Introducing InfoObjects

Let's start implementing the scenario. As the key building blocks of SAP BW/4HANA we define InfoObjects. They are used in master data and transactional data, and can be related to each other. Many InfoObjects are already available in the system for our scenario (many based on BW Content). However, to learn more on this subject, two additional InfoObjects will be created.

Note

BW Content (also known as Business Content) includes predefined SAP BW/4HANA objects and a preconfigured set of application specific data models for selected business areas and industries.

Business evaluation objects are known in SAP BW/4HANA as InfoObjects. InfoObjects are the smallest available information modules in SAP BW/4HANA and are used throughout the system to create structures and tables where data is stored. They enable information to be modeled in a structured form, are used to define reports, and to evaluate master data and transactional data.

InfoObjects are used in many places in SAP BW/4HANA. In this course you will set up master data in SAP BW/4HANA using InfoObjects, use InfoObjects in transactional data with DataStore Objects (advanced) and use InfoObjects in Transformations, Open ODS Views and CompositeProviders. In this way the meta data of InfoObjects is reused in many places in SAP BW/4HANA.

In classic BW modeling, you have to define an InfoObject for each field that you want to store or report on. In SAP BW/4HANA, you can also use a field-based approach. In this field-based approach it's not needed to create InfoObjects at first. However, using InfoObjects offers the reuse of meta data in SAP BW/4HANA in many situations.

SAP delivers InfoObjects within BW Content. Technical names of InfoObjects delivered with BW Content begin with 0 (zero). You can also define your own InfoObjects. Unlike SAP source systems, the only requirement is that the technical names do not begin with a number or a special character, and that it is between three and nine characters in length. There is no need for Z names, as is required for some SAP solutions.

Watch this video to learn about types of InfoObjects in SAP BW/4HANA.

When you define master data and transactional data models in SAP BW/4HANA, InfoObjects are related to each other.

In master data models, a Characteristic can be used as an attribute for another Characteristic. For example, Characteristic Telephone Number can be used as an attribute for Characteristic Customer.

Transactional models consist of Characteristics and Key Figures. For example, storing the Sales Revenue (Key Figure) per Calendar Year (Time Characteristic) and Customer (Characteristic).

However, Key Figures can also be used as an attribute for a Characteristic in master data. For example, Gross Weight (Key Figure) could be an attribute for Material (Characteristic).

Watch the following video to see examples of types of InfoObjects in the SAP BW/4HANA system.