Information Design Tool (IDT) is a Business Objects design tool that extracts the data from different data sources using an OLAP and Relational connection to create Universes. There are different Universe parameters that can be passed at time of Universe creation.

A Universe is called as logical collection of dimensions and objects that allow business users to analyze the business data. Objects and dimension represent different hierarchies, measures, custom calculations, and attributes.

Universe can be created on the top of relational databases like SQL Server, Oracle or also on top of an InfoCube in SAP Business Warehouse (BW) system. Different types of connections can be created to these data sources like personal connection, shared connection and a public connection. A SQL or MDX statement is generated according to data source respectively – Relational and an OLAP.

A Universe created using an IDT can be used with different reporting tools in Business Objects. When a Universe is published to a central repository, it can be used in the following reporting and dashboard tools −

SAP Business Objects Web Intelligence (WebI)
SAP Business Objects Dashboard Designer (Earlier known as Xcelsius)
SAP Business Objects Crystal Reports
SAP Business Objects Explorer

Different Components in IDT while Designing a Universe

An OLAP or a Relational connection to data source

Extracting the tables and joins from Relational database or an OLAP cube.
Building a data foundation from extracted tables and joins.
Creating metadata objects from data foundation layer and these objects are managed in Business layer.
Using Universe parameters and to share the resources in Universe.
Publishing a Universe which includes Business layer, Data Foundation and a Universe connection to database

Universe can be published to the central repository to be used by other SAP Business Objects reporting applications.

Security profiles are used to provide access on Universe data and metadata objects.

IDT is primary used by application managers and report developers who wants to create analytical reports on the top of data stored in the different data sources. To create reports on top of Universes, a person needs technical understanding of IDT tool and functional knowledge of Data Warehouse.

SAP IDT – Resources

There are various resources in Information Design Tool that can be used to extract the data from data sources and to create a Universe −

Project

A Project is a local workspace where you store the resources used to build one or more Universes. This is used to manage the local objects, which are used for Universe creation. A single project can contain objects for one or multiple Universe. A local project can contain multiple number of objects like data foundation layer, business foundation, and data source connection, etc.

Data Foundation

Data Foundation layer allows you to import tables and joins from different relational databases. All the joins are imported and you can also define derived tables, custom calculations, additional joins, contexts and prompts.

Relational and OLAP Connection

A connection is used to define how data is extracted from a relational or an OLAP data source. A Universe always uses at least one connection to extract the data. You can also build a multisource that extracts data from one or more data sources using multiple connections.

A connection can be saved locally with .cnx file and all Universes created on the top of local connections can’t be published to BO repository. To publish a Universe to repository, you should use a secured central connection with .cns file.

.cns- secured Repository connection

.cnx-local unsecured connection. If you use this connection, it will not allow you to publish anything to repository.l

Business Layer

In Business layer, you define measures and dimensions. You can also apply Aggregations like Sum, Count, Avg, Min, Max.

To complete the Universe creation, you need to save the project and then publish the business layer to the repository.

UDT vs IDT

In UDT, a Universe is created with file extension as .unv. In IDT, a Universe file extension is changed to .unx file.

To open unv file in IDT, it can’t be directly opened but you can convert unv file to unx file to open in Information Design tool. You can’t open an IDT .unx file in Universe Design tool nor you can convert it to unv file.

Universe Design Tool is a single-source enabled tool. However, IDT is a multi-source enabled tool meaning you can extract the data from different data sources while creating a Universe.

Universe Design Tool (UDT)	Information Design Tool (IDT)
Universe file extension- .unv	Universe file extension – .unx
You can’t open .unx file and also it can’t be converted to unv to open in UDT	You can open unv file by converting unv file to unx file extension
It is single-source enabled	It is multi-source enabled
It can’t be directly connected to Dashboard designer and Crystal Reports latest version	It can be directly connected to Dashboard designer and Crystal Reports latest version

User Interface in IDT

When you retrieve an existing Universe in IDT by connecting to the repository, following are the available interfaces. These are the same when you design a new Universe in Information Design Tool.

Local Projects

It defines the existing connection in use (.cnx or.cns), Data foundation layer (.dfx) and Business Layer that are local in Universe as shown above.

You can click on each object under Local Projects to see the details and to make any changes. Click on the connection .cns file to see the connection details. Similarly, you can open .dfx or .blx object.

Repository Resources

Once you connect to the Repository, you can retrieve all the objects that are designed and published to that repository.

To insert objects from the Repository, click on + sign and select Insert Session. Enter the system details, the username and password, and you can see all the objects in the Repository.

Business Layer

This layer contains all the classes and objects, you can check dimensions and measures that are defined in a Universe. When you publish the business layer in the repository, this shows the completion of Universe creation.

You can check the summary of Business Layer to see the number of attributes, dimensions, measures, classes, LOVs, etc.

Data Foundation Layer

This layer is used to define data foundation that includes tables from data source, joins, etc.

To check the structure of data foundation, you can click on .dfx under local projects and it will take you to Data Foundation layer and its components.

Setting and Resetting Preferences in IDT

You can customize Information Design tool user interface by setting preferences. This can be reset to default using Reset to default display option. To set the preferences in IDT, go to Windows → Preferences.

Once you click on Preferences, a new window will open. You can define preferences under General, Help and Information Design Tool preferences.

Information Design Tool Preferences

Business Layer Editor
Check Integrity
Data Foundation Editor
Languages, etc.

Using Reset to Default display option under Window tab allows you to reset all the values to default or you can also use Restore Default option on Preferences window.

So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘SAP IDT- Overview & User Interface’ blog helps you with commonly asked questions if you are looking out for a job in SAP Business Object and SAP Domain. If you wish to learn SAP IDT and UDT and build a career in SAP domain, then check out our interactive, SAP Business Objects Certification Training, that comes with 24*7 support to guide you throughout your learning period. Please find the link for course details:

https://www.tecklearn.com/course/sap-business-objects-certification-training/

SAP Business Objects Certification Training

About the Course

Business intelligence tools and features are used by multiple companies and firm for the effective results their large flow of data. The completion of this SAP Business Objects training will be helpful in landing yourself a good paying job. With this Business Objects online training, you will gain considerable proficiency in SAP BO architecture, data warehousing, use of Information design tool, create multiple reports and the implementation of Web intelligence and Efficiency in solving the issues of data sources and Crystal dashboard design.

Why Should you take SAP Business Objects Training?

The Average salary of SAP Business Objects Business Intelligence Analyst is $94,000 per annum – PayScale.com
Business Objects is an enterprise reporting tool and Scalability is one of the primary reasons large corporations choose Business Objects for their BI needs.
Worldwide Business Intelligence and Analytics Market to grow to $22.8 billion in next 2 years – Gartner.

What you will Learn in this Course?

Introduction to Business Objects

History and Version of Business Object
How Business Objects works in SAP family
SAP BO-Business Intelligence package and tool list
Data warehousing concept from SAP perspective

SAP Business Object Architecture

SAP BO Architecture
Various tiers in architecture: Client, Processing, Intelligence

SAP Web Intelligence

Web Intelligence Overview
Variable in Web Intelligence environment

Using Universe Designer Tools (UDT)

Overview of the Universe Designer Tool
Working with shared, secured and personal connections
Understanding of the Semantic layer

SAP BO Reports

SAP BO Reports
Chart Reports, Table Reports, Sorting and aggregating of Reports
Various elements of Reports, graphs, text elements
Reports and Filters
Section Report
Break Report
Alerts Report
Scope of Analysis Panel
Conditional Reporting
Ranked Report
Drill Report

Advanced Formatting

Advanced methods of formatting in SAP BO
Identifying Chasm trap and resolving Chasm traps with various methodologies
Detection and resolving of loop

Information Design Tool (IDT) Integration

Introduction to SAP BO information design tool
Extracting data from various sources using OLAP methodologies
Creating of Universe with IDT
IDT Vs UDT
Working with IDT as an Integration tool

Getting started with Crystal Dashboard

Data visualization tool for creating interactive dashboards
Point-and-click Features
Various dashboard features and interface

Live Office

Live office
Detailed design of Crystal Dashboard

SAP BO 4.2 Features

Got a question for us? Please mention it in the comments section and we will get back to you.

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