SAP BW Star Schema

SAP BW Star schema is based on the extended of the classic star schema (aka snowflake schema). The enhancement comes from the fact that the dimension table does not contain master data information. This master data information is stored in separate tables, called master data tables. In SAP BW Star Schema, the distinction is made between two self-contained areas: infocube and surrogate ID (SID) tables.

Infocube
Infocubes are the central objects on which reports and analysis are based in SAP BW. It describes a self-contained data set within a business area, for which we can define queries.

Infocube consist of a central fact table and several surrounding dimension tables. In SAP BW star schema, the facts in a fact table refers to key figure and the dimension attributes refer to characteristics. In contrast to classic star schema, characteristics are not component the dimension tables since the characteristic values are not stored in the dimension tables. They are stored in master data tables. There are foreign keys that replace the characteristics as the component of dimension table, i.e.: SID stand for Surrogate ID. In picture above, these keys are given the prefix SID_. Each Dimension table has a generated primary key, called the dimension key. (In Picture above, the keys are given the prefix DIM_ID_..). As the classic star schema, the primary key of the fact table is made up of dimension keys.

Master data Table or Surrogate ID (SID) Table

In SAP BW, additional information about characteristic is referred to as master data. Master data information is stored in separate tables called master data tables. There are 3 types of master data, i.e.: Attributes, Text and Hierarchies.

Here, SID tables play an important role in linking the data warehouse information structured to the subject-oriented infocubes. The master data tables, text tables, and hierarchy tables are not directly linked to the associated dimension tables. These tables are infocube independent and joined with the dimension tables using SID table. The SID therefore provides the link to the dimension tables.

The connection between Infocube and Master Data Tables

Picture above illustrates the connection between master data table and infocube. Master data tables are connected to an infocube by way of the SID tables. The picture above also explains that in SAP BW star schema, the master data is independent infocube and can be used by several infocubes at the same time.

SAP R/3 BW Source and SID Table

R/3 Source Table.field - How To Find? What is the quickest way to find the R/3 source table and field name for a field appearing on the BW InfoSource? By: Sahil With some ABAP-knowledge you can find some info: 1, Start ST05 (SQL-trace) in R/3 2, Start RSA3 in R/3 just for some records 3, After RSA3 finishes, stop SQL-trace in ST05 4, Analyze SQL-statements in ST05 You can find the tables - but this process doesn't help e.g for the LO-cockpit datasources. Explain tables and sid tables. A basic cube consists of fact table surrounded by dimension table. SID table links these dimension tables to master data tables. SID is surrogate ID generated by the system. The SID tables are created when we create a master data IO. In SAP BW star schema, the distinction is made between two self contained areas: Infocube & master data tables/SID tables.

The master data doesn't reside in the satr schema but resides in separate tables which are shared across all the star schemas in SAP BW. A numer ID is generated which connects the dimension tables of the infocube to that of the master data tables. The dimension tables contain the dim ID and SID of a particular IO. Using this SID the attributes and texts of an master data Io is accessed. The SID table is connected to the associated master data tables via teh char key Sid Tables are like pointers in C The details of the tables in Bw : Tables Starting with Description: M - View of master data table Q - Time Dependent master data table H - Hierarchy table K - Hierarchy SID table I - SID Hierarchy structure J - Hierarchy interval table S - SID table Y - Time Dependent SID table T - Text Table F - Fact Table - Direct data for cube ( B-Tree Index ) E - Fact Table - Compress cube ( Bitmap Index )