Third-Party Tools As Destinations in BW BI

Use

You can use the open hub service to extract data to non-SAP systems. Various APIs allow you to connect a third-party tool (such as Ascential) to the BI system and then distribute the data to other non-SAP systems.

Features

First you extract the data from BI InfoProviders into a database table in the BI system. The third-party tool receives a message when the extraction process is complete. You can define parameters for the third-party tool. You can also use the monitor to oversee the process.

You can use a process chain to start the extraction process not only in the BI system itself, but also using the third-party tool.

The Following APIs Are Available:

RSB_API_OHS_DEST_SETPARAMS: You use this API to transfer the parameters of the third-party tool that are required for the extraction to the BI system. These parameters are saved in a parameter table within the BI system in the metadata for the open hub destination.

RSB_API_OHS_3RDPARTY_NOTIFY: This API sends a message to the third-party tool after extraction. It transfers the open hub destination, the request ID, the name of the database table, the number of extracted data records and the time stamp. In addition, you can add another parameter table that contains the parameters that are only relevant for the third-party tool.

RSB_API_OHS_REQUEST_SETSTATUS: This API sets the status of extraction to the third-party tool in the open hub monitor. Red means that the existing table is not being overwritten. If the status is green, the request is processed further.

RSB_API_OHS_DEST_GETLIST: This API delivers a list of all open hub destinations.

RSB_API_OHS_DEST_GETDETAIL: This API determines the details of an open hub destination.

RSB_API_OHS_DEST_READ_DATA: This API reads data from the database table in the BI system.

Optional:

RSB_API_OHS_SPOKE_GETLIST: This API delivers a list of all InfoSpokes.

RSB_API_OHS_SPOKE_GETDETAIL: This API determines the details of an InfoSpoke.

Process Flow:

Extraction to the third-party tool can be executed as follows:

...

1. You define an InfoSpoke with destination type DB Table and Notification to Third-Party Tools.

2. You create an RFC destination for your third-party tool and enter it in the definition of the open hub destination.

3. You use API RSB_API_OHS_DEST_SETPARAMS to define the parameters for the third-part tool that are required for the extraction.

4. You can use the InfoSpoke either to start the extraction directly or include it in a process chain. You can also start this process chain from the third-party tool using process chain API RSPC_API_CHAIN_START. The extraction process then writes the data to a database table in the BI system.

5. When the extraction process is finished, the system sends a notification to the third-party tool via API RSB_API_OHS_3RDPARTY_NOTIFY.

6. The third-party tool reads the data from the database table. Afterwards it transfers the status of the extraction to the monitor using API RSB_API_OHS_DEST_SETSTATUS.