Questions about Data Collection

[martin_lehmann4]

Hallo BCS experts,

which method of collecting data do you use? I ask because we apply Direct Input - but this method is not longer supported by SAP. So we think to discontinue it.

Are there any pitfalls using Flexible Upload or Load from Data Stream? Do you have good "How to ..." or weblog docs about implementing it?

Best regards, M.L.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Martin,

actually it is a question each customer should answer himself (after getting good advice about the + and - of the methods).

Flatfiles are very simple and easy to use. But if you have data already in other systems, you really should make use of load from data stream. The concept is the same.

Just think like excel. 2 dimensions, rows and columns.

If you need some more info or/and some examples, then email me. I can also provide you a very nice excel-makro, that generates a XXXXX.csv out of your excel-file.

The method flex upload and load from data stream can be customized very simular and even equivalent. e.g.

1 Version

1 Fiscal Year

1 Period

1 local currency

etc...

2 unit

2 fin item

2 movement type

2 partner

2 country

2 period value lc

2 period quantity

BR

[Former Member]

Hi M.L.

With the introduction of data stream functionality it is always recommended to go with data stream for the collection of reported financial data.

Irrespective of any source of data be it SAP R/3 or other legacy system our recomedation was to load the data to BW cube and from that we do the data stream into BCS.

To answer your question Data stream is better off compared to Flexible upload. I dont remember any how to doc for setting data stream load.

Let us know if you need any specific help.

Thanks and best regards

Sekar

[Former Member]

My reco for the data load would be as follows:

1 For the data that is extracted directly from ECC, it would be ECC-> BW-> Data staream.

2 For data coming from non SAP environment, it would be better to load the data into BCS by flexible upload rather than through BW, since it is much easier to load the data and analyse the errors in BCS if any rather than BW.

Hope this helps.

[dan_sullivan]

If you search this forum you will find plenty of ideas with pros and cons to flexible upload and load-from-datastream.

My preference with ECC implementations is real-time data colection using load-from-datastream with the source databasis being a virtual infocube that reads from ECC in real-time. There may be a How-To document for this at SAP Service Marketplace.

[martin_lehmann4]

Hello Dan,

maybe it was this document: [How to... Configure the consolidation business scenario |https://websmp109.sap-ag.de/~sapdownload/011000358700000316032005E/SEM-BCS_40_Config.pdf]?

Regards

Martin

[dan_sullivan]

Sorry, that is not the How To i was referring to. I was unable to find it, but there are other experts I am certain who have information regarding the use of a virtual infocube for real-time data load for BCS. If nothing else, it may be worth asking SAP via customer message or SAP representative for the information regarding this.