Exchanging Metadata in XMI Format

Use

You can use the XMI format in the Administrator Workbench functional area Transport Connection to exchange metadata (BW objects) between different systems. A model derived along the lines of the CWM (Common Warehouse Metamodel) is used here.

You can find additional information about the CWM standard on the OMG (Object Management Group) homepage: www.omg.org.

You can find additional information about the Administrator Workbench function area Transport Connection under Transport Systems.

Integration

You can export or import the XML files (Download or Upload to/from PC) in the Administrator Workbench.

An HTTP service is also available under SAP/BW/XML/CWM. You can use this HTTP service to request this metadata in the way in which you are familiar from using the Web server. In order to request metadata for an object, use the following URL:

http://:Port/SAP/BW/XML/CWM?/CLASSID=&ID=&DETAIL=X&OBJECTVERSION=A

You need to replace the following terms:

Term	Information
:	Specify the name of the server and the port for the required BW system. http://LS0027.WDF.SAP-AG.DE:1080/ SAP/BW/XML/CWM?...
	Specify the name of the class for the required BW object. As an example for the class InfoCube: CLASSID=COM.SAP.BW.CWM.OLAP.INFOCUBE You get the BW model in XML format from the following URL: http://:Port/SAP/BW/XML/CWM? CLASSID=METAMODEL
	Specify the technical name for the required BW object. You get an Overview of All Objects from: http://:Port/SAP/BW/XML/CWM? CLASSID=LIST&ID=&DETAIL=&OBJECTVERSION=A You get an Overview of All Business Content Objects by using the parameter &OBJECTVERSION=D, namely http://:Port/SAP/BW/XML/CWM? CLASSID=LIST&ID=&DETAIL=&OBJECTVERSION=A You get an Overview of All Objects of a Specific Type by using the ID specification in the URL. For example, you specify the following for InfoCubes: http://:Port/SAP/BW/XML/CWM? CLASSID=LIST&ID=COM.SAP.BW.CWM.OLAP.INFOCUBE &DETAIL=&OBJECTVERSION=A

Functions

The exchange of metadata involves:

Importing from another system

Exporting into another system

Only objects for which there are BAPIs (Business Application Programming Interfaces) are supported with details. You can only import these objects after you have changed them. You are still not able to import non-BW objects.

You can export the current BW model according to the XMI (XML Metadata Interchange) standard. This is made possible with the SAP report RSO_REPOSITORY_EXCHANGE_XML.

You can find additional information about the XMI standard on the OMG homepage: www.omg.org.

The following graphic illustrates the functions EXPORT and IMPORT.