Exploring Customer Project and Utilization Analysis (BGI - BGJ)

• Custom CDS Views (F1866)
• Custom Analytical Queries (F1572)
• View Browser - Browse Views (F2170)

If you need access to data in your system in a way that the system does not offer so far, you can create your own data access by making use of a Custom Core Data Services view (Custom CDS view). Usually, the data of an application is distributed across several database tables. Using CDS views allows you to model the data access without changing underlying database tables. You can rearrange the table fields and describe the metadata of the fields that belong to one object but are located in different databases. In general, CDS views are intended to be consumed by a UI, analytics, or other systems. You can use this app to create custom CDS views, based on the predelivered data sources that are built on the virtual data model. In addition to this, you can use already created custom CDS views as a basis for new custom CDS views.

Start the interaction to learn about the key features of the Custom CDS Views app.

1. Open the Custom CDS Views app.
2. Select the SAP-delivered CDS view you want to use as primary data source for your custom CDS view. You can use either predelivered CDS views or custom objects you have created. Then choose Create.
   Note

   Should you require parameters, you must select a primary data source that contains parameters – they cannot be added later. To identify primary data sources with parameters, add the Parameter column to the overview page.
3. On the General tab, choose a title for your custom CDS view and add an associated data source, if required.
4. Optional: You can add further data sources by Association. To edit the association properties, choose the Edit Association Properties button which takes you to the Association Properties screen where you can define the following properties:
   1. Select fields that are available in both the primary data source and the associated data sources to maintain a foreign key relationship.
   2. Use the Cardinality dropdown list to specify the type of relation between the source and the target of the association, for example, Exactly one hit or One or more hits. Choosing the appropriate cardinality improves the run time performance. The results set is not influenced by the choice of cardinality. It is recommended to use the Default option: In this case, the system determines the required cardinality. On the Field Selection tab, select the fields and associations that you want to use in your new Custom CDS view.
   Note

   Custom fields created within the Custom Fields and Logic app are also supported. For predelivered CDS views that are extensible, you can find custom fields in the Custom CDS Views app in two ways:

   • Directly in the predelivered CDS view (if already automatically extended in the Custom Fields and Logic app).
   • When opening the exposed extension association in the SAP CDS view.

     The custom CDS view interprets the view definition including all its defined custom fields (from both described cases) and then these custom fields can be used freely when modeling a new custom view.

   You can define the following properties:

   • You can define labels and aliases for the respective fields. An alias refers to unique technical name of a field, whereas a label specifies the visible field name on the UI.
   • By choosing Add, you can add calculated fields. You see the available fields in the dropdown list or you can refer to them manually. Arithmetic and logical expressions, as well as built-in functions, are available for the editor.
5. If the primary data source contains parameters: On the Parameter tab, you can change the default type and default value for parameters like language, date, time, and user. You can choose between Manual Default and System Default.
6. Optional: On the Filter tab, you can define conditions to adjust the results set of a custom CDS view. When the custom CDS view is accessed, the result set will only contain the data that meets the defined conditions.
7. You can save a draft of your changes and publish, if want to transport your changes. When you save a draft, the changes are only visible for you, and not other users.
8. Optional: You can preview your custom CDS view. Note that aggregations are not visible in the preview.
9. After you have published your custom CDS view, you can transport it in the Transport Software Collection app.

Custom Analytical Queries is a tool used for reporting and analysis. This tool transforms and organizes raw data delivered from business documents into a meaningful grid. It abstracts the process of writing structured queries so that you don’t have to understand the query language or the technical details. Custom Analytical Queries provides the fields required to design a query. You select the required fields and set filters for your query. You can add restricted measures, calculated measures, and preview the query results.

• Search: Use to search an existing query.
• New: Use to create a query.
• Copy: Use to create queries from predefined SAP queries or from packages that you do not have permissions for.
• Adding Dimensions and Measures from the Data Source: Use to add a field from a Data Source to define a query or to remove a field from the query.
  Note

  You cannot create an analytical query on the unreleased data source. You cannot copy the analytical query which is based on the unreleased data source.
• Adding counter: Use to retrieve distinct count of any combination of dimensions.
• Configuring fields of the query: Use to change the position of the fields in the result set, to define a restricted or a calculated measure, or to change certain properties of a query field.
• Defining filters: Use to define certain parameters or conditions to filter the results of a query.
• Preview: Use to preview the result set.
• Max. Processing Effort: Use to specify the processing effort for a query. Some queries are expected to take more time/effort for execution. With this feature, the user can choose the effort appropriately. This feature can be seen under the General tab.
• Extensibility Inventory navigation: Use the Extensibility Inventory button to navigate to the Extensibility Inventory app. This allows you to check the dependencies and change history of your custom analytical queries.
• This feature is available only for Published queries.

  Use the View Browser application to create, copy, and view all analytical queries.

1. Choose the Custom Analytical Queries tile on the SAP Fiori launchpad to open the app.
2. Open a query from the existing list of queries or create a new query.
3. Configure the display options.
   Note

   You can use the display options to add restricted measures, add calculated measures, create user input filters, and reorder fields.
4. Apply the required filters.
5. Edit, Save Draft, Publish, and then Preview the query.
   1. The Custom Analytical Queries application initially creates a draft version of the queries, which allows you to update and test them.
   2. When the changes are finalized, choose Publish. On publish, an OData service is created and activated, and the query is now available for consumption by reports and KPIs through the respective Report Design and KPI Design applications. On the Custom Analytical Queries page, the status of the query is set as <Published>. A <Not Published> status indicates that the query has never been published.
   Note

   Ensure that the query is free from errors before saving it.

With this app, you can search, browse, and tag analytical and non-analytical queries. This application displays all of the CDS views that are created and released by SAP, as well as custom-created SAP views irrespective of draft or released status. By default, the content views are pre-organized by the view name.

• The Create Application feature is enabled for ATO-configured and extensibility-enabled systems, as well as for queries created by customers or released by SAP.
• The analytical queries created in quality systems must be transported to a production system.

• Views: Displays the count of all the Core Data Services (CDS) views that are available in the system. The numbers above each view type (Basic, Composite, Consumption, Extension, and Undefined) represent the view count. At first instance, the number displayed in the Views row and in the toolbar is the total number of CDS views available in the system. The view count changes accordingly in the toolbar depending on the chosen view type.
• Variants: SAP delivers the following standard variants:
  • Standard
  • All Views
  • Released Views
  • Favorite Views
  • Virtual Data Model Views

  You can use these standard SAP variants to filter and display views. Using the variants delivered by SAP, you can create and save variants by entering a name and choosing the Save As option. By default, all the variants are marked as favorites. You can set any variant as the default. Choose Manage and select the Default button for the variant. If you have an existing variant from a previous release that is from a favorites list, then the new variant delivered by SAP also has to be marked as a favorite.

• CDS View Status: You cannot alter or modify the views created by SAP. You can create CDS views, save, modify, and publish them to catalogs using the Custom Analytical Queries app.
  • The Status column in the View Browser app displays the status (Draft/Released/Not Released/Published/Deprecated) of the CDS views. To enable this column, choose Settings → Column → Status. To view the draft status, choose Settings → Column → Draft Status. All of the CDS views start with YY1, regardless of the status. You can filter the CDS views based on the status by choosing Settings → Filter. Select Draft Status and choose Yes/No.
  • Suppose a published CDS view is modified and saved as draft in the Custom CDS View app. The CDS view now has 2 statuses, Published and Draft. In such cases, the View Browser app displays the details of the published view. The check mark against the draft status indicates that the published CDS view is also a draft.
  Note

  It is recommended to use SAP-delivered CDS views with the status Released. The SAP CDS views with status Not Released and Deprecated may be changed or deleted in the next releases and may not be available to the customers. Hence, it is recommended to not use the SAP CDS views with the status Not Released and Deprecated.
• Search: Search for views, view types, view categories, tables, view description, view column names, annotations, or user-added tags. The search results for a CDS view display the CDS view status, if enabled in Settings. If the CDS view is in draft status and published status, then the View Status fields show as Published and Draft Status will have a check mark.
• Personalize and Tag Views: Create your own tags for CDS views. Select a view and then choose Manage Tags. Multiple tags can be added to the selected view by separating these using commas. The number of tags with which a view is associated is displayed as a link. Select the link to manage the tags. You can delete the tag by choosing the Delete option.
• Show Content: Displays a data preview of released analytical queries and customer created analytical queries. The Show Content button for the selected CDS view displays a list of parameters, fields, and values. A dialog box prompts you to provide input parameters for the selected view, if required. The analytical queries are displayed in Design Studio.
  Note

  You must have authorization for a view to launch a CDS view in Design Studio.
• Mark as Favorite: Add or mark views as your favorites. Select the checkbox for a view and select the Favorite icon.
• Annotations: Displays a list of properties used by the selected CDS view. One view can have multiple annotations.
• Cross Reference: Displays all the CDS views and tables used by the selected view. The CDS views are highlighted and you can navigate to other views and tables. The Release Status column displays the status of released CDS views.

  You can search for further views and tables using the Search button that is available on the Cross Reference tab.

  The search results display all the views and tables, except for views and tables whose relation is Association. In other words, the search option does not find views or tables with unused associations.

• View Definition: Displays the column names, data elements, relevant definitions and other parameters of the selected view.
• Create/Edit/Delete Application: You can create and publish a tile to the catalog for released analytical queries with the Query category type. You can then open the published query as a separate application.
  • You can either use the Multi-Dimensional Report or Multi-Dimensional Report Using Web Dynpro Template. Both function the same way except that the latter creates applications that supports users with special needs. Some of the details or the display pertaining to the applications may be available to users with screen readers and users of keyboard-only navigation. This means that choosing the latter option creates applications suited to their requirements.
  • To do so, you must select an analytical query and choose either the Multi-Dimension Report or the Multi-Dimensional Report Using Web Dynpro Template. You need to specify the title and subtitle of the tile. An app ID, along with a quick link, is generated and is available in the Application ID column. To add the query to the catalog, choose the app ID. The Custom Catalog Extension app opens to where you can add and publish the query to a catalog.
  • You can maintain the title and description in other languages on the Maintain Languages screen. The Maintain Languages screen appears when you create or edit an application. You can select a language from the list of available languages, provide a title and an optional description. The first row, by default, is always English. Once you select a language and enter the title, that language is not available in the drop-down list. The Delete icon allows you to delete the language, title, and subtitle.
  • You can edit, view the released analytical query in the catalog, or delete the analytical query by choosing the application ID link. However, you can edit and delete existing applications that are created using non-released queries.
  • The Edit button lets you add, delete, and modify the language, title, and subtitle of the selected analytical query.
  • The Delete button lets you delete the application from the View Browser app. Only those applications that are not published to any catalog are deleted. If the application is published to a catalog, you have to remove and revoke the catalog from the Custom Catalog Extension app.
• Managing Analytical Queries from View Browser

  • Creating an Analytical Query:

    You can create an analytical query for customer queries and queries released by SAP. In other words, you can create analytical queries only for those queries that have the status Released and for the Cube/Dimension category type. Select a query and choose Create Analytical Query. Enter a query name and select a view from the drop-down list. This lets you create an analytical query from the View Browser app that can be used by multiple users.

  • Opening an Analytical Query:

    You can open the analytical queries using the Custom Analytical Query app from the View Browser app. To do so, choose an analytical query that has the status Released and the Query category type. Choose Open in Analytical Query from the "..."icon. You can also open analytical queries created by customers.

  • Copying the analytical query data to a different view:

    You can also copy the analytical query to a different view. This option is enabled only for queries with the status Released and the Query category type. Select the query and choose Copy Analytical Query from the "…" icon. The Copy Source Query dialog box prompts you to select a view. When you choose OK, the query data is copied to a different view. You can also copy analytical queries that are created by customers.

• Navigation to CDS view details page from other apps: You can navigate to the CDS view details page that is available in View Browser app to other apps. To do so, enter https://<system+client url>&sap-language=EN#CDSView-browse?View=<CDSViewName>. Enter the CDS view name that you want to look for, and the View Details page of the CDS view, along with all details, will be displayed.

Access to business applications is controlled by role-based authorization management. You assign Business Roles to Business Users, and the roles provide access to business tasks. Business Users are defined as employees, contractors, or other individuals that need access to the SAP S/4HANA Cloud system.

A Business Role is assigned to a Business User to grant permission to access applications in SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

One or more Business Catalogs have been assigned to a Business Role. Business Catalogs include access to one or more applications, dashboards, or displays of data. Administrators can control visibility to the data granted through the catalog by applying General Restrictions to Business Catalogs. By maintaining access restrictions, you can define the subset of all existing business objects a user can view (read) or edit (write) when working with a particular business role.

The following roles are required in order to access the CDS views and model analytical features with regards to BGJ and BGI – Customer Project Analysis and Utilization Analysis:

• Project Manager - Commercial Services (SAP_BR_PROJ_MANAGE_COMM)
• Analytics Specialist (SAP_BR_ANALYTICS_SPECIALIST)

To start the analysis with regards to Customer Project Analysis, you need to get familiar with the CDS views C_ENGMTPROJMARGANLYSQUERY and C_ENGMTPROJWORKANLYSQUERY. The following measures and dimensions could be used for analysis – but there are other fields as well. Please note that Project Manager - Commercial Services is required to view the data of the two CDS views.

To start the analysis with regards to Utilization Analysis, you need to get familiar with the Creating Custom CDS views, Custom Analytical queries, and using it as tiles. The views primarily relevant for this analysis are I_WorkPackage, I_TimeSheetRecord, and I_PersonWorkAgreement_1. Please note that Project Manager - Commercial Services role is required to view the data of the two CDS views.

Further steps on how to create a custom CDS view, a custom analytical query, and create an app as a tile are described in the Test Script – available in the SAP Best Practices Explorer for BGJ.

• SAP Activate Roadmap Viewer

• SAP Best Practices Explorer: SAP Best Practices for SAP S/4HANA Cloud

• SAP Help Portal: SAP S/4HANA Cloud

• SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library

Note

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