De-normalization and Analytic views in SAP HANA

Note that HANA is not primarily designed for de-normalization; however, it stores data in columnar format so all aggregations are performed on the fly. This columnar storage approach allows for efficient query processing without the need for traditional de-normalization techniques.

You can create multiple views but this will add duplicate data and require extra effort to maintain them. The number of views normally depends on business needs, because views contain data in many aspects so they can be reused. In case you have multiple measures to handle in views, you can create calculation views to get data in your reports.

Analytic Views in SAP HANA

Analytic views are used to model data for analytical purposes by combining attribute data with transactional data. They provide a foundation for reporting and analytics by joining dimension tables with fact tables.

Calculation Views

Calculation Views are used to consume other Analytic, Attribute and other Calculation views and base column tables. These are used to perform complex calculations, which are not possible with other types of Views. They offer the most flexibility in data modeling and can handle complex business logic.

Key Features of Calculation Views

Calculation views provide several advantages ?

• Support for complex calculations and aggregations
• Ability to combine multiple data sources
• Flexible modeling options including unions, joins, and projections
• Support for calculated columns and restricted columns

To know more about SAP HANA Modeling, you can refer to our SAP HANA tutorial:

SAP HANA Calculation View

Conclusion

SAP HANA's columnar storage eliminates the need for traditional de-normalization while providing powerful analytic and calculation views for complex data modeling and reporting requirements.