Planning Layout 

Definition

A planning layout is a form, that gives the screen structure for the entry of plan values.

Use

In planning layouts you determine the screen structure for your planning session. You define the header area, value and lead columns depending on your special business requirements.

You can create different planning layouts, that differ with respect to the lead columns, characteristics etc. In this way you get the chance to create varied planning screens that meet specific business requirements such as version, half-yearly or quarterly planning.

Structure

All planning layouts are based on the following schematic structure:

Header Area

The header area of a planning layout is formed by several text rows that describe the objects to be planned in greater detail. These details are taken from the General data selections that are made in the planning layout. The characteristics of the general data selections (for example, version, fiscal year) are valid for the entire planning layout. Generally, you can define the characteristics of both the general data selections and of the columns as variables. The definition as a variable means that these fields are ready for input on the initial screen at the time of execution of the planning.

If you have maintained navigation attributes for your characteristics, you can select these attributes in the general selections and use them in the planning session to select the data. Note that, since the attributes are non-chargeable, the underlying characteristic must be specified in the planning layout

You wish to display plan data using the navigation attribute responsible person. The underlying characteristic is the region. In order to use the attribute responsible person as a selection criteria for the planning, you can create a variable for the responsible person in the general selections in the planning layout. You must also enter an interval of characteristic values or exactly one characteristic value for the characteristic region in the layout.

Lead Column

The lead columns determine the contents of the rows. Where necessary, you can define several lead columns.

You have two alternatives for the definition of lead columns:

...

       1.      Definition of one or more lead columns using the column title

In this way, you can select exactly one characteristic per lead column and then specify either all characteristic values (*), an interval of characteristic values, one characteristic value, or a hierarchy node. (This layout corresponds to a single-coordinate form in drilldown reporting.)

Revenue planning

1. Lead column	2. Lead column	1. Value column	2. Value column
Countries	Business areas	Revenue	Sales deductions
*	400 - 403 420 - 429

 

       2.      Definition of exactly one lead column using the rows

In this way, you can select one characteristic per row, combine several characteristics, combine characteristics with key figures, or calculate formulas. (This layout corresponds to a two-coordinate form in drilldown reporting.)

Version planning

1. Lead column	1st Value Col.	2nd Val. Col.	3rd Val. Col.
	Act. 1997	Plan 1998	Plan 1999
Gross domestic revenue Gross foreign revenue Sales deductions Stock changes Other capitalized internal activities Material expense Expense for services obtained Wages and salaries Social security contributions and expenses Depreciation Other operating expenses Operating profit (Formula)

 

Value Column

The value columns are used to enter plan values.

There are two types of value columns:

·        Columns with characteristics/key figures

With a value column of element type Key figure with characteristics, you select exactly one key figure from the list of all possible key figures. Then you determine the characteristics and characteristic values.

You can use both basic key figures and calculated key figures in your planning layout. With the exception of ratios, calculated key figures are not ready for input. Calculated key figures, that consist of a ratio, can be input in the planning session. The values of the affected basic key figures are automatically calculated and changed in the relevant columns.

With a value column of element type Characteristic you select characteristics and then the relevant characteristic values. If you have created a master data hierarchy, you can also select a hierarchy node or a variable for a hierarchy node. Note that you must specify the hierarchy variant in both cases.

·        Formula columns

Formula columns are based on the values of columns already defined. The system offers the available value columns in a dialog box where you can define formulas. The values of these columns are calculated by the system if the value columns used in the formula have been provided with values. Formula columns also serve as a basis for the target value search.

Attribute Column

You can assign units or a distribution key to a value column. This is done by defining attribute columns.

 

You define a planning layout in Customizing, using Planning ® Interactive planning ® Create planning layout.

When you have created your planning layout in Customizing, you can plan your data (see Edit Plan Data Interactively).

Selection of the Plan Data

In the planning it can be necessary to make supplementary changes. In such cases you can not always plan in detail and you must enter all data at a high level. (If you wish, you can execute a top-down distribution later using automatic planning. When you select the plan data, these values are also taken into consideration. They are selected after being summarized over all non-specified characteristics.

In your enterprise you are planning the investment budget for each plant and company code for the fiscal year 1999. In the database four records were posted at this level. In addition, one record was planned at company code level. The plant is not specified in this record.

 

Company code	Plant	Investment budget in TDM
0001	0001	200
0001	0002	300
0002	0001	100
0002	0002	200
0002	-	100

 

In the planning layout you then select the plan data for each company code for the fiscal year 1999.

 

Company code	Investment budget in TDM
0001	500
0002	400

 

The values for the plant are selected summarized for each company code. This means that the record with no plant is also selected. Note that Actual data in an EC-EIS data entry layout is selected differently. With the same selection criteria for actual data, the following data would have been selected in the data entry layout.

 

Company code	Investment budget in TDM
0002	100

 

Only the data that corresponds exactly to the selection criteria is displayed. This means that only the record with the characteristic values company code 002 and plant [blank] will be displayed.