Adding a Copy Step
Copy steps allow you to copy data from one set of members to another, specifying options
for filters and aggregation.
Context
For example, copy steps can be used in the following cases:
Create a data action before adding a copy step to it.
Note
When choosing members for the copy step settings, you can use a parameter instead of
dimension members. Parameters let you create prompts, or update several values
from one place. Select Parameter in the member selector
to see which ones are available. To learn how to create parameters, see Creating a Parameter.
Procedure
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In the data action page, select (Add Copy
Step).
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Type a Name and Description for the
step.
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Filter the data that will be copied as required.
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Select Add Filter and choose the dimension to
filter.
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Select the members whose data you want to include, or select
Parameters and choose a parameter. Select
OK.
Note
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The Version dimension is only available in the Filter section of
a copy step. You can filter it to set a fixed source
version, for example, if you want to copy data from the
Forecast version to the target version. If you do not
filter the Version dimension, data will be copied within
the target version only. (The
TargetVersion parameter sets
this version.)
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The dimensions that you add as filters cannot be added to copy rules for the step.
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Continue adding filters on other dimensions as required. To remove a
filter, select the icon beside
it.
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In the Aggregate To area, add any dimension where you
want to override the default disaggregation behavior.
For dimensions that are not included in the Aggregate To area, the
copied data will match the distribution of the source data by default. This
behavior is similar to copying and pasting a cell with the Paste
details option enabled. For more information, see Copying and Pasting Cell Values.
For example, if you want to remove the distribution of data to different
customers for privacy reasons, you can aggregate to the Unassigned member of
the Customer dimension. In this case, all of the copied data is booked to
the Unassigned member.
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Select Add Dimension and choose a dimension from
the list.
Note
The dimensions that you add to this list cannot be added in the
Filters or
Copy
Rule sections of the step.
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Choose a single leaf member for this dimension that will receive the value copied during
this data action step, or select Parameter and
choose a parameter. Select OK.
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Repeat these steps to add aggregation members for other dimensions as
necessary.
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Add copy rules to specify source and target members for the copy step.
Depending on the Filter and Aggregate To
settings, you may not need to add copy rules. For example, if you want to
copy the 2018 Forecast to a target version, you only need to filter the step
to the Forecast version and 2018. If you want to copy the 2018 Forecast to
2018 and 2019 in the target version, a copy rule is required.
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Select Add Copy Rule.
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For the new rule, choose a Dimension from the
list.
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In the From column, select .
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Choose a source member from the list, or select
Parameter and choose a parameter. Select
OK.
The data for this member, filtered according to your settings, will
be copied to the target members that you specify. The source
distribution will also be copied for any dimensions that aren’t
included in the Aggregate To section.
You can select calculated accounts and accounts that use exception
aggregation, but there are some limitations for these types of
source members. See Copy Steps with Calculated Accounts and Exception Aggregation for more
information.
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In the To column, select .
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Choose one or more leaf members from the list, or select
Parameter and choose a parameter. Select
OK.
The source value will be copied to each of these members.
Note
For copy rules based on the Date dimension, you can select one or
more non-leaf members at the same hierarchy level as the source
member (for example, Q1 to Q2, or 2018 to 2018 and 2019).
For accounts that use exception aggregation, copying data along the
exception aggregation dimension is supported.
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Select (Finish
Editing) to complete the rule.
If there are any problems with the rule, a warning icon appears next
to it. Hover over the icon to see more information.
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To edit the rule, select
(Edit). To delete it, select (Delete).
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Continue to add copy rules as required, by selecting Add
Copy Rule, or by selecting
(Duplicate) next to an existing copy
rule.
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To switch between appending or overwriting data, select next
to Options and choose a setting from the Write
Mode list:
- Append (default): The copied data will be added
to any existing data for the target members.
- Overwrite: Existing data for the target members
will be overwritten by the copied data.
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Select Save Data Action.
Results
The copy step is added to the data action. You can continue
to add, manage, and reorder steps as required.