The Semantically Rich Data Model – An ABAP
based CDS Views example
52619,517
Co-Authored: Ritesh K Kumaria, Shekhar Razdan
If you have ever looked for CDS views tutorials, guides etc. online, chances are, you would have come across the
words “CDS View can be used to define and consume Semantically Rich Data Models”. While these words are used
more too often and they are true in their most literal sense, but somehow they seem to escape the limelight they
deserve. The purpose of this document is to elaborate what a “Semantically rich data model” means and hopefully,
provide a glimpse of an elegant side of CDS Views using ABAP Based CDS Views as an example. Some topics have also
been covered via Annexes at the end of the document. The document does not talks about the performance
advantages or other factors that instigate why CDS Views should be used in the first place nor does it claim to cover all
the features of the CDS Views and other components used in the example.
Defining “The Semantically rich data model”:
One of the definitions on Wikipedia about the term “Semantic Data Model” describes it as “A conceptual data
model that includes the capability to express information that enables parties to the information exchange to
interpret meaning (semantics) from the instances, without the need to know the meta-model.” Link
On a simpler note and in the technical world, the word “Semantics” could be understood as attributes that help
describe an underlying entity. For those of us who have worked on ABAP may remember how creating a Data
Element is expressed as defining the “Semantics” of a field with its labels of varying lengths, search helps etc. So
in essence, it helps to create an impression about the meaning of the underlying information. A Domain on the
other hand defines the “Technical” attributes like data type & length.
Data models provide a structure for the data by providing a specific definition and format. So attempting to
decipher the famed words again; one could infer a ‘Semantically rich data models’ as data models that deliver
contextually rich information, properly formatted, and targeted to provide a rich user experience.
So how are CDS Views positioned in the above picture?
If you think about the ABAP CDS Views, in some ways, they might seem a tad similar to ABAP PROJECTION or
SELECTION Views. Of course, if you are trying to find differences you will end up with a huge list. But for
argument sake, ABAP PROJECTION or SELECTION Views should qualify as a decent metaphor. If you think of
some of the simple ABAP CDS Views they could be like a SELECTION View (collection of fields from different
database tables) or PROJECTION View (containing only a few fields from EXACTLY one table). But that’s about as
far as it goes with the similarities. Even if you ignore the performance advantages of ABAP CDS Views for the
moment (as mentioned in the pretext), you still have a cool list of Operands, Expressions and Annotations at
your disposal. Add on to this, a host of other available options like View-on-view, View with parameters,
Associations, View extensions & Authorization control and you have all the elements you need to define the data
models of your choice.
CDS Views can be marked as “Analytical” queries using relevant annotations. We will discuss the details later in the
document but point to be stressed here is that all such analytical queries defined using CDS views act a Transient infoproviders. There is no additional setup / configuration required to expose these queries so that they can be consumed
via end clients. Also equally important is the use of word “Transient”, since the data from the views is not stored /
persisted separately, it is directly retrieved from the underlying base table / tables and fed to the end clients proving a
more real time experience.
The concept of Virtual Data Models (VDM):
Image from SAP HELP
The key principle of the Virtual Data Model (VDM) is to build a semantic layer on top of the existing hiding its
technical details. The layers of VDM are nothing but different CDS Views linked to each other using View-on-view
concept and/or Associations and Extensions. Each layer is defined keeping in mind a specific purpose or function.
For e.g. the Interface View / layer at the bottom provides an abstraction to the underlying database table(s) and
acts as a foundation view for other views on top like a single source of truth. While those on top provide a
foundation for consumption views to define requirement specific layouts and may also provide an anchor point
for enhancements. The private views provide a more application specific logic which should not altered /
extended. Consumption views help in defining end user layouts including selection screens, labels etc. The
extension views can help provide an important enhancement point in case of standard SAP delivered reports
while the DCL views deliver the authorization control.
The Virtual Data Model acts a conceptual data model and therefore does not mandate a specific number of views.
However, it does provide a guideline on how to effectively organize different CDS entities in order to achieve a robust,
efficient and a maintainable data model.
The Consumption Clients:
The consumer clients have also traveled their part of road in the last few years. Some of you may recall how a few
years back SAP BW reports were being viewed using BEx Analyzer in MS Excel. The alternative now is the “Analysis for
Office” an Excel Add on which is available as an end client to consume analytical queries (Including those defined
using CDS Views). Of-course there are differences between the two mainly in terms of the overall user experience
they deliver.
There is a host of other such clients capable of delivering a rich user experience for e.g. Crystal Reports, Lumira
etc. most of them have grown in features, capabilities over the years.
Features Glimpse:
As mentioned in the beginning of the document here is an example of a sample report created using ABAP based CDS
Views. Some of the important features are highlighted here with detailed explanation on how to achieve those being
mentioned in the subsequent sections.
Fully functional Selection Screen with Single and Range Inputs, Value (F4) help and variant save options among
others.
Creating the report and consuming it via Analysis for Office in Excel:
This simple example demonstrates how easy it is to create Powerful, yet extremely user friendly reports using
CDS views and how they can be consumed easily by an Analytical client. Following the VDM rules and guidelines
one can create a solid foundation which can be the basis for several different reports. Standard SAP report
stacks can be enhanced using CDS Views enhancement concepts allowing to add more fields/data to existing
reports. Report access can be restricted via the Authorization concept.
For the purpose of illustration ISDSALESDOC CDS view is used. This CDS View is a standard CDS View delivered by
SAP in the ERP system and is defined as a Basic Interface view selecting data from various Sales Order tables.
To keep the example simple, only two more views have been created on top of the standard view. The first view
ZCDS_COMP is analogous to the top level Interface View in VDM which acts as a foundation for consumption
views on top. This view is marked as a composite view which means that it provides data derived and / or
composed from Basic view. It is also defined as ‘#CUBE’ in the analytical query and it works as an encapsulation /
folder for all the Consumption Views defined on top of it.
The Consumption view ZCDS_QUERY has code that uses various analytics annotations that help prepare a Predefined
report format, create a selection screen for the user etc.
ISSALESDOC CDS View: This is a Standard View existing in the SAP ERP system.
ZCDS_COMP View: Reference code in Attachment: Source_Code_ZCDS_COMP.txt
ZCDS_QUERY View: Reference code in Attachment: Source_Code_ZCDS_QUERY.txt
Use the code from Source Code files to create the two views. Once the views have been created and activated,
please refer the below steps to display the report output.
Incase needed, please refer to Annexure sections on how to create a CDS View using Eclipse with ABAP
Development Toolkit Add-on.
Following steps describe how to consume this query using Analysis for Office an Excel Add-On:
Analysis for Office is one of the most popular analytics client. The example tries to demonstrate how easy it is to
consume a CDS Views based analytics query in Excel with this Add-on.
Analysis for Office is an Add-on which needs to be installed separately. Please install the latest version of Analysis for
Office on your machine.
For e.g. if you look at the below Menu bar from Microsoft Office 2013 edition you will notice it does not have a tab
called ‘Analysis’.
Once the Analysis for Office is installed the ‘Analysis’ tab should be visible.
In order to view the data, navigate to the ‘Analysis’ tab in Excel and click on ‘Insert data source’ -> ‘Select data Source’.
Skip the first screen by clicking the ‘Skip’ button.
The subsequent screen displays a list of connections from SAP Logon pad of your system. Logon to the correct system
by providing the required credentials.
The next screen displays a Search Box. Give the SQL View for exact results or you can find the Views via text as well.
Text labels are specified using annotation @EndUserText.label in CDS Views.
Select a report and Click ‘OK’ and the query will be processed in the background and results will be displayed.
In case, the view definition consists of fields which are marked to be displayed via a Selection screen, an
appropriate selection screen is displayed which acts as a filter criteria for the results. Some of the relevant
Annotations are listed below. Please note, in case of views with parameters, all view parameters act as
mandatory parameters on the selection screen. Also, some features like, Variant save etc. are added
automatically by the Analysis add-on.
@AnalyticsDetails.query.variableSequence:
{Sequence the fields on Selection Screen}
@Consumption.filter.multipleSelections:
{Input Range}
@Consumption.defaultValue:
{Give Default Value to a Selection Screen field}
@Consumption.hidden:
{Hide a field}
@Environment.systemField:
{Use system variables like System Date etc.}
Please refer the source code of ZCDS_QUERY view for complete Syntax and details.
Default Report Layout includes specifying which fields from the field list would appear as Columns and those
which would appear as Rows. Please note the report change options on the right side of the screen shot are
added automatically via Analysis Add-on.
Relevant Annotations in this case include:
@AnalyticsDetails.query.axis: #ROWS
@AnalyticsDetails.query.axis: #COLUMNS
@AnalyticsDetails.query.totals: #SHOW
@DefaultAggregation: #SUM
@Semantics.unitOfMeasure: TRUE
@Semantics.quantity.unitOfMeasure:
Please refer the source code of ZCDS_QUERY view for complete Syntax and details.
Annexure 1: How to create a CDS View using Eclipse and ABAP development Toolkit Add-on
ABAP based CDS views can be created and managed via Eclipse using ABAP development Toolkit Add-on. They cannot
be managed via SE11 like traditional views. In order to create CDS views, you need to be in the ABAP perspective.
Configure a connection to a system by choosing File -> New -> ABAP Project.
The next screen shows a list of Connection from your SAP local Logon Pad. Choose the system on which you want to
develop and click Next.
Provide Logon Credentials and click Finish.
Following is a screen shot of ABAP perspective.
To being with, you can create ABAP CDS Views in $tmp package. By default, the $tmp package is already added
under the “Favorite Packages”. Expand the Project Explorer node and Right Click on the $tmp Package, then
select “Other ABAP Repository Object” and in the search bar start by typing in DDL.
Provide CDS view name and Description and click “Next”.
Since the view is being created in $tmp package hence there is no need to select a transport request. Proceed by
clicking “Next”.
Proceed without selecting a template. Click “Finish”.
Write the relevant code and Press Ctrl + F3 to Create and Activate the CDS View. You could also Copy and Paste
the Source Code from the files in Attachment. Follow the same process to create both the views ZCDS_COMP and
ZCDS_QUERY.
Annexure 2: How to perform Authorization checks on data selected from CDS Views
Acronyms: –
DDL: Data Definition Language < Defining for View and Extension of the View >
DCL: Data control language
< Defining Authority Checks >
In order to perform authorization checks in CDS view a DCL entity needs to be created. The steps to create a DCL file
are similar to how DDL entities (CDS Views are created). Please refer to Annexure 1 for details.
Instead of DDL, please mention “DCL” in the New ABAP Repository Object screen
And create a CDS entity using the below sample code for reference. Note, “S_CARRID” is the authorization object
which is being used to perform the check and “demo_cds_auth_pfcg2’ is the name of the view on which the
authorization check will be performed.
In order to perform the authorization check, annotation @AccessControl.authorizationCheck: #CHECK needs to
be added in the view on which the check needs to be performed. Please refer the code in the screenshot below.
View the records from view “demo_cds_auth_pfcg2” by Pressing F8 or run
data is filtered based on the Authorization check (DCL).
in the Eclipse. The selected
Annotation : AccessControl.authorizationCheck values
#NOT_REQUIRED.
During the authorization runtime, an authorization check is executed if a DCL role exists for the entity. If no role exists
there is no check and no protection. This is the same behavior at runtime as for value #CHECK.
However in this case it is intended by the developer that no role exists.
During development, no warning occurs when activating the entity. This is the default value.
#NOT_ALLOWED
During the authorization runtime, no authorization check is executed.
During development, a warning occurs if a developer activates a role for an entity, which has this annotation value.
#CHECK
If Open SQL is used to access the view, an authorization check is made implicitly if a CDS role is assigned to the view. If
there is no role for the view, a syntax check warning occurs.
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5 Comments
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Shakul Jugran
August 31, 2016 at 6:04 am
Very good explanation about the much touted semantically rich data models for CDS Views with
Hands-On.
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Thanks for taking the time and effort to write this piece!
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Runal Singh
August 31, 2016 at 9:19 am
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Very nice blog, and good technical explanation of CDS Views.
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Ajith Cheruvally
September 1, 2016 at 11:14 am
Thanks .. very well explained. It was really helpful.
//Analysis for Office is an Add-on which needs to be installed separately//
Is this available as a trial version? I am not sure where to download it.
Thanks,
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
Ajith Cheruvally
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Former Member
May 19, 2017 at 6:27 am
Hello Kumaria,
where can I find the attachment with the example code?
Thank you in advanced.
Regards,
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
Marvin
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Former Member
November 21, 2017 at 8:40 am
Hi Ritesh,
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Nicely drafted. I am currently working on ABAP CDS and even we have a requirement of implementing
F4 Help with Value Ranges in Input Parameters for CDS view. Can you please share the source code
where you have implemented F4 Help with Value Ranges. It would be really helpful for us. Any
documents or links explaining F4 help with value range for ABAP CDS is really appreciated.Thanks
Like 0
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