Connect to SAP HANA databases in Anaplan XL Reporting

Anaplan XL Reporting can connect to SAP HANA databases using MDX. This feature is license dependant and requires the HANA connector.

First install the SAP HANA MDX provider. Work with your IT department to obtain this. This will have to be installed on the Excel clients and the FluenceXLWeb server.

From Anaplan XL, select the SAP HANA connection type in the new connection form. You must then fill in the server name or IP address and instance number. Usually you will need to enter a name and password. If so, check Requires Logon.

When using grids connected to HANA, the apply member menu is altered, offering specific options for filtering the grid. These are:

• Sort: Order the children alphabetically.
• Label Filters: Filter the members based on their name. 
• Value Filters: Filter the members based on the value of a chosen measure.

These are similar to the options found when using pivot tables, review the section on Excel Style Advanced Selections for more details.

If you have Variables defined in your HANA model the values for these can be set using Anaplan XL.

Variables can be set at two levels:

• Connection: These are the default Variable values for Grids/Slicers etc.
  • You can right-click a connection to edit the parameter values.
• Object: Grid/Slicer/SmallMultiple value for the Variable, overrides the connection setting.

Connection level values are set when creating or editing a connection in the Connections screen.

Object level settings are set in the designer for ‌the report item. For example, for grids, there's a toolbar button to edit the variable values.

To pass a parameter from SQL to a HANA variable you need to use the syntax:

… FROM "schema"."view" ( PLACEHOLDER."$$PARAMETER_1$$" => @parameterName1, PLACEHOLDER."$$PARAMETER_2$$" => @parameterName2) …

Due to limitations in the MDX support of the HANA database engine, some Anaplan XL features aren't currently available.

Advanced ranking, filtering, and sorting within a hierarchy aren't currently supported for HANA connections.

Instead, Anaplan XL supports several pivot-table-like operations, accessed by right-clicking a grid member and choosing the Apply menu option.

Features disabled by this limitation are:

• Advanced member selections
• Standard grid apply menu
• Breakout - grid and formula
• Insert formula - Ranking
• Small multiples - Bump chart

This isn't currently supported for HANA connections.

These aren't currently supported for HANA connections due to restrictions in the supported MDX.

Grids connecting to HANA can't have in-cell charts defined as an interactive part of the grid. Standard formula-based in-cell charts can still be used on data retrieved from HANA through a grid or Anaplan XL formulas.

These aren't currently supported for HANA connections.

Features disabled by this limitation are:

• Custom calculations (defined on the Anaplan XL ribbon)
• Member selector options to Group members, Create Set and Calculated value
• Grid options to Keep and Group members and Keep and Create Set

The option to create a table based on HANA connections is currently disabled as HANA doesn't support the MDX generated.

These aren't currently supported for HANA connections as HANA doesn't support the Mdx generated.

This isn't currently supported for HANA connections.

This isn't currently supported for HANA connections.