To modify or not to modify standard business content

[Former Member]

There is a debate going on in my company about whether or not to modify the SBC cubes. One suggestion is if it is necessary to modify them, copy them to create a custom cube and modify that, keeping the SBC in tact for future reference or use (recommended R/3 practice) and others say that doesn't make sense, just modify the SBC cubes-stay away form creating custom cubes.

Is there a strong opinion out there to do one or the other?

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Lisa and welcome on board !

Onestly ? What's the effort required to copy a std cube to a custom one ? Ten seconds ?

So, but this is my opinion, what you described in the first part of your question "copy them to create a custom cube and modify that, keeping the SBC in tact for future reference or use" is the best practice and the reason is what you already mentione; the reference (as template) !!!

Hope it helps!

Bye,

Roberto

...please don't forget to reward the answers...it's THE way to say thanks here...

[Former Member]

Hi Lisa,

If the reporting and analytical capability that you need to achieve through BW is possible through SBC ideal scenario, nothing like it.

Some points in favour of using the SBC cubes, as I stand for it:

1. But in case you need to modify it I would suggest do it to the standard ones itself, because if you copy the SBC and create your own cubes and other objects it is as good as creating a new datawarehouse.

2. Whenever in future SAP comes out with some new features for the Business content objects you may not be able to use that in case you have copied them into custom objects.

3. Upgradation to future release should be easier if you are using SBC.

Hope it helps.......and if it does you can assign points.

Cheers

Anurag

[Former Member]

Anurag,

just some point to your answer...

If reporting and analytical capability that Lisa needs to achieve is available totally only through SBC std scenario, this question is out of scope!

Then,

1.

"if you copy the SBC and create your own cubes and other objects it is as good as creating a new datawarehouse"

What does it mean ?!

First of all, she has to copy only the cube and nothing else (surely not the std objects contained into it!).

Your sentence is valid if related to infosources (and, generally speacking, to extraction-side objects), but not for cube (copying the std to have a custom one to adjust it to specific needs is a common activity).

2.

If in the future SAP comes out with some new version of the same std cube, you have to pay attention to avoid that the new delivered version overwrites the custom one ! It's exactly the opposite !

3.

Upgrade to future release is easier, but what about different requirements that the std content doesn't fit ?

Bye,

Roberto

[Former Member]

Roberto,

Agreed, I took it as copying of other objects also.

bye

Anurag