an OLAP connection
Create a dimensional business layer
Publish the connection and the business layer

Note: MDX universes will not support SAP BW OLAP cubes.

SAP BW data can be accessed with a relational UNX universe,
direct access, or a UNV universe.

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Tutorial: Create a Connection to an OLAP Data Source

Overview
Using the information design tool, you can create a
universe based on an OLAP data source. In order to
retrieve OLAP source data into your universe, you need to
create a new OLAP connection to an OLAP cube.
In this tutorial, you will create a new connection to an
OLAP data source.

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Tutorial: Create a Dimensional Business Layer from an

OLAP Data Source
Overview
Using the information design tool, you can build a business
layer for a universe based on an OLAP cube. Prior to
creating a business layer from an OLAP source, you must
have created a project and a connection to an OLAP cube.
Note that for OLAP sources, the connection is directly
referenced by the business layer, and no data foundation is
required.
In this tutorial, you will create a new dimensional business
layer from an OLAP data source.

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Retrieving a Published Universe

Remove local security

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Create a Basic Universe: Summary

You should now be able to

Define semantic layer and explain the purpose of a universe
Describe the universe development lifecycle
Create an information design tool project
Create connections to relational and OLAP data sources
Describe the data foundation and business layer resources

2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved.

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Thank You!