SAP BW structures

Many existing SAP BW queries contain structures that you can use in IBM® Cognos® queries to control the amount and order of information that your users see. For example, with dual structures, you can create a crosstab report with one structure on each axis.

The structures are:

Key figure structure
The SAP BW Query Designer automatically creates a key figure structure when you add key figures to a query. You must have at least one key figure to import the query metadata into IBM Cognos Framework Manager. This is true even when you do not use the key figure in reports. Therefore, you will always have a key figure structure.
Characteristic structure
A characteristic structure is a collection of characteristic values (members) from one or more dimensions. You create a characteristic structure in SAP by adding a structure to the query, and then adding the required members to the structure. In IBM Cognos software, the structure displays as an additional dimension that has only one multiple-root level.

When you import the SAP BW query into Framework Manager, the key figure structure displays in the measure dimension called Key Figures and the characteristic structure displays as an additional dimension.

If you re-import the same SAP BW query into Framework Manager, you must use the same setting for the SAP BW Dual Structures Support check box. Framework Manager does not allow you to select a different setting for the same query because different objects are then generated in the model and this leads to errors. You can use different settings for different queries.