Calculation views

Question 1

Describe a “Measure”

Answer 1

A numerical value such as price, weight or volume that can be processed as part of an arithmetic equation such as SUM, AVERAGE, TOP n VALUES…
Unit price
Unit Weight

Question 2

Describe an “Attribute”

Answer 2

An element that is used to describe a measure;
Product Id
Product number

Question 3

Describe a “Dimension”

Answer 3

A grouping of attributes that can be used to give further meaning to a Measure. For example grouping Country and state to form a location Dimension.

Question 4

Describe a star schema?

Answer 4

A single fact table that references one or more dimension tables

Question 5

Describe a Hierarchy

Answer 5

A group of fact tables arranged by levels that become more granular as they descend

Question 6

Describe a “Semantic”

Answer 6

Something that gives the measure context. Such as dollars or pounds or miles. Think about a distance measurement of 25. Miles or kilometers would be the semantic

Question 7

How are calculation views used?

Answer 7

To create a Virtual Data Model (VDM) that is used for answering a specific data need based on measurements, attributes/dimensions.

Question 8

How can a calculation view (VDM) be made more meaningful/readable

Answer 8

The column names can be altered, labels can be assigned, additional calculations can take place

Question 9

Give the five main benefits of calculation views?

Answer 9

1) Nothing needs to be pre-calculated. The front end pushes the calculation to the DB
2) Reusability. One View can be used by other programs or other views
3) Flexibility. The view can be enhanced to accept parameters
4) Adaptability. The view can adapt based on the data form requested (one column as key vs 2)
5) Easy to transport. Moving views between hana systems is straight forward.

Question 10

Describe the difference between “Design time” and “Run Time” views?

Answer 10

Design time views are built using graphical tools.

Run time views are database catalog objects that are column based and can be used in queries

Question 11

Are calculation views Design time or Run time?

Answer 11

They can be both

Question 12

Name a tool that can be used to create calculation views?

Answer 12

SAP’s WEB IDE

Question 13

True or False. Analytical calculations like Calcultion views use data from the database and application servers?

Answer 13

False. Analytical views only use data from the database.

Question 14

What are the 3 HANA engines for calculation views?

Answer 14

Join engine
OLAP engine
Calculation engine

Question 15

What is SQL console and how is it used?

Answer 15

It, along with SQI Console are eclipse tools used for designing calculation views and other SQL statements. t is different than WEB IDE and is probably better suited for someone like me.

Question 16

What are the two approaches for testing calculation view data?

Answer 16

Standard data preview (Web IDE)

Custom SQL query (SQL console)

Question 17

Which of the two data preview approaches is best for complex calculation scenarios?

Answer 17

Custom SQL query thru SQL Console

Question 18

What three tabs exist in the WEB IDE data preview?

Answer 18

Raw data, Analysis, Hierarchies

Question 19

What can be done to prevent the default query from executing immediately?

Answer 19

Require that a filter be set before the data retrieval

Question 20

How many types of calculation views are there? Name them

Answer 20

There are 4 types.
SQL access only 
Dimension 
Cube 
Cube with star join

Question 21

Describe a SQL access only view

Answer 21

This is an intermediate type view that is only used by other calculation views. it is not exposed to outside development tools thus it avoids the construction of extra, optimized views

Question 22

Describe a Dimension view

Answer 22

A dimension view is only based on attributes. It does not handle measures. Consider a Dimension view as a “Select Distinct” . Numeric columns are treated as attributes. this view is also used to supply information to other views. Almost think of it as a preclude to a “for all entries” type of select

Question 23

Describe a cube view?

Answer 23

This is a true calculation , it is optimized for OLAP. It does not allow dimension types

Question 24

Describe a cube view with star join

Answer 24

A combination of Cube views providing a wide range of data

Question 25

How mny data sources exist for calculation views and what are they?

Answer 25

There are 9 of them;
Column based tables, Row based tables, SQL access only views, Graphical calculation views, CDS views with parameters, CDS views without parameters, Table functions, virtual tables, graphical workspaces

Question 26

What are the two ways to determine a table type?

Answer 26

Database explorer or SQL console

Question 27

What system table can be used to determine a table type

Answer 27

M_TABLE

Question 28

What is SQL script used for?

Answer 28

Defining complex data sources. into a table function. These data sources can then be used by calculation views.

Question 29

What is a Dimension calculation view good for?

Answer 29

Providing context. For example if a product id was an attribute a dimension view would provide additional information regarding the product from master data tables

Question 30

What two calendars can be used in calculation views

Answer 30

Gregorian and Fiscal

Question 31

What node is automatically generated for all calculation views?

Answer 31

The semantics node