SAP BW Interview Questions

What is ODS?

It is operational data store. ODS is a BW Architectural component that appears

between PSA ( Persistant Staging Area ) and infocubes and that allows Bex
( Business Explorer ) reporting. It is not based on the star schema and is used
primarily for details reporting, rather than for dimensional analysis. ODS objects do
not aggregate data as infocubes do. Data are loaded into an IDS object by inserting
new records, updating existing records, or deleting old records as specified by
RECORDMODE value. *-- Viji

1. How much time does it take to extract 1 million of records from an infocube?

2. How much does it take to load (before question extract) 1 million of records to an
infocube?

3. What are the four ASAP Methodologies?

4. How do you measure the size of infocube?

5. Difference between infocube and ODS?

6. Difference between display attributes and navigational attributes?

1. Ans. This depends,if you have complex coding in update rules it will take longer
time,orelse it will take less than 30 mins.

3. Ans:
Project plan
Requirements gathering
Gap Analysis
Project Realization

4. Ans:
In no of records

5. Ans:
Infocube is structured as star schema(extended) where in a fact table is surrounded
by different dim table which connects to sids. And the data wise, you will have
aggregated data in the cubes.
ODS is a flat structure(flat table) with no star schema concept and which will have
granular data(detailed level).

6. Ans:
Display attribute is one which is used only for display purpose in the report.Where as
navigational attribute is used for drilling down in the report.We don't need to
maintain Nav attribute in the cube as a characteristic(that is the advantage) to drill
down.
Q1. SOME DATA IS UPLOADED TWICE INTO INFOCUBE. HOW TO CORRECT IT?
Ans: But how is it possible?.If you load it manually twice, then you can delete it by
request.

Q2. CAN U ADD A NEW FIELD AT THE ODS LEVEL?

Sure you can.ODS is nothing but a table.

Q3. CAN NUMBER OF DATASOURCE HAS ONE INFOSOURCE?

Yes ofcourse.For example, for loading text and hierarchies we use different data
sources but the same infosource.

Q4. BRIEF THE DATAFLOW IN BW.

Data flows from transactional system to analytical system(BW).DS on the
transactional system needs to be replicated on BW side and attached to infosource
and update rules respectively.

Q5. CURRENCY CONVERSIONS CAN BE WRITTEN IN UPDATE RULES. WHY NOT IN

TRANSFER RULES?

Q6. WHAT IS PROCEDURE TO UPDATE DATA INTO DATA TARGETS?

Full and delta.

Q7. AS WE USE Sbwnn,SBiw1,sbiw2 for delta update in LIS THEN WHAT IS THE
PROCEDURE IN LO-COCKPIT?
No lis in lo cockpit.We will have data sources and can be maintained(append
fields).Refer white paper on LO-Cokpit extractions.

Q8. SIGNIFICANCE OF ODS.

It holds granular data.

Q9. WHERE THE PSA DATA IS STORED?

In PSA table.

Q10.WHAT IS DATA SIZE?

The volume of data one data target holds(in no. of records)

Q11. DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFOCUBES.

Basic, Virtual(remote, sap remote and multi)

Q12. INFOSET QUERY.

Can be made of ODSs and objects

Q13. IF THERE ARE 2 DATASOURCES HOW MANY TRANSFER STRUCTURES ARE

THERE.
In R/3 or in BW??.2 in R/3 and 2 in BW

Q14. ROUTINES?
Exist In the info object,transfer routines,update routines and start routine

Q15. BRIEF SOME STRUCTURES USED IN BEX.

Rows and Columns,you can create structures.
Q16. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT VARIABLES USED IN BEX?
Variable with default entry
Replacement path
SAP exit
Customer exit
Authorization

Q17. HOW MANY LEVELS YOU CAN GO IN REPORTING?

You can drill down to any level you want using Nav attributes and jump targets

Q18. WHAT ARE INDEXES?

Indexes are data base indexes,which help in retrieving data fastly.

Q19. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2.1 AND 3.X VERSIONS.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Refer documentation

Q20. IS IT NESSESARY TO INITIALIZE EACH TIME THE DELTA UPDATE IS USED.

Nope

Q21. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF KPI'S?

KPI’s indicate the performance of a company.These are key figures

Q22. AFTER THE DATA EXTRACTION WHAT IS THE IMAGE POSITION.

After image(correct me if I am wrong)

Q23. REPORTING AND RESTRICTIONS.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Refer documentation

Q24. TOOLS USED FOR PERFORMANCE TUNING.

ST*,Number ranges,delete indexes before load ..etc

Q25. PROCESS CHAINS: IF U ARE USED USING IT THEN HOW WILL U SCHEDULING
DATA DAILY.
There should be some tool to run the job daily(SM37 jobs)

Q26. AUTHORIZATIONS.
Profile generator

Q27. WEB REPORTING.

What are you expecting??

Q28. CAN CHARECTERSTIC CAN BE INFOPROVIDER ,INFOOBJECT CAN BE

INFOPROVIDER.
Of course

Q29. PROCEDURES OF REPORTING ON MULTICUBES.

Refer help.What are you expecting??.Multicube works on Union condition

Q30. EXPLAIN TRANPORTATION OF OBJECTS?

Dev ---> Q and Dev ---> P
Here are some questions and answers.

1)name the two table that provide detail information about data source
2)how and when can you control whether repeat delta is requested?
3)how can you improve the performance of a query
4)how to prevent duplicate record in at the data target level
5)what is virtual cube? its significance
6)diff methods of generic data source
7)how to connect anew data target to an existing data flow
8)what is partition
9) SAP batch process
10)how do you improve the info cube design performance
12)is there any diff between repair run/repaire request. if yes then please tell me in
detail
13)difference between process chain and info package group
diff between partition/aggregate

Answers

Q 3) Query Performance can be improved by making the Aggregates having all the Chars
& KF used in Query.

Q 5) Virtual Cube : Info Provider with transaction data that is not stored in the object
itself, but which is read directly for analysis and reporting purposes. The relevant data
can be from the BI system or from other SAP or non-SAP systems.
Virtual Providers only allow read access to data.

Q 6) Diff Methods of Generic data source using Transaction RSO2 :

a) Extraction from DB Table or View
b) Extraction from SAP Query
c) Extraction by Function Module

2) Important BW data source relevant tables

ROOSOURCE: Table Header for SAP BW OLTP Sources

RODELTAM: BW Delta Process

ROOSFIELD: DataSource Fields

ROOSGEN: Generated Objects for OLTP Source, Last changed date and who etc.

3) For Q 8) i think you mean table partition

You use partition to improve performance. You can only partiton on 0CALMONTH or
0FISCPER
4) 1. ROOSOURCE
6. Generic Extarction using 1.Views 2. Infoset Queries , 3. Function modules
5) Hi Santosh

Pls note down the Q& ANS

Some of the Real time question.
Q) Under which menu path is the Test Workbench to be found, including in earlier
Releases?
The menu path is: Tools - ABAP Workbench - Test - Test Workbench.

Q) I want to delete a BEx query that is in Production system through request. Is anyone
aware about it?

A) Have you tried the RSZDELETE transaction?

Q) Errors while monitoring process chains.

A) During data loading. Apart from them, in process chains you add so many process
types, for example after loading data into Info Cube, you rollup data into aggregates,
now this rolling up of data into aggregates is a process type which you keep after the
process type for loading data into Cube. This rolling up into aggregates might fail.

Another one is after you load data into ODS, you activate ODS data (another process
type) this might also fail.

Q) In Monitor----- Details (Header/Status/Details) à Under Processing (data packet):

Everything OK à Context menu of Data Package 1 (1 Records): Everything OK ----
Simulate update. (Here we can debug update rules or transfer rules.)

SM50 à Program/Mode à Program à Debugging & debug this work process.

Q) PSA Cleansing.

A) You know how to edit PSA. I don't think you can delete single records. You have to
delete entire PSA data for a request.

Q) Can we make a datasource to support delta.

A) If this is a custom (user-defined) datasource you can make the datasource delta
enabled. While creating datasource from RSO2, after entering datasource name and
pressing create, in the next screen there is one button at the top, which says generic
delta. If you want more details about this there is a chapter in Extraction book, it's in last
pages u find out.

Generic delta services: -

Supports delta extraction for generic extractors according to:

Time stamp

Calendar day

Numeric pointer, such as document number & counter

Only one of these attributes can be set as a delta attribute.

Delta extraction is supported for all generic extractors, such as tables/views, SAP Query
and function modules
The delta queue (RSA7) allows you to monitor the current status of the delta attribute

1) What is process chain? How many types are there? How many we use in
real time scenario? Can we define interdependent processes with tasks like
data loading, cube compression, index maintenance, master data & ods
activation in the best possible performance & data integrity.
2) What is data integrityand how can we achieve this?
3) What is index maintenance and what is the purpose to use this in real
time?
4) When and why use infocube compression in real time?
5) What is mean by data modelling and what will the consultant do in data
modelling?
6) How can enhance business content and what for purpose we enhance
business content (becausing we can activate business content)
7) What is fine-tuning and how many types are there and what for purpose
we done tuning in real time. tuning can only be done for infocube partitions
and creating aggregates or any other?
8) What is mean by multiprovider and what purpose we use multiprovider?
9) What is scheduled and monitored data loads and for what purpose?

Ans # 1:
Process chains exists in Admin Work Bench. Using these we can automate ETTL
processes. These allows BW guys to schedule all activities and monitor (T Code:
RSPC).

PROCESS CHAIN - Before defining PROCESS CHAIN, let us define PROCESS in any
given process chain. Is a procedure either with in the SAP or external to it with a
start and end. This process runs in the background.

PROCESS CHAIN is set of such processes that are linked together in a chain. In other
words each process is dependent on the previous process and dependencies are
clearly defined in the process chain.

This is normally done in order to automate a job or task that has to execute more
than one process in order to complete the job or task.
1. Check the Source System for that particular PC.
2. Select the request ID (it will be in Header Tab) of PC
3. Go to SM37 of Source System.
4. Double Click on the Job.
5. You will navigate to a screen
6. In that Click "Job Details" button
7. A small Pop-up Window comes
8. In the Pop-up screen, take a note of
a) Executing Server
b) WP Number/PID
9. Open a new SM37 (/OSM37) command
10. In the Click on "Application Servers" button
11. You can see different Application Servers.
11. Goto Executing server, and Double Click (Point 8 (a))
12. Goto PID (Point 8 (b))
13. On the left most you can see a check box
14. "Check" the check Box
15. On the Menu Bar.. You can see "Process"
16. In the "process" you have the Option "Cancel with Core"
17. Click on that option. * -- Ramkumar K

Ans # 2:
Data Integrity is about eliminating duplicate entries in the database and achieve
normalization.

Ans # 4:
InfoCube compression creates new cube by eliminating duplicates. Compressed
infocubes require less storage space and are faster for retrieval of information. Here
the catch is .. Once you compress, you can't alter the InfoCube. You are safe as long
as you don't have any error in modeling.

This compression can be done through Process Chain and also manually.

Tips by: Anand

Ans#3
Indexing is a process where the data is stored by indexing it. Eg: A phone book...
When we write somebodys number we write it as Prasads number would be in "P"
and Rajesh's number would be in "R"... The phone book process is indexing..
similarly the storing of data by creating indexes is called indexing.

Ans#5
Datamodeling is a process where you collect the facts..the attributes associated to
facts.. navigation atributes etc.. and after you collect all these you need to decide
which one you ill be using. This process of collection is done by interviewing the end
users, the power users, the share holders etc.. it is generally done by the Team
Lead, Project Manager or sometimes a Sr. Consultant (4-5 yrs of exp) So if you are
new you dont have to worry about it....But do remember that it is a imp aspect of
any datawarehousing soln.. so make sure that you have read datamodeling before
attending any interview or even starting to work....

Ans#6
We can enhance the Business Content bby adding fields to it. Since BC is delivered
by SAP Inc it may not contain all the infoobjects, infocubes etc that you want to use
according to your company's data model... eg: you have a customer infocube(In BC)
but your company uses a attribute for say..apt number... then instead of
constructing the whole infocube you can add the above field to the existing BC
infocube and get going...

Ans#7
Tuning is the most imp process in BW..Tuning is done the increase efficiency.... that
means lowering time for loading data in cube.. lowering time for accessing a query..
lowering time for doing a drill down etc.. fine tuning=lowering time(for everything
possible)...tuning can be done by many things not only by partitions and aggregates
there are various things you can do... for eg: compression, etc..
Ans#8
Multiprovider can combine various infoproviders for reporting purposes.. like you can
combine 4-5 infocubes or 2-3 infocubes and 2-3 ODS or IC, ODS and Master data..
etc.. you can refer to help.sap.com for more info...

Ans#9
Scheduled data load means you have scheduled the loading of data for some
particular date and time you can do it in scheduler tab if infoobject... and monitored
means you are monitoring that particular data load or some other loads by using
transaction RSMON.

SAP BW Important Interview Questions Paper- Part - 5

Q) Does data packets exits even if you don't enter the master data, (when
created)?

Q) When are Dimension ID's created?

A) When Transaction data is loaded into InfoCube.

Q) When are SID's generated?

A) When Master data loaded into Master Tables (Attr, Text, Hierarchies).

Q) How would we delete the data in ODS?

A) By request IDs, Selective deletion & change log entry deletion.

Q) How would we delete the data in change log table of ODS?

A) Context menu of ODS → Manage → Environment → change log entries.

Q) What are the extra fields does PSA contain?

A) (4) Record id, Data packet …

Q) Partitioning possible for ODS?

A) No, It's possible only for Cube.

Q) Why partitioning?

A) For performance tuning.

Q) Have you ever tried to load data from 2 InfoPackages into one cube?
A) Yes.

Q) Different types of Attributes?

A) Navigational attribute, Display attributes, Time dependent attributes,

Compounding attributes, Transitive attributes, Currency attributes.

Q) Transitive Attributes?

A) Navigational attributes having nav attr…these nav attrs are called transitive attrs

Q) Navigational attribute?

A) Are used for drill down reporting (RRI).

Q) Display attributes?

A) You can show DISPLAY attributes in a report, which are used only for displaying.

Q) How does u recognize an attribute whether it is a display attribute or

not?

A) In Edit characteristics of char, on general tab checked as attribute only.

Q) Compounding attribute?

A)?

Q) Time dependent attributes?

A)?

Q) Currency attributes?

A)?

Q) Authorization relevant object. Why authorization needed?

A)?

Q) How do we convert Master data InfoObject to a Data target?

A) InfoArea → Infoprovider (context menu) → Insert characteristic Data as
DataTarget.

Q) How do we load the data if a FlatFile consists of both Master and

Transaction data?

A) Using Flexible update method while creating InfoSource.

Q) Steps in LIS are Extraction?

A)?

Q) Steps in LO are Extraction?

A) * Maintain extract structures. (R/3)

* Maintain DataSources. (R/3)

* Replicate DataSource in BW.

* Assign InfoSources.

* Maintain communication structures/transfer rules.

* Maintain InfoCubes & Update rules.

* Activate extract structures. (R/3)

* Delete setup tables/setup extraction. (R/3)

* InfoPackage for the Delta initialization.

* Set-up periodic V3 update. (R/3)

* InfoPackage for Delta uploads.

Q) Steps in FlatFile Extraction?

A)?

Q) Different types in LO's?

A) Direct Delta, Queued Delta, Serialized V3 update, Unserialized V3 Update.

Direct Delta: - With every document posted in R/3, the extraction data is transferred
directly into the BW delta queue. Each document posting with delta extraction
becomes exactly one LUW in the corresponding Delta queue.
Queued Delta: - The extraction data from the application is collected in extraction
queue instead of as update data and can be transferred to the BW delta queue by an
update collection run, as in the V3 update.

Q) What does LO Cockpit contain?

A) * Maintaining Extract structure.

* Maintaining DataSources.

* Activating Updates.

* Controlling Updates.

Q) RSA6 --- Maintain DataSources.

Q) RSA7 ---- Delta Queue (allows you to monitor the current status of the delta
attribute)

Q) RSA3 ---- Extract checker.

Q) LBW0 --- TCode for LIS.

Q) LBWG --- Delete set-up tables in LO's.

Q) OLI*BW --- Fill Set-up tables.

Q) LBWE ---- TCode for Logistics extractors.

Q) RSO2 --- Maintaining Generic DataSources.

Q) MC21 ----- Creating user-defined Information Structure for LIS (It is InfoSource
in SAP BW).

Q) MC24 ---- Creating Updating rules for LO's.

Q) PFCG ---- Role maintenance, assign users to these roles.

Q) SE03 -- Changeability of the BW namespace.

Q) RSDCUBEM --- For Delete, Change or Delete the InfoCube.

Q) RSD5 -- Data packet characteristics maint.

Q) RSDBC - DB Connect

Q) RSMO --- Monitoring of Dataloads.

Q) RSCUSTV6 -- Partitioning of PSA.

Q) RSRT -- Query monitor.

Q) RSRV - Analysis and Repair of BW Objects

Q) RRMX - BEx Analyzer

Q) RSBBS - Report to Report interface (RRI).

Q) SPRO -- IMG (To make configurations in BW).

Q) RSDDV - Maintaining Aggregates.

Q) RSKC -- Character permit checker.

Q) ST22 - Checking ShortDump.

Q) SM37 - Scheduling Background jobs.

Q) RSBOH1 -- Open Hub Service: Create InfoSpoke.

Q) RSMONMESS -- "Messages for the monitor" table.

Q) ROOSOURCE - Table to find out delta update methods.

Q) RODELTAM - Finding for modes of records (i.e. before image & after image)
Q) SMOD - Definition

Q) CMOD - Project Management enhancing

Q) SPAU - Program Compare

Q) SE11 - ABAP Dictionary

Q) SE09 - Transport Organizer (workbench organizer)

Q) SE10 - Transport Organizer (Extended View)

Q) SBIW - Implementation guide

Q) Statistical Update?

A) ?

Q) What are Process Chains?

A) TCode is RSPC, is a sequence of processes scheduled in the background & waiting

to be triggered by a specific event. Process chains nothing but grouping processes.
Process variant (start variant) is the place the process chain knows where to start.

There should be min and max one start variant in each process chain, here we
specify when should the process chain start by giving date and time or if you want to
start immediately

Some of theses processes trigger an event of their own that in-turn triggers other
processes.

Ex: - Start chain → Delete BCube indexes → Load data from the source system to
PSA →

Load data from PSA to DataTarget ODS → Load data from ODS to BCube → Create
Indexes for BCube after loading data → Create database statistics → Roll-Up data
into the aggregate → Restart chain from beginning.

Q) What are Process Types & Process variant?

A) Process types are General services, Load Process & subsequent processing, Data
Target Administration, Reporting agent & Other BW services.

Process variant (start variant) is the place the process type knows when & where to
start.
Q) Difference between MasterData & Transaction InfoPackage?

A) 5 tabs in Masterdata & 6 tabs in Transaction data, the extra tab in Transaction
data is DATA TARGETS.

Q) Types of Updates?

A) Full Update, Init Delta Update & Delta Update.

Q) For Full update possible while loading data from R/3?

A) InfoPackage → Scheduler → Repair Request flag (check).

This is only possible when we use MM & SD modules.

Q) Why it takes more time while loading the transaction data even to load
the transaction without master data (we check the checkbox, Always
Update data, even if no master data exits for the data)?

A) Because while loading the data it has to create SID keys for transaction data