SAP HANA: Interview Questions 131 through 140

131. Explain the process flow for modeling within SAP HANA?
On a high level, the process flow for modeling with SAP HANA works like this:

• Import Source System metadata

• Physical tables are created dynamically

• 1:1 schema definition of source system tables

• Provision Data

• Physical tables are loaded with content

• Create Infomation Models

• Database Views are created

• Attribute Views - Separate Master Data from Fact Data

• Build the required master data objects as Attribute views

• Join text tables to master data tables

• If required, join master data tables to each other

• Example, join Plant to Material 

• Analytic Views - Create Cube-like view by joining attributes view to Fact data

• Build a Data Foundation based on transactional tables

• Select Measures (key figures)

• Select attributes IDs (docking points for joining attributes views)

• Join attribute views to data foundation

• The Analytic View is a kind of star schema

• Calculation Views - If joins are not sufficient, Create a Calculation View that is something that looks like a View and has SQLScript inside

• Composite view of other views (tables, re-use join, OLAP views)

• Consists of a graphical and script-based editor

• SQLScript is an HANA-specific functional script language

• Think of a 'SELECT FROM HANA' as a data flow

• JOIN or UNION two or more data flow

• Invoke other functions (built-in CE or generic SQL)

• Analytic Privileges

• Used for row-level security

• Can be based on attributes in analytic views

• Can specify values for a particular role 

• Deploy

• column views are created and activated

• Consume

• consume with client tools - BICS, SQL, MDX

132. Explain the main steps to create an Attribute view?
Attribute View

• Attributed add context to data

• Can be regarded as Master Data tables

• Can be linked to fact tables in Analytic views 

Steps:

• Set Parameters

• Enter a unique name (technical name) and description

• The allow characters are: capital letters (A-Z), numbers(0-9), and Underscore(_).

• There is no multi-language support for Description metadata

• Select View Type

• Attribute View

• Select Subtype

• Standard

• Time - a time view created a master data view for time characteristics (calendar year, quarter, month, week, day, fiscal year/period, etc)

• Derived (Read-only) - is a linked copy that allows usage of two Attribute views with exactly the same definition in the same Analytic or Calculation view.

• An Attribute View cannot be used more than once in another view. If needed, you can create one or several Derived Attribute Views.

• Copy From feature can be used to create a new Attribute view (independent) from an existing Attribute view (as a template). 

• Table Selection

• Table joins and properties

• Select Attributes

• Create Hierarchies

• Save and Activate

• Data Preview