Time-dependent master data attributes on InfoObjects are the native and most efficient way in SAP BW/4HANA to handle slowly changing dimensions. They automatically manage the validity periods of attribute values (like customer region), enabling accurate point-in-time reporting and historical change tracking without complex custom logic or performance-heavy joins during query execution.

In BW/4HANA, creating secondary indexes on fields used for filtering (selection/restriction) in ADSOs is a primary optimization technique. These indexes significantly speed up data retrieval during query execution by allowing the database to locate records more efficiently, which is crucial for improving the performance of joins and filters in CompositeProviders.

The Open ODS View is a core architectural component for agile data integration. Its primary purpose is to provide a logical, virtual definition (view) on top of external sources or internal objects, allowing rapid data consumption without physical persistence. This is ideal for data discovery, prototyping, and scenarios where a physical ETL load is not immediately required.

For currency conversion to work automatically in BW/4HANA, the transformation rule for the amount field must have its ‘Currency Translation’ type correctly defined (e.g., ‘Transaction Currency to Target Currency’). This setting tells the transformation which currency fields (transaction, target, fixed) to use and triggers the system to read the correct rates from the configured rate types (like ‘M’ for average rate). An incorrect or missing setting here is a common cause for conversion failures.

BW/4HANA allows the creation of native hierarchies that are independent of the source system. Creating an SAP BW hierarchy on the Cost Center InfoObject is the standard and maintainable approach. This hierarchy is stored and managed within BW, used specifically for reporting and analysis, and does not interfere with the operational hierarchies in the source ERP system.

The ‘Unique Data Records’ property is fundamental for an ADSO acting as an ‘Upsert’ target. When enabled, the load process checks for existing records based on the defined key. If a record with the same key exists, it is updated; if not, a new record is inserted. This is the standard mechanism to handle delta loads where source systems may resend corrected data.

Correctly defining the cardinality (e.g., 1:N, N:1, 1:1) in the CompositeProvider join is critical for the OLAP engine to generate the correct SQL. If the cardinality is wrong (e.g., set as N:M when it’s actually 1:N), the engine may generate joins that can produce duplicate rows and incorrect aggregations. Specifying the right cardinality guides the engine on how to handle the relationship between the tables.

A core advantage of ADSOs is their streamlined architecture. They replace multiple legacy objects (PSA, DataStore Object, InfoCube) with one flexible object type. They support different ‘semantic’ usages (Staging, Consolidation, Reporting) and are built on simple, HANA-optimized transparent tables. This aligns with modern, simplified modeling principles and reduces the complexity of the data flow.

In the BW/4HANA reporting architecture, the Query is the central semantic layer. It defines the final structure of the data available for consumers, including calculated key figures, restricted measures, variables, hierarchies, and formatting. When connecting external tools like SAP Analytics Cloud, they connect directly to the Query, which provides a clean, business-friendly interface with all the defined logic.

Time-dependent master data attributes on InfoObjects are the native and most efficient way in SAP BW/4HANA to handle slowly changing dimensions. They automatically manage the validity periods of attribute values (like customer region), enabling accurate point-in-time reporting and historical change tracking without complex custom logic or performance-heavy joins during query execution.0