SAP BODS - Dataflow Introduction

Data flow is used to extract, transform and load data from the source to the target system. All the transformations, loading and formatting occurs in dataflow.

Once you define a data flow in a project, this can be added to a workflow or an ETL job. Data flow can send or receive objects/information using parameters. Data flow is named in format DF_Name.

Example of Data Flow

Let us assume that you want to load a fact table in DW system with data from two tables in the source system.

Data Flow contains the following objects −

Two Source Table

Join between two tables and defined in Query transform

Target table

There are three types of objects that can be added to a Data flow. They are −

Source

Target

Transforms

Step 1 − Go to the Local Object Library and drag both the tables to work space.

Step 2 − To add a Query Transformation, drag from the right tool bar.

Step 3 − Join both the tables and create a template target table by right cpcking the Query box → Add New → New Template table.

Step 4 − Enter the name of the Target table, Data store name and Owner (Schema name) under which the table is to be created.

Step 5 − Drag the target table in front and join it to the Query transform.

Passing Parameters

You can also pass different parameters in and out of the data flow. While passing a parameter to a data flow, objects in data flow reference those parameters. Using parameters, you can pass different operations to a data flow.

Example − Suppose you have entered a parameter to a table about last updated. It allows you to extract only rows modified since the last update.