In this tab page, you determine for the characteristics the properties that are required for reporting purposes in the Business Explorer.

The layout describes the contents of the leading column for this characteristic in the Business Explorer. There are various display options to choose from: no display, text, key, text and key, long text, or medium text. Choose a display option.

In this field, you set which text appears for this characteristic in the Business Explorer. Choose between the long and short descriptions of the characteristic.

The selection describes if and how the characteristic values have to be restricted in queries. If you choose the unique for every cell option, the characteristic must be restricted to one value in every column and in every structure of all the queries. You are not able to use this characteristic in aggregates. Typical examples of this kind of characteristic are Plan/actual ID, or Value type.

This field tells you from which database table the values for the input help in the query definition are taken.

Usually, the values in the input help are taken from the master data table. With characteristics that do not have master data tables, the values are taken from the SID table instead. In many cases it makes more sense to display only those values that are also contained in the dimension of an InfoCube.

This field tells you how the values for the input help are determined when a query is executed.

Usually, when queries are executed, the values in the input help are determined by the data that is selected by the query. This means that only the values for which data has been selected in the current navigation status are displayed.

In many cases, however, it can makes sense to include additional values. This is why the Using Dimensions and Using Master Data Table settings are also active.

With characteristics, you decide whether a particular characteristic is included in the authorization check whenever you are working with the query.

Flag a characteristic as authorization-relevant if you want to create authorizations that restrict the selection conditions for this characteristic to single characteristic values.

Only flag the characteristic as not authorization-relevant, if it is no longer being used as a field for the authorization object.

1. Static geo-characteristic: For this type, you can use shape files (country borders, for example), to display the characteristic on a map in the Business Explorer.
2. Dynamic geo-characteristic: For this type of geo-characteristic, the system generates geo-attributes that make it possible, for example, to display customers on a map.
3. Dynamic geo-characteristic with attribute values: For this type of geo-characteristic, the geo-attributes of a type 2 geo-characteristic (that is an attribute) are used.
4. Static geo-characteristic with geo-attributes: Just like static geo-characteristics, with the addition of generated geo-attributes.

If you choose the Not a Geo-Characteristic option, this characteristic cannot be used as a geo-characteristic for displaying information on the BEx Map. Geographical attributes (such as 0LONGITUDE, 0ALTITUDE) are deleted for the InfoObject.

If you have selected the geographical type dynamic geo-characteristic with attribute values for the characteristic, specify here the characteristic attribute, whose geo-attributes you want to use.

Use this function to upload the geo-information files that are assigned to the characteristic. These files are stored in the BDS as files that belong logically to the characteristic.

You use this function to load the master data for a characteristic to your PC, where you are able to use your GIS tool to geocode the data. Finally, you use a flat file to load the data into the relevant BW master data table.