Tasks

You can create multiple Tasks in a Workspace to perform different analyses. You can schedule them to run automatically once, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or in real time (loop).

Task Creation

Note

When using Initial and Delta Variant, please note that Initial Variant is only used during the first run and Delta Variant is used during all subsequent runs.

You can choose from the following Task types: Analytic, Extraction and Replication. Each of these will be explained below.

Analytic Task

Based on the Analyitc Group with defined parameters, the data is extracted from the SAP system and written to the SQL database. The Analysis is performed afterwards.

1. Name & Description

• enter a name for the new Task
• enter a Description (optional)

2. SAP System a. Choose a SAP System

   • SAP System: select a SAP system from the dropdown list
   • Parallel Extractions: define how many Slots the extraction can or may use in parallel in this SAP system (explained at the bottom)
   • Status: Successfully connected, Connection failed or Testing

   b. Data Masking

   • Disable Data Masking: SAP data is extracted without applying any masking
   • Pseudonymize: replaces values with consistent hashes using salted hashing

Hashing means turning data into a one-way string of characters that cannot be reversed. A salt is a random piece of data added to the data before hashing. This ensures that even identical data produce different hashes, making attacks much harder and improving security.

3. Data Strategy Select a Data Strategy from the dropdown list.

4. SQL Server

• SQL Server: select an SQL Connection from the dropdown list

• Schema for Extracted Data: displays and explains the schema based on the selected Data Strategy

• Schema for Results Data: displays and explains the schema based on the selected Data Strategy

  a. Table Layout

  • Use SAP Primary Keys: uses the primary keys from SAP such as MANDT or BUKRS
  • Use NEXUS_ID: automatically adds the NEXUS_ID field to the table layout

  b. Settings - Data Transformation

  • String Trimming (Both - Start & End, Start, End or None): defines whether and where to remove spaces from field values

5. Schedule a. Start Time

   • Start Now: the first Run starts as soon as the Task is completed
   • Start Later: the first Run starts at the selected time (date, time zone, day and time slot)

   b. Updates

   • No Updates needed: the Task is not scheduled and will only run once.
   • Regular Update needed: the Task is scheduled to run repeatedly - Based on the Start Time, the times for the next four Runs will be displayed.

Run Interval	Possible Settings / Frequency	Description
Hourly	1 to 23 hours	Specify the hourly interval at which the Task should be repeated
Daily	1 to 6 days	Specify the daily interval at which the Task should be repeated
Weekly	Weekday selection 1 to 7 days	Specify on which days of the week the Task should be repeated
Monthly	1 to 12 months 1 to 28 days, last day	Specify on which days of the month the Task should be repeated (alternatively or additionally: last day of month can also be selected)
Real-Time	1 to 59 minutes delay	Specify whether the next Run should start immediately after the previous one finishes. Alternatively, set a delay to specify how many minutes the next Run should wait before executing after the last Run has finished.

6. Analytic Group

• Analytic Group: use the drop down menu to select an existing Analytic Group
• Analytic Steps: displays the first few Analytic Steps
• Linked Extraction Package: if an Extraction Package has been linked to the Analytic Group, it will be displayed here

7. Parameters The parameters that can and should be set, if any, depend on the Analytic Group you have chosen.

Here are the most common parameters:

• Preferred Language & Fallback Language: select the main language for the extraction. The fallback language is only used, if a description is not available in your preferred language.
• Company Code: based on the SAP System you have chosen the 'Available Company Codes' are listed on the left side. Select them by dragging it into the 'Selected Company Codes' section.
• Analytic Time Period: define a fix start and end date or set one or both of them dynamic
• Fiscal Year: select the start year and end year or calculate it dynamically. You can also select whether the end year should be included.
• Extraction Time Period: Time period during which the data is filtered
• Currency Conversion Date: Choose the date for currency conversion
• Reporting Currency: Your reporting currency
• Exchange Rate Type: Set the exchange rate type
• Exclude Intercompany: Include or exclude intercompany transactions

8. Third-Party Services a. Add Excel

   • Export Path (Subfolder): enter the path where you want to save the Excel file
   • Test Path: test whether the specified path is correct and accessible
   • Copy Full Path: copy the file path to the clipboard Export Mode:
     • File per Result Table: for each results table, a separate Excel file is created and saved
     • Sheet per Result Table in one File: a separate worksheet (sheet) will be created in an Excel file for each table of results (all tables of results in one Excel file)
   • Data Limit: defines the maximum number of records per file - if this is exceeded, another Excel file is automatically created
   • Enable Thousands Separators: if this option is enabled, a thousand separator is inserted
   • Add Header: when enabled, the column names are written in the first row of the Excel sheet
   • Create Subfolder per Run: when executed repeatedly, a separate subfolder is created for each run
   • Result Table & Alias: for each result table, an alias (alternative name) can be entered Click Add Excel Service to complete the configuration.

   b. Add CSV

   • Export Path (Subfolder): enter the path where you want to save the CSV file
   • Test Path: test whether the specified path is correct and accessible
   • Copy Full Path: copy the file path to the clipboard Delimiter:
     • Comma ,
     • Tab (like the Tab-key on your keyboard)
     • Pipe |
     • Hashtag #
     • Semikolon ;
   • Data Limit: specifies the maximum number of records per file. If this limit is exceeded, another CSV file is automatically created (enter 0 to write all entries to one file).
   • Add Header: when enabled, the column names are written in the first row of the CSV
   • Create Subfolder per Run: when executed repeatedly, a separate subfolder is created for each run
   • Result Table & Alias: for each result table, an alias (alternative name) can be entered Click Add CSV Service to complete the configuration.

9. Review In the Review, all the selected settings and parameters are displayed again. If you want to change any of the settings, simply click on the entry to return to this section. If everything is OK, click on Create Task.

Extraction Task

A user-defined Extraction Package, created in the Package Studio, is used to extract the data from the SAP system. This data is stored in the SQL database. The data is not analysed.

1. Name & Description

• enter a name for the new Task
• enter a Description (optional)

2. SAP System a. Choose a SAP System

   • SAP System: select a SAP system from the dropdown list
   • Parallel Extractions: define how many Slots the extraction can or may use in parallel in this SAP system (explained at the bottom)
   • Status: Successfully connected, Connection failed or Testing
   • Bucket: Remove the connection and select another one (can only be clicked if more than one connection is selected)
   • + Add SAP System: here you can set up another SAP connection (Multi-SAP extraction)

   b. Data Masking

   • Disable Data Masking: SAP data is extracted without applying any masking
   • Anonymise: replaces field values with a fixed placeholder (e.g. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX)
   • Pseudonymize: replaces values with consistent hashes using salted hashing

Hashing means turning data into a one-way string of characters that cannot be reversed. A salt is a random piece of data added to the data before hashing. This ensures that even identical data produce different hashes, making attacks much harder and improving security.

3. Data Strategy Select a Data Strategy from the dropdown list.

4. SQL Server

• SQL Server: select an SQL Connection from the dropdown list

• Schema for Extracted Data: displays and explains the schema based on the selected Data Strategy

  a. Table Layout

  • Use SAP Primary Keys: uses the primary keys from SAP such as MANDT or BUKRS
  • Use NEXUS_ID: automatically adds the NEXUS_ID field to the table layout

  b. Settings - Data Transformation

  • String Trimming (Both - Start & End, Start, End or None): defines whether and where to remove spaces from field values

5. Schedule a. Start Time

   • Start Now: the first Run starts as soon as the Task is completed
   • Start Later: the first Run starts at the selected time (date, time zone, day and time slot)

   b. Updates

   • No Updates needed: the Task is not scheduled and will only run once.
   • Regular Update needed: the Task is scheduled to run repeatedly - Based on the Start Time, the times for the next four Runs will be displayed.

Run Interval	Possible Settings / Frequency	Description
Hourly	1 to 23 hours	Specify the hourly interval at which the Task should be repeated
Daily	1 to 6 days	Specify the daily interval at which the Task should be repeated
Weekly	Weekday selection 1 to 7 days	Specify on which days of the week the Task should be repeated
Monthly	1 to 12 months 1 to 28 days, last day	Specify on which days of the month the Task should be repeated (alternatively or additionally: last day of month can also be selected)
Real-Time	1 to 59 minutes delay	Specify whether the next Run should start immediately after the previous one finishes. Alternatively, set a delay to specify how many minutes the next Run should wait before executing after the last Run has finished.

6. Extraction Package

Important

The 'Use Initial & Delta Variant' checkbox can only be ticked if the task has been scheduled repeatedly and the Data Strategy is appropriate. Please refer to the information below the checkbox in dab Nexus.

• Package: select an Extraction Package from the dropdown menu
• Initial Variant: select an Initial Variant
• Delta Variant (if activated): select an Delta Variant
• Status: indicates whether the package can be used
• Open in Package Studio: with a click on the button you can open the selected package in the Package Studio
• Bucket: Remove the package and select another one (can only be clicked if more than one package is selected)

You can then add further extraction packages via + Add Package (Multi-Package extraction), after which dab Nexus will automatically attempt to merge them. If the selected packages cannot be merged, a corresponding message will appear.

7. Parameters The parameters that can and should be set, if any, depend on the Extraction Package(s) you have chosen.

Here are the most common parameters:

• Preferred Language & Fallback Language: select the main language for the extraction. The fallback language is only used, if a description is not available in your preferred language.
• Company Code: based on the SAP System you have chosen the 'Available Company Codes' are listed on the left side. Select them by dragging it into the 'Selected Company Codes' section.

8. Third-Party Services a. Add CSV

   • Export Path (Subfolder): enter the path where you want to save the CSV file
   • Test Path: test whether the specified path is correct and accessible
   • Copy Full Path: copy the file path to the clipboard Delimiter:
     • Comma ,
     • Tab (like the Tab-key on your keyboard)
     • Pipe |
     • Hashtag #
     • Semikolon ;
   • Data Limit: specifies the maximum number of records per file. If this limit is exceeded, another CSV file is automatically created (enter 0 to write all entries to one file).
   • Add Header: when enabled, the column names are written in the first row of the CSV
   • Create Subfolder per Run: when executed repeatedly, a separate subfolder is created for each run
   • Result Table & Alias: for each result table, an alias (alternative name) can be entered Click Add CSV Service to complete the configuration.

9. Review In the Review, all the selected settings and parameters are displayed again. If you want to change any of the settings, simply click on the entry to return to this section. If everything is OK, click on Create Task.

Replication Task

Data extracted from SAP is transferred to the selected environment under Connection (Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, etc.). Unlike the Analytic or Extraction task, it is not stored directly on the SQL server.

1. Name & Description

• enter a name for the new Task
• enter a Description (optional)

2. SAP System a. Choose a SAP System

   • SAP System: select a SAP system from the dropdown list
   • Parallel Extractions: define how many Slots the extraction can or may use in parallel in this SAP system (explained at the bottom)
   • Status: Successfully connected, Connection failed or Testing
   • Bucket: Remove the connection and select another one (can only be clicked if more than one connection is selected)
   • + Add SAP System: here you can set up another SAP connection (Multi-SAP extraction)

   b. Data Masking

   • Disable Data Masking: SAP data is extracted without applying any masking
   • Anonymise: replaces field values with a fixed placeholder (e.g. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX)
   • Pseudonymize: replaces values with consistent hashes using salted hashing

Hashing means turning data into a one-way string of characters that cannot be reversed. A salt is a random piece of data added to the data before hashing. This ensures that even identical data produce different hashes, making attacks much harder and improving security.

3. Connection a. Connection Type

   • Fabric Mirrored Database: select an existing connection to Fabric Mirror via the dropdown menu
   • Fabric Lakehouse: choose a Lakehouse to connect to from the list
   • Snowflake: select a Snowflake connection and database schema
   • Azure Data Lake Storage: select an ADLS connection

   b. Table Layout

   • Use SAP Primary Keys: uses the primary keys from SAP such as MANDT or BUKRS
   • Use NEXUS_ID: automatically adds the NEXUS_ID field to the table layout

   c. Settings - Data Transformation

   • String Trimming (Both - Start & End, Start, End or None): defines whether and where to remove spaces from field values

4. Schedule a. Start Time

   • Start Now: the first Run starts as soon as the Task is completed
   • Start Later: the first Run starts at the selected time (date, time zone, day and time slot)

   b. Updates

   • No Updates needed: the Task is not scheduled and will only run once.
   • Regular Update needed: the Task is scheduled to run repeatedly - Based on the Start Time, the times for the next four Runs will be displayed.

Run Interval	Possible Settings / Frequency	Description
Hourly	1 to 23 hours	Specify the hourly interval at which the Task should be repeated
Daily	1 to 6 days	Specify the daily interval at which the Task should be repeated
Weekly	Weekday selection 1 to 7 days	Specify on which days of the week the Task should be repeated
Monthly	1 to 12 months 1 to 28 days, last day	Specify on which days of the month the Task should be repeated (alternatively or additionally: last day of month can also be selected)
Real-Time	1 to 59 minutes delay	Specify whether the next Run should start immediately after the previous one finishes. Alternatively, set a delay to specify how many minutes the next Run should wait before executing after the last Run has finished.

5. Extraction Package

Important

The 'Use Initial & Delta Variant' checkbox can only be ticked if the task has been scheduled repeatedly and the Data Strategy is appropriate. Please refer to the information below the checkbox in dab Nexus.

• Package: select an Extraction Package from the dropdown menu
• Initial Variant: select an Initial Variant
• Delta Variant (if activated): select an Delta Variant
• Status: indicates whether the package can be used
• Open in Package Studio: with a click on the button you can open the selected package in the Package Studio
• Bucket: Remove the package and select another one (can only be clicked if more than one package is selected)

You can then add further extraction packages via + Add Package (Multi-Package extraction), after which dab Nexus will automatically attempt to merge them. If the selected packages cannot be merged, a corresponding message will appear.

6. Parameters The parameters that can and should be set, if any, depend on the Extraction Package(s) you have chosen.

Here are the most common parameters:

• Preferred Language & Fallback Language: select the main language for the extraction. The fallback language is only used, if a description is not available in your preferred language.
• Company Code: based on the SAP System you have chosen the 'Available Company Codes' are listed on the left side. Select them by dragging it into the 'Selected Company Codes' section.

7. Review In the Review, all the selected settings and parameters are displayed again. If you want to change any of the settings, simply click on the entry to return to this section. If everything is OK, click on Create Task.

Task Changes

You can partially modify a Task after it has been created.

Change or (De)activate Schedule

This is how it works:

• Search Task: you can recognise repeatedly scheduled tasks in the overview by their status (Active/Inactive), the Next Run display and the number of Total Runs (more than 1 run) – then click on the task to open it
• Adjustment: switch to the Configuration tab and, if necessary, to Schedule & Status
• Run Interval & Frequency: in the popup, you can select an option from Hourly, Daily, Weekly or Monthly, and also adjust the frequency
• Schedule Start: here you can change the start date and time as well as the time zone
• Deactivate Schedule / Activate Schedule: you can use this button to pause the repeated execution - the task will then no longer be executed until you reactivate it

Change the number of Slots per SAP System

The number of Slots per SAP system determines how many parallel requests dab Nexus can open to this SAP system in order to extract data. When you create the SAP Connection, you can define the maximum number of System Slots that this connection may use – this also depends on your licence.

The change to the System Slots is described below:

• Search and open the Task
• Adjustment: select the tab Configuration and go to SAP System
• Slots: change the slot number in the dropdown - the new slot number will be used in the next run