There are many data source options for SAP BusinessObjects 4.2. You can get data for reporting from nearly all possible real-world sources. In the following diagram, there is a typical scenario for data sources for SAP BusinessObjects 4.2:
In this book, we will focus on the following important data sources:
- SAP HANA
- SAP Business Warehouse (BW)
- SAP BusinessObjects Universe
- Files
In general, Universe and semantic layers are used interchangeably. Both are common business terms meaning a collection of corporate data. In our case, in addition to Universe, SAP HANA views and SAP BW queries also qualify as semantic layers.
A semantic layer in SAP BusinessObjects BI enables the following:
- A single user experience across all data
- Consistency
- Ease of consumption by applications and tools
- Business user, who is self-sufficient
Semantic...