Design Studio 1.6 SDK – BYOData Enhancement – Use your own data in Analytical Components!

Change Log

• 03/07/2016 – Blog posted

Planned Enhancements

• UOM support in Key Figures?
• Text/Key Management?
• Master Data Management?

Description

Use Case:

Design Studio allows us to create SDK Data Source components and one that I am proud to have seen a lot of use of for a number of interesting reasons it the Bring Your Own Data component (BYOData.)  I made this one back in Design Studio 1.4 and you can read about it here: Design Studio SDK (1.4) – Bring Your Own (BYO) Datasource  Later I gave it a few functionality/cosmetic enhancements mentioned briefly here:  Sneak Peak – SCN Design Studio 1.6 SDK Components

There unfortunately is a restriction where SDK Data Source components cannot be used in Analytical Components such as the Cross Tab, Filter Panel, Filter Bar, etc.  While this is unfortunate, there’s really been nothing I could do about it.  I did start to become a little envious of the new CSV Data Source Component’s flexibility where it felt more like a ‘true’ data source and could work with anything, instead of some SDK ‘mutt’ that couldn’t work everywhere.

The down-side of the CSV Data Source is that you’ve really got to start with something instead of nothing.  What I mean is, that you have to take an export of an existing data source, which really doesn’t make it easy to create dummy data (one of the main points of the BYOData component).  Plus, I’m not really sure why SAP even calls it a “CSV Data Source”.  It’s really 2 files that are semi-colon separated, and requires metadata.  In other words, you can’t just go use your own Excel CSV mock-up.  (Confession – I thought that’s how the CSV Data Source was supposed to work for a long time until I tried to use it for something)

I set forward to see if I could dynamically generate the ‘CSV data’ needed to feed the CSV Data Source.  Below is the end-result.

Hello BYOData’s new feature: ‘Generate for CSV Data Source’

It’s pretty simple.  On purpose.  You click the button, and you are prompted to Open/Save a .ZIP file:

The contents of the .ZIP are simply the 2 files you need to use in a regular CSV Data Source.

Basically, take these 2 files, drop them in your BIAPP’s folder (or wherever) and then point your CSV Data Source component at it, and you’re done!

A quick YouTube video with the end-to-end process:

(Note, I forgot to drag the CSV Data Source onto the filter panel at the end, but it works on all components.)

What you have seen is available for download in the usual spot (details here: SCN Design Studio 1.6 SDK Components (ver 3.0)).

Questions/Comments/Feedback always welcomed!