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Author's profile photo Martin Grob

SID Tables in #SAP #BW

Introduction

BW uses a concept where characteristics are identified with masterdata identification numbers. (In german Stammdaten Identifikationsnummer, hence the name SID). This is different then the standard description in a star schema where dimensions contain characteristic values.

With this fact in mind there are a couple different things compared to a regular star schema as the true characteristic value is not to be found in dimensiontables.

SID-Tables

Introducing SID-tables or SID’s in BW characteristics does separate BW objects completely from the use of characteristics. This allows to use the same SID tables from a characteristic multiple times with a reference to it. It can be used in InfoCubes, master data or hierarchies.
The fact that SID’s are always of the INT4 type can have a positive impact on perfromance compared to, for example a producthierarchy key which is 18 char long as only the SID value is stored in the dimension. Another advantage is that SID allows characteristic with compounded keys without violating the concept of SID. For example customer sales is compounded to salesorg, division and distribution channel. This primary key can be handled in SID-tables. This allows access on BW objects as for those InfoObjects only the SID tables are needed to be accessed.

(By the way compounding characteristics always have a negative impact on reporting performance and should only be used where necessary)

The following table describes the SID tables for the InfoObject 0CUST_SALES.

Field Data element Description
CUSTOMER /BI0/0ICUSTOMER Customer
SALESORG /BI0/0ISALESORG SalesOrg
DIVISION /BI0/0IDIVISION Division
DISTR_CHAN /BI0/0IDISTR_CHAN Distribution Channel
SID RSSID Masterdata ID
CHCKFL RSDCHCKFL Flag: Value in check tables
DATAFL RSDDATAFL Flag: Value in dimension or available as attribute
INCLFL RSDINCFL Flag: Value is built into all inclusion tables

As an InfoObject can be used in multiple BW objects like InfoCubes and master data a deletion of masterdata entries and the respective SID entry can be critical when entries already have been used. In this case a deletion of masterdata is impossible. For BW to know that masterdata entries have been used it is documented in two SID tables called DATAFL and INCLFL. DATAFL is used in dimensions of InfoCubes or attributes of masterdata attributes while INCLFL is used in inclusiontables of external hierarchies.

As soon as a SID entry is used in an InfoCube it is flagged in master data with a value ‘X’ and from now on the masterdata entry cannot be deleted anymore. The disadvantage of this is once the flag is set it won’t be deleted even if the masterdata entry is not in use anymore which makes deletion of masterdata only possible with time intense checks.

The name of SID-tables is related to the object name and in case of a standard InfoObject /BI0/Sxxxxxxxxxx and customer objects /BIC/Sxxxxxxxxx.

SID entries in dimensiontables

Extending the snowflake schema with SID has a significant impact on the datamodel and the structure of it. Especially the use of navigational attributes, timedependent and external hierarchy as well as texts. BW is unique in using SID.

The relationship between dimensiontables and master data tables is established through the SID of the corresponding InfoObject. In the dimensiontables only SID values are stored and never directly characteristic values. Writing the value directly would be a similar good option but there is a couple advantages over that using SID. The INT4 value is a performance gain compared to characteristics with long char values. Referencing with SID tables allows the identification of characteristics that are compounded.

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      6 Comments
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      Author's profile photo Former Member
      Former Member

      Thanks for sharing Nice  blog.Clearly explained the concept of SID.

      if the masterdata entry is not in use anymore which makes deletion of masterdata only possible with time intense checks.What's time intense check?

      Regards,

      B Devi

      Author's profile photo Martin Grob
      Martin Grob
      Blog Post Author

      thanks. Due to the checks the system has to do to validate if the entry can be deleted. Have a look at note 1370848 about the deletion process.

      Martin

      Author's profile photo Former Member
      Former Member

      Nice document.

      Regards,

      Sushant

      Author's profile photo Andreas J A Schneider
      Andreas J A Schneider

      Nice entry, thanks.

      A question related to SAP BW Workspaces and local providers: Can one prevent SAP BW from generating new SIDs when uploading/creating a local provider, in other words only allow dimensions/characteristics from the local provider if they already exist in the Master Data tables?

      Author's profile photo Yogesh Narwani
      Yogesh Narwani

      Thanks Martin for sharing the Nice Blog...

      I would like to add that due to SID's only Support to Multiple Languages has been established in Extended Star Schema..

      Very Informative .Thanks for Posting !

      Regards

      Yogesh Narwani

      Author's profile photo Former Member
      Former Member

      Hi Martin,

      I thought SID is the abbreviation for Surrogate Identifcation number.

      I like your style how you write your blogs and tell the basics for beginners!

      Regards,

      Jürgen