Query Designer based on Eclipse

Originally, Eclipse was used as an integrated development environment (IDE) for Java. In the meantime, it is used for many other development tasks because of its extensibility.

The same development environment can be used for different development activities. No switching between different systems and editing interfaces means a whole new level of convenience.

In addition, query results can be displayed immediately after saving the query. InfoProviders can be marked as favorites - either in the local favorites or in the backend favorites - and queries can be easily created on them via the context menu.

All this casts a good light on the new Query Designer. This article shows what the advantages are, what needs to be taken into account when making the switch, and whether it is advisable to use it at this point in time.

The central difference

The BEx Query Designer and the Eclipse-based Query Designer are basically similar, which makes it easier to get started. The range of functions for creating and editing queries is largely the same for both.

There is the view for defining the query layout and corresponding views for filters, conditions and exceptions. However, the properties of characteristics or key figures are now no longer displayed in tabs, but all together on the right.

A central difference to the previous tools is that in the new business warehouse modeling tools the query is one of several objects that can be created or edited there.

The BEx Query Designer was only suitable for editing queries. This makes the operation of the new modeling tools significantly more complex, because the integrated tool can now do considerably more than edit queries.

However, the range of functions of the modeling tools is still so limited that the data warehousing workbench is indispensable. Many objects have to be edited or created there.

As mentioned above, a SAP GUI window can be opened directly within the Eclipse tool to edit these objects within the same interface. The new objects such as Open ODS View, Advanced DataStore Object and Composite Provider can be created and edited exclusively with the new Modeling Tools.

Restrictions

It should be noted that BEx queries cannot be migrated. The BEx Query Designer can open queries for viewing that were created with the new modeling tools.

However, they cannot be edited. BEx queries cannot be opened or edited with the new modeling tools. In addition, there are still some errors in the current version.

Technical error messages or aborts therefore occur from time to time. The corresponding menu items are available to create and edit variables. Practically, however, it was not yet feasible, although all available preliminary corrections were imported.

Furthermore, it was not possible to work with cell definitions. Only already existing variables can be inserted. For this, the queries can be used in DesignStudio as well as in Analysis for Microsoft.

The new business warehouse modeling tools under Eclipse are available as of NetWeaver 7.40 SP 5. The prerequisite is that the BW systems run on SAP Hana.

To use the latest version 1.8 of the Modeling Tools, SAP recommends at least NetWeaver 7.40 SP 8. The test shows that the latest Support Package should be used, otherwise extensive notes must be imported to be able to use the Modeling Tools.

For the frontend components, SAP Hana Studio must first be installed on the client PC in question (based on Eclipse). Then the Abap Development Tools and finally the BW Modeling Tools are installed.

To edit and create BW objects (Queries, Composite Provider, Advanced DSO and Open ODS View), a project must first be created within the BW Modeling Tools (this is created automatically when logging on to an SAP NetWeaver system if it does not exist).

Conclusion

SAP's strategy to provide the BW Modeling Tools as a central development tool in the future brings users many advantages. SAP is working at full speed on this development, as a new version of the Modeling Tools or the Query Designer is released almost weekly.

Since the BW Modeling Tools are still under construction, we can currently only recommend productive use with restrictions.

It remains to be said: The functional scope of the modeling tools goes far beyond that of the Query Designer. The current Support Package and the additional corrections must be installed in order to use them.

Queries can be edited with about the same range of functions as with the BEx Query Designer (except for variables and cell definitions).

Part of the functionality of the Eclipse toolbox is that new objects (Composite Provider, Open ODS View, Advanced DSO) are only edited with the new tools, not via the traditional data warehousing workbench.

Supporting companies in the selection and best possible use of business warehouse modeling tools is the concern of the SAP consulting firm Infocient in Mannheim. The SAP experts provide strategic as well as technological support to ensure the competitiveness of medium-sized companies and corporations.

Better safe than sorry - that's why we test solutions and work closely with the company to develop strategies and concepts that precisely match the user's specific requirements.

Customers are currently receiving support in particular for the development of their own suitable standards for dealing with SAP BW on Hana.