BI Java Connectors

This page introduces the BI Java Connectors, and includes a brief overview of each of the connectors and their supported systems, in the following sections:


What Are BI Java Connectors?

The BI Java Connectors are a group of four JCA (J2EE Connector Architecture)-compliant resource adapters that implement the BI Java SDK's APIs and allow you to connect the applications you build with the SDK to heterogeneous data sources.

The BI Java SDK contains the JAR files you need to develop applications using any of the BI Java Connectors and to use them in an unmanaged scenario, but to use your application with a data source in the managed environment of the J2EE server, you need to deploy NetWeaver's optional BI UDI (Universal Data Integration) component and create a system on the server with the appropriate BI Java Connector.

The BI Java Connectors are packaged in resource adapter archives, or RAR files. Each RAR file includes class libraries and dependencies, a deployment descriptor, and documentation in the form of a howto.html file (also linked below).

Connector Overview

Four BI Java Connectors are available, listed below with the name of the resource adapter archive in which they are deployed:

  • BI JDBC Connector : bi_sdk_jdbc.rar
  • BI ODBO Connector : bi_sdk_odbo.rar
  • BI SAP Query Connector : bi_sdk_sapq.rar
  • BI XMLA Connector : bi_sdk_xmla.rar

The following table provides an overview of each connector and a link to its howto.html file:

Connector
Access to
Technology
based on
System requirements
BI JDBC Connector

howto.html
Relational data sources: over 170 JDBC drivers

Examples:
Teradata, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, DB2, Microsoft Excel, text files such as CSV
Sun's JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) -- the standard Java API for Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS). JDBC driver for your data source
BI ODBO Connector

howto.html
OLAP data sources: OLE DB for OLAP-compliant data sources

Examples:
Microsoft Analysis Services, SAS, Microsoft PivotTable Services
Microsoft's OLE DB for OLAP -- the established industry-standard OLAP API for the Windows platform. Microsoft Windows 2000 / NT / XP

ODBO driver for your data source
BI SAP Query Connector

howto.html
SAP operational applications

Examples:
data in transactional systems such as R/3, Ad-Hoc, and Operational Reporting
SAP Query -- a component of SAP's Web Application Server that allows you to create custom reports without any ABAP programming knowledge. SAP JCo
BI XMLA Connector

howto.html
OLAP data sources

Examples:
MS Analysis Services, Hyperion, MicroStrategy, and BW 3.x
Microsoft's XMLA (XML for Analysis) -- Web services-based, platform-independent access to OLAP providers. Exchanges analytical data between a client application and a data provider working over the Web, using a SOAP-based XML communication API. none

For Additional Information

  • For connector configuration information, refer to the howto.html file links above
  • For the SDK's connection architecture API documentation, refer to the Connection Interfaces Javadoc package
  • For more on the SDK's connection architecture, see the Developer's Guide.