Forum Discussion

Sokon's avatar
Sokon
Advocate V
9 years ago

SAP BW connector parameter input: How?

I want to connect to a SAP BW Query and define parameters. But how?

 

The April 2017 feature summary for PBI Desktop talks about "enhancements to parameter input experience for SAP HANA & BW". However, theres no live demo in the video and the screenshots are like this one:

 

When I open my PBI desktop version (april 2017), connect to a BW and select objects similar to the situation in the screenshot above, it looks like this:

 

 

How do I switch to the parameter input view?

Need Help

12 Replies

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    9 years ago

    Hi Sokon,

    Firstly, do you connect to SAP BW cube in Power BI Desktop? I would recommend you select dimension and key figures to combine a valid table in Bex Query Designer, then choose the same dimension and key figures in Power BI Desktop navigator.

    Secondly, have you defined variables or parameters in your SAP BW model? Once you have created variables or parameters in SAP model as described in the following similar blog, you will be able to get parameter input view in Power BI Desktop.

    https://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw70/helpdata/en/ac/789b3c4d4d8d15e10000000a114084/content.htm

    Thanks,
    Lydia Zhang

    • Sokon's avatar
      Sokon
      Advocate V
      9 years ago

      Hi @Lydia,

       

      Thanks for your answer! Ok, this is getting confusing. :-) This is what I found out together with one of our BW guys:

      • In Power BI Desktop you can use then SAP BW connector to connect to both BW Cubes and BEx Queries.
      • The PBI Desktop navigator shows all available cubes below a folder called $INFOCUBES
      • On the other hand, BEx queries, are found below a folder with the name of the corresponding cube.
      • We followed the steps decribed in this documentation to connect to a BEx query. That BEx query has optional and mandatory fields that we want to use. No parameter input view is shown.
      • Then, following your suggestion, we connected to a cube. We were able to query data that is shown in preview- ok!
      • The BW guy wasn't sure what is meant by "variables or parameters in SAP BW model", so we tried to reproduce a BEx query. At this point he missed a lot of BW objects that were not shown in the navigator, including "restricted key figures" that are most probably the variables you are talking about:

       To avoid getting too much into detail, all I need to know at this point is:

      • Does Power BI Desktop support query parameter editing for BEx queries (not cubes)?
      • If not, do you know if that feature is on the roadmap?

       Thanks a lot in advance!

      • Anonymous's avatar
        Anonymous
        Not applicable
        8 years ago

        hi,

         

        I know this is an old post but were you able to resolve this?

  • gtavo_07's avatar
    gtavo_07
    New Member
    8 years ago

    Hi, 

     

    Do you find any solution to this problem? I have the same case with a BEx Query right now. 

    • Sokon's avatar
      Sokon
      Advocate V
      8 years ago

      We tested BW query and cube support again just a week ago and found great improvements. In fact, we decided now to suggest our users to move away from the Excel workaround and try the connector instead. The improvements are:

      • Parameter dialog is showing and works as expected
      • We couldn't find wrong query results any more
      • Faster query results than before
      • Support for Windows Authentication
      • Support for Additional Member Properties
      • Direct Query on BW ist now GA

      However, one major requirement can't be met so far:

      • Single Sign On for Direct Query still not availlable.

      So no problems on our side any more - to what issue do you refer?

      • gtavo_07's avatar
        gtavo_07
        New Member
        8 years ago

        I tell you step by step the detected error.

         

        1) Power BI requests a mandatory parameter for my BEx Query. I expected this.

        2) I select two fields of the query to show them in Power BI.

        3) I set the mandatory parameter (Seller) and pulse apply.

        4) The preview does not filter according to the parameter, it shows all the sellers and that's wrong.

        5) However I press to load to detect if there if it filters but neither does it.

         

        Note: I can not attach the images to this platform, it does not recognize the file's path.

         

        Do you know how to solve this error or is it a limitation of Power BI currently?

         

        Best regards.