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Top 40 SAP BW / BI Interview Questions &

Answers
1) What is SAP BW/BI? What is the purpose of SAP BW/BI?

SAP BW/BI stands for Business Information Warehouse, also known as business
intelligence. For any business, data reporting, analyses and interpretation of
business data is very crucial for running business smoothly and making decision.
SAP BW/BI manage the data and enables to react quickly and in line with the
market. It enables the user to analyze data from operative SAP applications as
well as from other business.

2) In SAP BW/BI what are the main areas and activities?

a) Data Warehouse: Integrating, collecting and managing entire company's data.

b) Analyzing and Planning: Using the data stored in data warehouse

c) Reporting: BI provides the tools for reporting in web-browser, Excel etc.

d) Broad cast publishing: To send the information to the employees using email,
fax etc.

e) Performance: Performance of the company

f) Security: Securing the access like using SAP logon tickets from portal

3) What is data Integrity?

Data integrity is to eliminate duplicate entries in the database.

4) What is table partition?

Table partition is done to manage the huge data to improve the efficiency of the
applications. The partition is based on 0CALMONTH and 0FISCPER. There are
two type of partitioning that is done

a) Database partitioning

b) Logical partitioning

5) What is data flow in BW/BI?

Data flows from a transactional system to the analytical system (BW). DS ( Data
Service) on the transactional system needs to be replicated on BW side and
attached to infosource and update rules respectively.

6) What is ODS (Operational Data Store)?

'Operational Data Store' or 'ODS' is used for detailed storage of data. It is a BW

architectural component that appears between PSA ( Persistent Staging Area)
and infocubes, it allows BEX (Business Explorer) reporting. It is primarily used for
detail reporting rather than dimensional analysis, and it is not based on the star
schema. ODS (Operational Data Store) objects do not aggregate data as
infocubes do. To load the data into an IDS object, new records are inserted,
existing records are updated, or old records are deleted as specified by
RECORDMODE value.

7) What is an 'Infocube'?

'Infocube' is structured as the star schema and it is a data storage area. To

create an infocube, you require 1 'fact table' surrounded by 4 dimensions. The
'fact table' is surrounded by different dim table, which are linked with DIM' ids.
And as per the data, you will have aggregated data in the cubes.

8) How many tables does info cube contain?

Info cubes contain two tables, Fact table and Dimensions table.

9) Mention what are the maximum number of dimensions in info cubes?

In info cubes, there are 16 dimensions ( 3 sap defined and 1 customer defined)
10) What is the difference between ODS and Info-cubes?

The difference between ODS and Info-cubes are

a) ODS has a key while Info-cubes does not have any key

b) ODS contains detailed level data while Info-cube contains refined data

c) Info-cube follows Star Schema (16 dimensions) while ODS is a flat file
structure

d) There can be two or more ODS under a cube, so cube can contain combined
data or data that is derived from other fields in the ODS

11) What is the dimension in BW? How would you optimize the
dimensions?

A dimension in BW is a collection of reference information about a measurable

event in data warehousing. In this context, events are known as "facts". For
example, a customer dimension's attributes could include first and last name,
gender, birth date etc. To optimize the dimensions, do not add most dynamic
characteristics into the same dimension and make the dimension smaller. Also,
define as many dimensions as possible, and the dimension should not exceed
20% of the fact table size.

12) What are info objects?

Characteristics and key figures will be called as info objects. 'Info-objects' are
similar to fields of the source system, data based on which we organize data in
different info provider in BW.

13) What is modelling?

Designing of data base is done by using modelling. The design of DB (Data

Base) depends on the schema, and schema is defined as the representation of
tables and their relationship.

14) What is extended star schema?

Star Schema comprises of Fact tables and Dimension Tables, while the table that
consists the Master data are kept in separate tables. These separate tables for
Master data are referred as Extended Star Schema.

15) What are the extractors and mention their types?

To extract data from the system program is used which is known as Extractor.
The types of extractors in BW are:
a) Application Specific: BW content FI, HR, CO, SAP CRM, LO cockpit

b) Customer-Generated Extractors: LIS, FI-SL, CO-PA

c) Cross Application (Generic Extractors) : DB View,Infoset, Function Module

16) What is a 'Fact Table'?

Fact table is the collection of facts and relations that mean foreign keys with the
dimension. Actually fact table holds transactional data.

17) What are the data types for the characteristics info object?

There are 4 types

a) CHAR

b) NUMC

c) DATS

d) TIMS

18) What is the use of the process chain?

The use of the process chain is to automate the data load process. It automates
the process like Data load, Indices creation, Deletion, Cube compression etc.
Process chains are only to load your data's.

19) What are the transaction codes or T-codes for Info-objects?

The T-codes for Info-Cubes are

a) LISTCUBE: List viewer for InfoCubes

b) LISTSCHEMA: Show InfoCube schema

c) RSDCUBE, RSDCUBED, RSDCUBEM: Start InfoCube editing

20) What is the maximum number of key figures and characteristics?

The maximum number of key figures is 233 and characteristics are 248.

21) How can you convert an info package group into the process chain?

You can convert package group into a process chain by double clicking on the
info package group, then you have to click on the ' Process Chain Maint ' button
where you have to type the name and description, this will insert individual info
packages automatically.
22) Can an Info-object be an Info-provider?

Yes, info-object can be an info-provider. In order to do this, you have to right click
on the Info Area and select " Insert characteristics as data target".

23) What is multi-provider in SAP BI ? What are the features of

Multiproviders?

Multi-provider is a type of info-provider that contains data from a number of info-

providers and makes it available for reporting purposes.

a) Multi-provider does not contain any data.

b) The data comes entirely from the info providers on which it is based.

c) The info-providers are connected to one another by union operations.

d) Info-providers and Multi-providers are the objects or views relevant for

reporting.

e) A multi-provider allows you to run reports using several info-providers that are,
it is used for creating reports for one or more than one info-provider at a time.

24) What is Conversion Routine?

Conversion routine is used to convert data types from internal format to external
format or display format.

25) Explain the difference between the Start routine and Conversion
routine?

In the 'start routine', you can modify the data packages, when data is loading.
While conversion of routine, usually refers to routines bound to info objects for
conversion of internal and display format.

26) How to un-lock objects in Transport Organizer?

To unlock the objects in transport organizer, go to SE03à Request TaskàUnlock

objects. When you enter your request and select unlock and execute, it will
unlock the request.

27) What is update or transfer routine?

The update routine is used to define Global Data and Global Checks. They are
defined as the object level. It is like the Start Routine.

28) What are the types of Multi-providers?

The types of Multi-providers are

a) Homogeneous Multiproviders: It consists of technically identical info-providers,
such as infocubes with exactly the same characteristics and key figures.

b) Heterogeneous Multiproviders: These info-providers only have a certain

number of characteristics and key figures. It can be used for the modelling of
scenarios by dividing them into sub-scenarios. Each sub-scenario is represented
by its own info-provider.

29) What are the transaction codes for process chain?

a) RSPC: Process Chain Maintenance

b) RSPC1: Process Chain Display

c) RSPCM: Monitor daily process chains

d) RZ20: To see log for process chains

30) Explain what is the T.code for Data Archival and what is the advantage?

SARA is the T.code,and its advantage is minimizes space, query performance

and load performance.

31) What is BEx Map in SAP BI?

BEx Map is BW's Geographical Information System (GIS). BEx Map is one of the
characteristics for SAP BI, and it gives the geographical information like
customer, customer sales region and country.

32) What is B/W statistics and how it is used?

The sets of cubes delivered by SAP are used to measure performance for query,
loading data etc. B/W statistics as the name suggests is useful in showing data
about the costs associated with the B/W queries, OLAP, aggregative data etc. It
is useful to measure the performance of how quickly the queries are calculated or
how quickly the data is loaded into BW.

33) What is the data target administration task?

Data target administration task includes

a) Delete Index

b) Generate Index

c) Construct database statistics

d) Complete deletion of data target

e) Compression of the info-cube etc.

34) What are the options when defining aggregates?

a) *- Groups according to characteristics

b) H- Hierarchy

c) F-Fixed Value

d) Blank-None

35) What do you mean by the term 'slowly changing dimension'?

Dimensions that changes with time are called slowly changing dimensions.

36) Explain how you can create a connection with LIS Info Structures?

To create a connection with LIS info-structure, LBW0 connects LIS info-structures

to BW.

37) What are the delta options available when load from flat file?

Three options are available for delta management with flat files

1) Full upload

2) New status for changed records

3) Additive delta

38) What are the steps within SAP BI to create classes for BW?

To create classes or nodes for BW you have to follow the following steps,

a) Click on post-processing of data sources

b) Execute/Click on IMG activity

c) Select BW or any desired node

d) Click on context menu

e) Press F6 or select "Create node"

After following these steps, a new dialog box will appear, where you can insert
your node or class for BW.

39) What is data ware-housing hierarchy?

To define data aggregation hierarchy can be used. It is a logical structure that
use ordered levels as a means of organizing data. For instance, by using time
dimension hierarchy, it is possible to aggregate data from the month level to the
quarter level to the year level.

40) How will you debug errors with SAP GUI ?

To debug errors in SAP GUI you have to follow the path

a) Run Bexanalyzer

b) Business Explorer menu item

c) Installation check

This will show an Excel sheet with start button, on clicking on it, it will verify the
GUI installation and if there is any error you can fix it or either re-install it.

SAP BI/BW Tutorial: Training for Beginner

SAP BI (Business Intelligence) is a leading data warehousing and reporting tool.
It helps convert raw data into information and insights that help improve business
margins. This course is geared to make a BI expert!

Business intelligence (BI) is an application used for giving meaning to raw data that
an organization has. The raw data is cleansed, stored and applied with business
logics to be useful for enterprise users to make better business decisions. This
data can be presented in the form of reports and can be displayed in the form of
tables, charts etc. which is efficient and easier to analyse and make business
decisions.

During all business activities, companies create data about customers, suppliers
and internal activities. Based on these data’s, employees of various departments
like HR, Finance, Accounting, Marketing etc. prepare their work plan.

Business Intelligence spans a varied set of toolset, of which the Data Ware House
consolidates and loads the data from the different Source Systems, while reporting
tools like Query Designer, Web Application Designer, and Analyzer are majorly
used to create reports which display the data consolidated by the Datawarehouse
for analysing purpose.

Business Intelligence is a SAP product which majorly focuses on providing its

customers/organizations with a user friendly and very useful form of representing
data that could be helpful for analyses purpose and making business decisions.
In summary, Business Intelligence tools transform raw data into reports which used
for decision making and business forecasting.
Why do we need Datawarehouse & BI ?
Organizations have different kinds of data such as finance, Human resource,
customer, supplier data etc., which can be stored on different kinds of storage units
such as DBMS, Excel sheets, SAP R/3 systems etc...Even the company's internal
data is often distributed across many different systems and is not particularly well
formatted.

A Data Warehouse can help to organize the data. It brings together heterogeneous
Data Sources which are mostly and differing in their details. Using BI Tools one
can derive meaningful reports

What makes SAP BI more effective BI tool?

 Single point of access to all information is possible through BI. The data from
various sources can be accessed at the single place(i.e BI).
 Data collected from various sources are presented in the form of reports
which is efficient for analysis of the data at a high level.
 SAP BI provides easy to use GUI and better formatting
 Some of the key functionality that makes SAP BI better than rest is its ability
to analyze multidimensional data sources in both web and MS office
environments, flexible dashboards, mobility and a flexible, scalable BI
platform.
 SAP BI is known for its awesome query performance, while requiring little
administration
 Mobile BI for end users on the go
 Easy Integration with other platforms

SAP BI/ Data Warehouse Vs. OLTP systems:

 OLTP(Online Transaction Processing):

These systems have detailed day to day transaction data which keeps changing.
For example, R/3 or any other database.

OLAP(Online Analytical Processing):

These systems have data for analysis purpose. The input for this system is from
OLTP systems. The data from the OLTP systems is made use to prepare the data
for analysis purpose.

Business Intelligence is an OLAP system.

OLTP Systems (Operative DWH/OLAP

Environment) Systems(Informative
Environment)

Target Efficiency through automation of Generating

business processes Knowledge

(Competitive
Advantage)

Priorities High availability, higher data Simple to use,

volume flexible access
to data

View of Data Detailed Frequently

aggregated

Age of Data Current Historical

Database operations Add, Modify, delete, update and Read

read

Typical data structures Relational(flat tables, high Multidimensional

normalization Structure
Integration of data from various Minimal Comprehensive
modules/applications

Dataset 6-18 months 27 years

Archiving Yes Yes

SAP Infoobject, Infoarea, Infoobject Catalog

Tutorial
What is an InfoObjects?
Info-Objects take information from the source, then adjust and arrange the
information into either a standard or customized report. Infoobjects are the
smallest available information modules/fields in BI. It is needed in info-providers
like InfoCubes, DSOs, MultiProviders, Queries etc... These Info-Providers
are made up of Info-objects.
Info-object gives all information about the business. For instance company ‘XYZ’
is interested in finding out how much of “product x” shipped on “date x” to “factory
x”. By defining Info-object for specific function like “0MATERIAL”, “0DATE” and
“0LOCATION” all the information can be retrieved.

InfoObjects can be classified into the following types:

 Characteristics (for example, customers)

 Key figures (for example, revenue)
 Units (for example, currency, amount unit)
 Time characteristics (for example, fiscal year)
 Technical characteristics (for example, request number)
Characteristics:

Characteristics are Business reference objects used to analyze key figures.

Examples of characteristics InfoObjects:

 Cost center (0COSTCENTER)

 Material(0MATERIAL)

Keyfigures:

Key figures provide the values to be evaluated. They are numeric information that
is reported in the query.

Examples of key figure InfoObjects:

 Quantity (0QUANTITY)
 Amount (0AMOUNT)

Units:

Units are paired with Key figure values . They provide assign a unit of
measurement to a Key Figure Value. For instance 10 Kg where 10 is the KeyFigure
and Kg is the unit

Other Examples of Unit Characteristics:

 Currency unit (0CURRENCY) (Holds the currency type of the transaction

e.g. $, EUR, USD...)

 Value unit (0UNIT) (or) unit of measure (Hold the unit of measure e.g.
Gallon, Inch, cm, PC)

Time Characteristic:

Time characteristics give time reference to data.

Examples of Time Characteristics:

 Calendar day (0CALDAY)

 Calendar year (0CALYEAR)
 Fiscal year (0FISCYEAR)

Technical Characteristics:
Technical characteristics are SAP standard objects having their own administrative
purposes.
Examples of Technical Characteristics:

 Info Object 0REQUID – While loading data to various data targets, SAP
allocates unique numbers which are stored in this Info object
 Info Object 0CHNGID – When aggregate change run is done, a unique
number is allocated and stored in this info object.

Before creating an Info Object, Info Area and Info Object Catalog need to be
created.

What is an InfoArea?
 In Business Warehouse, Info-areas are the branches and nodes of a tree
structure.
 It is used to organize info cubes and info objects.
 Each Info-object is assigned to an Info Area.
 Info Area can be thought of as a folder used to hold related files together.

What is Infoobject Catalog?

 Every info object need to be created within an Info Object Catalog.
 It helps in organization and is no way related to reporting functions.
 Example: There are tons of InfoObjects for SAP Financials which can be
clubbed into a InfoObject Catalog. This makes management and
maintainence easy.
 An Info Object can be assigned to multiple Catalog

There are 2 types of Info Object Catalog.

1. Characteristic Info Object Catalog

2. Key figure Info Object Catalog

Here is the RoadMAP to create an Infoobject