What Is an Infocube in SAP BI/BW? How To Create One?

What is Infocube?

Infocube is data storage area in which we maintain data which we are extracting from source system physically.  An InfoCube can function as both a data target and an InfoProvider. From a reporting point of view, an Infocube can be described as a self-contained dataset.

For example, a Sales Amount Infocube which has dimensions like MONTH – PRODUCT-CUSTOMER-REGION, can be viewed by any of the axes, for example total sales by region or by customer. The dimensions of an Info-Cube are entities or hierarchies.

BIW ( Business Intelligence Warehouse) provides facility to define 16 dimensions, out of which 3 are pre-defined.

The above cube demonstrates a simple 3 dimensional cube. Each dimension can hold 248 characteristics for analysis. One square in the cube above, represents the relative value for the corresponding customer/region/division combination.

InfoCube Structure:

• An Infocube follows the Extended Star Schema.
• It has Fact table at the center and is surrounded by 16 dimension tables with Master data lying outside the cube.
• Infocubes are the central multidimensional data model in BI.
• It is a self-enclosed data set encompassing one or more related business processes. A reporting user can define or execute queries against an info cube.
• It is used to store summarized / aggregated data for long periods of time. Infocubes consist of precisely one fact table surrounded by dimensional tables.
• SAP delivered Infocubes begins with a number usually 0. Your own Infocube should begin with a letter from A to Z and that it should be 3 to 9 characters in length.

Type of InfoCube

Infocube is classified in to three types based on the way of maintaining and distributing the data.

• Standard Infocube:Used to maintain the data physically in the cube. Read only is possible.
• Virtual Infocube:  It does not maintain data physically in the cube .During the query execution it brings the data from respective source system.
• Real Time Infocube: Stores the data physically in the cube.Read and Write are possible. It is significantly used in planning the data.

How To Create Standard Infocube

Step 1)

Create InfoCube

1. Go to transaction code RSA1
2. Click the OK button.  

Step 2)

1. Navigate to Modeling tab->InfoProvider.
2. Right click on InfoArea.
3. Click on “Create InfoCube” from the context menu.

Step 3)

1. Enter the Technical Name.
2. Enter the Description.
3. Choose the option button “Standard InfoCube”.

Click the create button

Step 4)

Right Click on Dimension 1 -> Properties.

Step 5)

Rename the Dimension as per Info object information.

Step 6)

Right click on the Dimension ->InfoObject Direct Input to Insert InfoObjects into the Dimension.

Step 7)

Select Characteristics.

Step 8) Select Airline ID in characteristics

Drag and drop it into Dimension

Step 9)

Similarly create new dimensions and follow the steps 4-8 to add the InfoObjects.

Step 10)

Adding Key figureInfoObjects in the Infocube

Step 11)

Follow the proesses above to add more Key Figures

Step 12)

Activate the Infocube.

Infocube Additional Points:

The technical name of the dimensional table is assigned by the system, using the pattern /BIC/ “D<your Infocube>#”, where the first # will be a1, the second a 2, and so on.

If it is a sap delivered cube, then it would begin as /BI0/D

Characteristics Infoobjects can be freely added to customer-created dimensions.

Dimension Tables should be used optimally.

Ensure optimum cardinality while adding characteristics infoobject to dimensions.E.g. A departmental store has 10,000 customers and 1000 different materials. The cardinality is m:n, which means each customer can buy many materials. Such kind of cardinality should not be maintained in the same dimension table.

Thumbrule : Avoid m:n within a dimension.

Dos

• Navigate to Modeling tab->InfoProvider.
• Right click on InfoArea.
• Click on “Create InfoCube” from the context menu.
• Enter the Technical Name.
• Enter the Description.
• Choose the option button “Standard InfoCube”.

Don’ts

• Standard Infocube can be used if user:
• Wants to facilitate multi-dimensional analysis.
• Wants to store summarized / aggregated information with large volume of data.
• Use line item dimension if only one object is placed in a dimension table.
• Maintain high granularity of records.
• Group M: N cardinality within the same dimension.
• Give more attention on bringing the character information through navigational attribute.
• Maintain high cardinality information in dimensional table.