This document describes how to load hierarchy data from a flat file into SAP BW. It involves: 1. Creating the necessary info objects, including defining the base characteristic and external characteristics for the hierarchy. 2. Creating an info source and assigning the flat file as the source, then activating transfer rules. 3. Structuring the flat file according to the hierarchy structure and numbering nodes. 4. Creating an info package to upload the full hierarchy structure from the flat file into BW. 5. For time-dependent hierarchies, the flat file includes additional date fields and the upload specifies a fixed time interval.

1. Hierarchy data loading using flatfile:
1 Introduction
Definition:
A hierarchy is a method of displaying a characteristic structured and grouped
according to individual evaluation criteria.
Structure:
a) Nodes
A hierarchy is created from nodes. The uppermost node is the root.
b) Roots
A hierarchy can have several roots. They do not have superior nodes.
c) Hierarchy Levels
All nodes on the same level of the hierarchy (nodes that are the same distance away
from the root) form a hierarchy level. The roots of a hierarchy form level 1. The level
of a node denotes the distance from the node to the root.
d) Leaves
The leaves of a hierarchy consist of characteristic values for the basic characteristic
and therefore can also have entries in the fact table. A leaf cannot have any sub
nodes.
e) Basic Characteristic
Hierarchies can be created only for those characteristics that do not reference other
characteristics.
Properties :
A BW hierarchy has the following properties:
• Hierarchies are created for basic characteristics
• Hierarchies are stored in special master data tables. They behave in a similar way
to master data,
• and can therefore be used and modified in all Info Cubes.
• You can define several hierarchies for a single characteristic.
• A hierarchy can have a maximum of 98 levels.
2 Uploading Hierarchy From Flat File
In the following example , Hierarchy is based on info object ‘Sales Representative’.
In addition characteristics ‘Region’ and ‘Country’ are included in the hierarchy.
Basic characteristic in this hierarchy is ‘Sales Representative’ and External
characteristics are ‘Region’ and ‘Country’.

2. 2.1 Create Info-objects
a) Create 3 info objects ‘Sales Region’ (ZSREGION), ‘Sales Country’ (ZSCONTRY)and
‘Sales Representative’ (ZSREP).
b) For ‘Sales Representative’ characteristic Tick the check box With Hierarchies and
select Hierarchy not time-dependent radio button.

3. c) Include the external characteristics ‘Sales Region’ and ‘Sales Country ‘ in the
Hierarchy.
And activate the info object ‘Sales Representative’.

4. 2.2 Creating Info Source.
a) Create Info source with direct update for info object ‘Sales Representative’
(ZSREP).
b) Assign flat file source system to the info source ZSREP.
c) Activate the transfer Rules .

5. d) Click on Hier. Structure Push button
e) Give a Name and description to the Hierarchy and press continue .

6. f) The structure in the screen represents the structure of the flat file . Field sequence
of the flat file should be exactly same as that in the screen below.
2.3 Creating Flat File for Upload
a) Number the nodes in the hierarchy.

7. b)Create the flat file based on above hierarchy structure and the node numbers.
2.4 Uploading the Hierarchy Data into BW

8. a) Create Info Package for Hierarchy Upload. Select the Hierarchy to be uploaded
and also the Full Update button as we are uploading the entire Hierarchy.
b) There are three update methods for uploading the hierarchy.
Full Update : For Uploading the entire hierarchy structure
Insert Subtree: For appending the hierarchy with new nodes.
Update Subtree : For modifying the nodes of the hierarchy.
c) Select the CSV file to be uploaded and schedule the upload.
d) Display the loaded Hierarchy .

9. 2.5 Uploading Time Dependent Hierarchy
a) For making the hierarchy time dependent select the ‘Time-Dependent Hierarchy
structure’ radio button and activate the info object ZSREP

10. b) In the transfer structure there will be 2 more additional fields date from and date
to for the time dependent nodes.
c) Consider that Sales Representative ‘SREP2’ was in England up to 31/12/1995 and
moved to USA from 01/01/1996 .

11. d) Flat file structure for the above hierarchy is shown below . It contains two extra
columns Date-to and Date-from.

12. e) In the info-package Update tab , select Fixed Time interval radio button and give
start date as 01/01/1000 and End date as 31/12/9999 so that all nodes are
uploaded.
f) Upload the hierarchy data from flat-file to BW.

13. g) Display the loaded hierarchy.