This page outlines the steps required to access SAP HANA Views so authorized Boston University employees with the Report Writer role can build flexible reports and dashboards.
SAP HANA Views are custom data frameworks based on SAP Business Warehouse (BW) tables available via the HANA Database. These Views are provided in read-only mode and can be accessed using reporting tools like Power BI to enable self-service reporting. Users’ existing SAP roles and authorizations will apply when accessing data via HANA Views.
The instructions below assume you are already familiar with Power BI, at least to the extent that you have decided to explore using it. It is further assumed that you are familiar with BW data. The following steps describe: how to request report writer access; what is required to connect to a HANA View; how to load View data; and how to share your results with other Boston University employees who have security permissions sufficient to allow them to view the data in your results.
Get started using Power BI with HANA Views by answering these questions:
- How do I access HANA Views so I can develop custom reports?
Request the Report Writer role by completing and submitting this form.
- How do I find the data I need to answer my questions?
Once you have completed the prerequisite steps and your security permissions are in place, you can access the HANA Views that are available to you based on your business role(s). This comprehensive Help Guide describes how to connect to the HANA database, how to select a View and how to use Power BI to load View data:
SAP HANA Views and Power BI – Connecting Selecting and Loading Data
Important: when developing a Power BI application based on a HANA View, make sure you understand how to avoid overloading the Business Warehouse reporting environment, as described in this Help Guide.
- How do I work with (analyze & visualize) the data?
Learning Power BI is an individual’s responsibility. There are no instructor-led training sessions for this tool offered at Boston University. However, a diverse range of resources are available to help with this task and include web pages, Help Guides, Whitepapers, Power BI community groups, and YouTube videos. The Resources section below offers a few suggestions to help you get started.
- How do I share my results?
Once you have developed a report or dashboard, a logical next step is to determine how best to share those results. The Power BI Best Practices document, published on the BU Power BI Community Teams site, provides an overview of sharing options (refer to Sharing Reports at BU).
When deciding how sharing will be accomplished, careful thought must also be given to what will be shared and with whom. The Best Practices Security Considerations section includes a look at what to keep in mind regarding data security.