SAP Universe Designer - OLAP Data Sources
You can also create a Universe on top of an OLAP cube or query. When a connection is selected pointing to an OLAP cube, it creates a Universe automatically. Connection to an OALP data source can be created using connection wizard.
Following OLAP data sources can be used to create OLAP Universe automatically −
- SAP Business Warehouse
- Microsoft Analysis Service MSAS
- Hyperion Essbase
While using SAP BW as an OLAP data source for Universe creation, you can create Universe directly on an Info Cube, Bex or on an info Provider. You can use standard and transactional info cubes to create OLAP Universe or you can also use virtual info cubes.
In an OLAP Universe built on SAP BW data source, different Universe features are supported. Below table lists common supported features −
| Characteristics (incl. Time and Unit) |
InfoCube/BEx Query |
| Hierarchies |
InfoCube/BEx Query |
| Basic Key Figures |
InfoCube/BEx Query |
| Navigational Attributes |
BEx Query only |
| Display Attributes |
InfoCube/BEx Query |
| Calculated Key Figures / Formulas |
BEx Query only |
| Restricted Key Figures |
BEx Query only |
| Custom Structures |
BEx Query only |
| Variables |
BEx Query only |
You can see Bex queries supported more Universe features as compared to InfoCube and InfoCube requires more effort to customize Universe.
While using MSAS as data source, you can see features supported in an OLAP Universe in the below table −
| Cube |
Supported |
| Local cube |
Supported |
| Virtual cube (MSAS 2000) |
Supported |
| Perspective (MSAS 2005) |
Supported |
| Dimensions |
Supported |
| Virtual dimensions (MSAS 2000) |
Supported |
| Hierarchies |
Supported |
| Levels |
Supported |
| Level Property |
Supported |
| Attributes (MSAS 2005) |
Supported |
| Measures |
Supported |
| Measure group (MSAS 2005) |
Supported |
| Calculated measures |
Supported |
| Display folder (MSAS 2005) |
Supported |
| KPI (MSAS 2005) |
Not Supported |
While using Hyperion Essbase as data source, you can see features supported in an OLAP Universe in the below table −
| Block storage mode |
Supported |
| Aggregate storage mode |
Supported |
| Hybrid mode |
Not Supported |
| Alias tables |
Supported |
| Dimensions |
Supported |
| Attribute dimensions |
Supported |
| Duplicate members |
Supported |
| Generations |
Supported |
| Levels |
Not Supported |
| User Define Attributes (UDA) |
Not Supported |
| Dynamic Time Series (DTS) |
Not Supported |
| Essbase Integration Services (EIS) Drill-through |
Not Supported |
| Substitution variables |
Not Supported |
| Linked partitions |
Not Supported |
