BW Cube

This page shows how to use the BWCube extraction type.
The BWCube extraction type can be used to extract MDX or BICS data directly from BW InfoProviders (e.g., Cubes) or from BW Queries. The BW Queries can be based on InfoProviders.

Prerequisites

• A connection to an SAP system is available, see SAP Connection.
• The SAP user has sufficient user rights, see SAP Authority Objects.
• To extract a BW Query, the attribute Allow External Access to this Query of the Query must be active in the BEx Query Designer or the BW Modeling Tool, see Troubleshooting Article: Allow external access to BW Queries.

Warning

Missing Authorization.
To use the BWCube extraction type, access to the designated authority objects (RFC) in SAP must be available. Adjust SAP Authority Objects: BW Query / BW Cube accordingly.

MDX versus BICS

The BWCube extraction type can extract data using the OLAP BAPI Interface (MDX) or the native BICs interface. The following table shows the differences between the two extractors:

MDX	BICS
Lookup syntax for BEx Queries: [tech. name of InfoPovider]/[tech. name of BEx Query] Example: 0SD_C03/0SD_C03_Q0018	Lookup syntax for BEx Queries: [tech. name of BEx Query] Example: 0SD_C03_Q0018
Lookup syntax for InfoProviders: $[tech. name of InfoProvoider] Example: $0SD_C03	Lookup syntax for InfoProviders: [tech. name of InfoProvider] Example: 0SD_C03
Wildcards in lookup: The BEx-Query setting Allow External Access to BW Queries is required. Example: *0SD_C03_Q0018 instead of 0SD_C03/0SD_C03_Q0018	Wildcards in lookup: not required and therefore not supported
Supported InfoProviders: InfoCubes, Multiproviders, Composite Providers	Supported InfoProviders: InfoCubes, MuliProviders, Composite Providers, DSOs
Column names of Key figures: EnterpriseID	Column names of Key figures: Technical name If techn. name is empty: name of the base measure. If name of the base measure is empty: EnterpriseID. Tip: In case of duplicate names, change the technical name in the BEx Query Designer.
Limit of Dimensions: max. 50 dimensions	Limit of Dimensions: -

Create a BW Cube Extraction

Follow the steps below to create a new BW Cube extraction in the Board Connector Designer:

1. In the main window of the Designer, click [New] to create a new extraction. The window "Create Extraction" opens.
   
2. Select an SAP Connection of type RFC from the drop-down menu Source.
3. Enter a unique name for your extraction.
4. Select the extraction type BW Cube.
5. Click [OK].

The main window of the extraction type opens and you can start setting up your extraction.

Look Up a BW Cube or Query

Follow the steps below to look up a BW Cube or Query in SAP:

1. In the main window of the extraction type, click [ ]. The window “Cube and Query Lookup” opens.
   

2. Select the Extractor, Datasource Type and Extraction Settings of the object .
   

   Option	Description
   Extractor	defines if data is extracted using the OLAP BAPI Interface (MDX) or the native BICS Interface. BICS can only be used in combination with the NetWeaver RFC protocol.
   Datasource Type	defines if the look up searches for a BEx Query or an InfoProvider.
   Extraction Settings	only available for the MDX extractor. Use Only Structure if your BWCube extraction was created in an older software version, see extraction settings for more information.

3. In the search bar, enter the name of a Query or a BW Cube / InfoProvider . Use wildcards (*), if needed.

4. Click [ ]. Search results are displayed.
   Alternatively click [Direct Load] to skip the lookup and load the BW Cube / InfoProvider directly. [Direct Load] only works if the full name is entered correctly in the search bar.
5. Select a Query or BW Cube / InfoProvider and click [OK] to confirm.

The BW cube or query is selected and the application returns to the main window.

Note

Click [Refresh Metadata] to renew metadata. This is necessary if a data source has been adjusted in SAP, another source system has been connected, or the source system has been updated.

Warning

Invalid action
A BW Query does not apprear in the list.
Switch on the attribute Allow External Access to this Query in the BEx Query Designer or the BW Modeling Tool. For additional details see the Troubleshooting Article: Allow external access to BW Queries.

Configure the BWCube Extraction Type

To configure the BWCube extraction type:

1. Select the measure (key figures) you want to extract in the tree structure of the extraction type
   

   Tip

   The tree structure represents the metadata of the Query (or InfoProvider).
   The first directory contains all the measures (key figures) . The following directories correspond to dimensions and often contain additional dimension properties .

2. Within the key figures directory, click the arrow to display the available units. Select a unit, if needed.

3. In the following directories, select the dimensions and properties you want to extract .
4. Optional: Right-click on a dimension to add filters to the dimension, see Dimension Filters.
5. Optional: If a BW Query has a defined variable, click [Edit Variables] to edit the variable or provide input values, see Variables.
6. Click [Load live preview] to display a live preview of the data. For every selected dimension or property, a key figure and a unit is displayed in the result.
7. Check the Extraction Settings and the General Settings before running the extraction.
8. Click [OK] to save the extraction type.

The BWCube extraction type is configured and ready to run, see Run Extractions.

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Last update: June 28, 2025