Adding a Cross-Model Copy Step
With a cross-model copy step in SAP Analytics Cloud, you can copy data from one planning model to another. You pick the
model and version that contains the source data, add filters as necessary, and define how to copy the data to the target model.
Context
For example, if you have detailed workforce data in a Headcount planning model and
you want to add some of the data to a Finance model for further analysis, you can
use this feature to quickly copy the data.
Copying across models is easiest when the relevant dimensions are public dimensions shared by
each model, but it's not required. You can ignore source dimensions that aren't
relevant to the target model, and set default values for target dimensions that
can't be mapped to an appropriate source.
If any problems occur while you're creating a cross-model copy step, they are identified by
the
icon. Hover over this icon to see how to fix the problem.
Before getting started on a cross-model copy step, you need to create a data action. For more
information, see Create a Data Action.
Note
Cross-model copy steps can't copy data between different types of models. If you need to copy data between a classic account model
and a model with measures, use the LINK function in an advanced formulas step instead. For details, see About Script Formulas and Calculations in Advanced Formulas for Planning.
When choosing members for the cross-model 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 Add Parameters to Your Data Actions and Multi Actions.
Currency conversion is not supported for cross-model copy steps and all values
are copied without currency conversion.
Procedure
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In the data action page, select (Add Cross-Model
Copy Step).
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Type a Name and Description for the step.
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From the Source Model list, choose the model that contains the data
that you want to copy.
The Target Model is the default model for the data action; it can't
be changed here.
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In the Filter section, select the version dimension to pick the
version of the source data that you want to copy. You can also select
Parameter to apply a parameter. This filter is
mandatory.
The target version for the data action is set by the
TargetVersion parameter.
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If you want to add additional filters, select +Add Filter and choose
a dimension. Then, select the members whose data you want to include, or select
Parameter and choose a parameter.
For example, to copy data for a single cost center in 2018, you would filter the Cost Center and date dimensions.
To remove a filter, select the icon beside it.
When you create mappings between source and target members, you won't need to map the
members that are filtered out.
You can change the hierarchy of the dimension members in the filter. If the dimension has a parent-child hierarchy, source members in copy
rules based on that dimension will usually need to use the same hierarchy used in the filter.
Note
You can filter based on a dynamic parameter. If the parameter has default values, you only need to map those ones to finish creating your
step. However, if you want to make sure that the data action will run with any parameter values, you should complete the
mapping.
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In the Mapping area, set how the data will be mapped
from the source model to the dimension members of the target model.
For each of the target dimensions listed in this area, you need to either map a source
dimension or select a default value. You don't need to map source dimensions
that aren't relevant for the target model. For example, you might choose not
to map Gender or Office Location from the Headcount model to the Finance
model.
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Set a default value for target dimensions when you don't have an appropriate source
dimension to map to them, or when you want to copy all the data to a
single leaf member of the target dimension instead of splitting it up
according to one of the source dimensions.
For example, if you are mapping data from a model that doesn't use currency conversion to a
model that does use currency conversion, you can select the currency of
the source model as the default value for the Currency dimension of the
target model.
To set a default value for a target dimension, remove any mapped dimension and choose
Select default value…, and then choose a
single leaf member of the dimension, or apply a parameter.
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Map a source dimension to a target dimension when you want to distribute
the data across different members of the target dimension.
The account dimensions are automatically mapped together, and can't be unmapped. The date dimensions used for planning are also mapped. If
you want to map a leaf member of a date dimension as a default value, or map a different date dimension, you can select
(Delete) next to
the source dimension.
Drag a source dimension to a target dimension to map them together.
Members with identical names are automatically mapped together, and the
bar under the source dimension name shows how many of its members have
been mapped.
Hidden accounts are not mapped automatically.
Tip
If you want to manually change this mapping, select No
Auto-Creation and create copy rules. You can
also use auto-mapping but overwrite parts of the mapping by
manually adding copy rules
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Select the name of a mapped source dimension to configure the mapping.
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If you're mapping a target date dimension, choose an Auto-Creation Strategy.
Tip
If you are mapping date dimensions with the same time settings and granularities, First day of time period and
Last day of time period will result in the same outcome. For example, if you are
copying across dimensions using months that don’t have week granularity, the data will just copy to the
corresponding month.
If you want to manually change this mapping, select No
Auto-Creation and create copy rules. You can
also use auto-mapping but overwrite parts of the mapping by
manually adding copy rules.
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Set the Completion Options:
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Manual: Use this setting when you want
to create your own copy rules for the unmapped source
dimension members.
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Fixed Value: Use this setting to specify a default target member
or parameter for any unmapped source members. For example,
you may want to copy all unmapped data to the Unassigned
member. In this case, you can still add your own copy rules,
but they don't need to include every source member.
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Ignore: Use this setting to filter out
the unmapped source members. Their data won't be included in
the cross-model copy step.
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Add copy rules by selecting either +Add Copy
Rule, or selecting (Add
Rule) next to an unmapped source member in the list.
You may need to select and search for
member names if the dimension contains many members. You can also select to change the display settings and
hierarchy shown for the unmapped source members.
If the account dimension has multiple hierarchies, source members must use the same hierarchy as the source context filter. If there isn't a
filter on the account dimension, only the default hierarchy can be used.
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If necessary, select in the
From column and choose a single source
member. It doesn't need to be a leaf member, and you can pick a member
that was mapped automatically to copy its data to a different target
instead. You can also use a parameter to set the source member.
You can choose calculated accounts or accounts with exception aggregation as source
members, but the data action may take longer to execute. For fastest
performance, filter out these accounts instead. For more information,
see
Copy Steps with Calculations and Exception Aggregation.
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Select in
the To column and choose one or more target leaf
members, or use a parameter.
You can't pick calculated members as targets.
If you pick multiple targets, the value of the source member is
copied to each target.
You can also aggregate data from multiple source members together in
a single target member by using the target member in multiple copy
rules.
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Select to complete the
rule.
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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. You can add rules in the following ways:
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Selecting +Add Copy Rule.
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Selecting (Add
Rule) next to a source member.
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Selecting
(Duplicate) next to an existing
copy rule.
If you're using the Manual completion option, you must create copy
rules that account for all the listed source dimension members. Note
that the list does not include members that you filtered out of the
cross-model copy step, so you can also change the filters to remove
the remaining members.
You also don't need to complete the mapping for the date dimension. For example, if the source and target models have different start or end
dates, you can still run the data action without completing the mapping manually. The unmatched time periods will be
ignored.
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When you have finished configuring the mapping, select Done to
return to the cross-model copy step.
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Continue mapping data to each target dimension. The icon
appears on every target dimension that has an incomplete mapping, and you can
hover over this icon to see how to complete the mapping.
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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.
-
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.