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former_member93896
Active Contributor
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Hello Everyone,

Just recently it happened again: One of "our" users ran a query against BI Accelerator and complained that the data was wrong. Whew, that's a serious allegation and support was on the case immediately. Re-indexing the data fixed the problem. But a couple days later the data was incorrect again. Weeks of analyzing, tracing, logging, and debugging pass and eventually our developer finds the root cause... Any guess what it was?

Yes, you are right. Custom Development! The customer had implemented an ABAP program that directly updated the SID table for navigational attributes (/bic/x... for insiders). Such updates completely bypass the logic to alert BI Accelerator about the master data change. No wonder that the query from BIA shows unexpected results.

Unfortunately this is not the first time we have come across this issue. Many have managed to corrupt their data with custom coding all the way to the point where the system had to be restored from a backup.

However, there should not be any need to be concerned about your data. All you need to do is follow some basic development guidelines:

  1. Never use DML statements (insert, update, delete) against standard SAP tables. This includes customizing tables and well as master and transaction data tables.

  2. Always use published APIs. For SAP NetWeaver BI you can find them in the SAP NetWeaver Developer's Guide for BIM Scenarios:
    https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/devguide2004s
    > IT-Scenario-Driven Enhancements to Applications
    > Enterprise Data Warehousing / Enterprise Reporting Query and Analysis / Business Planning and Analytical Services

  3. If you don't find an API for your requirement, ask! Post a question on SDN. We will try to help where we can.


These guidelines apply to BI in general! However, with BI Accelerator in the picture it's an absolute must to follow them.

Best,
Marc Bernard
@marcfbe

PS: The proper API for the above case would be function module RSNDI_MD_ATTRIBUTES_UPDATE (http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04s/helpdata/en/44/bd9b2916fd08cfe10000000a155369/frameset.htm)

This is the sixth part in a series of blogs on BI Accelerator brought to you by the SAP NetWeaver RIG. You can view the complete series starting with the following blog: BIA BLOG Series, Part I: BIA Changes Everything!
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