SAP Community - SAP HANA Cloud

HANA Cloud Instance Mapping Operator for Kyma Environment

2024-06-03T14:40:59.438000+02:00

Instance mappings are a prerequisite for deploying and consuming HDI Containers and Schemas from a Kyma namespace. This operator manages the instance mappings in a kubernetes-native way. It stores them in custom resources (CRs) in the Kyma cluster and updates the underlying HANA Cloud infrastructure. For example:

apiVersion: hana.cloud.sap.com/v1
kind: HANAMapping
metadata:
  namespace: my-namespace
  name: my-hanamapping
spec:
  mapping:
    serviceInstanceID: cf923d7d-7661-48f2-aaa2-d4dbb151a708
    targetNamespace: my-namespace
  btpOperatorConfigmap:
    namespace: kyma-system
    name: sap-btp-operator-config
  adminAPIAccessSecret:
    namespace: my-namespace
    name: my-admin-secret

Instance Mappings are defined for a HANA Cloud service instance and a target namespace where the database instance will be consumed. In addition, a running BTP Operator and credentials for accessing the HANA Cloud APIs are required.

HANA Cloud Instance Mapping Operator for Kyma is an open source project available on GitHub: https://github.com/SAP-samples/hana-cloud-instance-mapping-operator-for-kyma

Related resources:

Developer Challenge: SAP HANA multi-model using Python in SAP Business Application Studio

2024-06-06T03:09:17.039000+02:00

This developer challenge is now closed and all solutions have been published: https://github.com/SAP-samples/sap-community-developer-challenge-hana-multimodel/tree/main/notebooks/solutions 🤓

Congratulations and big thank-you to all participants listed below 🏆

---

We've got a fresh developer challenge for you this June 2024! Our developer challenges are all about having a blast, experimenting with new tech, and leveling up your skills 🚀

This month, we're diving into the multi-model capabilities of SAP HANA Cloud (yes, including the new Vector Engine!). Intrigued? Read on for all the details.

We’re inviting you to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on with:

SAP HANA Cloud
Python and SQL in Jupyter notebooks
SAP Business Application Studio

to master modern data processing like a pro.

Quick Links

All information you will need for the challenge can be found in this repository.

There is a thread for Questions regarding the "Multi-model with SAP HANA Cloud" developer challenge. It’s the perfect place to discuss, troubleshoot, and geek out with fellow participants.

Weekly Challenges

For four consecutive weeks in June, you will get tasks that you need to successfully execute and share the results. Feel free to go beyond what is requested and try more. In the end, it is all about learning and trying new things 🤓

The Timeline

Just check the challenges each Wednesday during the following four weeks to get the new one.

Mark your calendars! Here’s the game plan:

June 5th	Start of the Challenge	Setup exercise	Submissions
June 12th	Week 2	Words as Vectors	Submissions
June 19th	Week 3	Image Embeddings	Submissions
June 26th	Week 4	Geospatial and Graphs	Submissions
July 3rd	Final deadline

Participants as of the midnight of July 3rd, 2024

The complete list of participants: https://github.com/sap-samples/sap-community-developer-challenge-hana-multimodel/blob/main/README.md#participants-of-this-developer-challenge

🥇Completed all 4 weeks

@Cocquerel
@raulruiz
@mvinci
@sagarsv
@gphadnis2000
@moh_ali_square
@geek
@Alpesa1990
@MioYasutake
@mwn
@SaiNithesh_Gajula
@M-K
@tobiasz_h
@jpenninkhof
@sabarna17
@satyasundar3
@DirkO
@SushmitaG
@noravonthenen

Have fun, experiment boldly, and good luck!

Let’s make this an exciting exploration for everyone! 🚀

Grant SYSTEM PRIVILEGES like EXPORT or IMPORT into a (HDI) HANA DEPLOYMENT CONTAINER

2024-06-07T19:39:20.155000+02:00

In order to get the system privileges someone has to give them to your HDI container. This are the steps you have to follow to get them into the container. In this a sample the IMPORT/EXPORT privileges could be given.

[optional] A user with DBA-ADMIN role creates a usergroup [HELP] such as "HDI_CONTAINER_RIGHTS"
Either use the HANA Cloud Central to create a USERGROUPor use a SQL command:

-- DROP USERGROUP "HDI_CONTAINER_RIGHTS";


CREATE USERGROUP "HDI_CONTAINER_RIGHTS";

Create a USER "HDI_IMPORT_EXPORT_GRANTOR":
or use a SQL command:

--DROP USER HDI_IMPORT_EXPORT_GRANTER;


CREATE USER HDI_IMPORT_EXPORT_GRANTER



PASSWORD Abcd1234 NO FORCE_FIRST_PASSWORD_CHANGE 



SET USERGROUP "HDI_CONTAINER_RIGHTS";

Define a ROLE "HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI" that has the privileges needed for the container:

or use and SQL command:
```
CREATE ROLE HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI;

GRANT IMPORT TO HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI;

GRANT EXPORT TO HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI;
```
Now this role has to be given to the HDI_IMPORT_EXPORT_GRANTOR with GRANT to others.
He will give the HDI container the role so that the container can import and export
or with the SQL commend:
```
GRANT HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI TO HDI_IMPORT_EXPORT_GRANTER WITH ADMIN OPTION;
```
Now we have done the HANA Cloud side of things.
There is a user "HDI_IMPORT_EXPORT_GRANTER" that can grant a role "HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI" with IMPORT and EXPORT privileges.
Now we have to get this role into our HDI container. We have to switch to the BTP Cockpit:
Inside your development space -here dev - a CUPS (Custom User Provided Service) needs to be defined.
```
{
   "user": "HDI_IMPORT_EXPORT_GRANTER",
   "password": "Abcd1234",
   "tags": [
      "hana"
   ]
}
```
Now there is a CUPS service in your space that could grant your HDI Containers the role to import and export. Of course you need all this in a similar style in other landscapes you are using. Explain this to your SAP HANA Cloud ADMIN. Certainly there are only very few people in production allowed to see the passwords. The rights of the role had been selected by intention very limited.

Now we go into BusinessApplicationStudio to get the wanted role into the HDI Container.

Invoke the CUPS service into your project:

That will appear as a "cross-container-service-n". (In my case I had another one as well)
This container get a name: here "cross-container-service-3" which you will also find back in the mta.yaml file:

Now that we have a service that could GRANT us the role we are looking for we need a hdbgrants file:

or here the text version:

{
   "ServiceName_3":
      {
          "object_owner":{
               "global_roles": [
                   {
                     "roles": [
                        "HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI"
                     ]
                   }
                ]
          },
          "application_user": {
               "global_roles": [
                   {
                     "roles": [
                        "HANAIMPORTEXPORT4HDI"
                ]
            }
         ]
      }
   }
}

(Formatting is maybe wrong but content should be ok

Next step is deployment
The result shows that we successful granted the hdbgrants files:

Now the import /export can be tested: Open the DBX application as RT user:
and the prices are now imported and exported through my S3 bucket ( as BTP object store service)
There is a PSE/Certificate setting that needed to be defined as well. Please check with below BLOG to establish this HANA Cloud setting.
BLOG on copy HDI containers explains how to get a certificate and create a PSE

Summary:

To Import/Export table data in HDI you need:

An object store ( easiest and best within BTP Object Store service )
A granter user with a role in HANA Cloud that has IMPORT and EXPORT privileges.
A CUPS definition in your BTP SPACE
A database connection in your project that adds the CUPS service to the project
A hdbgrantsfile that takes the role for the application user [and HDI owner]

Now a SQL command by the application user can import or export tables.

BTP Toolbox: App to Backup & Restore HDI Containers

2024-06-09T17:10:50.571000+02:00

Give yourself full control over the data backups of your BTP Cloud Applications using this open source CAP Application.

If you are looking for an easy way to manage your HDI Container Backups, continue reading.

Setup Applications and HDI Containers that are running on your BTP landscape. This will give you a good overview and is the starting point for working with backups.
Perform Backups and Restores for your HDI Containers using a simple Fiori Elements UI.
Backups are stored on a BTP Objectstore (AWS S3).
Automate backup creation using BTP Scheduler, for example to create nightly backups for productive HDI Containers.
Perform Environment-Copies, for example from PROD to QAS to have good quality testdata.

The following image shows the HDI Containers and backups of a given CAP application that is running in our company.

From a technical perspective, this project will help you to understand:

How to connecto to a Hana Cloud DB using a dedicated "BACKUP" User from a CAP application using
@Sap/hana-client
Setup and configure Hana Cloud DB for exporting and importing backups to a Cloud Store.
Working with HDI Administration and HDI Container Groups.
Using BTP Scheduler service to call a protected API.
Creating longrunning background tasks from CAP using cds.spawn.
Sending asynchronous responses to BTP Scheduler Jobs for longrunning jobs (more than 15 seconds).
Working with AWS S3 Storage (BTP Objectstore), for example connecting with WinSCP and working with the @Aws-sdk/client-s3
Working with Fiori Elements to create a List Report with mulitple Object Pages, Custom Actions and more.

Feel free to use this project, submit pull requests, start discussion about ideas and if necessary, submit issues on Github (Community Support).

bkrencker/HDIBackupRestore (github.com)

Note: for more information please have a look at the README file on Github.

Carbon Footprint Calculation with IDM from Implico

2024-06-10T08:08:57.471000+02:00

Integrating with SAP's S4SCSD for Enhanced Sustainability

Carbon Footprint Calculation with the IDM from Implico

As industries worldwide prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, managing and reducing carbon emissions has become a critical aspect of logistics and transportation operations. Implico's IDM provides a robust solution designed to enhance these capabilities within SAP S4SCSD. This advanced functionality is tailored for industries such as oil, gas and chemicals, where efficient logistics and environmental compliance are paramount.

Support for Sustainability Goals

Aligning logistics operations with broader corporate sustainability goals is a key benefit of the IDM. By providing actionable insights and recommendations, the module can support companies in achieving significant reductions in carbon emissions. This alignment with sustainability objectives underscores the importance of integrating environmental considerations into logistics management within SAP S4SCSD.

Here are some of the factors that make the calculation and management of carbon footprints easier with Implico's IDM.

IDM as a Core Component of SAP S4SCSD

With its functionality, Implico's IDM is an integral component of SAP's S4SCSD (Secondary Distribution Management for Oil & Gas) and boosts the users' requirements for a more detailed carbon footprint calculation. This integration ensures that secondary distribution operations - which include both bulk and bottled products - are not only efficient, but also environmentally responsible.

Support for Emissions Calculation

By using available data such as fuel consumption, fuel type or distances traveled, Implico's IDM functionality amplifies CO2 emission calculations for each trip or delivery within the SAP S4SCSD framework. In a highly competitive environment where companies are striving to understand and mitigate their environmental impact better, the level of accuracy provided by IDM is essential.

Data Integration and Analysis

IDM has the ability to collect data (e.g. telematics, GPS, fleet management) and seamlessly integrate with SAP S4SCSD. This integration can be used, for example, for historical analysis of carbon emissions, providing valuable insights for better decision making and strategic planning. The ability to analyze data from multiple sources within a cohesive system is a significant advantage for companies aiming to optimize their operations.

Route Optimization

One of the key features of IDM is its ability to optimize routes and loads, thereby minimizing travel distances and fuel consumption. By suggesting the shortest routes, the module helps reduce the carbon footprint of logistics operations. This functionality, integrated within SAP S4SCSD, ensures that logistics processes are both operationally efficient and environmentally sustainable.

Data for detailed Reporting and Documentation

IDM facilitates transparency and accountability in environmental reporting. By providing important data that can be used for documentation, audits and certifications, IDM supports SAP S4SCSD from the inside with its detailed reporting capability. This ensures transparency and accountability in environmental performance and supports companies to meet environmental regulations and standards.

User-Friendly Interface

Designed with a user-friendly interface, the IDM tool makes it easy for operators to enter data, generate reports, and access insights. Its seamless integration with SAP S4SCSD ensures a consistent and efficient user experience, minimizing the learning curve for operators and improving the overall user experience.

Conclusion

By incorporating these features, Implico's IDM not only improves logistics management, but also enables companies to take significant steps to reduce their environmental impact. This makes it an invaluable add-on for all organizations, especially those that are seriously committed to sustainability and responsible logistics operations.

With IDM, Implico has developed a product that is natively integrated into SAP S4SCSD and closes the gap between sales and returns. Most previously manual processes in the reconciliation are now automated, allowing back-office operations to shift gradually from manual to automated processes. Since IDM has been used successfully for years within the supply chain of energy and natural resources, Implico is currently working intensively on a new, fully automated version which is in heavy development and ReadyToShip in 2024 already.

The new version is scalable for every size of organization and provides fully automated trip and route planning.

Implico's IDM provides a significant opportunity for market expansion and revenue growth while enhancing compliance requirements for environmental standards.

Let's shape a sustainable future, together.

SAP S/4HANA SDM: This tool offers a cohesive approach to the trade and transport of liquids and half-solids, integrating seamlessly with the SAP system to streamline processes from demand forecasting to invoicing, thereby facilitating smoother operations in hydrocarbon product trading.

SAP S/4HANA RFNO: A dedicated solution for managing service station networks, it caters to various service station types, offering functionalities like wet goods management and loyalty card management, aiming to enhance the fuel retail experience.

Implico’s Quality Assurance Program for SAP solutions: Implico wants to ensure the implementation of SAP SDM/RFNO solutions is professional and error-free – not only when doing so ourselves but also when external companies are contracted to oversee implementation. This is why we also offer two partner services that are designed to supplement the implementation projects based on a methodological approach and with highly skilled consultants, both of which help to achieve the defined targets: the Partner Governance Service and the Partner Advisor Service.

Shape the Future of SAP Solutions: Join the SAP Customer Engagement Initiative 2024 Cycle 2

2024-06-10T16:48:48.441000+02:00

Exciting news for our valued SAP customers and partners! The second cycle of the SAP Customer Engagement Initiative in 2024 has officially kicked off today, bringing with it 50 new projects to fuel innovation and collaboration.

We understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve in today's fast-paced business landscape. That's why we're excited to offer you the opportunity to gain early insights into SAP's product developments. By participating in the SAP Customer Engagement Initiative, you'll have the chance to work directly with our developers and product managers, shaping the future direction of our products.

But time is limited! The projects will be open for customer registration until July 12, 2024. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make your voice heard and influence the next generation of SAP's products and solutions.

To help you navigate through the projects, we've compiled a comprehensive list for your convenience. Check out the whole list here or follow the following links to explore the possibilities:

SAP S/4HANA & SAP S/4HANA Cloud

SAP Business Technology Platform

Lifecycle Management

Data & Analytics

User Assistance

SAP Globalization

SAP Concur

SAP Ariba

SAP Learning

Protean - Revolutionize Learning with GenAI and Immersive Technologies

Customer Experience

Field Service Management - Horizon adoption

SAP Integration Experience Feedback goes SAP Customer Engagement Initiative

Others

We believe that collaboration is key to unlocking innovation. By joining forces with our customers and partners, we can collectively shape the future of SAP’s products and change the way businesses operate.

So, mark your calendars, gather your team, and let's embark on this journey together. Together, we can drive progress, transform industries, and create a brighter future.

Don't delay – register today on influence.sap.com and be a part of the SAP Customer Engagement Initiative Cycle 2 in 2024!

Warm regards,

Your SAP Customer Engagement Initiative Team

Follow-up after registration: When you register for a project, you will be invited to an introductory call with the SAP project lead. At this point further participation is optional. Typically, all activities are governed by the Feedback Agreement with SAP.

Release Navigator for SAP BTP - What's New in Q2 2024

2024-06-12T13:36:41.584000+02:00

Check out the Release Navigator.

The Release Navigator for SAP BTP continues to evolve and improve to meet the needs of our customers. With the latest update in Q2 2024 in addition to the quarterly maintenance of resources, users can access new product pages and a new consolidated release schedule in a simplified and streamlined interface.
These updates reflect our commitment to continuously improve content coverage and user experience based on your valuable feedback. In this blog post, we will highlight the key enhancements and additions made in Q2 2024.

We collaborated closely with SAP BTP experts to add new pages for the following products and services in the Release Navigator that are available with the Q2 2024 update:

The new product pages include Foundation and Cross Services and more. Check them out now.

Check out the new consolidated release schedule in the release calendar.

Release schedules are now being communicated more transparently thanks to close collaboration with various SAP BTP teams. Compared to 2023, more than 40 new products and services now announce their release dates via SAP Notes in SAP for Me.

These notes are accessible through the Consolidated Release Schedules for SAP BTP, which can be found in the Release Calendar section of the navigator.

Please note: To access SAP Notes you need to log in to SAP for Me using your Universal ID or S-user ID. Read more about the required authorizations here.

The SAP Note Consolidated Release Schedules for SAP BTP

We have published a quarterly maintenance update with the Q2 release cycle. Links and resources have been updated according to the latest feature releases. Moving forward, new and retiring content will be marked with a green or red badge.

Additionally, in Q1 all release navigators received streamlined and consistent UX across solution areas for improved ease of use.

The release navigator after the Q2 update

*Disclaimer: The schedule is subject to change without prior notice including, when necessary, delays or incorporating changes in subsequent update windows and not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to deliver any material, code, or functionality.

Next updates are scheduled on a quarterly basis in alignment with the Harmonized Release Calendar for SAP Cloud Products.

Looking ahead, here's a sneak peek at some of the roadmap items planned for the release navigator:

Q3: Additional UX elements will be added and aligned across solution areas.
Q4: More products and services will be included in the Release Navigator.

The Readiness@Scale team at SAP Enterprise Support is dedicated to ensuring release readiness across the SAP Enterprise Support portfolio. Our mission is to empower SAP customers to be prepared and ready to adopt and utilize innovations.

If you have any feedback or specific requests for content in the release navigator, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

And don't forget to check out our team's blogs tagged with Readiness@Scale.

Happy navigating!

Readiness@Scale, SAP Enterprise Support

SAP Developer News, June 13th 2024

2024-06-13T21:00:00.029000+02:00

ITEMS

ABAP Open Source Updates, ABAP2UI5 and apm

abap2UI5 - Integration with SAP Business Technology Platform (1/3) - Installation & Configuration https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/abap2ui5-integration-sap-business-technology-platform-13-installation-lf1re
abap2UI5 repository https://github.com/abap2UI5/abap2UI5
apm homepage https://abappm.com/

June Developer Challenge – Week 2

SAP HANA multi-model Developer Challenge: https://community.sap.com/t5/application-development-blog-posts/developer-challenge-sap-hana-multi-model-using-python-in-sap-business/ba-p/13722560
Developer Keynote at SAP TechEd 2023: https://www.youtube.com/live/kLbF0ooStZs?t=2145s
Business meets AI hackathon: https://events.sap.com/ch/hackathon2024/en/home

SAP Cloud Application Programming Model – May Release

Release notes https://cap.cloud.sap/docs/releases/may24

SAP BTP reference architecture for SAP Build Process Automation

Integrate and extend SAP and non-SAP solutions with SAP Build Process Automation https://discovery-center.cloud.sap/refArchDetail/ref-arch-build-process-automation
BTP Solution Diagrams https://sap.github.io/btp-solution-diagrams/

Two new SAP CodeTalk Podcast episodes, Frank Densborn and Riley Rainey

Frank Densborn episode Generative AP from the SAP Apphaus https://podcast.opensap.info/sap-developers/2024/05/28/sap-codetalk-frank-densborn-from-sap-apphaus-discussing-generative-ai-and-llms/
SAP AppHaus GenAI Explore workshop to identify AI use cases https://apphaus.sap.com/resource/generative-ai-explore-workshop
New AppHaus GenAI Discover/Design workshop with GenAI cards https://apphaus.sap.com/resource/generative-ai-discover-and-design-workshop
Riley Rainey episode on the SAP Developer Insights Survey Report https://podcast.opensap.info/sap-developers/2024/06/11/sap-codetalk-riley-rainey-discusses-the-sap-developer-insights-survey-report-with-josh-bentley/
Developer Insights Survey Report https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-blogs-by-sap/the-2024-developer-insights-survey-the-report/ba-p/13686151

New YouTube Shorts 60 second videos on CAP Node.js

The “CAP Node.js - Good To Know!” playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RpkC85SLQDZ18v94otZSJJrpcNkPPV9

CHAPTER TITLES

0:00 Intro
0:07 ABAP Open Source Updates, ABAP2UI5 and apm
1:39 June Developer Challenge – Week 2
2:42 CAP May Release
4:51 SAP BTP reference architecture for SAP Build Process Automation
5:36 Two new SAP CodeTalk Podcast episodes, Frank Densborn and Riley Rainey
7:04 New YouTube Shorts 60 second videos on CAP Node.js

TRANSCRIPT

This is the SAP Developer News for the 13th June 2024.

[Rich]
Hey folks, Rich Heilman here. I hope you all are doing well. This week, I'd like to share some news around the abap2UI5 project from our friend, Oblomov. He has posted on LinkedIn about the newly released abap2UI5 SAP BTP connector, which allows developers to call abap2UI5 apps via BTP from anywhere and integrate them into SAP Build Work Zone or SAP MobileStart. This is the first of a three-part series and in this post he explains the initial installation and configuration while sharing a bit about how the connector works. If you are a fan of abap2UI5 as I am, check out this latest post and learn about the abap2UI5 BTP connector today. Now while I have you, did you know that APM was launched last week at at the ABAP conference at Code Connect. Our friend Mark Bernard announced the availability of APM, an ABAP package management and registration tool. I don't have a whole lot of details to share right now, other than providing the website where you can check out the announcement video from the conference last week, and also review the presentation, and of course sign up for access to APM. I've done so already. I highly recommend for you to sign up yourself today. So check out the website for more information. Bye for now.

[Witalij]
Hi everyone, welcome from Zurich where we are having right now "AI Meets Business" hackathon. And I would like to introduce you to all the SAP colleagues who are coaches here. And now back to our regular update. It is great to see that quite many teams here at the hackathon are using SAP HANA Cloud Vector Engine. If you are participating in the Developer Challenge for this month, then you might see that the week 2 challenge is already posted, and this is where I'm inviting you to try Vector Engine yourself. We will be able to recreate the part of the demo, which I presented during our Developer Keynote at SAP TechEd, 2023. Happy coding and I'm looking forward to your submission.

[Tom]
We're happy to announce the May release of the SAP Cloud Application Programming model. This month we only have new features on the Java Runtime. This is because the CAP team is busy preparing for the big annual release, so expect major new things coming soon to the cloud application programming model. In the meantime, the CAP version this month has several new features that we'll highlight. First of all, there's a new difference processor. This is an API that can compare two entities and will tell you the differences. It can be really useful if you're wanting to, for instance, track changes at two different states of the same entity. We also see with the built-in change tracking now through an annotation, you can specify what key you want to be recorded in the change track. So instead of the technical key, you could perhaps store the business key. We see a new beta feature for fuzzy HANA search. We also have a new feature for setting the max age of an HTTP response via annotation. particularly useful when you have a MIME response. And we have the OData v4 key as a segment. This helps with building and simplifying the URL parameters for keys when requesting an OData entity. And finally there's a feature that I hope will be coming to the JavaScript version as well and that's the new Developer dashboard. Now this is an alpha version of the developer dashboard and it contains all kinds of cool information that helps you during the development process. Now the the notes are really clear that you should never use this in production because it would expose sensitive data. It looks like an incredible new developer tool and I can't wait to check it out. So all these great new things coming to the Java version of CAP in the May release and keep your eye out for the big major release coming soon for the Cloud Application Programming Model as well.

[DJ]
Are you working with the SAP Business Technology Platform? Then if so, this news item is for you. The reference architecture for SAP Build Process Automation has been released. There's a wealth of resources collected together on this reference architecture over on the SAP Discovery Center. Not only that, but if you're building BTP solution diagrams, there's a repository with a starter kit, examples, and guidelines, as well as templates for you to use that are in draw IO format. Links to the SAP Discovery Center page and the GitHub repository are in the description.

[Josh]
Hey everybody, Mr. Bluebeard, Josh Bentley, And I'm here to give you a couple of updates real quick on the SAP CodeTalk podcast series. I was lucky enough to get to do two podcast episodes recently. The first was with Frank Densborn and he's from our SAP AppHaus team. The AppHaus co-innovates with our customers. They dive deep on a use case and they come up with some code that actually can solve that use case problem. So Frank Densborn goes through this with me in the podcast episode and then he goes down to SAP Sapphire in Orlando and dives deeper with the customers on how we're using large language models and chatGPT and generative AI to solve some of these use cases. So very topical and very cool stuff that Frank and the team at the AppHaus are putting out. The next episode I recorded was with Riley Rainey. Riley is from our developer advocates team and he helps put out the Developer Insight Survey. So if you see that survey coming out and you fill in those questions with your answers, We actually take that back to the committee and we go through those answers and put out a report and Riley goes through the methodology and some of the most recent answers that were given in the Developer Insight Survey. So link to that below in this Developer News episode and if you're not already subscribing to the SAP Code Talk podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe and also you can keep watching it here on the SAP Developer YouTube channel. And finally, happy Pride Month. Bye.

[DJ]
The developer advocates are always looking for new ways to help developers. With that in mind, we've started creating some YouTube Shorts. A Short is in portrait format, no more than 60 seconds, which is basically then ideal for consuming quickly, on the go, on your phone. The current series is on CAP Node.js with tips and tricks that are good to know. For example, this week's short, just released, is all about the @Path annotation for service definitions. There's a link to the entire playlist so far in the description, so head on over there and check them all out.

SAP Data and Analytics Forum 12.-13.11.2024

2024-06-14T11:14:33.847000+02:00

We look forward to welcome you on the 12th to 13th. November at this year’s german speaking SAP Data and Analytics Forum. An exciting program with inspiring lectures and hands-on sessions awaits you. 

There are two ways to participate in the event: 

Option 1: You only visit the first day, in virtual format 

The first day is free and virtual. Current trends and developments in Data and Analytics are discussed here. From best practices to new technologies and applications such as SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere, you will be able to gain valuable insights and expand your knowledge. 

Anticipate three parallel tracks:

SAP Analytics Cloud: Strategy & Roadmap SAP Analytics Cloud 
SAP Datasphere: Strategy & Roadmap SAP Datasphere
Extended Planning & Analytics: Potentials and insights from practical projects.

Option 2: You will visit both days on site in Walldorf 

If you also prefer personal communication, please visit us on the 12. and 13.11 at the SAP training center in Walldorf. The second paid day offers you the opportunity to work directly on the system and to deepen your skills and experiences in hands-on sessions. You can get to know new tools and functions and discuss them directly with our experts. 

You can expect three parallel tracks: 

Hands-on Analytics: Experience SAP Analytics Cloud in different scenarios. Try out the use cases and exercises created specifically for the Forum directly in the system. Get ready for exciting exercises that delve into the interaction between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere, as well as address connectivity with SAP Analytics Cloud.
Hands-on Data Warehousing: This track focuses on SAP Datasphere. You can use scenarios created specifically for you to get to know the product yourself in the system. Practical exercises that cover delta handling of loading processes or SAP BW bridge integration await you.
Hands-on Advanced: You already have experience with SAP Data and Analytics solutions and would like to dive deeper into the matter? Then visit the sessions of the Advanced Track. There are advanced exercises in SAP Analytics Cloud focusing on performance in story design or on best practices in SAP Datasphere security. Prepare yourself for a captivating exercise that provides insights into an AI use case with SAP HANA Cloud.

You can choose flexibly between the sessions of the different tracks and thus put together their personal agenda.  

Don’t miss out on asking questions directly to our product management experts and our SAP trainers.  

How we leveraged Generative AI to help our Acccount Executives help you (customers) at Sapphire 2024

2024-06-18T12:20:11.515000+02:00

What an amazing Sapphire Orlando in 2024 was! It is firing on all cylinders with amazing announcements of new solutions, new AI capabilities, current solutions getting better, new and strengthened partnerships within the ecosystems, and so on and so forth. Obviously, that was made possible because of the amazing customer base (in person, online, and in spirit) and the tenacious SAP staff who are dedicated to bringing the best to our customers.

However, reporting on what happened at SAP Sapphire is not the purpose of this blog post. I want to take you a little into the background to share a use case that we experimented with internally to try to elevate your experience at Sapphire. Yes, we used Generative AI (GenAI) on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) to equip our customer-facing teams to efficiently identify and recommend sessions based on the specific situation in your organization. There were more than 550 sessions over 12 solution areas and seven types of sessions. It's a lot, and building a perfect agenda that gives the best back for your time did need some extensive planning. Also, depending on where your organization is in your own transformation journey, there were some excellent sessions that provided great opportunities for you to learn from, make connections, and carry them back home to delve further into over the next few weeks.

So, in the spirit of being relevant, reliable, and responsible, we created an internal tool to indirectly help you via our field sales teams, especially your account executives. I am going to briefly touch upon some of the technologies that were used in the making and, most importantly, share what we learned from this experiment.

NOTE: The use of this tool was discretionary due to it's experimental nature.

But first, what did the tool do?

The tool is a recommendation engine built using Generative AI techniques (more below), the consumption of which happens using a simple web page that captures relevant information from the user. It was a conscious decision to build a form and not a chat interface (we've got enough of those already!). This way, we took away the need for the user to be an expert prompt engineer. We manage prompt engineering expertise in the backend.

Fig. 1. SAP Sapphire Recommender

Upon filling in the information, the recommendation engine refers to the Sapphire session catalog from a vector database and identifies a list of sessions that will be beneficial for the described situation, landscape, and the role of the organization coming to Sapphire.

Then, based on the identified list of sessions, the tool makes personalized recommendations on why each session was identified and the value that can be obtained in the context of their current situation. Finally, it also wraps it up by writing a personalized email to the role identified, which serves as a cover letter for the recommendations.

Fig. 2(a). Response - personalized email

Fig. 2(b). Response - personalized session recommendations

Now, the Technology & the Technique

The tool uses the popular Retrieval Augmented Generation (a.k.a. RAG) technique, which we used from Generative AI Hub in SAP BTP. The Generative AI Hub provides SAP AI Core, where we enable the LLM models from Azure Open AI service, as well as the Prompt Editor from the SAP AI Launchpad, where we created our prompt template, which was used to generate a well-grounded LLM prompt in runtime depending upon the information supplied via the UI.

Fig. 3. GenAI using RAG on SAP BTP

Sapphire session information, being practically static information for all sets and purposes, was converted into text embeddings and stored in the SAP HANA Cloud Vector engine. The RAG application would play a central role here in receiving user input via the UI, converting it into text embeddings, and using these embeddings to perform semantic search in the SAP HANA Cloud Vector engine. This ensured there was a semantic relation between the situation described by the user and the session descriptions.

Lessons Learnt

So, apart from the fact that we ate our own dog food, we had many lessons to learn from this internal experiment. Some of the critical ones are worth sharing and are listed below:

Pay special attention to Data source, Data attributes, and Data quality. RAG helps ground LLMs with contextual information. So, the better the context, better is LLM response. Also try experimenting with data format as it inversely impacts token requirements and response quality.
Test, Test, Test. Prompt template testing is the most crucial part of building GenAI applications. You need to make sure prompts are provided specific goals, tasks, and guardrails.
Watch-out for hallucinations! Make sure you utilize the 'temperature' settings for LLMs appropriately. In cases where creativity can be detrimental, set lower temperatures. For example, in this tool, LLM generating imaginary sessions would be detrimental, so lower temperatures were set. On the other hand, for content generation, such as emails, blogs, etc., higher values will work best.
Set and standardize expectations from LLM, specifically the response format. Specify if you want it to provide a response as a table, or as a JSON, or simple text with or without formatting, within specific length, etc.

Biggest Take-away!

There are many low-hanging opportunities around us where technology like GenAI or platforms like SAP BTP can provide quick value. If nothing, these low-hanging opportunities provide perfect opportunities to learn and set up the foundation to manage the next innovation projects. Leveraging select use cases as showcases helps drive new idea generation and incremental utilization of foundation technology investments (stickiness).

If you have incorporated GenAI in any low-hanging opportunities in your organization, we'd love to hear about your experience and approach from you. Stay engaged!

Calling all SAP Partners: Shape the Future of SAP's Products and Revolutionize Business Operations!

2024-06-20T13:35:54.088000+02:00

Attention SAP partners! We are thrilled to announce the second cycle of the 2024 SAP Customer Engagement Initiative is in full swing. This is your exclusive opportunity to collaborate with SAP and gain early insights into our innovative product developments. By joining forces with our talented developers and product managers, you can directly shape the future of SAP's product directions.

We have received an extraordinary response from our valued customers, with registrations pouring in for a wide range of projects. Now, we are turning our attention to our esteemed partners, as we believe that together we can achieve even greater heights of innovation.

This is your chance to influence SAP products and future applications, so don't miss out! Explore the exciting projects currently open for registration until July 12, 2024.

These projects are specifically seeking registrations from SAP partners, and we are eager to hear your unique perspectives and ideas:

SAP S/4HANA & SAP S/4HANA Cloud

SAP Business Technology Platform

Insights into SAP BTP AI Innovations

Lifecycle Management

Data & Analytics

SAP HANA Database Migration to SAP HANA Cloud (XSC,XSA,CAP)

User Assistance

SAP Globalization Services

SAP Integration Experience Feedback goes SAP Customer Engagement Initiative

Others

Don't delay – register today on influence.sap.com and be a part of the SAP Customer Engagement Initiative Cycle 2 in 2024!

Warm regards,

Your SAP Customer Engagement Initiative Team

Innovating Towards a Sustainable Future: Insights from Rolf Adam

2024-06-20T14:49:27.847000+02:00

Staying Grounded in SAP Excellence

Reflecting on the industry's deep-rooted reliance on SAP, Rolf Adam underscores the steadfast commitment of major oil and gas companies to SAP solutions. With a legacy of nearly four decades, SAP remains the backbone for optimizing operations and navigating the industry's intricate processes efficiently. As the sector transitions towards renewable energy sources like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), SAP's "Clean Core" strategy and future-forward solutions, such as S/4HANA, offer a pathway for driving sustainable innovation and operational resilience.

Partnering for Success: A Collaborative Approach

Implico's alignment with SAP's product roadmap and commitment to technological innovation exemplify the successful partnership dynamics crucial for supporting industry needs. By leveraging SAP's market-leading solutions like SAP SDM and RFNO, Implico sets industry benchmarks in downstream business operations, equipping customers with cutting-edge tools and insights for enhanced performance.

Embracing Cloud Technologies: A Strategic Imperative

Amidst the industry's evolving landscape, the discussion around cloud adoption and licenses surfaces as a critical consideration. As industry dynamics necessitate the adoption of cloud-based solutions, Implico's strategic approach to cloud integration underscores a commitment to agile and scalable business models, paving the way for streamlined processes and enhanced customer experiences.

Bridging Innovation with Business Value: The Role of SAP BTP

SAP's Business Technology Platform (BTP) emerges as a catalyst for future-proofing solutions and unlocking new realms of innovation. Positioned as a playground for customization and add-ons, BTP empowers companies like Implico to extend their offerings and deliver tailor-made solutions that align with industry demands. By embracing AI technologies and leveraging the scalability of BTP, Implico charts a course towards continuous innovation and customer-centric excellence.

Charting the Future Course: A Confluence of Expertise and Vision

As the industry strides towards a future marked by sustainability, digitalization, and transformative growth, the insights shared by Rolf Adam offer a compelling narrative on SAP's pivotal role in shaping the oil, gas, and energy landscape. By staying rooted in industry expertise, fostering collaborative partnerships, and embracing cutting-edge technologies like BTP, companies like Implico exemplify a commitment to driving industry-wide progress and innovation.

Conclusion

The interview with Rolf Adam serves as a testament to the industry's resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to excellence amidst transformative industry shifts. As SAP solutions continue to evolve, empowering businesses to embrace sustainability, digitalization, and efficiency, the oil, gas, and energy sector stands poised at the cusp of a new era of innovation, growth, and sustainable progress.

Find the full interview here: https://www.implico.com/news_posts/e3-magazin/

New Machine Learning features in SAP HANA Cloud database release 2024 Q2

2024-06-24T09:23:43.449000+02:00

With the 2024 Q2 database release, several new features have been released in the SAP HANA Cloud Predictive Analysis Library (PAL), an enhancement summary is available in the What’s new document for SAP HANA Cloud database 2024.14 (QRC 2/2024).

The feature highlights for the current release are described in more detail below

Classification and Regression enhancements

A new multi-task multilayer perceptron (MLP) function is introduced, enabling multi-label classification or multi-target regression scenarios. Using a multi-task learning neural network, a single ML model allows to predict multiple, related target columns at once, as the model captures both common features across tasks as well as task-specific information with the same prediction model.

It leverages the commonalities between related tasks to improve the performance,
generalization, and training efficiency, and moreover enables efficient use of data,
better feature extraction, knowledge transfer, regularization, and end-to-end learning.
Furthermore, the function supports early stopping using validation data to avoid overfitting.
Users of the new multi-task MLP also benefit from shorter MLP training times
and models with improved accuracy.

The new function provides unique prediction model capabilities for example scenarios like

automated multi-field value proposals or pre-filling of forms
(e.g. Sales Order Automation)
or predicting multiple price-/sales-targets (average, minimum, etc.)
in a single model.

Multi-target predictions using the multi-task MLP function

For a more detailed introduction to the new algorithm see the following blog post Advancing to Multi-task Multilayer Perceptron: a new Neural Network design in HANA Machine Learning .

In further improve regression models, a new outlier detection for regression function is added,

providing the ability to detect point outliers in data used when training linear or tree-based regression models using MLR and HGBT regressors.
Outliers in training data get identified based on residual analysis and outlier-score evaluation, then can be excluded for model training and allowing to build improved regression model predictions.

Regression outlier detection

Text Processing

A new ML model-based text classification function is introduced.
It leverages

Random Decision Tree (RDT) models underneath,
aids much faster classification results, especially in case of classifying high numbers of new text documents
as well as providing a significantly improved text classification accuracy.

A detailed introduction to this new function is provided in the following blog post Inference Acceleration - Random Decision Tree Models for Text Classification.

Python ML client (hana-ml) enhancements

The full list of new methods and enhancements with hana_ml 2.21 is summarized in the changelog for hana-ml 2.21.240618 as part of the documentation. The key enhancements in this release include

Dataframe methods

create_dataframe_from_pandas now fully supports creating and upserting to SAP HANA Cloud tables with columns of type REAL_VECTOR, thus vector embeddings prepared in pandas dataframe can easily be imported in SAP HANA Cloud

AutoML configuration and methods enhancements

Finetuning option of the best pipeline in the AutoML scenario
Pipeline explainability enhanced with SHAPGlobal surrogate, a light-weight model for faster explanation of AutoML and pipeline model prediction results
Visual editor support for the AutoML scenario configuration:

Text processing

New text classification with model function, supporting RDT-based text classification
Massive Text Mining, implicit parallel analysis of multiple row vectors

Financial analysis methods

New Hull White simulation function, a trending financial math function used in modeling interest rates, vital in modeling of various financial instruments and risk
Benford Analysis function, trending algorithm used to detect anomalies in numerical datasets like e.g. financial transactions

You can find a Python Jupyter notebook example illustrating the highlighted feature enhancements here 24QRC02_2.21.ipynb.

SAP CodeJam HANA ML In 's-Hertogenbosch 2024-06 Recap

2024-06-24T18:17:00.131000+02:00

In mid-June, we held the Getting Started with Machine Learning using SAP HANA and Python in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.

It was kindly hosted by iTrainee and organized by Mientje and @Jan-WillemK from the Vereniging Nederlandstalige SAP-Gebruikers (VNSG).

It was a mix of some theory...

...and hands-on.

Right after the SAP CodeJam @tbroek , @jpenninkhof , @rakeshjain and truly yours recorded another episode of the HANA Café NL podcast: https://youtu.be/Qm9zEeX6J88?si=XV5FoCvwkDUg6xnX

I would like to extend special thanks to @OnnoSchoenmaker and @Jan-WillemK for a tour of the city and the introduction to the importance of cheese in Dutch cuisine 🧀

Now, the next stop is Berlin on June 28th hosted by @rofinke : https://community.sap.com/t5/sap-codejam/getting-started-with-machine-learning-using-sap-hana-berlin-de/ev-p/13703853

Would you like to host such an SAP CodeJam? Here are the details: https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-blogs-by-sap/quot-getting-started-with-machine-learning-using-sap-hana-quot-as-a-new-sap/ba-p/13574098

What’s New in SAP HANA Cloud – June 2024

2024-06-24T18:38:47.809000+02:00

The first half of the year 2024 is almost over, which means we are happy to announce that the second release of SAP HANA Cloud in 2024 is live now!

Before diving deeper into the broad variety of innovations included, let me share that if you want to hear about the innovations from our product experts first-hand, including demos, make sure to watch our What’s New in SAP HANA Cloud webcast, soon to be uploaded on our YouTube channel, or take a look at my top features for the recent release in less than 5 minutes.

Innovations in SAP HANA Cloud, SAP HANA Database

Administration and Service Management

Support for larger instances

With the second quarterly release of SAP HANA Cloud in 2024, we are adding support for large SAP HANA database instances with up to 12 TB of memory. This doubles the amount of memory you can allocate to your database instances in SAP HANA Cloud.

Many customers have large on-prem SAP HANA database instances and are looking to migrate them to the cloud. With the support for larger instances, SAP HANA Cloud can accommodate these large data volumes. Additionally, you gain the flexibility to scale up your existing cloud database instances as your memory requirements increase over time.

The large instances can be provisioned on demand through the performance class High Memory (SAP HANA Cloud offers four performance classes with different core-memory ratios for sizing database instances for different workloads.) High Memory is suitable for memory-intensive workloads like the ones we are targeting with these large instances.

You can provision a large SAP HANA database instance on the main cloud service providers: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. The actual configuration (i.e., the actual amount of memory and processing power) varies depending on the hyperscaler. Initially, large instances are available in selected regions. The available configurations are as follows:

Initial regional availability

AWS

9 TB
442 vCPU

12 TB

442 vCPU

EU10

US10

Azure

7,44 TB

412 vCPU

11,15 TB

412 vCPU

EU20

US20

GCP

8,63 TB

412 vCPU

11,52

412 vCPUs

EU30

US30

Upsizing existing instances to large instances can be done by restarting the instance or without a restart for near-zero downtime. You will be required to apply changes without a restart if the storage size increases beyond a hyperscaler specific boundary, that is currently 16TB on AWS and 64TB on Azure and GCP.

Managing database instances in a Cloud Foundry space, from the multi-environment tools

SAP HANA Cloud now enables the management of both Cloud Foundry and "subaccount" database instances using the multi-environment tools. This enhancement includes the ability for developers or administrators to create and delete SAP HANA Cloud instances in a Cloud Foundry space, as well as to facilitate application development from SAP Business Application Studio with runtime objects deployed through the broker of SAP HANA Infrastructure Services to an SAP HANA Cloud instance accessed through a Cloud Foundry space.

The management of database instances in a Cloud Foundry space using multi-environment tools simplifies and enhances the user experience by providing a single set of administration tools. This allows users to manage instances of SAP HANA Cloud running in both the “subaccount runtime environment” and Cloud Foundry, offering flexibility in choosing the runtime environment that best fits the user's needs. This support for Cloud Foundry, Kyma, and the “subaccount runtime environment” enhances the versatility and scalability of SAP HANA Cloud, catering to diverse deployment requirements

Management of multiple variant SQL plans based on different parameter values

The latest QRC introduces the capability to cache different SQL execution plans based on parameter values that cause variant SQL execution plans for HEX. This innovation enables the storage and caching of multiple variant SQL execution plans, optimizing SQL execution performance for various parameter values.

This functionality helps to avoid performance loss resulting from skewed data, ensuring that SQL execution remains efficient and effective across different parameter values, ultimately enhancing the overall performance and stability of SQL query execution in SAP HANA.

Integration of catalog object browsing in the administration tool

SAP HANA Cloud now integrates catalog object browsing into our central database administration tool, introducing a new "database objects" application that displays tables, views, indexes, functions, procedures, and schemas. Additionally, users can access their favorite and recently accessed catalog objects within the tool, streamlining the browsing and management of database objects.

This integration enhances productivity by consolidating catalog object functionality into a single administration tool, simplifying the user interface for browsing database objects. By providing a unified environment, this innovation improves the user experience and efficiency in navigating and interacting with the database catalog, ultimately enhancing the user's ability to effectively manage database objects within SAP HANA Cloud.

Consumption monitor for visualizing unit consumption

Additionally, with the second delivery of SAP HANA Cloud in 2024, we introduce a consumption monitor for visualizing the compute unit consumption of instances. This feature also is a new card in the administration and monitoring tool and displays historical, estimate and actual values for consumption, offering daily and detailed consumption information related to memory, compute, storage, and network data transfer.

The consumption monitor harmonizes and simplifies access to consumption-related data, delivering transparent and structured insight into consumption metrics. By providing clear visualization and detailed information on unit consumption, it enables users to predict consumption through simple forecasting, empowering them to make informed decisions and optimize resource utilization within SAP HANA Cloud. This feature offers users better control over resource management and expenditure, ultimately enhancing cost-effectiveness and performance optimization within the database.

SAP HANA Cloud Multi-Model Data Processing

Multilabel classification and outlier detection in machine learning

With the 2024 Q2 database release, several new features have been released in the SAP HANA Cloud Predictive Analysis Library (PAL) , prepared in detail in this blog [New Machine Learning features in SAP HANA Cloud database release 2024 Q2 - SAP Community].

A new multilayer perceptron neural network function for multi-task prediction scenarios, i.e. multi-label classification or multi-target regressions. With a single neural network model, multiple related target columns can be predicted at once, capturing both the common features across tasks as well as the task-specific information providing unique predictions for scenarios like automated multi-field value proposals or pre-filling of forms like in Sales Order Automation.

Other improvements include enhanced outlier detection for regression scenarios, improved performance with Random Decision Tree-based text classification and AutoML scenario configuration UI and improved pipeline explainability support with the Python Machine Learning client release 2.21

Spatial function to measure the similarity between two shapes

Implementing the new spatial function ST_HausdorffDistance in SAP HANA Cloud enables users to compare and analyze spatial relationships between two sets of geographic features, such as points, lines, or polygons. This new feature provides a powerful tool for spatial data analysis, allowing users to gain valuable insights into the similarities and differences between various geographic shapes, including curves, bends, and irregularities.

The new spatial function enhances the reliability of working with real-world data, which often contains imperfections. Users can now conduct in-depth analysis and comparison of entire shapes, enabling them to make more accurate and informed decisions based on their spatial data. It also empowers users to gain deeper insights and a more comprehensive understanding of their geographic data, ultimately leading to more effective and impactful decision-making.

Database Migration

Extension of SAP Business Application Studio to support design-time object migrations

The extension of SAP Business Application Studio (BAS) to support design-time object migrations provides users with a seamless and automated solution for migrating SAP HANA extended application services to SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) and SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP). This feature streamlines the migration process by supporting the conversion of design-time artifacts from SAP HANA to SAP HANA Cloud, making it easier for users to ensure compliance with the SAP CAP.

The extension of SAP Business Application Studio offers significant benefits to users by automating the conversion of design-time artifacts, reducing the time and effort required for migration, and ensuring compliance with the SAP CAP. This innovation provides a flexible and convenient alternative for migrating SAP HANA extended application services to SAP HANA Cloud without the need for an on-premise license, empowering users to efficiently and effectively manage their migration efforts.

Insights into migration duration

Next up, we are now providing insights into the average migration duration for comparable scenarios. This offers users valuable information to better understand and plan their database migration efforts. The feature enables users to gain visibility into the approximate amount of time needed to migrate a similar database, improving transparency and enhancing the predictability of the migration process. It enhances user experience by offering greater predictability and control over the migration process.

Innovations in SAP HANA Cloud, data lake

Support for the cloud connector for the data lake component

With the latest update, we now offer support for the SAP Cloud Connector for the SAP HANA Cloud, data lake. This new capability enables users to create remote server connections from the SAP HANA Cloud data lake relational engine to on-premise databases of SAP HANA using the Cloud Connector. This integration allows for seamless and secure data exchange between on-premise and cloud environments, facilitating efficient data access and analysis across distributed systems.

The addition of the cloud connector support for the SAP HANA Cloud, data lake enables users to import data directly into the data lake relational engine or execute federated queries against the on-premise data source. This streamlines the data integration process, empowering users to leverage a unified platform for data management and analysis. By bridging on-premise and cloud databases, this innovation enhances the accessibility, flexibility, and usability of data within the SAP HANA Cloud environment, ultimately improving productivity and decision-making

Further Innovations & Enhancements

Database Application Development

Ability to self-tune SQL performance with the SQL plan advisor

In this quarter's update, SAP HANA Cloud introduces the ability to self-tune SQL performance with the SQL plan advisor. This feature includes reporting on fluctuating execution times for SQL statements and an automated comparison of execution performance tests to activate self-tuning. Additionally, it enables the system to automatically apply the tuned SQL plans, thereby optimizing the performance of SQL queries within the SAP HANA Cloud environment.

The self-tuning capability brings significant benefits to users by allowing them to intuitively identify problematic performance of deviating SQL statements. By leveraging automatic comparison of different plan results and adjustment of future plans, SAP HANA Cloud minimizes the need for manual intervention, saving time and effort in optimizing SQL performance. This innovation ensures that users can consistently achieve optimal query performance, enhancing overall system efficiency and user experience.

Adding the capability to create fabric virtual tables in SAP HANA deployment infrastructure

Additionally, the capability to create fabric virtual tables within an SAP HANA deployment infrastructure (HDI) container has been introduced. This enhancement enables users to seamlessly integrate fabric virtual tables into their SAP HANA deployment infrastructure, providing a simplified and efficient method for accessing and utilizing data without the need for schemas. Moreover, it empowers users to leverage performance optimizations on remote tables, enhancing data processing and analysis capabilities.

This innovation simplifies the process of utilizing fabric virtual tables without the requirement of using schemas, streamlining the data access and manipulation process. Furthermore, it enables users to harness performance optimizations on remote tables, leading to improved efficiency and speed in data operations. This innovation aims to enhance the overall user experience and increase productivity within the SAP HANA Cloud.

Graphical editor for hdbgrants and hdbrevokes files in SAP Business Application Studio

The latest update in the SAP Business Application Studio (BAS) introduces a graphical editor for hdbgrants and hdbrevokes files, providing an intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing privileges. This graphical editor offers ease of use in adding necessary privileges using an hdbgrants file by selecting from a list of available options, gathering granting services from the mta.yaml file of the project, cloning privileges from the object owner to the application user, bidirectional modification support with instantaneous changes, as well as error handling and reporting capabilities.

The graphical editor for hdbgrants and hdbrevokes files in SAP BAS delivers substantial value to users by providing a UI-based option to add or modify privileges for accessing SAP HANA Deployment Infrastructure services. It significantly reduces the development time by simplifying and streamlining the process of privilege management. Additionally, it facilitates intuitive adoption by developers, enhancing productivity and empowering users to effectively manage privileges within SAP HANA Cloud.

Graphical View Modeling

As our loyal readers might expect, we have also provided numerous enhancement and new functionalities to our solution in regard to its graphical view modeling capabilities. You can find all details in the comprehensive blog post by Jan Zwickel.

Are you looking for more technical details on the latest release of SAP HANA Cloud? Then, take a look at our What’s New Viewer in our Technical Documentation, which describes the entire scope of the release.

Finally, make sure to follow the SAP HANA Cloud tag to stay updated on all the latest developments. You can also check out the whatsnewinsaphanacloud tag for new blog posts. If you want to watch the What’s New webinar in Q2 2024, you can find it and all future webinars soon in this YouTube playlist. Keep an eye out for our upcoming webcast on new innovations, which will also be available in the same playlist soon.

If you have any questions about SAP HANA Cloud or want to discuss any of the innovations mentioned, feel free to post them in our SAP HANA Cloud Community Q&A or in the comments section.

SAP CodeJam HANA ML in Berlin 2024-06 Recap

2024-07-01T20:41:58.273000+02:00

On the last Friday of June, we held the Getting Started with Machine Learning using SAP HANA and Python in Berlin, Germany.

It was kindly hosted by Zalando and organized by @rofinke

It was a mix of some theory...

...and hands-on.

It was great to have the product manager responsible for the SAP HANA embedded Machine Learning @ChristophMorgen with us.

I would like to extend special thanks to @oliver for organizing and all participants joining SAP Stammtisch Berlin for the day before...

...that I used as well to walk and to see the city...

...including the former Berlin Wall.

Would you like to host such an SAP CodeJam? Here are the details: https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-blogs-by-sap/quot-getting-started-with-machine-learning-usin...

A Closer Look at the New Metering Metrics added to Metrics Service from SAP HANA Cloud 2024 QRC2

2024-07-05T06:00:43.619000+02:00

In the relentless quest to boost transparency and allow our users to have a better understanding of their SAP HANA Cloud charges, we are delighted to introduce the new metering metrics to our Metrics Service as part of 2024 QRC2. The primary aim of this update is to give a clear and exact account of the usage of resources.

The addition of metering metrics gives you the ability to pinpoint the charges presently being applied to your system. The metering metrics provides a comprehensive insight into resource usage, which is measured in Capacity Units (CU) for various facets such as memory, storage, compute power, backup and network operations.

An array of system components is under the purview of these metrics, which include default nodes, replica nodes, snapshot nodes, and individual features like Cloud Connector. An exclusive feature of these metrics is that they all return 'delta' type measurements. This implies that the values, which are captured at hourly intervals, measure the changes since the metric value was last taped, giving you an up-to-date report about your consumption.

Metering metrics list

Furthermore, we've ensured the extension of these metrics to both SAP HANA Cloud, SAP HANA database and SAP HANA Cloud, data lake. You can find all the information and details in the official help document here.

How to use metrics service tutorial

To make it convenient for you to consume these metrics via the REST API, we recommend the SAP tutorial "Explore SAP HANA Cloud Alerts and Metrics". You would specifically want to look at the section "Access database metering metrics". Find it here.

Consumption monitor in HANA Cloud Central

Alongside metering metrics availability, we are also thrilled to release the consumption monitor application in HANA Cloud Central. This application lets you monitor consumption in a user-friendly interface, offering you a clear view of your system's consumption. Learn more about using the HANA Cloud Central here.

Conclusion

Armed with these new functionalities, we hope that you'll have a better understanding and grip over your system consumption. We genuinely believe that our constant enhancement will not only lead to more transparency but also help you in making informed strategic decisions. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to evolve for your needs.

SAP HANA Cloud release June 2024 Round-up

2024-07-08T10:25:16.225000+02:00

Dear SAP HANA Cloud Enthusiasts,

As we finalize the second quarter of 2024, we are thrilled to present a comprehensive collection of the latest videos, blog posts, and resources from the June 2024 release of SAP HANA Cloud.

	What’s New Teaser Dive into SAP HANA Cloud's latest innovations with Lead Product Manager Thomas Hammer! His "What’s New" teaser offers an exciting and concise snapshot of his favorite features from the newest release. Watch it now on YouTube.
What’s New blogpost Intrigued by the teaser? Explore our "What’s New in SAP HANA Cloud in June 2024" blog post for an in-depth look and find valuable links for further insights. Read it here!
	What's New Webinar Prefer watching over reading? Our 'What’s New' webinar is just for you! Join our Product experts for an in-depth exploration of the latest features. Watch anytime by clicking here!

Additional information

In addition to our regular release updates, make sure to check the following valuable content provided by our team:

Learn more about New Machine Learning features in SAP HANA Cloud database release 2024 Q2 by @ChristophMorgen
Learn more about Calculation View Features of 2024 QRC2 by @jan_zwickel
A Closer Look at the New Metering Metrics added to Metrics Service from SAP HANA Cloud 2024 QRC2 by @Hai
Join our Early Adopter Care program:
- SAP HANA Cloud for large instances
- MDS Cubes in SAP HANA Cloud
Join our Customer Engagement Initiative:
- SAP HANA Database Migration to SAP HANA Cloud (XSC,XSA,CAP)

Don’t miss out on all the content and remember to follow us in the SAP HANA Community.

Remember to check our content following the # whatsnewinsaphanacloud tag: here

Don’t forget to subscribe and follow SAP HANA Cloud on YouTube to always stay up-to-date regarding the most recent innovations in SAP HANA Cloud.

All the best,

Andrea on behalf of the SAP HANA Cloud team

#SAP HANA Cloud, SAP HANA database #SAP HANA Cloud

#whatsnewinsaphanacloud

SAP Data and Analytics: Join our Performance focused Live Sessions Series

2024-07-12T08:47:47.532000+02:00

Performance optimization is a central task for every developer, data modeler, data engineer or data analyst since in addition to quality, speed is a key requirement for modern reporting. With this in mind, we have created a sophisticated series of expert-guided Live Sessions to address this important challenge.

Boost your skills in SAP Analytics Cloud performance and explore key features and optimizations that enhance data analytics efficiency and effectiveness in SAP Analytics Cloud, in our specialized expert-guided Live Session events, “SAP Analytics Cloud Performance overview”. Register here.

Understand the performance implications of story design and scripting in SAP Analytics Cloud, in our expert-guided Live Session events "Understanding the relationship between story design and performance in SAP Analytics Cloud". Register here.

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Product Learning CoE Analytics Team

Check the Availability of Your Multi-Environment HANA Cloud Instances with SAP Automation Pilot

2024-07-26T11:32:29.742000+02:00

In this blog post, I share hands-on insights on how to minimize downtime for your SAP HANA Cloud database by leveraging SAP Automation Pilot. By simply going through this step-by-step guide, you will learn how easy it is to set up SAP Automation Pilot to to perform automated availability checks effortlessly, so that you minimize disruptions, keep your business running smoothly and maximize performance!

Introduction

Undoubtedly, ensuring that your HANA Cloud instances are always up and running can be crucial for the success of your business operations. In Biser Simeonov's last blog post co-authored by me, “Automated Availability Check for SAP HANA Cloud (on CF level) with SAP Automation Pilot”, we showed you how to automate the monitoring of your HANA Cloud instances enabled in a Cloud Foundry space by using SAP Automation Pilot and SAP Alert Notification Service for SAP BTP – two powerful tools from the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) DevOps portfolio. You learned how to utilize these tools to check the availability of your instances, and even start the ones that are not accessible. So far so good!

However, with the 2022 QRC3 release in October 2022, SAP HANA Cloud went "multi-environment". As a result, now you can have HANA Cloud instances in subaccounts that don’t have the Cloud Foundry environment enabled. For more information, see:

In the following guide, I will show you how to perform the same HANA Cloud Availability Check for HANA Cloud instances enabled in “Other Environments” (multi-environment setup).

How does the HANA Cloud Availability Check work?

The process is visualized in the graphic below. I advise you to check out the previous blog post for a more detailed explanation.

Step-by-Step Guide

Prerequisites

SAP HANA Cloud database provisioned on subaccount level (multi-environment);
SAP Automation Pilot (See Initial Setup);
SAP Alert Notification service for SAP BTP enabled in Cloud Foundry (See Initial Setup);
Integration between SAP Automation Pilot and SAP Alert Notification service for SAP BTP (See Integrate with SAP Alert Notification Service for SAP BTP);
SAP Service Manager instance with plan “subaccount-admin” provisioned on space level or on subaccount level;

After you’ve made sure that you meet all the prerequisites, you can proceed with the steps below.

1. Verify that you have provisioned SAP Automation Pilot. You should be able to see it in the “Subscriptions” section in your subaccount:

NOTE: SAP Automation Pilot can interact with resources in any BTP landscapes. All you need is to have at least one instance of SAP Automation Pilot.

2. Verify that you have Alert Notification and Service Manager instances, and that your HANA Cloud instance is enabled in “Other Environments”.

Your Service Manager instance can be provisioned either in your subaccount, or in your space. The only difference this will make is whether you will have to create a “Service Binding” or a “Service Key” later.

3. You need to create a Service Key for your Alert Notification service instance. This key will be used on a later stage by the SAP Automation Pilot command. To create a Service Key, choose the “Create Service Key” option:

Enter a name for your service key and choose “Create”:

4. Next, you need to create a “Service Binding” for your HANA Cloud instance, which will be used by the SAP Automation Pilot command. To do that, choose the “Create Service Binding” option:

Enter a name for your service binding and choose “Create”:

5. Depending on the scope of your Service Manager instance, you need to create:

a “Service Key” if your instance is on space level.
a “Service Binding” if your instance is on subaccount level.

6. The SAP Automation Pilot team has prepared a catalog with example commands, which can be imported directly into your SAP Automation Pilot instance.

Copy the contents of the catalog:

7. Now you need to import the catalog with example commands in your SAP Automation Pilot instance. From the left-side menu, choose “My Catalogs” and then “Import”:

Paste the catalog and choose “Import”:

8. You can see the imported catalog “Automation Pilot Examples” in “My Catalogs”. From this catalog, choose “Commands”:

9. From the catalog, open the “CheckHanaCloudMultiEnvAvailabilitySample” command by clicking on it. Explore the Input Keys, the Output Keys, and the Executors of the command:

10. Scroll down to “Configuration” and choose the “notifyANS” executor. You need to define the event that SAP Automation Pilot will ingest into Alert Notification service. Choose “Edit” to edit the properties of your event:

You can use these example values for the required event properties of your event:

body: The availability check for HANA Cloud with Service Instance ID $(.execution.input.hanaServiceInstance) has failed. Now the Automation Pilot proceeds with an automated START for this HANA Cloud instance.
category: ALERT
eventType: FailedHCAvailabilityCheck
resourceName: hana
resourceType: database
serviceKey: $(.execution.input.AnsServiceKey) -> use a dynamic expression to get the AnsServiceKey from the inputs
severity: ERROR
subject: Failed HANA Cloud Availability Check $(nowMillis | toDate("yyyy-MM-dd"))

11. After you have done that, trigger the command:

12. You need to provide values for the following input keys:

AnsServiceKey - Service Key for your Alert Notification service instance.
hanaClientTokenURL - The URL needed to be called in order to generate a token to access your HANA Cloud instance. The URL is built as follows: in the HANA Cloud service binding file, in the "uaa" section, look for the specified "url" + add to it /oauth/token?grant_type=client_credentials.
hanaCloudBindingKey - Service Binding for your Hana Cloud instance
hanaCloudResourceName - The exact name of your HANA Cloud instance, e.g. "hanaDemo", "hanaProd", etc.
hanaCluster - Needed to access the HANA Cloud API gateway, where 'cluster' typically identifies either a production, pre-production or trial environment.
hanaDatacenter - Needed to access the HANA Cloud API gateway, where 'datacenter' is the data center where your HANA Cloud is deployed, i.e. eu10, us10, etc.
hanaServiceInstance - The Instance ID of your HANA Cloud instance - it can be found from the provisioned service in BTP Cockpit, look for "Instance ID".
ServiceManagerKey - Service Key or Service Binding for your Service Manager instance used to perform management tasks against multiple instances in your BTP subaccount.

You can also look at the prepared outputs (no need to provide values for them but it is important to understand what data is returned as the command's output):

checkPing - The entire response for the metric "HDBAccessible" returned by HANA Cloud Metrics Service REST API.
isHanaCloudAvailable - Check on whether the HANA Cloud instance is available, where: "true" = HANA Cloud is available; "false" = HANA Cloud is not available.
resultHanaStart - Check on whether the HANA Cloud instance has been started successfully, where: "true" = HANA Cloud has been started; "false" = HANA Cloud was not started'.

13. Provide values for all input keys and then trigger the command:

There are two possible options for the outcome of the execution:

Option 1: Your HANA Cloud instance is accessible and the command for starting HANA Cloud has not been triggered. You should be able to see the following execution details:

If you click on “Output Values”, you can see the output values for checkPing, isHanaCloudAvailable, and resultHanaStart:

You can verify in SAP Hana Cloud Central that your HANA Cloud instance is up and running:

Option 2: Your HANA Cloud instance is not accessible and the command for starting HANA Cloud has been triggered:

You can verify in SAP Hana Cloud Central that your HANA Cloud instance is starting:

If you click on “Output Values”, you can see the output values for checkPing, isHanaCloudAvailable, and resultHanaStart:

You have successfully performed the HANA Cloud Availability Check via SAP Automation Pilot. Now you can make a subscription in Alert Notification service, so that you can receive a notification when SAP Automation Pilot detects that your multi-environment HANA Cloud instance is not accessible. If you want to do that, continue with the following steps:

14. Navigate to your Alert Notification service instance and open it. Choose the “Subscriptions” tab form the left-side menu and then “Create” to create a new subscription:

15. Enter a name for your subscription and click “Create” to move on to the next step:

16. Next, create a Condition. Give your condition a name. Then define your condition by choosing the event property “eventType”, operand “Is Equal To”, and, in our case, expected value “FailedHCAvailabilityCheck”:

The expected value for “eventType” is the one you provided in step 10:

17. To finish your subscription in Alert Notification service, select an Action by choosing “Create Action”:

Select an Action Type of your preference, for example “Email” and choose “Next”:

Give your Action a name, and then provide the email address where you want to receive the email notification:

NOTE: After you have created some of the actions, they are labeled as Not Confirmed. To enable them, you have to confirm them as described in Confirming Actions.

Choose “Save” to finish making your subscription. You will see a confirmation that your subscription was created:

You can find more information about Subscriptions, Conditions, and Actions in Configuration Management Using the SAP BTP Cockpit.

18. Now you can test your subscription. If you stop your HANA Cloud Instance and trigger the CheckHanaCloudMultiEnvAvailabilitySample command again, you will receive an email from Alert Notification service with information that the HANA Cloud Availability Check has failed. You can see an example email below:

NOTE: If you also want to receive notifications in a Microsoft Teams channel of your choice, check out the previous blog post for a detailed step-by-step explanation on how to make this configuration.

Wrap-up

In this blog, you've learned to utilize SAP Automation Pilot and SAP Alert Notification service for SAP BTP to effectively monitor the availability of your multi-environment HANA Cloud instances. By using these innovative tools in your daily operations, you can save time, prevent potential disruptions, and ensure your operations continue to run smoothly. If you are interested to learn more about these products and how they can transform your business, please refer to the following sources:

SAP Automation Pilot:

SAP Alert Notification service for SAP BTP:

You can also check out these very useful tutorials prepared by our colleague Dan van Leeuwen:

SAP Community - SAP HANA Cloud

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SAP Data and Analytics: Join our Performance focused Live Sessions Series

Check the Availability of Your Multi-Environment HANA Cloud Instances with SAP Automation Pilot

Introduction

How does the HANA Cloud Availability Check work?

Step-by-Step Guide

Prerequisites

Wrap-up