Product Information
SAP Analytics Cloud – Preparing Your Data #ASUG Webcast Recap
This was an ASUG webcast earlier this week.
Join us for these upcoming webcasts:
September 3 BI: Discover SAP BusinessObjects BI4.3
September 4 BI: SAP BW/4HANA Overview and Roadmap
September 5 BI: SAP Analytics Cloud – Data Connectivity, including Road Map
September 10 BI: SAP Analytics Cloud for SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise customers – Roadmap Update
September 11 – BI: SAP BW/4HANA Conversion
Source: SAP
A deeper look at how you create data with SAC
Source: SAP
The legal disclaimer applies
What does data preparation represent?
The amount of data, the data isn’t clean, the data is something to massage, the freedom for the data analyst
Workflow doesn’t stop at the end of data preparation
Source: SAP
Preparing the data is a step in the process, you get a good idea on how to connect to the data, and different workflows where it comes in handy
First step is to connect your data
Different sources that you can connect with SAC
Access through replication or not
Improvements are in green – happening via SAP Open Connectors from SAP Cloud Platform
Source: SAP
Provide a business friendly experience
Want to continue to leverage this, to offer a broader diversity of data sources
Source: SAP
Recently improved amount of data that you can bring in files, doubling the thresholds
For non files, see new limits above for Q4/QRC
Next, get the data ready for end users, structure the data, prepare the data, to create models so others can start using it
Source: SAP
Two experiences when modeling
Source: SAP
Steps of data preparation; shown in the demo
Intelligence in SAC – data inference, a first proposal of dimension, measure, and you can adjust
Suggest types of transformations to be done
You get a preview to ensure it is what you want
Framework – working on a sample
Grid view, card view
Summary of data for a dimension or measure, history of transformations
Source: SAP
Agile – self service, concept has been around for a while, this circle, for connect, prepare, analyze, share, keep on discovering new things
Source: SAP
Adjusts to change, no data loss
If issue with cell, cell will be blank
Source: SAP
Place where users go in order to get from data to decision quickly
•Self-service, flexible, data-first experience
•Provides all tools to export objects to centrally governed data workflows (tables, views, data flows)
•All data and DB interactions are part of a space so IT can manage and monitor usage
•No data from wrangling is visible to 3rd party applications. More like a playground area in the data warehouse
•Manages “Datasets” and “Transformations”
•Datasets are the same object in SAP Analytics Cloud and Data Warehouse Cloud
•Transformations can be re-used in different Datasets
(source: SAP)
Q&A:
do we need an additional license for SAP Open Connectors?
yes, there is an additional license required
Any plan to achieve parity between SAC Story functionality on Live and Imported Data Sources?
answer is yes, over time
| Question | Answer |
| What is the size limit for a model? | The limits of a model are the hardware limits of HANA. There are limits on the quantity of data getting imported in a model in a single time, but not in the total amount of data. |
| the 100M and 1B data cell limit is for imported data, not live connections right ? | That is correct |
| Is it going to be possible to edit (add a dimension from the data source) a query which is already being used in a story without redoing the story? | This feature is planned on mid-term roadmap. |
| Also is there a way to see what kind of data is there when we choose a dimension or measure in query writing stage. Sometimes we choose something but they are blank and we have to rebuild the query again. | We would have to enhance the query panel to allow some preview of the data before bringing it in. Make sure you add your idea on https://influence.sap.com/sap/ino/#/campaign/884 . |
| Why is geo-enrichment only possible in data wrangling and not with already existing models, nor with planning models? | That is indeed an enhancement we would need to being in the product. Please vote for the idea here https://influence.sap.com/sap/ino/#/campaign/884 |
| If you split a dimension what happens with a live connection update? | I am not sure if I understood well your question. Splitting a dimension in wrangling can only happen on imported data. |
| any future enhancement that once you create a transformat and mapping in wrangler for the query or import that later you can easily open and edit the wrangler vs recreating the entire process if you need an update. | Adding more flexibility and agility when dealing with the data is the whole purpose of this Agile experience we are building and should be released as BETA. We would be leveraging this approach to fit in capabilities such as being able to edit queries. |
| Is the connection still there, when you update the values? | The connection, as defined object holding information on how a model will access the source, is a persisted object in SAC. |
| Can you share this data set? | With pleasure: https://data.vancouver.ca/datacatalogue/propertyTax.htm |
| Is it on the roadmap to be able to rename dimension members in SAC models (see idea 220230, almost 1y old now without reply)? | I wonder if what you are asking is not achievable today in SAC. Please see my comments https://influence.sap.com/sap/ino/#/idea/220230/?section=sectionComments |
| What is the message for existing SAC customers looking at datawarehouse cloud? As there is a lot of overlapping functionality. | SAP DWC enriches the data management experience and offers a great tool for those looking for an environment to create a solid data foundation for their company. SAC naturally offers the analytic capabilities to consume such prepared data. |
| Does SAC have connectors to Microsoft Azure sources? | You could connect to Azure using the Cloud Agent’s Generic JDBC driver. A direct access is on the roadmap, but no defined timeline has yet been set. |
| Does this mean that the Agile Data Preparation is now bundled with the SAC license? | No. The SAP Agile Data Preparation product is still independently provided. The term I used in the call corresponds indeed to the agile experience that is being implemented into SAC. |
| Is it possible to use JOIN functionality using Live Connection to SAP BW or SAP HANA | Users can blend data coming from live sources to imported data in a story, but not join as this operation persists the dataset. |
| How can we decide when we should create a data set or a model? What is the difference? | Today, Datasets’ main focus is to be used in Smart Predict workflows, so the decision is quite easy to make. Tomorrow, we want to make Datasets more proeminent and the default object that would be created when bringing data into SAC. Models could then be derived from Datasets should the user want to use more governed types of workflows. Models are then reserved for Planning scenarios or cases where additional governance from a data standpoint is needed. |
| For a BW Bex datasource, if a transformation is needed, I assume it is better to make the transformation in the backend rather than in the SAC model. Is my assumption correct? Could you cite an example where for the above datasource, transformation is better made in SAC? Thanks. | In general, I would agree as the closer the transformations are done to the source, the better. But I would add in the factor of who would be doing the transformation. SAC users don’t necessaraly have the rights to manipulate data in BW, but need to do it in order to answer ad-hoc business requests. |
| Can transformations also applied to updated files so that modifications don’t have to be done every time new date is uploaded? | When a particular job is refreshed, then the query and the transformations are being re-applied. |
| When yo made the rent as a measure from the Data tab, would that change the model you created too? or is it temporary? If the model is refreshed, wont it be a problem with new data? | In this case, and given that the model is tied to the story, the underlying model is changed indeed. When the data is refreshed, then the query and the transformations are being re-applied in the way that has been defined by the user originally. |
| When is the Agile Data Preparation is planned for its roll out? | The plan is to have this Agile BI experience rolled out to customers entering the BETA program in september. |
| when uploading xls/csv data into a datamodel, can I ignore first N rows if my headers and data don’t start on row 1? | If the N first rows are empty, then SAC will automatically remove those rows. Otherwise, those would be brought into SAC and you would have to remove the unwanted rows in wrangling. |
| How exactly does IT take over self-service models and align to e.g. global dimensions synchronized with S/4 or B/4? Are there features for this alignment? | Good question. Aligning with the Global Dimensions is the toughest part because when importing data today to create a model, users will be creating local dimensions and not have the ability to conform to any existing in global dimensions. In those governed cases, the knowledge IT will get from the self-service models should be reused to create this governed model that would be using global dimensions. |
| what is the best source to learn and understand the creation of the analytic application in sap analytics cloud | Here are a couple of starting points: https://www.sapanalytics.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/DeveloperHandbookSACAnalyticsDesignerAugust2019v2.1.pdf and |
| can you save these transformations so they run on demand? | No, not yet. Please add this idea to the influencer site https://influence.sap.com/sap/ino/#/campaign/884 |
| what is the best source to learn how to be a transformation nenja | A good start would be the videos tutorials provided directly by SAC |
| How mature is SAC? | The product has been delivered in 2015, with bi-weekly deliveries since. It is used by thousands of customers and proved its success as evidenced by these examples https://www.sapanalytics.cloud/customer-stories/ . |
| Have you tested the connection between SF and SAC | Yes, all connections delivered with SAC are fully tested. |
| Any tools available to migrate data from existing SAC cloud environment to another? | Which other environment and data do you have in mind? Today, SAC can export data as CSV, but also to systems such as BPC, S4HANA. |
Timestamps:
- Intro: 2:45
- Connect: 7:18
- Structure the Data: 12:00
- Demo: 15:30
- Analyze with Agility: 40:11
- Bridging the gap between agility and governance: 55:00
- Q+A: 57:00