Creating Import Data Connections to Cloud Applications

First, let's explore the standard process for creating import data connections to cloud applications. Creating import data connections to cloud applications can be broken down into three key steps:

1. Set up a communication system in the cloud application.
2. Set up a communication arrangement in the cloud application.
3. Create the import data connection in SAP Analytics Cloud.

We'll use SAP S/4HANA Cloud as the example cloud application in this lesson.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud provides several OData Services to load master data and transaction data into SAP Analytics Cloud. These OData services can be exposed from SAP S/4HANA Cloud to SAP Analytics Cloud and can be used to import data from SAP S/4HANA Cloud into SAP Analytics Cloud.

This step is completed by the SAP application administrator. Before the communication system is created, you provide the SAP S/4HANA Cloud administrator with the SAP Analytics Cloud tenant.

When creating the communication system, they use the tenant for the System Name and Host Name.

In the User for Inbound Communication section, they assign the system user that was created and create a password.

Once the communication system is created, they provide you with the User Name and Password as you will need them when creating the connection in SAP Analytics Cloud.

Let's take a closer look at how the application administrator creates a communication system.

This step is completed by the SAP application administrator. After the communication system is created, the SAP S/4HANA Cloud administrator creates an object called a communication arrangement.

They select the required Communication Scenario and add the Communication System.

Once the communication arrangement is created, they provide you with the data Service URL as you will need it when creating the connection in SAP Analytics Cloud.

Let's take a closer look at how the application administrator creates the communication arrangement.

This step is completed by you, the SAP Analytics Cloud administrator. A new connection is created in SAP Analytics Cloud.

Data modelers can then use this connection to import data from the cloud application by creating new import models in SAP Analytics Cloud.

We will cover the steps in detail in the practice exercise for this lesson, however, using SAP S/4HANA Cloud as a cloud application example, let's take a look at the summary of the process flow.

1. In the side navigation menu, go to Connections.
2. Select Add Connection and select SAP S/HANA from the Acquire Data options.
3. In the New SAP S/4HANA Connection dialog, enter a Connection Name and Description.
4. Enter the following information, as provided by the SAP S/4HANA Cloud administrator:
   • The Data Service URL for the data center. Remember, these will vary by data center.
   • Enter the User Name used to connect to the cloud application.
   • Enter the Password for the user.
5. Select Create. The new connection is added to the list of connections in the Connections area in SAP Analytics Cloud.

Connections based on data acquisition can be shared with other users if the existing connection supports sharing. This allows them to create models based on the connection, as well as delete and refresh data sources that are based on the connection.

Connections can be shared or unshared by:

• The owner of the connection.
• Any user with a role that includes a Manage permission on Connections.

To find out the cloud applications that support sharing and to see the steps to share and unshare an import connection, go to: Sharing an Import Data Connection | SAP Help Portal.

Now, let's explore a second scenario for creating import data connections to cloud applications. Let's take a closer look at creating an import data connection to SAP SuccessFactors, as the process is a little different to other cloud applications. Creating import data connections to SAP SuccessFactors can be broken down into three key steps:

1. Create a user account in SAP SuccessFactors.
2. Register the client application the SAP SuccessFactors Admin Center.
3. Create the import data connection in SAP Analytics Cloud.

There are two types of import data connections available:

1. SAP SuccessFactors

   This option uses an OData API connector that accesses data and metadata in individual SAP SuccessFactors modules, for example, Foundation and Employee Profile, Talent, Learning, Employee Central, Onboarding, and Recruiting.

2. SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics

In this lesson, we will use SAP SuccessFactors as our data source, however, the configuration steps required to create a connection in SAP Analytics Cloud to SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics are the same.

This step is completed by the SAP SuccessFactors administrator. In order to use SAP SuccessFactors as a data source for SAP Analytics Cloud, a valid SAP SuccessFactors user account must be created.

The user that is created must be an administrative user in SAP SuccessFactors and have Admin permissions to OData API and Manage OAuth2 Client Applications.

Once the user is created, they provide you with this User ID as you will need it when creating the connection in SAP Analytics Cloud.

This step is completed by the SAP SuccessFactors administrator. This new entry is the technical connector from SAP SuccessFactors to the SAP Analytics Cloud tenant. The SAP SuccessFactors administrator registers the client application by completing the following steps in the Admin Center's Manage OAuth2 Client Application:

1. Select Register Client Application.
2. Enter the Application Name.
3. Enter the Application URL.
4. Select Generate X.509 Certificate to open Self Assign a new X.509 Certificate.
5. Enter the Common Name (CN).
6. Select Generate to return to Register a new OAuth Client Application.
7. Select Download.
8. Select Register.

Once the OAuth Client Application is created, the SAP SuccessFactors administrator provides you with:

• The API Key.
• The Service URL. The URL will depend on the data center where your SAP SuccessFactors instance is hosted and the type of connection that is being created. For example, you can see the different Service URLs that can be provided by the SAP SuccessFactors administrator here:
  • SAP SuccessFactors: About HCM Suite OData APIs.
  • SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics: Environments Supporting the Integration.
• The Company ID.
• The certificate. The certificate file should be a .pem file.

You will need them when creating the connection in SAP Analytics Cloud.

This step is completed by you, the SAP Analytics Cloud administrator. A new connection is created in SAP Analytics Cloud.

Data modelers can then use this connection to import data from SAP SuccessFactors by creating new import models in SAP Analytics Cloud.

We will cover the steps in detail in the practice exercise for this lesson, however, a summary of the process flow is as follows:

1. In the side navigation menu, go to Connections.
2. Select Add Connection and select SAP SuccessFactors or SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics.
3. In the New SAP SuccessFactors Connection or New SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics Connection dialog, enter a Connection Name and Description.
4. Enter the following information, as provided by the SAP SuccessFactors administrator:
   • The Service URL for the data center. Remember, these will vary by data center for SAP SuccessFactors and SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics.
   • Enter the SAP SuccessFactors User ID of the user you want to acquire data from.
   • Enter the API Key used to connect to SAP SuccessFactors.
   • Under Private Key, select and upload the certificate file that was generated during the SAP SuccessFactors registration process.
   • Enter the Company ID used by SAP SuccessFactors.
5. Select Create. The new connection is added to the list of connections in the Connections area in SAP Analytics Cloud.

When editing an SAP SuccessFactors connection in SAP Analytics Cloud, you have to re-enter the certificate and other secure credentials each time that you edit them, so be sure to save the API Key and certificate to a safe place that you can reference later.

Additional information on creating import data connections in SAP Analytics Cloud to SAP SuccessFactors can be found on the SAP Help Portal:

• Import Data Connection to SAP SuccessFactors
• Import Data Connection to SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics

Complete documentation can be found in the SAP SuccessFactors documentation: SAP Analytics Cloud Connector for SAP SuccessFactors Workforce Analytics

The connection is not tested until you create a model. To test your import data connection, you can create an SAP Analytics Cloud model using the newly created connection. We'll use SAP SuccessFactors as an example.

1. From the Modeler start page, select Start with data from the two Create New options.
2. Select SAP SuccessFactors.
3. Select your newly created connection.
4. Create a new query.
   • Enter a name for your query.
   • In the Select Data area, select Build a Query, and then select Next.
   • Build your query by moving data elements into the Selected Data and Filters areas.

     For more information, see Building a Query.

5. Select OK.

   If the data appears in the data integration view, then you successfully created the connection.

You can find detailed information on importing data into a model for the various data sources here: Import Data to Your Model | SAP Help Portal

For system-specific information on creating import data connections in SAP Analytics Cloud (includes both cloud applications and on-premise data sources), go to: Creating Import Data Connections | SAP Help Portal