SAP Project Configuration document

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DOCUMENT HISTORY
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Document
Name

Date

1.0

Setting up
APO BW

03.04.2014

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1 REQUIRED PROCESS

1.1

Setting up APO BW

Create the Source System (APO BW) that indicates the system from which the
transaction data and master data originated.

Create the InfoSource for transaction data so that you can transfer data from the
source system to the SAP APO System. The InfoSource is created in the Data
Warehousing Workbench.

Also define the communication structure, assign the source system and define
the transfer rules.

Create the info area and the application component in the Data Warehousing
Workbench of the SAP APO BW. The info area is used for cataloging InfoCubes,
allowing them to be assigned more effectively.

Create an InfoCube, which is a data container for planning data, and assign
characteristics and key figures to it. Then maintain update rules for the InfoCube. This
way, the InfoSource will be linked to the InfoCube.

Create an InfoPackage to upload historical data from an Excel sheet.

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2 PROCESS PLAN AS FLOW CHART

Create Transportation Package

Create InfoArea

Create InfoObject catalog for Characterstic and Key Figures

Create InfoObjects

Create InfoCube

Create Source System

Create Application Component

Create Infosource and Datasource

Create InfoPackages

Create Transformation and Data Transfer Process (DTP)

Execute DTP

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3 CONFIGURATION STEPS

3.1

Creating Transport Package

Usage: A package is a transportable archive containing the portal objects that can be
exported or imported.
T-Code

: SE21 / SPACKAGE

Specify the Package Name > Create > Enter a description of the package > Continue
The system prompts for a Request Number. Click on Create New Request > Enter a
description > Save > Continue.

Figure 1 Creating Transport Package

The package is created.

Name Convention: The name of the package should begin with Y or Z.

3.2

Data Warehousing Workbench

T-Code

: RSA1

Path

: SAP Menu > APO > Demand Planning > Environment > Data

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Warehousing Workbench

3.2.1

Creating InfoArea
Usage: InfoAreas are used to organize the metaobjects in the Business Information
Warehouse. Each data target is assigned to an InfoArea.
Go to InfoProvider > Right click on the title > Create InfoArea > Enter a name and short
description for the InfoArea > Continue > Save it in the package created.

3.2.2

Creating InfoObject Catalog

Usage: An InfoObject catalog is a collection of InfoObjects grouped according to

application-specific criteria.
As per our requirement we need to create two InfoObject Catalogs one for holding
Characteristics and the other for holding Key Figures.
Select the InfoArea > Right Click > Create InfoObject Catalog > Enter the name and
description for the InfoObject Catalog > Select the corresponding type in the InfoObject
Type > Create > Save it in the package.
Repeat the steps to create another Catalog for the Key figures.

3.2.3

Creating InfoObjects

Usage: InfoObjects are the smallest information units in BW. They structure the information
needed to create data targets.
InfoObjects are the smallest information units in BW. InfoObjects should be created for
every characteristics and key figures.
3.2.3.1 Creating Characteristics InfoObjects
Select the Characteristics InfoObject Catalog > Right Click > Create InfoObject > Enter the
name and description for the InfoObject > Continue > Select BW as the BW application
> Enter the details of Data type and Length as shown in the screenshot > Check for
consistency (CTRL+F2) > Activate (CTRL+F3)

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Figure 2 Creating Characteristic InfoObject

The InfoObject is created and activated.

Figure 3 Creating Navigational Attributes

Select the InfoObject which is in the lower level of hierarchy (like SKU, POS, etc.), go to the
Hierarchy tab and enter the names of the InfoObjects that are above them in the hierarchy.
Define them as Navigational Attributes.

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3.2.3.2 Creating Key Figure InfoObjects

Select the Key Figure InfoObject Catalog > Right Click > Create InfoObject > Enter the
name and description for the InfoObject > Continue > Select APO as the BW application
> Enter the details of Data type and Unit/Currency as shown in the screenshot > Check for
consistency (CTRL+F2) > Activate (CTRL+F3)

Figure 4 Creating Key Figure InfoObject

The InfoObject is created and activated.

3.2.4

Creating InfoCube

Usage: An InfoCube is a quantity of relational tables arranged according to the star

schema: A large fact table in the middle surrounded by several dimension tables.
Select InfoProvider > Select the InfoArea > Right Click > Create InfoCube > Enter the name
and description of the InfoCube > Create > Select BW as the BW type >

Select the characteristic InfoObjects and drop it into Dimensions in the InfoCube
Add the key figures into Key Figures in InfoCube
Add the standard characteristic 9AVERSION into Dimensions in the InfoCube for
Version Mangement
Add the standard Time Characteristic 0CALMONTH into Time dimension of the
InfoCube

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Figure 5 Creating InfoCube

> Check > Activate > Save it in the package.

3.2.5

Creating Source System

Usage: All systems that provide BI with data are described as source systems.
Source System defines the source from which the master and transactional data for our
system will be extracted.
Select Source System > Right Click on the title > Create Source System > Select File
System > Enter a name and description for the Source System > Continue.

3.2.6

Creating Application Component

Usage: An application component is a modeling construct within an integration scenario.

From a logical point of view, it represents a participant of an integration scenario. This
contains the business tasks and concerns that this participant represents within the
integration scenario.
Select DataSources > Right click on the title > Create Application Component > Enter the
name and description for the application component > Continue > Save it in the package.

3.2.7

Creating DataSources

Usage: DataSources supply the metadata description of source data. They are used to

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extract data from a source system and to transfer the data to the BI system. They are also
used for direct access to the source data from the BI system.
Select DataSources > Select the Application Component > Right Click > Create
DataSource > Enter the name of the DataSource and Source System > Continue. This will
open the DataSource details.
In the General Info tab, enter the short and long descriptions to identify the DataSource.
In the Extraction tab, use the following Configuration

Adapter: Load text-type file from local Workstation

File Name: Select the file from the local system
Header rows to be ignored: 1
Data Format: Separated with Separator
Data Separator: ,

In the Proposal tab, select Load Example Data. This will load the Fields from the CSV file.
Change the Data type of the key fields as QUAN and format for them as External

Figure 6 Creating DataSource

In the Fields tab, enter the name of the InfoObjects in the InfoObject column in
corresponding rows and press Enter.
Check > Activate > Save it in the package.
Select Read Preview Data in the Preview tab to check if the data loading is proper. Create
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3 data sources 2 for Master data and 1 for transactional data.

3.2.8

Creating InfoPackage

Usage: With the help of an InfoPackage, we determine the selection conditions in BW for
the data request from a source system. In this section, we can select the contents of the
InfoPackages so that it can be scheduled.
Select DataSources > Select the DataSource > Right Click > Create InfoPackage > Enter a
description for the InfoPackage > Save > Save it to the package. Create an InfoPackage for
each of the 3 DataSources.

3.2.9

Transfer data to PSA

Select DataSources > Open the InfoPackage > Check the values in other tabs > Go to
Schedule tab > Click on Start
After the message Data was requested, select the Monitor (F6) to view the progress of the
process. Select PSA Maintainance (CTRL+F8) to display the data stored in PSA. Repeat
the step for all 3 InfoPackages.

3.2.10

Creating Transformation and Data Transfer Process

Usage: The transformation process allows us to consolidate, cleanse, and integrate data.
We can synchronize data from heterogeneous sources. When we load data from one BI
object into a further BI object, the data is passed through a transformation. A transformation
converts the fields of the source into the format of the target.
Select InfoProvider > Select the InfoCube > Right Click > Create Transformation > Select
the DataSource in the Source of the Transformation > Continue.
Create a 1:1 mapping between the DataSource and the InfoObjects > Check > Activate >
Save it in the package.

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Figure 7 Creating Transformation

Double click on the Data Transfer Processes below the Transformation > Save it in a
package > Navigate to the Execute tab > Click on the Execute button > Select yes to go
the DTP Process monitor.
Create Transformation and DTP for all 3 InfoPackages and execute them. After completing,
right click on the InfoCube and select Display Data. Select the fields that are to be
displayed and click on Execute. The data stored in the InfoCube is displayed.

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Figure 8 Final Output of the InfoCube

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4 CONFIGURATIONS USED
Field

Description

Value

PACKNAME

Name of the Transportation Package

ZT3_PACK

INFOAREA

Name of the InfoArea

ZTM3_IA

INFOCUBE

Name of the InfoCube

ZTM3_CUB

5 UNIT TEST / INTERFACE CONTROLS

No.

Test Condition

Test Result

Passed

Logging into the system

User can login

Loading data from Flat file to PSA

Data transferred

Loading data from PSA to InfoCube

Data transferred

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Failed