SAP Bydesign and Power BI

[CarlsBerg999]

Hi,

We have SAP Bydesign coming and we would like to do all reporting in Power BI. What is the best way to connect Power BI to SAP to enable querying various data tables stored in the SAP?

Can i connect Power BI directly to SAP so that i can view all the tables it has to offer and select the ones i want to query further or do i have to query each table via a separate URL?

Do i need a separate server between SAP and Power BI?

Can someone explain how the connection is made, im a bit lost because i see some info about Netweaver Gateway but is this a built-in function of SAP ByD or an add-on that needs to be purchased?

Thanks for clarifying!

[amitchandak]

@CarlsBerg999 

refer for SAP
https://blogs.sap.com/2018/10/02/sap-bw4hana-connectivity-options-in-microsoft-power-bi/
https://blogs.sap.com/2020/01/30/sap-bw-demo-and-microsoft-powerbi-desktop.-step-by-step-guide/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/desktop-sap-hana
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/desktop-directquery-sap-bw

[CarlsBerg999]

In the first link, there is a "Recommendations picture":

It seems to me that the difference between SAP BW and HANA DB is the direct query. Im a bit lost on what i can't do with a SAP BW direct query compared to HANA DB direct query. Three questions:

- Is the SAP BW Direct Query a multi-dimensional query with a pre-defined structure?
- If i want to create my own structure and relationships of data in SAP BW Connector, it is only possible through Import and there is no automatic refresh scheduling?

>> If i want to create my own structure and relationships with a scheduled refresh, i would need HANA DB Connector and it's Direct Query to a Relational database?

[v-shex-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @CarlsBerg999,

#1, Maybe you can try to add your query into the connector MDX statement:

Use the SAP Business Warehouse connector in Power BI Desktop#version-1-sap-bw-connector-features 

#2, I'd like to suggest you take a look at the following document about using direct query mode for SAP Hana:

Connect to SAP HANA data sources by using DirectQuery in Power BI 

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng