Planning Functions
Use
Planning functions are used within BI Integrated Planning for system-supported editing and generation of data.
A planning function specifies the ways in which the transaction data for an aggregation level can be changed. The following are determined for this purpose:
● The name of the aggregation level
● The type of planning function
● How characteristics are used
● The parameter values
The planning function type determines the way in which data is changed by a planning function. The BI system offers you a number of standard planning function types:
● Unit conversion
● Generate combinations
● Formula
● Copy
● Delete
● Delete invalid combinations
● Forecasting
● Repost
● Repost by characteristic relationships
● Revaluation
● Distribute by reference data
● Distribute by key
● Currency translation
You can also implement customer-specific planning function types. For more information, see Implementing Planning Function Types.
Integration
In the Planning Modeler and Planning Wizard, you create your planning functions (as well as the prerequisite objects of the planning model).
In the Data Warehousing Workbench, the planning function objects are displayed in the Business Content and Transport Connection functional areas in the Planning folder.
Prerequisites
You have created the following objects in the Planning Modeler or Planning Wizard:
● Aggregation levels on which planning functions are created (see Aggregation Levels). Planning functions can be created and executed on each active aggregation level.
● Filters that are required when the planning function is executed. Filters determine the data for which the planning function is executed. The planning function locks the data defined in the filter in the real-time InfoCubes that is part of the aggregation level. The filter has to be defined on the same aggregation level as the planning function (see Filter).
Features
You determine the planning function type and the aggregation level on which the planning function is to work. In addition, you can change the characteristic usage, the conditions and the parameter sets.
These features are now explained with an example of how to create a planning function of type Repost.
The following table shows the data for the InfoProvider before the planning function is executed:
Before executing the planning function
Product |
Product Group |
Version |
Year |
Sales |
P1 |
PG1 |
V1 |
2007 |
10 |
P2 |
PG1 |
V1 |
2007 |
20 |
...
You want to repost all records in version “V1” to version “V2”. You do this by reposting all key figures. The following table shows the status after the planning function has been executed:
After executing the planning function
Product |
Product Group |
Version |
Year |
Sales |
P1 |
PG1 |
V1 |
2007 |
0 |
P2 |
PG1 |
V1 |
2007 |
0 |
P1 |
PG1 |
V2 |
2007 |
10 |
P2 |
PG1 |
V2 |
2007 |
20 |
After reposting, the records that contain zeros only (empty records) remain in “V1”; the required records appear in "V2".
Characteristic Usage
The planning function type defines the options for using characteristics and the parameters of the planning function. Together, the parameters of the planning function type define the parameter set.
With characteristic usage, the characteristics of the aggregation level are divided into Characteristics to Be Changed and Block Characteristics (that is characteristics that are not used). In this way, you specify the characteristic values that are changed when the planning function processes a data record. Block characteristics remain constant.
When you create a planning function of type Repost for the case described above, you first check which characteristic values should be changed and set the to be changed indicator accordingly. Since you want to repost the data from version “V1“ to version “V2“, you set the indicator for the Version characteristic as To Be Changed (which in this case means to be reposted).
Furthermore, you can select block characteristics as condition characteristics.
Parameter Sets and Conditions
The next step is to specify the detailed information. With most planning functions, all transaction data is processed with the same set of parameters. In this case, a block characteristic was not selected as a condition characteristic; only one parameter set has to be entered.
The parameter set for the Repost planning function type includes a table for selecting the key figures that you want to repost and a table in which you enter the From-To Value Pairs for the characteristics to be reposted. In key figure selection, you set the indicator for Select All Key Figures. In the From and To Values for Reposting table, you choose Create Row and enter the value “V1” under From and “V2” under To. The planning function is ready.
If you want to use different parameter sets to execute different transaction data records, you have to work with conditions. You have to select at least one block characteristic as a condition characteristic.
If you want to increase the planned production for products in product group PG1 by 5% and the products of product group PG2 by 10%, choose the product group as the condition characteristic.
In the parameters, you can create multiple pairs of conditions and parameter sets. For each pair, use a filter to select condition characteristics. You can change the associated parameter set for each pair.
From a technical viewpoint, the method that the planning function actually executes is called more than once. The data that was selected with the filter is divided into blocks. Each combination of characteristic values in the block characteristic forms a separate block (thus the name block characteristics). Planning function types that work with reference data can also have additional blocks (such as Copy). The method is then called once for each block with a table of records. The table includes those data records that correspond to the characteristic combination for the block in the block characteristics.
For each block, the system checks whether there is a condition/parameter set pair so that the block fits the condition. The system tests the block against the conditions along the sequence of pairs. The system uses the first pair in which the block matches the condition; the method of the planning function type is executed for the block and parameter set that fits the condition. The remaining pairs are ignored. Therefore the method is only executed once for each block.
Variables in Planning Functions
The usual BI variable types are available in many planning function types (see Variables).
Working with Empty Records
Almost all planning function types do not read empty records and do not write empty delta records to the buffer. Exceptions to this are Copy and Generate Combinations: these two function types read empty records and write empty delta records.
Activities
You are in the Planning Modeler on the Planning Functions tab page. In the Planning Function Selection screen area, you can display, create, copy, delete, change, check, and save Planning Functions.
Creating a Planning Function
...
1. To create a planning function, choose Create. The Create Planning Function dialog box appears.
2. Choose the planning function type.
3. Enter a technical name and a description for the planning function.
4. Select the aggregation level on which the planning function is to work.
5. Choose For Characteristic Usage and determine which characteristics are to be changed and used in conditions, as required.
6. Choose For Parameters. In the Conditions with Parameters screen area, you can create, delete and copy conditions. On the Selected Conditions tab pages, you can use input help to select the conditions values to which the condition is to apply. On the Associated Parameter Set tab page, you maintain the parameter sets.
Check
During the check, you have to specify values for existing mandatory entry variables if values have not been selected for these variables in the current session. If this is the case, the initial screen appears.
Save
Planning functions can be saved even if they are not consistent.
Execute
Planning functions can be executed directly from a Web application or a BEx workbook. However, you have to enable this in the relevant design tool first.
To execute a planning function in the Planning Modeler, you have to include it in a planning sequence (see Planning Sequences).
In the last step of the Planning Wizard you create a temporary planning sequence. This contains exactly one planning function.
Before the planning function is executed, the system checks whether the planning function is consistent.
Example
Process Flow of Planning Function: Distribution by Key