Both Universe Design tool and Information Design tool are a part of SAP BusinessObjects client tool. In older version of SAP BusinessObjects BOXI R3, BOXI R2, UDT was only tool to create semantic layer between database and reporting tool.

In BO 4.0, IDT was first introduced that allows the use of multisource enabled Universe for reporting. Prior to IDT, the only option to create multisource enabled Universe was the use of linked Universe. Linked Universes are used to share common components such as parameters, classes, objects, or joins from different data sources. From BO 4.x, both IDT and UDT are part of SAP BusinessObjecs client tools.

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Key differences between UDT and IDT

In UDT, Universe are created with file extension as .unv. In IDT, Universe file extension is changed to .unx file. To open unv file in IDT, it cannot be directly opened, however, you can convert unv file to unx file to open in Information Design tool. You cannot open an IDT .unx file in Universe Design tool and cannot convert it to unv file.

Universe Design tool is single source enabled. IDT is multi source enabled which means the data can be extracted 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 multisource 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

SAP Universe Designer – unv File to unx File

To convert a unv file to unx file, you can use Upgrade Management tool UMT or it can be directly performed in IDT. First login to Information Design tool, and go to File → Convert .unv Universe.

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You can select unv file saved in repository or on local folder. Once you connect to BO repository, you can find all Universe published to repository in the left pane.

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In the next window, you have an option to select conversion parameters. Select the available checkboxes which are suitable as per requirement → Convert button.

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Once conversion is done, under status column, you find “conversion done” message. You can also change the destination folder to save .unx file under Destination field. To select another Universe from repository for conversion, you can click on Universe icon located at the right side as shown below −

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SAP Universe Designer – Job Responsibilities

A Universe Designer is normally responsible for the following tasks −

Conducting user requirement analysis.
Designing and creating semantic layer based on requirement analysis.
Distributing and maintaining the Universe.
Managing objects in BusinessObjects Repository.
Experience working on UDT and IDT tool.
Database knowledge: SQL, Joins, Cardinality and other DB concepts.

So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘UDT Vs. IDT Comparison’ 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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