What is SAP CDS view development give details

SAP CDS view development is a key aspect of data modeling in SAP systems, especially within the context of S/4HANA. It allows developers to define and manage data models using Core Data Services (CDS), which offers a streamlined and efficient approach compared to traditional methods. Here's a breakdown of what it involves:

What are CDS Views?

CDS views are essentially virtual data models built on top of existing database tables and views. They use a SQL-like language to define the structure and relationships within the data model. These views abstract the complexities of the underlying database, providing a simplified and semantically rich view of the data for application developers.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Simplified Data Modeling: CDS provides an easier way to model data compared to traditional ABAP Dictionary methods. It uses a clear and concise syntax, making it more readable and maintainable.
• Annotations: CDS allows you to add annotations to your views, providing metadata that can be used for various purposes like UI generation, OData service generation, and data access control.
• Associations: You can define relationships between different entities within your data model using associations, enabling efficient data retrieval and navigation.
• Performance Optimization: CDS views are optimized for performance, pushing down data processing to the database layer whenever possible. This reduces the load on the application server and improves overall system performance.
• Reusability: CDS views can be reused across different applications and scenarios, promoting consistency and reducing development effort.
• Extensibility: Existing CDS views can be easily extended to accommodate new requirements without modifying the original view, ensuring flexibility and maintainability.

Types of CDS Views:

There are different types of CDS views, each serving a specific purpose:

• Basic Views: These are the foundation, defining the structure of the data model by selecting fields from one or more database tables.
• Composite Views: Built on top of basic views or other composite views, they combine data from multiple sources and add further logic or calculations.
• Consumption Views: These are designed for specific use cases, like analytical reporting or OData services. They typically include annotations that tailor the data for the intended purpose.
• Extension Views: These allow you to extend existing CDS views without modifying the original definition. This is useful for adding custom fields or logic to standard SAP views.

Development Process:

The typical CDS view development process involves:

1. Defining the View: Create a new CDS view entity in your ABAP project and define the data source (tables or other views) you want to use.
2. Selecting Fields: Choose the relevant fields from the data source and include them in the SELECT statement of your view.
3. Defining Associations: Establish relationships between different entities using associations.
4. Adding Logic: Incorporate calculations, filters, or other logic using CDS syntax.
5. Adding Annotations: Annotate the view with metadata for UI generation, OData services, or other purposes.
6. Previewing and Testing: Use the data preview functionality to check the output of your view and ensure it meets your requirements.
7. Activating and Using: Activate the CDS view to make it available for use in applications, reports, or OData services.

Tools and Technologies:

• ABAP Development Tools (ADT): The primary tool for CDS view development in Eclipse.
• SAP HANA Studio: Can also be used for CDS view development, especially for HANA-specific features.
• SQL: The underlying language used to define the structure and logic of CDS views.

By leveraging CDS view development, organizations can simplify their data modeling efforts, improve application performance, and enhance the maintainability of their SAP systems.