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Learning SAP Analytics Cloud
Learning SAP Analytics Cloud

Learning SAP Analytics Cloud: Collaborate, predict and solve business intelligence problems with cloud computing

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Learning SAP Analytics Cloud

Models in SAP Analytics Cloud

In SAP Analytics Cloud, you create models that act as the basis for all data output. A model is a representation of the business data of an organization. It is a high-level design that exposes the analytic requirements of your end users. To determine what content to include in your model, you must first identify the columns from the source data on which users need to query. Then, to establish the role played by each column, identify whether it is a measure column or a dimensional attribute. We will be learning these attributes and many more steps that will assist us in creating and viewing models and other data filtration as well.

The following topics will be covered in the chapter:

  • Introduction to models
  • Understanding measures and dimensions
  • Planning and analytical models
  • Creating a new analytical model
  • Viewing model details in the modeler interface...

Understanding measures and dimensions

You will see the terms "measures" and "dimensions" throughout this book. Every data column that you import from a source to build a model in SAP Analytics Cloud must be marked either as a measure or a dimension. Measures are the columns by which an organization gauges its business operations and performance, while dimension columns contain the data used to qualify the measures.
These terms can be further expanded as follows:

  • Measures: Measures are those fields that can be measured, aggregated, or used for mathematical operations. Measures are typically calculated data, such as dollar value or quantity sold, and they can be specified in terms of dimensions. For example, you might want to determine the sum of dollars for a given product in a given market over a given time period.
  • Dimensions: A business uses measures to evaluate...

Planning and analytical models

In SAP Analytics Cloud, you can create planning and analytical models. A planning model is a full-featured model, which comes with preconfigured time and categories dimensions for actual, budget, planning, forecast, and rolling forecast. A planning model also supports multicurrency and offers security at the level of both model and dimension to restrict access to specific values in the report to named individuals. It also comes with auditing features for traceability. The users who have planning privileges can create their own versions of model data, use allocation features, add new data to the model, and copy and paste data into the model.

In contrast, analytical models are simpler and more flexible general-purpose BI models. Analytical models are not preconfigured with categories for budget and forecast data.

In addition to these two models, you...

Creating a new analytical model

Execute the following steps to create a new analytical model. The screenshot has numbered steps for sequence to be followed for creating an analytical model:

Selecting a source file

You can import data from an external file, such as an Excel spreadsheet or a comma-separated-values file, into a new model. If the data is saved in separate sheets in the Excel workbook, you will see a drop-down list from where you can choose which sheet to import:

The source data must include columns that can be used to create dimensions in a new model, and it must also include transactional data (measures). The transactional data is not visible in modeler, only in the output that is generated.

You can connect...

Viewing the model in the modeler interface

Once your model is created, you are taken to the modeler area with your new model appearing in the interface. It has a tab carrying two built-in dimensions (time and account) and five private dimensions (state, city, store, manager, and product), which are created using the source data file.

The time dimension

Click on the Time dimension tab (A). The Time dimension is built into analytical models that define the start and end dates of the plan's timeline and the smallest time units that will be used in the plan. The time dimension specifies the overall time frame for the model and also the granularity--the smallest time period down to which the data will be analyzed--for example...

Browsing models

To see a list of existing models, click Models on the main menu icon and go to Browse | Models. You will be taken to the Models interface (illustrated here) with all your models listed:

Copying a model

The copy option in the model's toolbar section is a very handy option to create a new model based on an existing model. It is illustrated in the following screenshot.

When you use this option to copy a model, the data and private dimensions are also copied to the new model. Public dimensions are referenced from the copied model. Note that you can use this option only for the models created in SAP Analytics Cloud version 2016.21 or later. Further, note that if a model uses a pool dimension (which is used...

Viewing model data

As mentioned earlier, the data of the Account dimension members is not visible in the modeler. You can view this data in Stories, which is the subject of Chapter 4, Creating Stories using Charts. For the time being, you will create a temporary Story to see how the model data is reflected.

To view the model data, execute the following steps:

Upon clicking on the Story option, a wizard will initiate, and you will get the following screen:

When you click on Import & Export Data, you get a Choose how you'd like to add data screen:

Proceed further with the steps displayed in the following screenshot to add dimensions:

Viewing numerical data

We have the option of viewing numerical data. We can do...

Summary

This chapter provided hands-on exposure to creating an analytical model in SAP Analytics Cloud, which serves as the basis for all your analytical needs.

Here is the workflow to create a new analytical model from a file:

  1. Import a source file.
  2. Set name, description, and other parameters for the model.
  3. In the initial data view, choose the dimension types for the dimensions in your new model.
  4. Specify attributes for the dimensions.
  5. Cleanse your data and fix any mapping or data quality problems.
  6. If needed, create a location dimension to visualize the data in geo maps.
  7. Delete the columns that you do not plan to use in your stories.
  8. Create hierarchical relationships between columns.
  9. Start the automatic creation of the model.

In the next chapter, you will go through the second type of model, that is, planning, which has categories for budgets, plans, and forecasts. It also comes...

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Key benefits

  • Predict new opportunities and risks in a few mouse clicks
  • Eliminate complexity with tools that let you plan, analyze, and collaborate in context—in real time
  • Discover, visualize, plan, and predict in a single product with agile BI tools

Description

The book starts with the basics of SAP Analytics Cloud (formerly known as SAP BusinessObjects Cloud) and exposes almost every significant feature a beginner needs to master. Packed with illustrations and short, essential, to-the-point descriptions, the book provides a unique learning experience. Your journey of exploration starts with a basic introduction to the SAP Analytics Cloud platform. You will then learn about different segments of the product, such as Models, Stories, Digital Boardroom, and so on. Then, you are introduced to the product's interface: the Home screen, the main menu, and more. Then comes the hands-on aspect of the book, which starts with model creation. Next, you learn how to utilize a model to prepare different types of stories(reports) with the help of charts, tables, Geo Maps, and more. In the final chapters of this book, you will learn about Digital Boardroom, Collaboration, and Administration.

Who is this book for?

This book targets IT professionals, business analysts, BI developers, managers, newcomers to SAP Analytics Cloud, and ultimately anyone who wants to learn from self-paced, professional guidance and needs a solid foundation in SAP Analytics Cloud.

What you will learn

  • 1. A clear understanding of SAP Analytics Cloud platform
  • 2. Create data models using different data sources, including Excel and text files .
  • 3. Present professional analyses using different types of charts, tables, geo maps, and more
  • 4. Using stories, drill up and down instantly to analyze data from various angles
  • 5. Share completed stories with other team members or compile them in SAP Digital Boardroom agendas for presentation to major stakeholders
  • 6. Export the results of a story to a PDF file
  • 7. Save time by planning, analyzing, predicting, and collaborating in context
  • 8 Discover, visualize, plan, and predict in one product as opposed to separate solutions

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jul 10, 2017
Length: 420 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788290883
Vendor :
SAP
Category :

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Product Details

Publication date : Jul 10, 2017
Length: 420 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788290883
Vendor :
SAP
Category :

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Table of Contents

10 Chapters
Getting Started with SAP Analytics Cloud Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Models in SAP Analytics Cloud Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Planning model Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Creating Stories Using Charts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Extending Stories with KPI, Filters, and Other Handy Objects Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Analyzing Data Using Geomaps and Other Objects Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Working with Tables and Grids Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Collaboration Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Digital Boardroom Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
System Administration Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon 3.2
(5 Ratings)
5 star 40%
4 star 20%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 40%
Amazon Customer Jun 26, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Great book that provides great use cases and guidelines to quickly get up to speed on the cloud. I have downloaded the trial and I am on my way!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Cliente Kindle Jul 26, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Good book to go through the Analytics solution in the cloud. It is well ilustrated and easy to understand. Good option for the ones who are starting on Analytics or just getting in touch with the new solution in cloud.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Shokurei Apr 05, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
I read the comments of another reviewer and have had the same issues. The reason for the issues is not a fault of the book, but of the fact that SAP are constantly updating SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) including the user interface. Some of the things the book suggest you do are now accessible elsewhere on the screen and not immediately evident. If you can get past this annoyance this is actually a very good book which takes you through each element of the software in details with examples.SAC comes with its own sample files, although the 30 day trial does not allow you to access onsite databases, just csv and excel files. You may need “SAC connectors” to access these as well as the full version. At £15 a month for access to SAC with a minimum 12 month term it’s not expensive.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Amazon Customer Apr 03, 2020
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
I am trying to ram p up on SAC. This book was published in 2017 and it is obsolete. I can't follow the book to produce results because the environment and process of doing things has totally changed. DON'T buy this book. IT IS OUTDATED and they are not going to give me an update. wrong.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Robert W. Mcgaffic Jan 26, 2018
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
Off to a rough startI successfully downloaded the SAP trial software and imported the spreadsheet Bocage.xlsx file with no problems.But when I tried to change the column Date from type Dimension to Time as on page 39, I can't. The Time value is grayed out and can not be selected.When I tried to change the column Quantity Sold from type Dimension to Measure as on page 40, you guessed it -- Measure is grayed out.When I attempted to create a location dimension per page 41 and follow the instructions to "Click the ellipsis button appearing next to the Longitude column's heading then select By Coordinate from the submenu, I find the following:1. There is no ellipsis button appearing next to the column head for Longitude2. There is no submenu from which to select the value Coordinate.The author recommends downloading the SAP trial for learning purposes, but he obviously has not done so or suggested resolution of these issues.Hopefully the author or the reviewer will post instructions in how to use the SAP trial system to overcome these issues. Otherwise the book is worthless
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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