We are exploring options to change our ERP from a legacy system to SAP Cloud and hence we need to understand options to source the required SAP data for TM1. 

One option is to feed SAP data to our data warehouse and we then feed TM1 from there. This might be the easiest option. 

Another is to source data directly from SAP. Given Server 12 local is off the table we need to explore options for Server 11 only.

1. From what we have been told, there would be no way to use ODBC against SAP Cloud. 
2. Text file exchange is of course an option with SAP exporting to a schedule with file transfer for TM1 to then use in loads but I'd prefer to avoid the text file path and also be in a position to extract data "on demand"
3. There appears to be a TM1 to SAP connector that was released early last year but I haven't been able to find any useful information about it. It appears to be an ODATA based interface run from command line but other than that I have found nothing.I would really like to understand how it works and in particular how well it can be integrated to TI's (Perhaps using execute command) and what sort of end-to-end experience can be achieved.  If anyone has knowledge of/ experience with this  connector I would be interested in any information you can provide.  If you wish to PM me that would be fine

Thanks

------------------------------
John O'Leary
------------------------------

Some time ago, when IBM released the IBM Planning Analytics Connector for SAP, they run a webinar.
The recording of said webinar is no longer online, but the slide deck of the presentation is still offered for download by the second link.

Links:

1)
https://community.ibm.com/community/user/discussion/webinar-making-the-most-of-your-sap-data-with-the-ibm-planning-analytics-connector-for-sap#bma6a21e1b-8cc9-4da8-b45a-35b22750e8df
Webinar: Making the most of your SAP data with the IBM Planning Analytics Connector for SAP

2)
https://community.ibm.com/community/user/viewdocument/webinar-making-the-most-of-your-sa-1?CommunityKey=8fde0600-e22b-4178-acf5-bf4eda43146b
Webinar: Making the most of your SAP data with the IBM Planning Analytics Connector for SAP

3)
https://community.ibm.com/community/user/blogs/sami-el-cheikh1/2024/01/05/make-the-most-of-your-sap-data-with-the-ibm-planni
Make the most of your SAP data with the IBM Planning Analytics Connector for SAP!

------------------------------
Bernd Siebert
------------------------------

Hi John

I have never used Planning Analytics SAP Connector, but as far as i understand it, it is very similar as a Python integration (sometimes curl instead python) as we did for several customers here in Brasil.

Basically it is a call to a webservice, where you have a HANA query published, as you noticed.

You need to use executecommand to call it, either python or curl, and to use some DOS (or powershell) trickies to generate files to be used as a way to have flow control (http status control basically - 200, 401, etc). I see that the one from IBM would be a similar way, you have a log option to use with the command line, as you will run it with good ole DOS/command or powershell.

IBM documentation is short here, these are the links I have found:

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSD29G_2.0.0/pdf/configuring_SAP_for_IBM_SAP_Connector.pdf

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSD29G_2.0.0/pdf/running_configuring_IBM_SAP_Connector.pdf

Useful functions with Turbo Integrator here is WildCardFileSearch, FileExists, Synchronized, RunProcess - either to develop techniques to control error flow from http status messages with files (for example - creating session files with http status on its names and looking for them with fileexists, wildcardfilesearch) or to develop parallel running integrations (synchronized, runprocess).

If you use python, main packages which you will need are pandas, tm1py, pycurl or urllib (to run web services integration).

If you decided to use python or curl, you will need to develop paging techniques using $top and $skip for pagination.

Regards

Márcio

------------------------------
Marcio Costa
------------------------------

I would also recommend considering a Python-based approach, as it provides several strong advantages:

• full control over API requests, letting you structure queries exactly as needed and pull only the required data and metadata

• powerful data validation and transformation using libraries like pandas before loading the data into IBM PA

• easier debugging and logging

• cost-effective, especially in the long run

------------------------------
Vlad Didenko
Founder at Succeedium
TeamOne Google Sheets add-on for IBM Planning Analytics / TM1
https://succeedium.com/teamone/
Succeedium Planning Analytics Cloud Extension
https://succeedium.com/space/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue November 18, 2025 08:40 AM
From: Marcio Costa
Subject: Server 11 local connection to SAP

Hi John

I have never used Planning Analytics SAP Connector, but as far as i understand it, it is very similar as a Python integration (sometimes curl instead python) as we did for several customers here in Brasil.

Basically it is a call to a webservice, where you have a HANA query published, as you noticed.

You need to use executecommand to call it, either python or curl, and to use some DOS (or powershell) trickies to generate files to be used as a way to have flow control (http status control basically - 200, 401, etc). I see that the one from IBM would be a similar way, you have a log option to use with the command line, as you will run it with good ole DOS/command or powershell.

IBM documentation is short here, these are the links I have found:

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSD29G_2.0.0/pdf/configuring_SAP_for_IBM_SAP_Connector.pdf

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/SSD29G_2.0.0/pdf/running_configuring_IBM_SAP_Connector.pdf

Useful functions with Turbo Integrator here is WildCardFileSearch, FileExists, Synchronized, RunProcess - either to develop techniques to control error flow from http status messages with files (for example - creating session files with http status on its names and looking for them with fileexists, wildcardfilesearch) or to develop parallel running integrations (synchronized, runprocess).

If you use python, main packages which you will need are pandas, tm1py, pycurl or urllib (to run web services integration).

If you decided to use python or curl, you will need to develop paging techniques using $top and $skip for pagination.

Regards

Márcio

------------------------------
Marcio Costa
------------------------------

I forgot to mention - please notice that the old CIS package from IBM it is not a viable option, as it has a multitude of functionality and performance issues.

------------------------------
Marcio Costa
------------------------------

Thanks all. 

The bottom line seems to be that based on this feedback and asking around no one seems to really know much about it.

It looks like our Data Warehouse would be able to act as intermediary so that would be the likely option. 

------------------------------
John O'Leary
------------------------------

John,

You might want to think about the ODBC method again. I think it can be done. I connected PA Cloud to on-premises SAP HANA using SAP's ODBC driver (and Satellite), and it was fine. I only had to make a support request to have IBM install the SAP ODBC driver to PA Cloud. The on-premises SAP HANA did not have Dynamic Port Ranges so there was no reason it should not work  with PA/ODBC.  SAP HANA Cloud looks like it just uses port 443, and handles load balancing/ingress behind the scenes, so no dynamic ports facing the ODBC call, but I can't guarantee that. The PA server is probably not allowed to connect to the internet (today), but I bet your laptop is not hindered for port 443 outbound, so you could test maybe connecting Microsoft Access to SAP HANA Cloud through ODBC. Then deal with the firewall people for the PA Server to connect after you have proven the connection is viable.

You should be able to get the SAP ODBC Driver for free.  

This tutorial looks straight forward. I followed one that was for on-premises SAP HANA, and it was useful.

https://help.sap.com/docs/hana-cloud/sap-hana-cloud-getting-started-guide/connect-to-sap-hana-database-in-sap-hana-cloud-via-odbc

------------------------------
Walter Coffen
Technology Manager
QueBIT Consulting, LLC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Sun November 23, 2025 04:23 AM
From: John O'Leary
Subject: Server 11 local connection to SAP

Thanks all. 

The bottom line seems to be that based on this feedback and asking around no one seems to really know much about it.

It looks like our Data Warehouse would be able to act as intermediary so that would be the likely option. 

------------------------------
John O'Leary
------------------------------

Walter

I provided your response to our IT Architect and gave me a lengthy reply explaining what the issues are and that what you have suggested is not going to help.

But thanks for the suggestion. 

------------------------------
John O'Leary
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Mon November 24, 2025 10:17 AM
From: Walter Coffen
Subject: Server 11 local connection to SAP

John,

You might want to think about the ODBC method again. I think it can be done. I connected PA Cloud to on-premises SAP HANA using SAP's ODBC driver (and Satellite), and it was fine. I only had to make a support request to have IBM install the SAP ODBC driver to PA Cloud. The on-premises SAP HANA did not have Dynamic Port Ranges so there was no reason it should not work  with PA/ODBC.  SAP HANA Cloud looks like it just uses port 443, and handles load balancing/ingress behind the scenes, so no dynamic ports facing the ODBC call, but I can't guarantee that. The PA server is probably not allowed to connect to the internet (today), but I bet your laptop is not hindered for port 443 outbound, so you could test maybe connecting Microsoft Access to SAP HANA Cloud through ODBC. Then deal with the firewall people for the PA Server to connect after you have proven the connection is viable.

You should be able to get the SAP ODBC Driver for free.  

This tutorial looks straight forward. I followed one that was for on-premises SAP HANA, and it was useful.

https://help.sap.com/docs/hana-cloud/sap-hana-cloud-getting-started-guide/connect-to-sap-hana-database-in-sap-hana-cloud-via-odbc

------------------------------
Walter Coffen
Technology Manager
QueBIT Consulting, LLC
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Sun November 23, 2025 04:23 AM
From: John O'Leary
Subject: Server 11 local connection to SAP

Thanks all. 

The bottom line seems to be that based on this feedback and asking around no one seems to really know much about it.

It looks like our Data Warehouse would be able to act as intermediary so that would be the likely option. 

------------------------------
John O'Leary

Hi John,

If you have BTP, you can retrieve the SAP data via an OData interface. You can expose the entities from the ERP and then, for example, fetch them using Python and write them to TM1 with TM1py. That's how we're currently doing it, maybe this could be a solution for you as well.

Best regards,

------------------------------
Hendrik Axmann
------------------------------