SAP BODS Tutorial for Beginners:
What is, Architecture
Scott Livingston October 22, 2022
Before we learn SAP BODS overview, let’s understand
What is ETL?
ETL stands for Extract-Transform-Load, and it is a process of how
data is loaded from the target system to the data warehouse. Data is
extracted from a database and transformed to match according to
the data warehouse schema. After that, it is loaded back to the data
warehouse database in the form of dimension and fact tables.
What is SAP BODS?
SAP BODS is an ETL tool for extracting data from disparate systems,
transform data into meaningful information, and load data in a data
warehouse. It is designed to deliver enterprise-class solutions for
data integration, data quality, data processing and data profiling. The
full form of SAP BODS is Business Objects Data Services.
In this beginner’s SAP BODS tutorial, you will learn,
History of SAP BODS
SAP BODS Architecture
Important terms in SAP BODS
SAP Data Services Advantages
Disadvantages of SAP BODS
History of SAP BODS
:
Here, are famous landmarks in the history of SAP BODS:
In 2002, BusinessObjects rebranded the two software products
of Acta as BusinessObjects Data Quality tool and
BusinessObjects Data Integration tool.
Business Objects acquired by SAP in 2007 and both of these
products were renamed as SAP BODQ and SAP BODI.
In 2008, SAP merged both of these products in a single tool and
renamed it as SAP Business Objects Data Services (BODS)
SAP BODS Architecture
Here, are some basic components of SAP BODS architecture:
SAP BODS Architecture Diagram
:
Repository:
A repository is a set of a table which holds user-created and
predefined system object, source, target metadata, and
transformation rules. It allows you to set up repositories on an open
client/server platform. This helps you for sharing metadata with other
enterprise tools. Each local repository is connected with one or more
job server which runs the job you have created.
Management Console
SAP BOD Data Services Management Console is the web-based
application with the following features.
Impact and Linear Analysis
Administration
Auto Documentation
Operational Dashboard
Data Validation
Data Quality Data Reports.
Job server:
The Job Server component helps you to starts the data movement
engine. It allows you to integrate data from multiple sources. It helps
you to perform complex data transformations and manages
transactions and extractions from ERP systems and other sources.
The Data integration Job server tool allows you to move in data in
either batch or real-time mode. It delivers high data throughput and
scalability. Moreover, while designing a job, you can also run it from
the Designer which tells the Job Server to run the job. The Job
Server also allows you to get the job from its associated BODS SAP
:
repository.
Data Services Designer
The Data services Designer tool offers an easy-to-use graphical user
interface that helps you define transformations, data mappings, and
control logic.
This component helps you to build applications containing data and
workflows. This component also allows you to manage metadata
stored in a repository.
Engines:
After SAP BusinessObjects Data Services job are executed, the Job
Server starts the engine to perform data extraction, transformation,
and movement. The engine uses parallel processing and in-memory
data transformation to offer high data connectivity, quality, and
scalability.
Access server:
Access server offers real time request-reply message that collects
message request routes them to a real-time service and delivers a
message reply in a specific duration. The Acess Server queries
message and sends them to the next available real-time service
across numerous computing resources.
Address Server:
The next component is the Address Server. It offers address
validation and corrections. The Address Server must be started
before processing data flows which contain the Global address
:
Cleanse or Global Suggestion list transform with the EMEA engine
enabled.
Important terms in SAP BODS
Datastore
A Datastore offers a connection to a data source like a database. It is
a linking interface between the actual backend database and Data
services. Data store also allows data services to import the
description of the data source such as metadata.
CMC (Central Management Console)
CMC is a web-based administration tool for BOD. It is a helpful tool
to perform some essential functions like repository registration, user
management, etc.
Data Integrator Web Administrator
Data Integrator web administrator is also known as DI web admin. It
helps you to maintain repositories in Data services. This SAP BOD
services included in DI web admin are Meta Repository, Central
Repository, job services, and web services.
SAP Data Services Advantages
Here are a few pros of BODS in SAP
SAP Business Objects offers better profiling because of too
many acquisitions of other companies.
The learning curve of this ETL tool is quick, and it is easy to use.
Offers an easy to UI interface to perform data manipulation
tasks.
:
The objects and functions of BODS in SAP allow you to perform
manipulations and transformation of data very efficiently.
There are system-provided objects and functions which you can
easily drag and dropped.
SAP BODS allows you to implement various data
transformations using Data Integrator language
SAP BODS helps you to perform complex data transformations
for building customized functions.
Data Integrator Designer allows you to store real time and batch
jobs and new projects in the repository.
Disadvantages of SAP BODS
Here, are few draws backs of using SAP BODS.
It is an expensive tool, so the initial purchase cost is very high.
Business Objects many need a number of servers and extensive
hardware.
Business Objects is a developer platform which means
organizations that want to use Business Objects will require the
support of a highly skilled development team.
Summary
SAP BODS is an ETL tool by SAP which can extract data from
disparate systems, transform them into meaningful information
and load them in various kinds of systems.
The SAP BODS full form is Business Objects Data Services.
Repository, Management Console, Designer, Job Server, Access
Server, are important components of SAP BODS Architecture
SAP Business Objects offers better profiling because of too
many acquisitions of other companies.
BODS is an expensive tool, so the initial purchase cost is very
:
:
high