Key Figures 

Definition

A key figure is a basic key figure (value or quantity field), which has additional, restricting, characteristics (collected in a basic set, single-dimension set or multi-dimension set) that are linked to this basic key figure. Key figures that are used frequently can thus be predefined and then entered in key figure sets or directly in Report Painter.

Use

The columns of a report contain the values and quantities from the Controlling databases, for example, actual and plan data. The figures can originate from different versions or have been entered in different periods or years. In the report definition these characteristics have to be made available to the Report Writer. In a multi-dimension set, enter all the characteristics that describe the value columns (such as period, year, value type ACT, version 0). You combine these criteria in the key figures by entering an additional set containing these characteristics.

You need key figures to build the sets for the report columns. These sets contain more key figures and possibly also arithmetic formulas and are created as data sets.

Each row in a data set is one column of your report.

Structure

Basic key figures define which value fields are displayed in a report (for example, transaction currency, local currency, group currency, and quantity). You can combine a basic key figure with one or more additional characteristics entered in a set to create a key figure. The set determines additional selection conditions, such as the record type (actual or plan data) and the plan version. For Report Writer reports, you enter key figures directly in key figure sets. In Report Painter reports, you can enter key figures directly in the report columns.

Basic key figures, such as costs or quantities, are technical descriptions of value fields for the Report Writer. A basic key figure can be linked with additional conditions in a set and this forms a key figure. Using the entries from the key figure sets you can determine the values that are to be output in a report.

Your additional set can be a multi-dimension, single-dimension, or basic set. It can contain any values or value ranges.

Before you can access the actual cost totals, you have to specify the value type (04 = actual) and the version (000) more precisely. Value type and version are elements of the additional set represented by the key figure ISWKG.

Example

You want to create a Report Writer report that contains the following three columns of local currency (HSL):

The column block in the report definition is data set COLUMN and contains the key figures ZHSL-1-96 and ZHSL-0-97 and the variance formula ‘001’ - ’002’.

Using the key figures you can create a report as follows:

  1. Create the key figures ZHSL-1-96 and ZHSL-0-97.

Physical column 01 (key figure ZHSL-1-96):

– Create the multi-dimension set OZ-PLAN-96, containing basic sets:

OZRRCTY-1: Characteristic "Record Type" (field RRCTY); containing value 1

OZ-YEAR-96: Characteristic "Year" (field RYEAR); containing value 1996

OZ-PVERS: Characteristic "Version" (field RVERS); containing value variable &PVERS

Multi-dimension set OZ-PLAN-96 can now be used as an additional set for key figure ZHSL-1-96.

– Define the key figure ZHSL-1-96 using the Maintain Key Figure function and assign multi-dimension set OZ-PLAN-96 to the key figure.

Physical column 02 (key figure ZHSL-0-97):

– Create the multi-dimension set OZ-ACT-97, containing basic sets:

OZ-RRCTY-00: Characteristic "Record Type" (field RRCTY); containing value 0

OZ-YEAR-97: Characteristic "Year" (field RYEAR); containing value 1997

OZ-SEL-PVERS: Characteristic "Version" (field RVERS): containing value 001

Multi-dimension set OZ-ACT-97 can now be used as an additional set for key figure ZHSL-0-97.

– Define the key figure ZHSL-0-97 using the Maintain Key Figure function and assign multi-dimension set OZ-IST-97 to the key figure.
  1. Create the key figure set COLUMN. Assign the key figures ZHSL-1-96 and ZHSL-0-97 and the variance formula to this set.

    2. For more information on creating sets, see creating sets.

  2. Add the key figures ZHSL-1-96 and ZHSL-0-97 to the library of the report definition in which you want to use key figure set COLUMN.

    3. For more information about changing libraries, see changing a library.

  3. Enter the key figure set COLUMN as the column block of your report definition.

For more information on defining reports, see creating a Report Painter report.

You can only use a characteristic once in a report; in a row or column block or as selection criteria. If a characteristic is used in a set assigned to a key figure and the key figure is used in the report definition, you cannot use the characteristic in the report rows or as selection criteria.

For example, the characteristic "Year" is defined in a set assigned to a key figure. The key figure is then used in a column block. You cannot use the characteristic "Year" again in a row block or as selection criteria.

You can use the same characteristic more than once in different row blocks (also true for column blocks); however, you cannot use the same characteristic for a row and a column block.

For example, if you use the characteristic "Account" in row block one, you can use the characteristic "Account" again in row block two; however, you cannot use the characteristic "Account" in row block one and column block one.

For more information about key figures, see:

Creating/Changing Key Figures

Displaying Key Figures

Defining Key Figures

Inserting Key Figures in Row Blocks

Terminology