Connector for SAP BW — Features and settings

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Connector features

The following functionality is available when you access data with the connector for SAP BW.


Feature	Supported?
Load methods	Import (in-memory) External (in-database)
Custom queries	No
Stored procedures	No
Custom connection properties	No
Single sign-on with identity provider	No
Authoring in web client	No
Included in Spotfire distribution on Linux	No

Data source properties

The following are the supported data source properties that you can configure when you create a data connection with the connector for SAP BW.


Option	Description
Connection type	Select the type of SAP BW connection you want to create. Application server Connect directly to an SAP BW application server. Group/server selection Connect to the data source using a logon group, via a message server.
Application server	[Only available for connection type 'Application server'.] The name of the server where your data is located. The server can be identified in the following ways: By IP address. For example: `192.0.2.1` By IP address, but including a SAProuter string. For example: `/H/198.51.100.1/S/3299/H/203.0.113.1/H/CPCB701` By name in the domain. For example: `my-sap-bw.mycompany.com`
Message server	[Only available for connection type 'Group/Server selection'.] The name of the message server in the SAP BW system you want to connect to.
Group/Server	[Only available for connection type 'Group/Server selection'.] The name of the SAP logon group.
Client	The SAP BW client number.
System number	[Only available for connection type 'Application server'.] The SAP BW system number.
System ID	[Only available for connection type 'Group/Server selection'.] The SAP BW system ID.
SNC partner name	The Secure Network Communication (SNC) partner name which is required when using single sign-on.
Language	Use this field to specify the language used in your data. Refer to official SAP documentation for a complete list of supported language codes.
Authentication method	The authentication method to use when logging into the database. Choose from Windows authentication and SAP BW authentication. Windows authentication When using Windows authentication the access token of the logged in user will be used. Users that have been given the appropriate access rights to SAP BW will be able to connect and read data. Domain credentials are not stored in the analysis file. For more information about using Kerberos for SAP BW, see the SAP BW on Drivers and Data Sources for Spotfire. SAP BW authentication Authenticate using a database user. Users who open the connection, or an analysis using the connection, will be prompted to enter database credentials to connect to the data source. Note: You can save database credentials, unencrypted, as part of an analysis file, using a setting in the Data Source Settings dialog. If credentials are embedded in your analysis, it means that users will not be prompted to enter credentials to connect to the data source. Note that it can be a security risk to embed database credentials in an analysis file.
Catalog	Select the catalog of interest from the drop-down list. You can choose among (All cubes) and cubes containing BEx queries.
Cube or query	Select the cube or BEx query of interest from the drop-down list. If the catalog selected is (All cubes), only cube names are shown here; if the catalog selected is a cube, only its BEx queries and the cube itself will be included here. If a name is preceded by a dollar sign ($) in the drop-down list, it is a cube, otherwise it is a BEx query.
Operation timeout (minutes)	Specifies the maximum time, in minutes, allowed for a command to be executed.

Supported data types

When you are setting up a connection to an external data source, Spotfire needs to map the data types in the data source to data types in Spotfire.

When working with SAP BW, all key figures are being mapped as Real and all characteristics are mapped as String. Results from different operations in Spotfire, such as markings and evaluation of expressions, may also result in a Boolean.