SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper

7/30/2019 SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper

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SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper- Part - 11. What are the extractor types?Application SpecificBW Content FI, HR, CO, SAP CRM, LO CockpitCustomer-Generated Extractors

LIS, FI-SL, CO-PACross Application (Generic Extractors)DB View, InfoSet, Function Module

2. What are the steps involved in LO Extraction?The steps are:o RSA5 Select the DataSourceso LBWE Maintain DataSources and Activate Extract Structureso LBWG Delete Setup Tableso 0LI*BW Setup tables

o RSA3 Check extraction and the data in Setup tableso LBWQ Check the extraction queueo LBWF Log for LO Extract Structureso RSA7 BW Delta Queue Monitor

3. How to create a connection with LIS InfoStructures?LBW0 Connecting LIS InfoStructures to BW

4. What is the difference between ODS and InfoCube and MultiProvider?ODS: Provides granular data, allows overwrite and data is in transparent tables, ideal fordrilldown and RRI.

CUBE: Follows the star schema, we can only append data, ideal for primary reporting.MultiProvider: Does not have physical data. It allows to access data from differentInfoProviders (Cube, ODS, InfoObject). It is also preferred for reporting.

5. What are Start routines, Transfer routines and Update routines?Start Routines: The start routine is run for each DataPackage after the data has beenwritten to the PSA and before the transfer rules have been executed. It allows complexcomputations for a key figure or a characteristic. It has no return value. Its purpose is toexecute preliminary calculations and to store them in global DataStructures. Thisstructure or table can be accessed in the other routines. The entire DataPackage in thetransfer structure format is used as a parameter for the routine.

Transfer / Update Routines: They are defined at the InfoObject level. It is like the StartRoutine. It is independent of the DataSource. We can use this to define Global Data andGlobal Checks.

6. What is the difference between start routine and update routine, when, how and whyare they called?Start routine can be used to access InfoPackage while update routines are used while


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updating the Data Targets.

7. 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 itis an ODS then active table structure will be the table.

8. Explain how you used Start routines in your project?Start routines are used for mass processing of records. In start routine all the records ofDataPackage is available for processing. So we can process all these records together instart routine. In one of scenario, we wanted to apply size % to the forecast data. Forexample 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 recordsagainst one single record that is coming in the info package. This is achieved in startroutine.

9. What are Return Tables?

When we want to return multiple records, instead of single value, we use the return tablein the Update Routine. Example: If we have total telephone expense for a Cost Center,using a return table we can get expense per employee.

10. 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

11. 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 thesame time as the document update (in the application tables).V2 Update: It is an Asynchronous update. Statistics update and the Document updatetake place as different tasks.V1 & V2 don't 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 BWas a batch job. The transfer sequence may not be the same as the order in which the datawas created in all scenarios. V3 update only processes the update data that issuccessfully processed with the V2 update.

12. What is compression?It is a process used to delete the Request IDs and this saves space.

13. What is Rollup?This is used to load new DataPackages (requests) into the InfoCube aggregates. If wehave not performed a rollup then the new InfoCube data will not be available whilereporting on the aggregate.

14. 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


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file partitioning to improve performance. We can partition only at 0CALMONTH or0FISCPER. Table partitioning helps to run the report faster as data is stored in therelevant partitions. Also table maintenance becomes easier. Oracle, Informix, IBMDB2/390 supports table partitioning while SAP DB, Microsoft SQL Server, IBMDB2/400 do not support table portioning.

15. How many extra partitions are created and why?Two partitions are created for date before the begin date and after the end date.

16. What are the options available in transfer rule? InfoObject Constant Routine Formula

17. How would you optimize the dimensions?

We should define as many dimensions as possible and we have to take care that nosingle dimension crosses more than 20% of the fact table size.

18. What are Conversion Routines for units and currencies in the update rule?Using this option we can write ABAP code for Units / Currencies conversion. If weenable this flag then unit of Key Figure appears in the ABAP code as an additionalparameter. For example, we can convert units in Pounds to Kilos.

19. Can an InfoObject be an InfoProvider, how and why?Yes, when we want to report on Characteristics or Master Data. We have to right clickon the InfoArea and select "Insert characteristic as data target". For example, we canmake 0CUSTOMER as an InfoProvider and report on it.

20. What is Open Hub Service?The Open Hub Service enables us to distribute data from an SAP BW system intoexternal Data Marts, analytical applications, and other applications. We can ensurecontrolled distribution using several systems. The central object for exporting data is theInfoSpoke. We can define the source and the target object for the data. BW becomes ahub of an enterpriseSAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper- Part - 2

21. How do you transform Open Hub Data?

Using BADI we can transform Open Hub Data according to the destination requirement.

22. What is ODS? Operational DataSource is used for detailed storage of data. We can overwrite data in the ODS. The data is stored in

transparent tables.

23. What are BW Statistics and what is its use?

They are group of Business Content InfoCubes which are used to measure performance for Query and Load

Monitoring. It also shows the usage of aggregates, OLAP and Warehouse management.


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24. What are the steps to extract data from R/3?

Replicate DataSources

Assign InfoSources

Maintain Communication Structure and Transfer rules

Create and InfoPackage

Load Data

25. What are the delta options available when you load from flat file?

The 3 options for Delta Management with Flat Files:

o Full Upload

o New Status for Changed records (ODS Object only)

o Additive Delta (ODS Object & InfoCube)

Q) 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.

Q) I want to delete a BEx query that is in Production system through request. Is anyone aware about it?

A) Have you tried the RSZDELETE transaction?

Q) 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.

Q) 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.

Q) PSA Cleansing.

A) You know how to edit PSA. I don't think you can delete single records. You have to delete entire PSA data for a

request.

Q) 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, it's in last pages u find out.

Generic delta services: -

Supports delta extraction for generic extractors according to:


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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

Q) Workbooks, as a general rule, should be transported with the role.

Here are a couple of scenarios:

1. If both the workbook and its role have been previously transported, then the role does not need to be part of the

transport.

2. If the role exists in both dev and the target system but the workbook has never been transported, and then you have a

choice of transporting the role (recommended) or just the workbook. If only the workbook is transported, then an

additional step will have to be taken after import: Locate the WorkbookID via Table RSRWBINDEXT (in Dev and

verify the same exists in the target system) and proceed to manually add it to the role in the target system via

Transaction Code PFCG -- ALWAYS use control c/control v copy/paste for manually adding!

3. If the role does not exist in the target system you should transport both the role and workbook. Keep in mind that a

workbook is an object unto itself and has no dependencies on other objects. Thus, you do not receive an error message

from the transport of 'just a workbook' -- even though it may not be visible, it will exist (verified via Table

RSRWBINDEXT).

Overall, as a general rule, you should transport roles with workbooks.

Q) How much time does it take to extract 1 million (10 lackhs) of records into an infocube?

A. This depends, if you have complex coding in update rules it will take longer time, or else it will take less than 30

minutes.

Q) What are the five ASAP Methodologies?

A: Project plan, Business Blue print, Realization, Final preparation & Go-Live - support.

1. Project Preparation: In this phase, decision makers define clear project objectives and an efficient decision making

process ( i.e. Discussions with the client, like what are his needs and requirements etc.). Project managers will be

involved in this phase (I guess).


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A Project Charter is issued and an implementation strategy is outlined in this phase.

2. Business Blueprint: It is a detailed documentation of your company's requirements. (i.e. what are the objects we

need to develop are modified depending on the client's requirements).

3. Realization: In this only, the implementation of the project takes place (development of objects etc) and we are

involved in the project from here only.

4. Final Preparation: Final preparation before going live i.e. testing, conducting pre-go-live, end user training etc.

End user training is given that is in the client site you train them how to work with the new environment, as they are

new to the technology.

5. Go-Live & support: The project has gone live and it is into production. The Project team will be supporting the end

users.

Q) What is landscape of R/3 & what is landscape of BW. Landscape of R/3 not sure.

Then Landscape of b/w: u have the development system, testing system, production system

Development system: All the implementation part is done in this sys. (I.e., Analysis of objects developing,

modification etc) and from here the objects are transported to the testing system, but before transporting an initial test

known as Unit testing (testing of objects) is done in the development sys.

Testing/Quality system: quality check is done in this system and integration testing is done.

Production system: All the extraction part takes place in this sys.

Q) How do you measure the size of infocube?

A: In no of records.

Q). Difference between infocube and ODS?

A: Infocube 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. No overwrite functionality

ODS is a flat structure (flat table) with no star schema concept and which will have granular data (detailed level).

Overwrite functionality.

Flat file datasources does not support 0recordmode in extraction.

x before, -after, n new, a add, d delete, r reverse


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Q) Difference between display attributes and navigational attributes?

A: 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 Navigational attribute in the cube as a characteristic (that is

the advantage) to drill down.

Q. SOME DATA IS UPLOADED TWICE INTO INFOCUBE. HOW TO CORRECT IT?A: But how is it possible? If you load it manually twice, then you can delete it by requestID.

Q. CAN U ADD A NEW FIELD AT THE ODS LEVEL?

Sure you can. ODS is nothing but a table.

Q. CAN NUMBER OF DATASOURCES HAVE ONE INFOSOURCE?

A) Yes of course. For example, for loading text and hierarchies we use different data sources but the same InfoSource.

Q. BRIEF THE DATAFLOW IN BW.A) Data flows from transactional system to analytical system (BW). DataSources on the transactional system needs to

be replicated on BW side and attached to infosource and update rules respectively.

Q. CURRENCY CONVERSIONS CAN BE WRITTEN IN UPDATE RULES. WHY NOT IN TRANSFER RULES?

Q) WHAT IS PROCEDURE TO UPDATE DATA INTO DATA TARGETS?

FULL and DELTA.

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SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper- Part - 3Q) AS WE USE Sbwnn, sbiw1, sbiw2 for delta update in LIS THEN WHAT IS THEPROCEDURE IN LO-COCKPIT?No LIS in LO cockpit. We will have datasources and can be maintained (append fields).Refer white paper on LO-Cockpit extractions.

Q) Why we delete the setup tables (LBWG) & fill them (OLI*BW)?

A) Initially we don't delete the setup tables but when we do change in extract structurewe go for it. We r changing the extract structure right, that means there are some newly

added fields in that which r not before. So to get the required data ( i.e.; the data which isrequired is taken and to avoid redundancy) we delete n then fill the setup tables.

To refresh the statistical data. The extraction set up reads the dataset that you want toprocess such as, customers orders with the tables like VBAK, VBAP) & fills the relevantcommunication structure with the data. The data is stored in cluster tables from where itis read when the initialization is run. It is important that during initialization phase, no


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one generates or modifies application data, at least until the tables can be set up.

Q) SIGNIFICANCE of ODS?It holds granular data (detailed level).

Q) WHERE THE PSA DATA IS STORED?In PSA table.

Q) WHAT IS DATA SIZE?The volume of data one data target holds (in no. of records)

Q) Different types of INFOCUBES.

Basic, Virtual (remote, sap remote and multi)Virtual Cube is used for example, if you consider railways reservation all theinformation has to be updated online. For designing the Virtual cube you have to write

the function module that is linking to table, Virtual cube it is like a the structure, whenever the table is updated the virtual cube will fetch the data from table and display reportOnline... FYI.. you will get the information : https://www.sdn.sap.com/sdn /index.sdnand search for Designing Virtual Cube and you will get a good material designing theFunction Module

Q) INFOSET QUERY.Can be made of ODS's and Characteristic InfoObjects with masterdata.

Q) IF THERE ARE 2 DATASOURCES HOW MANY TRANSFER STRUCTURESARE THERE.In R/3 or in BW? 2 in R/3 and 2 in BW

Q) ROUTINES?Exist in the InfoObject, transfer routines, update routines and start routine

Q) BRIEF SOME STRUCTURES USED IN BEX.Rows and Columns, you can create structures.

Q) WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT VARIABLES USED IN BEX?Different Variable's are Texts, Formulas, Hierarchies, Hierarchy nodes & Characteristic


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values.

Variable Types are

Manual entry /default valueReplacement pathSAP exitCustomer exitAuthorization

Q) HOW MANY LEVELS YOU CAN GO IN REPORTING?You can drill down to any level by using Navigational attributes and jump targets.

Q) WHAT ARE INDEXES?Indexes are data base indexes, which help in retrieving data fastly.

Q) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2.1 AND 3.X VERSIONS.Help! Refer documentation

Q) IS IT NESSESARY TO INITIALIZE EACH TIME THE DELTA UPDATE ISUSED?No.

Q) WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF KPI'S?KPI's indicate the performance of a company. These are key figures

Q) AFTER THE DATA EXTRACTION WHAT IS THE IMAGE POSITION.After image (correct me if I am wrong)

Q) REPORTING AND RESTRICTIONS.Help! Refer documentation.

Q) TOOLS USED FOR PERFORMANCE TUNING.ST22, Number ranges, delete indexes before load. Etc

Q) PROCESS CHAINS: IF U has USED IT THEN HOW WILL U SCHEDULING


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DATA DAILY.There should be some tool to run the job daily (SM37 jobs)

Q) AUTHORIZATIONS.

Profile generator

Q) WEB REPORTING.What are you expecting??

Q) CAN CHARECTERSTIC INFOOBJECT CAN BE INFOPROVIDER.Of course

Q) PROCEDURES OF REPORTING ON MULTICUBESRefer help. What are you expecting? MultiCube works on Union condition

Q) EXPLAIN TRANPSORTATION OF OBJECTS?Dev--- Q and Dev------- P

Q) What types of partitioning are there for BW?

There are two Partitioning Performance aspects for BW (Cube & PSA)Query Data Retrieval Performance Improvement:Partitioning by (say) Date Range improves data retrieval by making best use of database[data range] execution plans and indexes (of say Oracle database engine).B) Transactional Load Partitioning Improvement:Partitioning based on expected load volumes and data element sizes. Improves dataloading into PSA and Cubes by infopackages (Eg. without timeouts).

Q) How can I compare data in R/3 with data in a BW Cube after the daily delta loads?Are there any standard procedures for checking them or matching the number ofrecords?

A) You can go to R/3 TCode RSA3 and run the extractor. It will give you the number ofrecords extracted. Then go to BW Monitor to check the number of records in the PSAand check to see if it is the same & also in the monitor header tab.A) RSA3 is a simple extractor checker program that allows you to rule out extractsproblems in R/3. It is simple to use, but only really tells you if the extractor works. Sincerecords that get updated into Cubes/ODS structures are controlled by Update Rules, youwill not be able to determine what is in the Cube compared to what is in the R/3environment. You will need to compare records on a 1:1 basis against records in R/3transactions for the functional area in question. I would recommend enlisting the help of


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the end user community to assist since they presumably know the data.

To use RSA3, go to it and enter the extractor ex: 2LIS_02_HDR. Click execute and youwill see the record count, you can also go to display that data. You are not modifyinganything so what you do in RSA3 has no effect on data quality afterwards. However, it

will not tell you how many records should be expected in BW for a given load. You havethat information in the monitor RSMO during and after data loads. From RSMO for agiven load you can determine how many records were passed through the transfer rulesfrom R/3, how many targets were updated, and how many records passed through theUpdate Rules. It also gives you error messages from the PSA.

Q) Types of Transfer Rules?

A) Field to Field mapping, Constant, Variable & routine.

Q) Types of Update Rules?

A) (Check box), Return table

Q) Transfer Routine?

A) Routines, which we write in, transfer rules.

Q) Update Routine?

A) Routines, which we write in Update rules

Q) What is the difference between writing a routine in transfer rules and writing aroutine in update rules?

A) If you are using the same InfoSource to update data in more than one data target itsbetter u write in transfer rules because u can assign one InfoSource to more than one datatarget & and what ever logic u write in update rules it is specific to particular one datatarget.

Q) Routine with Return Table.

A) Update rules generally only have one return value. However, you can create a routinein the tab strip key figure calculation, by choosing checkbox Return table. The


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corresponding key figure routine then no longer has a return value, but a return table.You can then generate as many key figure values, as you like from one data record.

Q) Start routines?

A) Start routines u can write in both updates rules and transfer rules, suppose you wantto restrict (delete) some records based on conditions before getting loaded into datatargets, then you can specify this in update rules-start routine.

Ex: - Delete Data_Package ani ante it will delete a record based on the condition

Q) X & Y Tables?

X-table = A table to link material SIDs with SIDs for time-independent navigationattributes.

Y-table = A table to link material SIDs with SIDS for time-dependent navigationattributes.

There are four types of sid tables

X time independent navigational attributes sid tables

Y time dependent navigational attributes sid tables

H hierarchy sid tables

I hierarchy structure sid tables

Q) Filters & Restricted Key figures (real time example)

Restricted KF's u can have for an SD cube: billed quantity, billing value, no: of billingdocuments as RKF's.

Q) Line-Item Dimension (give me an real time example)

Line-Item Dimension: Invoice no: or Doc no: is a real time example


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Q) What does the number in the 'Total' column in Transaction RSA7 mean?

A) The 'Total' column displays the number of LUWs that were written in the delta queueand that have not yet been confirmed. The number includes the LUWs of the last delta

request (for repetition of a delta request) and the LUWs for the next delta request. ALUW only disappears from the RSA7 display when it has been transferred to the BWSystem and a new delta request has been received from the BW System.

Q) How to know in which table (SAP BW) contains Technical Name / Description andcreation data of a particular Reports. Reports that are created using BEx Analyzer.

A) There is no such table in BW if you want to know such details while you are openinga particular query press properties button you will come to know all the details that youwanted.

You will find your information about technical names and description about queries inthe following tables. Directory of all reports (Table RSRREPDIR) and Directory of thereporting component elements (Table RSZELTDIR) for workbooks and the connectionsto queries check Where- used list for reports in workbooks (Table RSRWORKBOOK)Titles of Excel Workbooks in InfoCatalog (Table RSRWBINDEXT)

Q) What is a LUW in the delta queue?

A) A LUW from the point of view of the delta queue can be an individual document, agroup of documents from a collective run or a whole data packet of an applicationextractor.

Q) Why does the number in the 'Total' column in the overview screen of TransactionRSA7 differ from the number of data records that is displayed when you call the detailview?

A) The number on the overview screen corresponds to the total of LUWs (see also firstquestion) that were written to the qRFC queue and that have not yet been confirmed. Thedetail screen displays the records contained in the LUWs. Both, the records belonging tothe previous delta request and the records that do not meet the selection conditions of thepreceding delta init requests are filtered out. Thus, only the records that are ready for thenext delta request are displayed on the detail screen. In the detail screen of TransactionRSA7, a possibly existing customer exit is not taken into account.

Q) Why does Transaction RSA7 still display LUWs on the overview screen aftersuccessful delta loading?


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A) Only when a new delta has been requested does the source system learn that theprevious delta was successfully loaded to the BW System. Then, the LUWs of theprevious delta may be confirmed (and also deleted). In the meantime, the LUWs must bekept for a possible delta request repetition. In particular, the number on the overview

screen does not change when the first delta was loaded to the BW System.

Q) Why are selections not taken into account when the delta queue is filled?

A) Filtering according to selections takes place when the system reads from the deltaqueue. This is necessary for reasons of performance.

Q) Why is there a DataSource with '0' records in RSA7 if delta exists and has also beenloaded successfully?

It is most likely that this is a DataSource that does not send delta data to the BW Systemvia the delta queue but directly via the extractor (delta for master data using ALE changepointers). Such a DataSource should not be displayed in RSA7. This error is correctedwith BW 2.0B Support Package 11.

Q) Do the entries in table ROIDOCPRMS have an impact on the performance of theloading procedure from the delta queue?

A) The impact is limited. If performance problems are related to the loading processfrom the delta queue, then refer to the application-specific notes (for example in the CO-PA area, in the logistics cockpit area and so on).

Caution: As of Plug In 2000.2 patch 3 the entries in table ROIDOCPRMS are aseffective for the delta queue as for a full update. Please note, however, that LUWs are

not split during data loading for consistency reasons. This means that when very largeLUWs are written to the DeltaQueue, the actual package size may differ considerablyfrom the MAXSIZE and MAXLINES parameters.

Q) Why does it take so long to display the data in the delta queue (for exampleapproximately 2 hours)?

A) With Plug In 2001.1 the display was changed: the user has the option of defining theamount of data to be displayed, to restrict it, to selectively choose the number of a datarecord, to make a distinction between the 'actual' delta data and the data intended forrepetition and so on.


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Q) What is the purpose of function 'Delete data and meta data in a queue' in RSA7?What exactly is deleted?

A) You should act with extreme caution when you use the deletion function in the deltaqueue. It is comparable to deleting an InitDelta in the BW System and should preferably

be executed there. You do not only delete all data of this DataSource for the affected BWSystem, but also lose the entire information concerning the delta initialization. Then youcan only request new deltas after another delta initialization.

When you delete the data, the LUWs kept in the qRFC queue for the correspondingtarget system are confirmed. Physical deletion only takes place in the qRFC outbound

queue if there are no more references to the LUWs.

The deletion function is for example intended for a case where the BW System, fromwhich the delta initialization was originally executed, no longer exists or can no longerbe accessed.

Q) Why does it take so long to delete from the delta queue (for example half a day)?

A) Import PlugIn 2000.2 patch 3. With this patch the performance during deletion isconsiderably improved.

Q) Why is the delta queue not updated when you start the V3 update in the logisticscockpit area?

A) It is most likely that a delta initialization had not yet run or that the delta initializationwas not successful. A successful delta initialization (the corresponding request musthave QM status 'green' in the BW System) is a prerequisite for the application data beingwritten in the delta queue.

Q) What is the relationship between RSA7 and the qRFC monitor (Transaction SMQ1)?

A) The qRFC monitor basically displays the same data as RSA7. The internal queuename must be used for selection on the initial screen of the qRFC monitor. This is made

up of the prefix 'BW, the client and the short name of the DataSource. For DataSourceswhose name are 19 characters long or shorter, the short name corresponds to the name ofthe DataSource. For DataSources whose name is longer than 19 characters (for delta-capable DataSources only possible as of PlugIn 2001.1) the short name is assigned intable ROOSSHORTN.

In the qRFC monitor you cannot distinguish between repeatable and new LUWs.Moreover, the data of a LUW is displayed in an unstructured manner there.


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you should expect that the delta have to be initialized after the copy.

Q) Is it allowed in Transaction SMQ1 to use the functions for manual control ofprocesses?

A) Use SMQ1 as an instrument for diagnosis and control only. Make changes to BWqueues only after informing the BW Support or only if this is explicitly requested in a

note for component 'BC-BW' or 'BW-WHM-SAPI'.

Q) Despite of the delta request being started after completion of the collective run (V3update), it does not contain all documents. Only another delta request loads the missingdocuments into BW. What is the cause for this "splitting"?

A) The collective run submits the open V2 documents for processing to the task handler,

which processes them in one or several parallel update processes in an asynchronousway. For this reason, plan a sufficiently large "safety time window" between the end ofthe collective run in the source system and the start of the delta request in BW. Analternative solution where this problem does not occur is described in Note 505700.

Q) Despite my deleting the delta init, LUWs are still written into the DeltaQueue?

A) In general, delta initializations and deletions of delta inits should always be carriedout at a time when no posting takes place. Otherwise, buffer problems may occur: If auser started the internal mode at a time when the delta initialization was still active,he/she posts data into the queue even though the initialization had been deleted in themeantime. This is the case in your system.

Q) In SMQ1 (qRFC Monitor) I have status 'NOSEND'. In the table TRFCQOUT, someentries have the status 'READY', others 'RECORDED'. ARFCSSTATE is 'READ'. Whatdo these statuses mean? Which values in the field 'Status' mean what and which values

are correct and which are alarming? Are the statuses BW-specific or generally valid inqRFC?

A) Table TRFCQOUT and ARFCSSTATE: Status READ means that the record was readonce either in a delta request or in a repetition of the delta request. However, this does

not mean that the record has successfully reached the BW yet. The status READY in theTRFCQOUT and RECORDED in the ARFCSSTATE means that the record has beenwritten into the DeltaQueue and will be loaded into the BW with the next delta requestor a repetition of a delta. In any case only the statuses READ, READY and RECORDEDin both tables are considered to be valid. The status EXECUTED in TRFCQOUT canoccur temporarily. It is set before starting a DeltaExtraction for all records with statusREAD present at that time. The records with status EXECUTED are usually deleted


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from the queue in packages within a delta request directly after setting the status beforeextracting a new delta. If you see such records, it means that either a process which isconfirming and deleting records which have been loaded into the BW is successfully

running at the moment, or, if the records remain in the table for a longer period of timewith status EXECUTED, it is likely that there are problems with deleting the records

which have already been successfully been loaded into the BW. In this state, no moredeltas are loaded into the BW. Every other status is an indicator for an error or aninconsistency. NOSEND in SMQ1 means nothing (see note 378903).

The value 'U' in field 'NOSEND' of table TRFCQOUT is discomforting.

Q) The extract structure was changed when the DeltaQueue was empty. Afterwards newdelta records were written to the DeltaQueue. When loading the delta into the PSA, itshows that some fields were moved. The same result occurs when the contents of theDeltaQueue are listed via the detail display. Why are the data displayed differently?

What can be done?Make sure that the change of the extract structure is also reflected in the database andthat all servers are synchronized. We recommend to reset the buffers using Transaction$SYNC. If the extract structure change is not communicated synchronously to the serverwhere delta records are being created, the records are written with the old structure untilthe new structure has been generated. This may have disastrous consequences for thedelta.

When the problem occurs, the delta needs to be re-initialized.

Q) How and where can I control whether a repeat delta is requested?

A) Via the status of the last delta in the BW Request Monitor. If the request is RED, thenext load will be of type 'Repeat'. If you need to repeat the last load for certain reasons,set the request in the monitor to red manually. For the contents of the repeat see Question14. Delta requests set to red despite of data being already updated lead to duplicaterecords in a subsequent repeat, if they have not been deleted from the data targetsconcerned before.

Q) As of PI 2003.1, the Logistic Cockpit offers various types of update methods. Whichupdate method is recommended in logistics? According to which criteria should thedecision be made? How can I choose an update method in logistics?

See the recommendation in Note 505700.

Q) Are there particular recommendations regarding the data volume the DeltaQueue may


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grow to without facing the danger of a read failure due to memory problems?

A) There is no strict limit (except for the restricted number range of the 24-digitQCOUNT counter in the LUW management table - which is of no practical importance,however - or the restrictions regarding the volume and number of records in a database

table).

When estimating "smooth" limits, both the number of LUWs is important and theaverage data volume per LUW. As a rule, we recommend to bundle data (usuallydocuments) already when writing to the DeltaQueue to keep number of LUWs small(partly this can be set in the applications, e.g. in the Logistics Cockpit). The data volume

of a single LUW should not be considerably larger than 10% of the memory available tothe work process for data extraction (in a 32-bit architecture with a memory volume ofabout 1GByte per work process, 100 Mbytes per LUW should not be exceeded). Thatlimit is of rather small practical importance as well since a comparable limit alreadyapplies when writing to the DeltaQueue. If the limit is observed, correct reading is

guaranteed in most cases.If the number of LUWs cannot be reduced by bundling application transactions, youshould at least make sure that the data are fetched from all connected BWs as quickly aspossible. But for other, BW-specific, reasons, the frequency should not be higher thanone DeltaRequest per hour.

To avoid memory problems, a program-internal limit ensures that never more than 1million LUWs are read and fetched from the database per DeltaRequest. If this limit isreached within a request, the DeltaQueue must be emptied by several successiveDeltaRequests. We recommend, however, to try not to reach that limit but trigger thefetching of data from the connected BWs already when the number of LUWs reaches a5-digit value.SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper- Part - 4Q) I would like to display the date the data was uploaded on the report. Usually, we loadthe transactional data nightly. Is there any easy way to include this information on thereport for users? So that they know the validity of the report.

A) If I understand your requirement correctly, you want to display the date on whichdata was loaded into the data target from which the report is being executed. If it is so,configure your workbook to display the text elements in the report. This displays therelevance of data field, which is the date on which the data load has taken place.

Q) Can we filter the fields at Transfer Structure?

Q) Can we load data directly into infoobject with out extraction is it possible.

Yes. We can copy from other infoobject if it is same. We load data from PSA if it isalready in PSA.


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Q) HOW MANY DAYS CAN WE KEEP THE DATA IN PSA, IF WE R SHEDULEDDAILY, WEEKLY AND MONTHLY.

a) We can set the time.

Q) HOW CAN U GET THE DATA FROM CLIENT IF U R WORKING ONOFFSHORE PROJECTS. THROUGH WHICH NETWORK.

a) VPN.Virtual Private Network, VPN is nothing but one sort of network where we canconnect to the client systems sitting in offshore through RAS (Remote access server).

Q) HOW CAN U ANALIZE THE PROJECT AT FIRST?

Prepare Project Plan and EnvironmentDefine Project Management Standards and

ProceduresDefine Implementation Standards and Procedures

Testing & Go-live + supporting.

Q) THERE is one ODS AND 4 INFOCUBES. WE SEND DATA AT TIME TO ALLCUBES IF ONE CUBE GOT LOCK ERROR. HOW CAN U RECTIFY THE ERROR?

Go to TCode sm66 then see which one is locked select that pid from there and goto sm12TCode then unlock it this is happened when lock errors are occurred when u scheduled.

Q) Can anybody tell me how to add a navigational attribute in the BEx report in therows?

A) Expand dimension under left side panel (that is infocube panel) select thannavigational attributes drag and drop under rows panel.

Q) IF ANY TRASACTION CODE LIKE SMPT OR STMT.

In current systems (BW 3.0B and R/3 4.6B) these Tcodes don't exist!

Q) WHAT IS TRANSACTIONAL CUBE?


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A) Transactional InfoCubes differ from standard InfoCubes in that the former have animproved write access performance level. Standard InfoCubes are technically optimizedfor read-only access and for a comparatively small number of simultaneous accesses.Instead, the transactional InfoCube was developed to meet the demands of SAP Strategic

Enterprise Management (SEM), meaning that, data is written to the InfoCube (possiblyby several users at the same time) and re-read as soon as possible. Standard Basic cubesare not suitable for this.

Q) Is there any way to delete cube contents within update rules from an ODS datasource? The reason for this would be to delete (or zero out) a cube record in an "OpenOrder" cube if the open order quantity was 0.I've tried using the 0recordmode but that doesn't work. Also, would itbe easier to write a program that would be run after the load and deletethe records with a zero open qty?

A) START routine for update rules u can write ABAP code.

A) Yap, you can do it. Create a start routine in Update rule.

It is not "Deleting cube contents with update rules" It is only possible to avoid that somecontent is updated into the InfoCube using the start routine. Loop at all the records anddelete the record that has the condition. "If the open order quantity was 0" You have tothink also in before and after images in case of a delta upload. In that case you maydelete the change record and keep the old and after the change the wrong information.

Q) I am not able to access a node in hierarchy directly using variables for reports. WhenI am using Tcode RSZV it is giving a message that it doesn't exist in BW 3.0 and it isembedded in BEx. Can any one tell me the other options to get the same functionality inBEx?

A) Tcode RSZV is used in the earlier version of 3.0B only. From 3.0B onwards, it'spossible in the Query Designer (BEx) itself. Just right click on the InfoObject for whichyou want to use as variables and precede further selecting variable type and processingtypes.

Q) Wondering how can I get the values, for an example, if I run a report for month range01/2004 - 10/2004 then monthly value is actually divide by the number of months that Iselected. Which variable should I use?

Q) Why is it every time I switch from Info Provider to InfoObject or from one item toanother while in modeling I always get this message " Reading Data " or "constructing


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workbench" in it runs for minutes.... anyway to stop this?

Q) Can any one give me info on how the BW delta works also would like to know about'before image and after image' am currently in a BW project and have to write start

routines for delta load.

Q) I am very new to BW. I would like to clarify a doubt regarding Delta extractor. If Iam correct, by using delta extractors the data that has already been scheduled will not beuploaded again. Say for a specific scenario, Sales. Now I have uploaded all the salesorder created till yesterday into the cube. Now say I make changes to any of the openrecord, which was already uploaded. Now what happens when I schedule it again? Willthe same record be uploaded again with the changes or will the changes get affected tothe previous record.

A)?Q) In BW we need to write abap routines. I wish to know when and what type of abaproutines we got to write. Also, are these routines written in update rules? I will be glad, ifthis is clarified with real-time scenarios and few examples?

A) Over here we write our routines in the start routines in the update rules or in thetransfer structure (you can choose between writing them in the start routines or directlybehind the different characteristics. In the transfer structure you just click on the yellowtriangle behind a characteristic and choose "routine". In the update rules you can choose"start routine" or click on the triangle with the green square behind an individualcharacteristic. Usually we only use start routine when it does not concern one singlecharacteristic (for example when you have to read the same table for 4 characteristics). Ihope this helps.

We used ABAP Routines for example:

To convert to Uppercase (transfer structure)

To convert Values out of a third party tool with different keys into the same keys as ourSAP System uses (transfer structure)

To select only a part of the data for from an infosource updating the InfoCube (StartRoutine) etc.

Q) What is ODS?

A) An ODS object acts as a storage location for consolidated and cleaned-up transaction


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data (transaction data or master data, for example) on the document (atomic) level.

This data can be evaluated using a BEx query.

Standard ODS Object

Transactional ODS object:

The data is immediately available here for reporting. For implementation, compare withthe Transactional ODS Object.

A transactional ODS object differs from a standard ODS object in the way it preparesdata. In a standard ODS object, data is stored in different versions ((new) delta, active,(change log) modified), where as a transactional ODS object contains the data in a singleversion. Therefore, data is stored in precisely the same form in which it was written tothe transactional ODS object by the application. In BW, you can use a transaction ODS

object as a data target for an analysis process.The transactional ODS object is also required by diverse applications, such as SAPStrategic Enterprise Management (SEM) for example, as well as other externalapplications.

Transactional ODS objects allow data to be available quickly. The data from this kind ofODS object is accessed transactionally, that is, data is written to the ODS object(possibly by several users at the same time) and reread as soon as possible.

It offers no replacement for the standard ODS object. Instead, an additional functiondisplays those that can be used for special applications.

The transactional ODS object simply consists of a table for active data. It retrieves itsdata from external systems via fill- or delete- APIs. The loading process is not supportedby the BW system. The advantage to the way it is structured is that data is easy to access.They are made available for reporting immediately after being loaded.

Q) What does InfoCube contains?

A) Each InfoCube has one FactTable & a maximum of 16 (13+3 system defined, time,unit & data packet) dimensions.

Q) What does FACT Table contain?

A FactTable consists of KeyFigures.


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Each Fact Table can contain a maximum of 233 key figures.

Dimension can contain up to 248 freely available characteristics.

Q) How many dimensions are in a CUBE?

A) 16 dimensions. (13 user defined & 3 system pre-defined [time, unit & data packet])

Q) What does SID Table contain?

SID keys linked with dimension table & master data tables (attributes, texts, hierarchies)

Q) What does ATTRIBUTE Table contain?Master attribute data

Q) What does TEXT Table contain?

Master text data, short text, long text, medium text & language key if it is languagedependent

Q) What does Hierarchy table contain?

Master hierarchy data

Q) What is the advantage of extended STAR Schema?

Q). Differences between STAR Schema & Extended Schema?

A) In STAR SCHEMA, A FACT Table in center, surrounded by dimensional tables andthe dimension tables contains of master data. In Extended Schema the dimension tables

does not contain master data, instead they are stored in Masterdata tables divided intoattributes, text & hierarchy. These Masterdata & dimensional tables are linked with eachother with SID keys. Masterdata tables are independent of Infocube & reusability inother InfoCubes.

Q) As to where in BW do you go to add a character like a ; # so that BW will accept it.


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This is transaction data which loads fine in the PSA but not the data target.

A) Check transaction SPRO ---Then click the "Goggles"-Button => Business

Information Warehouse => Global Settings => 2nd point in the list. I

hope you can use my "Guide" (my BW is in german, so i don't know all the englishdescriptions).

Q) Does data packets exits even if you don't enter the master data, (when created)?

Q) When are Dimension ID's created?

A) When Transaction data is loaded into InfoCube.

Q) When are SID's generated?

A) When Master data loaded into Master Tables (Attr, Text, Hierarchies).

Q) How would we delete the data in ODS?

A) By request IDs, Selective deletion & change log entry deletion.

Q) How would we delete the data in change log table of ODS?

A) Context menu of ODS ' Manage ' Environment ' change log entries.

Q) What are the extra fields does PSA contain?

A) (4) Record id, Data packet

Q) Partitioning possible for ODS?

A) No, It's possible only for Cube.

Q) Why partitioning?

A) For performance tuning.


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Q) Have you ever tried to load data from 2 InfoPackages into one cube?

A) Yes.

Q) Different types of Attributes?

A) Navigational attribute, Display attributes, Time dependent attributes, Compoundingattributes, Transitive attributes, Currency attributes.

Q) Transitive Attributes?

A) Navigational attributes having nav attrthese nav attrs are called transitive attrs

Q) Navigational attribute?

A) Are used for drill down reporting (RRI).

Q) Display attributes?

A) You can show DISPLAY attributes in a report, which are used only for displaying.

Q) How does u recognize an attribute whether it is a display attribute or not?

A) In Edit characteristics of char, on general tab checked as attribute only.

Q) Compounding attribute?

A)?

Q) Time dependent attributes?

A)?

Q) Currency attributes?

A)?

Q) Authorization relevant object. Why authorization needed?


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A)?

Q) How do we convert Master data InfoObject to a Data target?

A) InfoArea ' Infoprovider (context menu) ' Insert characteristic Data asDataTarget.

Q) How do we load the data if a FlatFile consists of both Master and Transaction data?

A) Using Flexible update method while creating InfoSource.

Q) Steps in LIS are Extraction?

A)

Q) Steps in LO are Extraction?

A) * Maintain extract structures. (R/3)

* Maintain DataSources. (R/3)

* Replicate DataSource in BW.

* Assign InfoSources.

* Maintain communication structures/transfer rules.

* Maintain InfoCubes & Update rules.

* Activate extract structures. (R/3)

* Delete setup tables/setup extraction. (R/3)

* InfoPackage for the Delta initialization.

* Set-up periodic V3 update. (R/3)

* InfoPackage for Delta uploads.

Q) Steps in FlatFile Extraction?


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A) ?

Q) Different types in LO's?

A) Direct Delta, Queued Delta, Serialized V3 update, Unserialized V3 Update.

Direct Delta: - With every document posted in R/3, the extraction data is transferreddirectly into the BW delta queue. Each document posting with delta extraction becomesexactly one LUW in the corresponding Delta queue.

Queued Delta: - The extraction data from the application is collected in extraction queueinstead of as update data and can be transferred to the BW delta queue by an updatecollection run, as in the V3 update.

Q) What does LO Cockpit contain?

A) * Maintaining Extract structure.

* Maintaining DataSources.

* Activating Updates.

* Controlling Updates.

Q) RSA6 --- Maintain DataSources.

Q) RSA7 ---- Delta Queue (allows you to monitor the current status of the delta attribute)

Q) RSA3 ---- Extract checker.

Q) LBW0 --- TCode for LIS.

Q) LBWG --- Delete set-up tables in LO's.

Q) OLI*BW --- Fill Set-up tables.


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Q) LBWE ---- TCode for Logistics extractors.

Q) RSO2 --- Maintaining Generic DataSources.

Q) MC21 ----- Creating user-defined Information Structure for LIS (It is InfoSource inSAP BW).

Q) MC24 ---- Creating Updating rules for LO's.

Q) PFCG ---- Role maintenance, assign users to these roles.

Q) SE03 -- Changeability of the BW namespace.

Q) RSDCUBEM --- For Delete, Change or Delete the InfoCube.

Q) RSD5 -- Data packet characteristics maint.SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper- Part - 5Q) Does data packets exits even if you don't enter the master data, (when created)?

Q) When are Dimension ID's created?

A) When Transaction data is loaded into InfoCube.

Q) When are SID's generated?

A) When Master data loaded into Master Tables (Attr, Text, Hierarchies).

Q) How would we delete the data in ODS?

A) By request IDs, Selective deletion & change log entry deletion.

Q) How would we delete the data in change log table of ODS?


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A) Context menu of ODS ' Manage ' Environment ' change log entries.

Q) What are the extra fields does PSA contain?

A) (4) Record id, Data packet

Q) Partitioning possible for ODS?

A) No, It's possible only for Cube.

Q) Why partitioning?

A) For performance tuning.

Q) Have you ever tried to load data from 2 InfoPackages into one cube?

A) Yes.

Q) Different types of Attributes?

A) Navigational attribute, Display attributes, Time dependent attributes, Compoundingattributes, Transitive attributes, Currency attributes.

Q) Transitive Attributes?

A) Navigational attributes having nav attrthese nav attrs are called transitive attrs

Q) Navigational attribute?

A) Are used for drill down reporting (RRI).

Q) Display attributes?

A) You can show DISPLAY attributes in a report, which are used only for displaying.

Q) How does u recognize an attribute whether it is a display attribute or not?


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A) In Edit characteristics of char, on general tab checked as attribute only.

Q) Compounding attribute?

A)?

Q) Time dependent attributes?

A)?

Q) Currency attributes?

A)?

Q) Authorization relevant object. Why authorization needed?

A)?

Q) How do we convert Master data InfoObject to a Data target?A) InfoArea ' Infoprovider (context menu) ' Insert characteristic Data asDataTarget.

Q) How do we load the data if a FlatFile consists of both Master and Transaction data?

A) Using Flexible update method while creating InfoSource.

Q) Steps in LIS are Extraction?

A)?

Q) Steps in LO are Extraction?

A) * Maintain extract structures. (R/3)

* Maintain DataSources. (R/3)

* Replicate DataSource in BW.


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* Assign InfoSources.

* Maintain communication structures/transfer rules.

* Maintain InfoCubes & Update rules.

* Activate extract structures. (R/3)

* Delete setup tables/setup extraction. (R/3)

* InfoPackage for the Delta initialization.

* Set-up periodic V3 update. (R/3)

* InfoPackage for Delta uploads.

Q) Steps in FlatFile Extraction?

A)?

Q) Different types in LO's?

A) Direct Delta, Queued Delta, Serialized V3 update, Unserialized V3 Update.

Direct Delta: - With every document posted in R/3, the extraction data is transferreddirectly into the BW delta queue. Each document posting with delta extraction becomesexactly one LUW in the corresponding Delta queue.

Queued Delta: - The extraction data from the application is collected in extraction queueinstead of as update data and can be transferred to the BW delta queue by an updatecollection run, as in the V3 update.

Q) What does LO Cockpit contain?

A) * Maintaining Extract structure.

* Maintaining DataSources.

* Activating Updates.

* Controlling Updates.


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Q) RSA6 --- Maintain DataSources.

Q) RSA7 ---- Delta Queue (allows you to monitor the current status of the delta attribute)

Q) RSA3 ---- Extract checker.

Q) LBW0 --- TCode for LIS.

Q) LBWG --- Delete set-up tables in LO's.

Q) OLI*BW --- Fill Set-up tables.

Q) LBWE ---- TCode for Logistics extractors.

Q) RSO2 --- Maintaining Generic DataSources.

Q) MC21 ----- Creating user-defined Information Structure for LIS (It is InfoSource inSAP BW).

Q) MC24 ---- Creating Updating rules for LO's.

Q) PFCG ---- Role maintenance, assign users to these roles.

Q) SE03 -- Changeability of the BW namespace.

Q) RSDCUBEM --- For Delete, Change or Delete the InfoCube.

Q) RSD5 -- Data packet characteristics maint.

Q) RSDBC - DB Connect


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Q) RSMO --- Monitoring of Dataloads.

Q) RSCUSTV6 -- Partitioning of PSA.

Q) RSRT -- Query monitor.

Q) RSRV - Analysis and Repair of BW Objects

Q) RRMX - BEx Analyzer

Q) RSBBS - Report to Report interface (RRI).

Q) SPRO -- IMG (To make configurations in BW).

Q) RSDDV - Maintaining Aggregates.

Q) RSKC -- Character permit checker.

Q) ST22 - Checking ShortDump.

Q) SM37 - Scheduling Background jobs.

Q) RSBOH1 -- Open Hub Service: Create InfoSpoke.

Q) RSMONMESS -- "Messages for the monitor" table.

Q) ROOSOURCE - Table to find out delta update methods.

Q) RODELTAM - Finding for modes of records (i.e. before image & after image)

Q) SMOD - Definition


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Q) CMOD - Project Management enhancing

Q) SPAU - Program Compare

Q) SE11 - ABAP Dictionary

Q) SE09 - Transport Organizer (workbench organizer)

Q) SE10 - Transport Organizer (Extended View)

Q) SBIW - Implementation guide

Q) Statistical Update?

A) ?

Q) What are Process Chains?

A) TCode is RSPC, is a sequence of processes scheduled in the background & waiting tobe triggered by a specific event. Process chains nothing but grouping processes. Processvariant (start variant) is the place the process chain knows where to start.

There should be min and max one start variant in each process chain, here we specifywhen should the process chain start by giving date and time or if you want to startimmediately

Some of theses processes trigger an event of their own that in-turn triggers otherprocesses.

Ex: - Start chain ' Delete BCube indexes ' Load data from the source system toPSA '

Load data from PSA to DataTarget ODS ' Load data from ODS to BCube ' CreateIndexes for BCube after loading data ' Create database statistics ' Roll-Up data

into the aggregate ' Restart chain from beginning.

Q) What are Process Types & Process variant?

A) Process types are General services, Load Process & subsequent processing, DataTarget Administration, Reporting agent & Other BW services.


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Process variant (start variant) is the place the process type knows when & where to start.

Q) Difference between MasterData & Transaction InfoPackage?

A) 5 tabs in Masterdata & 6 tabs in Transaction data, the extra tab in Transaction data isDATA TARGETS.

Q) Types of Updates?

A) Full Update, Init Delta Update & Delta Update.

Q) For Full update possible while loading data from R/3?A) InfoPackage ' Scheduler ' Repair Request flag (check).

This is only possible when we use MM & SD modules.

Q) Why it takes more time while loading the transaction data even to load the transactionwithout master data (we check the checkbox, Always Update data, even if no master dataexits for the data)?

A) Because while loading the data it has to create SID keys for transaction data

SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper

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