Ankisettipalli Anil Babu - SAP HANA Advanced Data Modeling

SAP HANA is a database and, as such, stores data. For that data to have any meaning, it must be arranged into data models , maps that describe how specific elements of data relate to each other. Once arranged, the data should be used by applications. The operations on this data structure could be simple calculations, complex machine learning techniques, or anything in between. Most often, the design of a data model and joins on the tables in a data model relate to the performance of a query or function processing in any database. SAP HANA can enable application requirements like business function calculations through logical models used on top of data models. These requirements can range from simple to complex calculations in distributed, scaled-out environments with billions of rows to process.

With these calculation models, applications can also find meaningful data insights by executing machine learning or predictive algorithms. SAP HANA has both natively embedded predictive algorithms and integrations with R to offer flexibility. As we move from predictive to simulation and optimization problems, the challenge of the database is to be versatile in order to perform various complex data structure operations.

This book expects the reader to be aware of in-memory databases and column-oriented databases, and have basic exposure to and hands-on experience with SAP HANA development artifacts. Preferably, the reader will also have basic SQL and data modeling knowledge. Advanced data modeling topics here start from basic calculations in straightforward data models and move to performing complex calculations and machine learning or predictive analytic tasks. This book expects readers to have basic knowledge of and experience with data science-oriented activities and to use such techniques in their regular activities.

The purpose of this book is to teach developers working in SAP HANA how to design complex data models that perform optimally. With a lot of flexibility in performing database tasks in SAP HANA, this book will help readers learn about the various modeling capabilities in SAP HANA, how to develop complex logic through these logical models, and how to scale for higher volumes of data. This advanced modeling book also covers predictive modeling capabilities in SAP HANA using various algorithm libraries and how to build complex modeling scenarios using multiple types of algorithms together. Finally, we will look at performing complex processes (such as simulations and optimizations) in SAP HANA.

This book is organized into two sets of three chapters. The first set will cover data modeling of both physical and logical models and scenarios from simple to complex. The second set will move to predictive modeling, starting with basic predictive modeling and concluding with performing complex operations for simulations and optimizations.

The following walks through details of the chapters ahead:

• : Types of SAP HANA Models
  This chapter gives an overview of all SAP HANA features and then explains the workflow to use SAP HANA Studio to leverage each feature. As this book is for developers who already have SAP HANA experience, we do not provide much explanation on basic concepts; instead, we focus on elements that usually confuse developers. This chapter covers the SAP HANA modeling paradigm, information views (including attribute views, analytic views, and calculation views), analytic privileges, stored procedures (including SQLScript procedures, L language procedures, and R language procedures), and the Application Function Library (including the Business Function Library and the Predictive Analysis Library). With the overall understanding gained in this chapter, developers can move on to other chapters to learn more about SAP HANA models and modeling use cases.