New SAP BW Dataset Plugin

Enabling the Service

Make sure that you have enabled the XMLA service in the SAPBW server before using the XMLA connection in external software. 

1. Go to TCODE:SICF > default_host > sap > bw in client to enter the SAP system.

2. Right-click bw, select Deactivate service, click Confirm; right-click bw again, select Activate service, click Confirm and make sure all services are enabled.

Installing the Plugin

Install the new SAP BW dataset plugin:

For details about installing designer plugins, see Designer Plugin Management.

For details about installing server plugins, see Server Plugin Management.

Note:

1. After updating and reinstalling the plugin, if connection errors occur, you can restart the project to solve the problem.

2. It requires authorization to use the plugin.

3. The plugin is not supported in server deployment package.

4. JDK5 and former versions are not supported.

Defining Data Connection

Go to Server > Define Data Connection, click +, select SAPBW Cube, fill in XMLA URL, Username, Password and Database according to the actual environment, and click Test Connection. If the connection is successful, a pop-up box will prompt.

Methods offor obtaining the XMLA URL: You can ask SAP admins to obtain IP; and there are two methods to obtain the port number:

1. Enter the SAP system from the client through the path below:

TCODE:SE37 > FUNCTION MODULE > RSBB_URL_PREFIX_GET > Execute single test > Remove the default > Message Sever parameter selection > Execute

After obtaining port number 1, you need to return to the previous page without deleting the default values, and enter from the following path:

Message Server [X] > Execute

After obtaining port number 2, you can use the two port numbers, and port 1 is usually adopted.

2. Enter the SAP system from the client through the path TCODE:SICF > default_host > sap > bw > xml > soap > xmla. On the bw service interface, find XMLA service and right-click Test Service. The browser will automatically be called. Enter the username and password for bw login, and then copy the URL.

Adding a Dataset

Click  to add SAPBW Cube Dataset.

1. Adding a General Query Dataset

a. Select SAPBW Cube1 for Database Connection, click X, select General Query and Cube type, and set the Column Axis.

b. Click Settings and set the Row Axis.

c. Click Setting. Set Filter Conditions.

d. Click  in the upper right corner to view the added dataset. Assuming there are N metric values and M dimensions, and the number of rows is N+2M.

e. Descriptions of SAP parameters and MDX parameter syntax:

Variables: For example, 123456. Use [] to enclose the variable is recommended (Statement beautifier in SAPBW will also use [] to enclose the variable.), such as [123456] or “123456”, otherwise some variable parameters will report MDX syntax errors, and the reason is unknown currently.
Single value variables: For example, 123456 are passed as [variable value], such as [123456].

Multiple values variables: Separated by semicolons, such as [123456]; [123456].

Interval variables: For example, year and month intervals are separated by colons, such as [201905]: [201907].
2. Adding a Custom MDX Query Dataset

Select SAPBW Cube1 for Database Connection, click , select Custom MDX query, and enter the query statement. Click OK.

Connecting with Web Service

1. Manually Building Web Service

Note: These are the operation steps for version 6.

1. Enter soamanager to go to the configuration interface.

2. Select Web Service Configuration.

3. Search and select QUEYR_VIEW_DATA.

4. Click Create Service.

5. Enter service information and binding information.

6. Select Transmission Level Security and Message Level Security.

7. The SOAP protocol is default. Click OK.

2. Defining Data Connection

Go to Server > Define Data Connection, click +, select SAPBW Query, select Connection Method as Web Service, fill in URL, Username, Password and Encode Type, and click Test Connection. If the connection is successful, a pop-up box will prompt.

URL format: http://ip address:port number plus the string corresponding to Berechnete Zugriffs-URL.

Connecting with JCO

1. Creating a Query

Create a Query without parameters:

a. Log in to Query Designer.

b. Click New and select information provider to create a new Query.

c. Click OK.

d. Switch to the row or column settings interface, drag the key indicators in the left directory to the row panel and the dimensions to the column panel, and click Save.

Note: The icons can be dragged only when the dimension is expanded.

e. Enter the description and name of the technique, and click Save.

Note: The modified name of the technique is the actual name of the Query.

Create a Query with parameters:

a. Switch to the filter settings pane, drag the dimension that needs to be filtered from the left dimension into the feature restriction panel, such as the calendar day in the figure below, right-click the item, and click Restrict.

b. Select Display Mode as Variable in the pop-up dialog box, create a new variable, and modify its name.

c. In Detailed Information tab, you can select Display Value as single value, multiple values, range and so on and whether the parameter is optional.

d. Click OK, and the variable is created successfully. Select the created variable, add it to the selected options, and click OK.

2. Previewing Query

a. Enter rsrt2 in SAP Easy Access to access report preview.

b. Enter the Query technique name and click Execute.

c. Parameter variable selection interface appears.

Note: If there are no required parameters, you can skip this step.

d. Click Execute to preview the result.

3. Defining Data Connection

a. Place the driver, and the location of the driver is the same as the SAP dataset. For details, see SAP Data Connection.

b. Click Server > Define Data Connection, click +, select SAPBW Query, select JCO as Connection Method, and fill in Host, SAP System Number, Language, Client, Username, Password, Connection Pool Attr and other information.

Note: The new SAPBW dataset plugin requires V 1.2 or higher versions.

Adding a Dataset

1. Click + to add SAPBW Query Dataset.

2. Set dataset parameters.

Select the new SAPBW Query dataset for Database Connection, and fill in Parameter Values according to the actual situation. If the created Query has set parameters, you need to add parameters. You can also tick Use Cache and Get Units.

Note:

1. Information Provider, Query, and Parameters Values need to be manually entered. Fill in your actual created values based on the creation method of the above query.

2. Parameter Type supports single value, multiple values, and ranges, but does not support option.

Note:

1. When you tick Use Cache, data reading for the second time will speed up, and current cache time is 10 minutes. When you tick Get Unit, the unit of field will be displayed.

2. You have to and can only enter key-value for the parameter name.

3. Click Preview, a parameter box will pop up. Select OK to preview the data.

Note: BICS does not support hierarchy levels.

Defining Data Connection

1. Place the driver, and the location of the driver is the same as the SAP dataset. For details, see SAP Data Connection.

2. Click Server > Define Data Connection. Click , select SAPBW BICS.

3. Fill in Host Name, Username, Password and so on according to the actual environment. Click Test Connection. If the connection is successful, it will prompt: Successfully Connected.

Note: After adding a new cube in SAPBW, you need to click Clear Connection Cache in the connection interface for the new cube to be displayed.

Adding a Dataset

1. Click  and select SQPBW BICS Dataset.

2. Set Database Connection, Cube, and Rows and Columns, enter parameter values, and perform a query.

Note:

1. The plugin uses a single thread for access. If frequent access is required or the query speed is slow, clicking Use Cache in the interface to prevent query blocking is recommended.

2. BICS parameter type only supports single value, multi-value, and range.

3. The product has added * in the parameter display interface to remind you to enter the parameter value.

Unable to Connect to BW: Connection Error

1. Check whether the XMLA service in bw is enabled.

2. Visit the URL http://[ip]:[port]/sap/bw/xml/soap/xmla?sap-client=*** in a browser to see if it can be accessed.

3. Check whether the URL is correct. Click to get the default URL, then modify the IP and port, and add the client number at the end (You need to ask the admin for the client number, usually a three-digit number such as 000, 100 or 800.).

For example, jdbc:xmla:Server=http://[ip]:[port]/sap/bw/xml/soap/xmla?sap-client=***

4. Check whether the domain name is not an IP address and whether the domain name cannot be pinged.

Failure to Obtain Data

Due to the limitations of the XMLA protocol, if the data volume is large, it will cause service errors, and it can only support row numbers up to the ten thousand level.

Situations Supported by Query Connection

1. When you use Cube connection in FineReport, displaying the content made in the Query designer is not supported; when you use Query connection, it is supported.

2. Query in FineReport does not support free features.

3. Query in FineReport does not support the parameter type of option. Only single value, multiple values, range, and hierarchical nodes are supported.

SAP Parameters Cannot Link with Template Parameter

1. Problems

When creating a dataset, SAP parameters cannot link with formulae to reference template parameters.

2. Solution

Create SAP parameters to replace template parameters and SAP parameters can link with each other.

SAPBW Query 

Returning Empty Data

1. Problems

Connecting to SAPBW Query is successful, but cannot access specific data, and an error message will prompt:

SwingWorker-pool-4-thread-10 ERROR [standard] Cannot find Body Info!

AWT-EventQueue-0 ERROR [standard] node has no children

2. Solution

Do not use self-spliced URLs when connecting data. Instead, use the URL of the Web Service.

The method ofobtaining the default URL format of the Web Service is as follows:

Choose Web Service for Data Connection, click Get Default URL, and the default Web Service URL format will be automatically displayed in the URL editing box. Modify some of the parameters in it to match your own environment.