FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Installation & Setup

Q: Do I need SAP HANA installed locally?

A: No. You only need network access to a SAP HANA database instance. This can be:

• Remote SAP HANA server
• SAP HANA Express Edition (local or remote)
• SAP BTP HANA service
• SAP HANA Cloud

Q: What's the minimum Node.js version required?

A: Node.js 14.x or higher. We recommend 16.x or newer.

node --version

Q: Can I use HANA CLI in the cloud?

A: Yes! HANA CLI works great in cloud environments:

• SAP Business Application Studio
• Google Cloud Shell
• AWS Cloud9
• GitHub Codespaces
• Azure Cloud Shell

Q: How do I specify my database connection?

A: Three methods (in order of preference):

1. default-env.json (recommended for local development)
2. Environment variables (recommended for cloud/CI-CD)
3. Command-line arguments (for one-off commands)

See Configuration Guide

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Command Usage

Q: What's the difference between export and querySimple?

A: They're the same command. querySimple is an older alias. Use export:

hana-cli export -s SCHEMA -t TABLE -o output.csv

Q: How do I import data from JSON?

A: Currently CSV and Excel formats are supported. To import JSON:

# Convert JSON to CSV first
# Or request enhancement: https://github.com/SAP-samples/hana-developer-cli-tool-example/issues

Q: Can I import without creating the table first?

A: No, the table must exist. You can create it using SAP HANA Web IDE or SQL:

CREATE TABLE HR.EMPLOYEES (
  ID INT,
  NAME VARCHAR(255),
  SALARY DECIMAL(10,2)
);

Q: How do I handle large CSV files?

A: HANA CLI processes files line-by-line, so size isn't an issue. For optimal performance:

# Monitor import
hana-cli import -n large-file.csv -t TABLE --verbose

# Or batch into smaller files and import separately

Q: Can I update existing records during import?

A: No, import inserts only. For updates, use dataSync:

hana-cli dataSync -s1 STAGING -t1 DATA -s2 PROD -t2 DATA --mode upsert

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Data Operations

Q: How do I compare schemas between two systems?

A: Use the compareSchema command:

hana-cli compareSchema -s1 DEV_SCHEMA -s2 PROD_SCHEMA

Q: Can I clone a table with data to another schema?

A: Yes, use tableCopy with --data flag:

hana-cli tableCopy -s1 PROD -t1 CUSTOMERS -s2 DEV -t2 CUSTOMERS --data

Q: How do I find duplicate records?

A: Use duplicateDetection:

hana-cli duplicateDetection -s SCHEMA -t TABLE -c "FIRST_NAME,LAST_NAME"

Q: What's the difference between dataProfile and dataValidator?

A:

• dataProfile: Shows statistics (counts, nulls, distinct values)
• dataValidator: Checks data quality (constraints, types, rules)

Q: How do I export only rows that match a condition?

A: Use the WHERE clause:

hana-cli export -s SCHEMA -t TABLE -w "STATUS='ACTIVE'" -o active.csv

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Performance & Troubleshooting

Q: Why are my queries slow?

A: Common causes:

1. Large table - use --limit to test first
2. Network latency - check connection quality
3. Database load - check with DBA
4. Missing indexes - HANA optimizer issue

Solutions:

# Test with limit
hana-cli export -s SCHEMA -t TABLE --limit 100

# Enable debug to see execution time
hana-cli export -s SCHEMA -t TABLE --debug

Q: How do I fix "connection refused" error?

A: Check:

1. Host and port are correct
2. HANA service is running
3. Network/firewall allows connection
4. Credentials are valid

# Verify configuration
cat default-env.json | jq .

# Test connection explicitly
echo "" | nc -zv your-hana-host 30013

Q: Can I use HANA CLI with proxy?

A: Yes, via environment variables:

export http_proxy=http://proxy.company.com:8080
export https_proxy=https://proxy.company.com:8080
export no_proxy=localhost,internalhosts

hana-cli dbInfo

Q: How do I enable verbose logging?

A: Use --debug or --verbose flags:

# Debug mode
hana-cli import -n data.csv -t TABLE --debug

# Verbose output
hana-cli dataProfile -s SCHEMA -t TABLE --verbose

# Or set environment variable
export HANA_LOG_LEVEL=debug
hana-cli dbInfo

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API & Integration

Q: How do I use HANA CLI as a REST API?

A: Start the server:

hana-cli server --port 3000

Then access via HTTP:

curl http://localhost:3000/api/v1/dbInfo

See API Server Guide

Q: Can I integrate with my CI/CD pipeline?

A: Yes! Works with GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, etc.

# Install in CI environment
npm install -g hana-cli

# Use in your pipeline
hana-cli export -s SCHEMA -t TABLE -o backup.csv

Q: How do I use HANA CLI with AI coding assistants?

A: Set up MCP (Model Context Protocol):

cd mcp-server
npm install
npm run build

See MCP Integration Guide

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Languages & Localization

Q: In what languages is HANA CLI available?

A: English and German are fully supported. Help translate to more languages!

export HANA_LANG=de
hana-cli dbInfo

Q: How do I contribute translations?

A: See Internationalization guide.

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Licensing & Community

Q: Is HANA CLI free?

A: Yes! It's open-source under Apache License 2.0.

Q: Can I modify and redistribute?

A: Yes, following Apache License 2.0 terms. See LICENSE

Q: Where can I report bugs?

A: GitHub Issues

Q: How can I contribute?

A: Via pull requests! See CONTRIBUTING.md in the repository.

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Getting More Help

• Documentation: Full Docs
• GitHub: Repository
• Issues: Report Problems
• Knowledge Base: Run hana-cli kb search "topic"