Default Cell Limit: Maximum 1 000 000 Cells

By default, there is a limit to how many cells of data can be returned in a single query from Spotfire to SAP BW. The MDX interface of SAP BW can generate a result set containing a maximum of 1M cells.

About this task

There is a preference setting, that a Spotfire administrator can enable, to make Spotfire use a special set of functions to query SAP BW data sources. Enabling the preference UseNativeSapFunctionsAllowingMoreThanOneMillionCells will allow you to work with larger amounts of data from SAP BW. For more information, see SAP Note 1232751.

Note: For this preference setting to have any effect, you must have installed the BAPI driver (SAP NetWeaver RFC SDK) on your computer.

Working within the default SAP BW cell limit

If you are running the SAP BW connector with the ODBO driver (SAP BW OLE DB for OLAP provider), or if you have not enabled the preference setting for working with SAP BW data that exceeds 1M cells, consider the following recommendations for working within the restrictions of the SAP BW 1M cell limit.

Tips to avoid exceeding the SAP BW cell limit for in-database data

Use filters to limit the data in your analysis.
Include a key figure (measure) when you set up a visualization.
Note: If a query to an SAP BW data source includes no key figure (measure), more data than intended might be returned from the data source.

Tips avoid exceeding the cell limit when you import SAP BW data

In the Data Selection in Connection dialog, reduce your data selection as much as possible. Only include columns and hierarchies that are relevant to your analysis. Define BEx variables and limit characteristics to only include data for values of interest.
Click Estimate Import Size to evaluate whether the selected data can be imported.
Include a key figure (measure) in the data selection.
Note: If a query to an SAP BW data source includes no key figure (measure), more data than intended might be returned from the data source.