How to extract a BEx Query and a BW Hierarchy with SSIS / Xtract IS from SAP BW and build them in SSAS

In this blog I will use Xtract IS to extract a BEx query and a BW hierarchy from an SAP BW system and load them into SQL Server. Then I will show how to build a cube in SSAS upon the BEx query and the BW hierarchy.

How to load a BW Hierarchy into QlikView using Xtract QV

In this blog I will use Xtract QV to extract a BW hierarchy from an SAP BW system and load it into QlikView.

SAP BW hierarchies are modeled as parent-child hierarchies. I will show how to convert it to a naturalized Hierarchy to use in QlikView.

How to load a BW Hierarchy into PowerPivot using Xtract PPV

In this blog I will use Xtract PPV to extract a BW hierarchy and a BEx query from an SAP BW system and load them into PowerPivot. Then I will show how to build the relation between the Hierarchy and the BEx query in PowerPivot.

Create Generic Datasource using Function Module and Timestamps

You can create a generic datasource using a function module.

For delta functionality you need a delta field. Some tables like VBAK (Sales Document: Header Data) don't have a timestamp field for creation/change that we can use as a unique delta field but have separate fields for creation date (ERDAT), creation time (ERZET) and change date (AEDAT). To get the data of the VBAK table by using delta functionality we will create a generic datasource using a custom function module which implements the necessary logic.

We will create an extraction structure that has a timestamp field and we will use this field to implement the delta functionality. In this blog I will explain this concept.

How to use Xtract QV with HTTPS

As of January 2010 Xtract QV offers a new feature to enable SAP data extraction via https. In this blog I will describe how to set up Xtract QV and your environment to use this new feature.

Xtract QV provides the following server settings:

- EnableSecureListener: default is no. To enable https set the kind column to individual and the value to yes.

- SecureListenerPort: default is Port 8185.

After changing the settings click on Save which will restart the Xtract QV Server.

Now you should install the ssl certificate:

- Obtain an ssl certificate from a certification authority and install it on your IIS web server. Be aware that the certificate common name must match the host name exactly. (refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732230%28WS.10%29.aspx)

- Add a new SSL server certificate binding and corresponding client certificate policies for an IP address and port.

(refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725882%28WS.10%29.aspx)

To test the https feature we will create a Self-Signed Certificate on Windows 7 :

• Open IIS Manager and navigate to the level you want to manage.

• In Features view, double-click Server Certificates.

• In the Actions pane, click Create Self-Signed Certificate.

• On the Create Self-Signed Certificate page, type a friendly name for the certificate in the Specify a friendly name for the certificate box, and then click OK. For more information refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753127%28WS.10%29.aspx

Now the ssl certificate is installed. In the next step we will use the SHA hash (thumbprint) of the certificate for the configuration.

We will use the netsh prompt configure the server certificate binding and corresponding client certificate policies. Be sure to start the command prompt as administrator. Type the following command

netsh http add sslcert ipport=0.0.0.0:8185 certhash=1c56412e86cd76751f1dfddd2af594dd1b8fb7c5 appid={5ca9af00-8fc2-4f1c-938d-a4ed5f654ccc}

where ipport specifies the IP address and port for the binding, certhash specifies the SHA hash (thumbprint) of the certificate and appid specifies any GUID to identify the owning application. For more Information refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725882%28WS.10%29.aspx#BKMK_2

Now select the extraction in Xtract QV Designer and select Run in Browser from the context menu. Since our ssl certificate is not issued by a trusted certificate authority, your browser may alert you. In Internet Explorer you will get the error: There is a problem with this website’s security certificate. Just click on Continue to this website (not recommended) to ignore the error.

As you can see in the web browser the URL starts with https.

Building SSIS Package with Xtract IS Table Programmatically

In this blog I will show, how to create an SSIS package with Xtract IS Table programmatically. Our Package will extract data from an SAP table and load it to the sql server.

This scenario is very helpful to create your own packages, that you can load and reconfigure for different projects and customers.

In this sample we will:

• create a Package
• add a data flow task
• add connection managers
• add an Xtract IS Table source component
• add an OLE DB destination component
• connect data flow components and map columns

to read more, please refer to: http://www.theobald-software.com/blog/?p=316

Performing lookups by joining sap data with reference dataset in SSIS

In an SAP table many fields can belong to the table key. In some scenarios when you extract an SAP table with Xtract IS to load it into an SQL table, you want to replace the sap key fields by another custom key, e.g. a GUID.

read more on: http://www.theobald-software.com/blog/?p=247