(Glue-2308) Extraction of BEx Query (BICS)

In the simplest scenario of BEx Query (BICS) replication, there are four components forming each of the replication processes – BEx Query fetcher (BICS), Glue Table, Glue Table consumer, and Extraction Process. These four components represent a configuration – setting up the source object, the target object, and transformation rules. Following steps navigate you through the preparation of the whole flow – creating all required objects and executing the load. Please, keep in mind, that you must have one existing query variant for the required query if you want to replicate the data from this query.

This quick start is valid for BICS version of BEx Query fetcher - required SAP Basis release is 740 SP19 and higher

Creating BEx Query Fetcher (BICS):
1. Start transaction /DVD/GLUE and click Object Navigator.
2. In the context menu (right-click) of the desired package select Create Extractor 2.0 object.
3. A pop-up appears. Enter the name of the new Fetcher in the Object name.
4. Select BEx Query Fetcher (BICS) in the Component type dropdown and confirm the pop-up.
5. Fill in the BEx Query with the required BEx Query name and press ENTER. Click Navigational state. BEx Query Fetcher allows you to change the navigational state of a query with which it will be executed. The function is like the drill-down of free characteristics in Query Monitor (transaction RSRT). If you want to change the default navigational state of a query, you can drag and drop query elements between three screens: Rows, Columns, and Free Characteristics. The only requirement is the navigational state of BEx Query must have a tabular data format, i.e. the characteristics must be only in rows, and the column axis can contain only one structure. Confirm.
6. The variables from BEx Query will be added to part Variable Filter definition. All the checkboxes will be checked in column Selection for these fields – you will have the same possibility to choose the values of variables as in Query Monitor.
7. Activate fetcher.
Creating Glue table:
1. Start transaction /DVD/GLUE and click Data Dictionary.
2. Enter the name of a new table and click Create. You can enter the description of the table.
3. Under the Attributes tab fill in the Storage ID (for binary storages necessary to fulfill the File storage options, too).
4. Under the Fields tab field GLREQUEST with data type: DEC, length: 30, dec places: 0 is added automatically.
5. Under the Fields tab click on Import Fields, choose From BEx Query (BICS) and fill in the name of the Query you are planning to replicate. Confirm.
6. The Bex Query Navigational State will be displayed. In the field Import nav. state from BEx Query (BICS) fill in the name of the Bex Query fetcher from the previous steps. Press Enter. The Navigational state, which you defined in Step 1.e., will be imported. Confirm.
7. You can manually adjust the fields as required.
8. Click Save. If the table was not saved before, the system will ask you to fill in the Package. If you have a development package created upfront designated for SNP Glue development, you can use that package. Otherwise, for isolated sandbox purposes, $TMP will do.
9. Activate by clicking on Activate button. Only after you activate the SNP Glue table, it is created on storage.
Creating Consumer:
1. Start transaction /DVD/GLUE and open Object Navigator.
2. In the context menu (right-click) of the desired package select option Create Extractor 2.0 object.
3. Enter the name of the new Consumer in the Object name and select Consumer under the Component type dropdown and the GLUE table consumer under the Component implementation dropdown.
4. Confirm the pop-up.
5. After creation, the object is in the saved state. Fill in the Glue table name and press ENTER.
6. Activate consumer.
Creating Extraction Process:
1. Start transaction /DVD/GLUE and open Object Navigator.
2. In the context menu (right-click) of the desired package, select the option Create Extractor 2.0 object.
3. Enter the name of the new Extraction Process under the Object name.
4. Select Extraction Process under the Component type dropdown and under the Component implementation dropdown.
5. Confirm pop-up.
6. Insert the Fetcher name and Consumer name created in the steps before. Press ENTER.
7. Suggest transformation mapping button in the toolbar. The mapping between target and source fields is now created in a 1:1 fashion. Further options for modification of the rules are described in the documentation.
8. Activate extraction process.
Executing Extraction Process:
1. Click Execute.
2. Populate the part Selection filter with the required values. Note that it is necessary to set the values of mandatory variables. Execute(F8) the replication. Select Background and Immediate in upcoming pop-ups for scheduling SAP jobs.