VDM (Virtual Data Model) and development of CDS views for SAP HCM (Human Capital Management)

[former_member509411]

We were wondering, if it was a good idea to create CDS views to build (embedded analytics) reports on data from SAP HCM (e.g. PA module)

1. in general?

2. in combination with data from other data sources (e.g. external data loaded to BW)?

Our environment: SAP S/4HANA on premise 1709

Example for case 1:

A fiori tile that shows how many employees a company has.

Example for case 2:

A list of employees (from PA tables PA0001, PA0002) which would be matched with third party data on buildings/rooms, e.g. in which office an employee works.

All following SAPs best practice for VDM view design and security with Access Controls.

Concerns were that e.g. the HCM module is too complex to model with CDS views or that security could not be implemented the same way as with traditional reports using e.g. SAP Query.

Searching for standard content (CDS views) from SAP, using the View Browser Application, i was able to find ca. 100 views from SAP that belong to the application component "CA-HR-S4", where CA seems to stand for Cross Application.

Searching the web i was not able to find specific information regarding the VDM/CDS views to HCM module, or any directions from SAP that would SUGGEST or NOT SUGGEST to model HCM data with CDS views. This document form TechEd17 suggest general best practice for CDS views, but doesnt cover modules. Is there any advice from SAP regarding modules and/or specifically for HCM?

[Masaaki]

Hello Jan,

Quite good question, and this is the challenge I have been tackling.

I have written blogs to answer this question as below.

masaaki.arai#content:blogposts

Hope below could help you find the appropriate VDM

How to find a predefined Virtual Data Model in S/4HANA

Hope below would help what kind of CDS View type you should create

Example: Custom CDS View using predefined Virtual Data Model and Extend View in S/4HANA

Hope below would help creating complex queries.

BW Query on CDS View, OData from BW and value of BW Query in S/4HANA

I would like you to give what are missed to create report with CDS View.

Kind regards, Masa

[former_member218251]

Since you will have a business partner for all HR master, you might want to consider using that to create your query on, rather then the HR master itself.

The data you mention (# employees, work location, etc) will be available just from the business partner.

You can also have a look at this app:

https://fioriappslibrary.hana.ondemand.com/sap/fix/externalViewer/#/detail/Apps('F1522')/S13OP

Think there is a CDS view for the data in the app, you might be able to use that CDS. It is probably not release and not a query yet, so you have to build dat over the CDS of this app.