SAP CDS Views - Brief

This is a great overview of SAP CDS views! It's well-organized and covers the key aspects. Here's how I might refine it for even better clarity and flow:

SAP CDS Views: A Comprehensive Overview

SAP Core Data Services (CDS) views provide a powerful and efficient way to model and consume data within SAP HANA. They offer a SQL-like syntax with enhancements for defining data models, relationships, and annotations, making them a cornerstone of modern SAP development.

Key Advantages

• Enhanced Data Modeling: CDS views support a rich set of modeling features, including associations, unions, aggregations, and joins, enabling the creation of complex data models that accurately reflect business requirements.
• Optimized Performance: Because CDS views are executed at the database level, they leverage HANA's in-memory computing capabilities for optimal performance and reduced data latency.
• Reusability and Standardization: CDS views promote reusability across applications and reporting environments. SAP also provides standard CDS views that serve as templates and accelerate development.
• Access Control and Authorization: Built-in access control mechanisms (using annotations like @AccessControl) allow you to define granular permissions and restrict data access based on user roles.
• Support for Annotations: Annotations (e.g., @Analytics, @UI, @ObjectModel) enhance CDS views for specific use cases, such as analytical consumption in SAP Analytics Cloud, UI integration with Fiori apps, and OData service generation.

Types of CDS Views

CDS views are categorized based on their purpose and functionality:

1. Basic Views:
   • Provide direct access to database tables or other CDS views.
   • Serve as the foundation for building more complex views.
   • Encapsulate database tables for reusability.

   @AbapCatalog.sqlViewName: 'ZBASIC_CDS'  @AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #CHECK  define view Z_Basic_CDS_View as select from sflight {    key carrid,    key connid,    fldate,    price  }  

2. Composite Views:
   • Combine data from multiple basic views or tables using joins, unions, or associations.
   • Enable the creation of more complex data models with enhanced relationships.

   @AbapCatalog.sqlViewName: 'ZCOMPOSITE_CDS'  define view Z_Composite_CDS_View as select from Z_Basic_CDS_View as Basic    inner join scarr as Carrier on Basic.carrid = Carrier.carrid {    Basic.carrid,    Carrier.carrname,    Basic.connid,    Basic.price  }  

3. Analytical Views:
   • Designed for analytical reporting and consumption by tools like SAP Analytics Cloud.
   • Include annotations for analytical properties (e.g., @Analytics.dataCategory).
   • Often structured with facts, measures, and dimensions.

   @Analytics.dataCategory: #CUBE  define view Z_Analytical_CDS_View as select from Z_Composite_CDS_View {    carrid,    connid,    price,    sum(price) as total_sales  } group by carrid, connid  

4. Consumption Views:
   • Tailored for direct consumption by end-users through interfaces like Fiori apps or reporting tools.
   • Combine data from basic and composite views.
   • Apply user-specific filters or aggregations.

   @Consumption.defaultAggregation: #SUM  define view Z_Consumption_CDS_View as select from Z_Analytical_CDS_View {    carrid,    connid,    total_sales  } where carrid = 'LH'   

5. Transactional Views: (Less common, but worth mentioning)
   • Provide access to transactional data for OLTP scenarios.
   • Support detailed data operations and form the basis for transactional applications.

   define view Z_Transactional_CDS_View as select from sflight {    key carrid,    key connid,    fldate,    price  } where fldate = '2023-10-25'  

Common Use Cases

• Data Preparation and Extraction: Basic and composite views act as reusable building blocks for preparing and extracting data.
• Analytical Reporting: Analytical views provide ready-to-use data models for tools like SAP Analytics Cloud, Analysis for Office, and SAP BW.
• Application Development: Consumption views deliver tailored data to Fiori apps and other user interfaces.
• Operational Reporting: Transactional views can be used for operational dashboards and real-time transactional applications.

Conclusion

CDS views are a crucial component of modern SAP development. They streamline data modeling, improve application performance, and simplify data access for various use cases. By understanding the different types of CDS views and their capabilities, developers can create efficient, scalable, and maintainable solutions within the SAP ecosystem.