Functions in the Report Output

Use

When you execute a report group, the system selects the data for the report group’s reports according to the selection criteria you enter. The system selects the data from either the database or reads the required report from an extract file, and then outputs the report.

The report data is presented according to the output format you defined.

If you specified that the report be displayed on your screen, you can perform various functions in the report. For example, you can navigate through the report data.

Additional functions are available in Expert Mode. For more information, see Expert Mode .

Features

The most important functions available in the report output include:

  • Print report

    For more information, see Printing Report Data .

  • Send report to mail user

    For more information, see Sending Reports to Mail Users .

  • Select report data

    For more information, see Selecting and Deselecting Report Data .

  • Sort report rows

    For more information, see Sorting Report Rows .

  • Navigate within a report

    For more information, see Navigating Within a Report .

  • Call up report graphics

    For more information, see Calling Up Report Graphics .

  • Call up reports using the report/report interface

    For more information, see Calling Up Reports via the Report/Report Interface .

  • Navigate within variation settings

    Varied data selection characteristics are those characteristics that you entered for selecting report data (on the Create Report: General Data Selection screen), for which you have also entered values in the Vary Frm/To and S fields. When you enter varied data selection characteristics, you can control the level of detail that appears in the report.

    When the report is output, you can use the Start of the navigation path Goto Next navigation step Variation Next navigation step ... End of the navigation path function to display varied detail levels of report data for the data selection characteristics.

    Using the Graphical selection function, you can:

    • Select (highlight) a new characteristic value within the active characteristic.

    • Select a new characteristic and display the set structure of the characteristic.

      Variation functions under the Start of the navigation path Goto Next navigation step Variation End of the navigation path menu option include:

    • Variation left and Variation right

      Using these functions, you can navigate within one hierarchy level.

    • Variation previous level and Variation next level

      Using these functions, you can navigate to the next higher level or the next lower level of the displayed characteristic.

      For example, if you select a single-dimension set that contains a basic set and choose Start of the navigation path Goto Next navigation step Variation Next navigation step Variation next level, you navigate to the basic set level. End of the navigation path

    • First/Previous/Next/Last setting

      For more information, see Navigation in the Variation Settings .

  • Work with report hierarchies

    Expand/collapse

    You can expand and collapse rows, sections, and reports (completely or individual levels).

    Summation level

    The totals rows in a report are represented by summation levels.

    For more information, see Summation Levels .

  • Modify the report layout

    • Layout parameters

      The layout parameters for the report output are determined by the standard layout assigned to the report. This includes the page format of the report and the numerical format of the report data.

      A section layout can be defined separately for each section. To define a layout for a certain section, double-click on the section and then make the settings for the column attributes.

      You can change the report’s layout parameters under Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Report layout End of the navigation path .

      If you change the layout parameters, but then decide that you want to reuse the default values from the standard layout, you can do so by choosing Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Report layout Next navigation step Use standard layout End of the navigation path .

      For more information on standard layouts, see Standard Layouts .

    • Column width

      You can change the widths of the lead column and the data columns by choosing Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Column attributes End of the navigation path .

      You can also define the column widths for individual format groups in the layout parameters under Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Report layout Next navigation step Columns Next navigation step Other format groups. End of the navigation path

  • Numerical format

    You can change the format of the displayed report values using the Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Report layout Next navigation step Representation Next navigation step Numerical format End of the navigation path function. You can enter the following data for each format group:

    • Number of decimal places

    • Scaling

    • Column width

    • Unit column in the report (that is, whether the column for the currency units or units of measure is displayed in the report).

    • Change +/- sign information

      You can also enter the numerical format data for individual format groups here by choosing Other format groups .

  • Define report texts

    Note Note

    You can only change texts in the report output if the report uses a standard layout in which the Change allwd dur exctn indicator is set on the Page/Control screen. You cannot change texts in standard reports included with your SAP system.

    End of the note.

    For more information on entering report texts, see Defining Report Texts .

  • Selection log

    You can display and print the report’s selection log using the Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Selection log End of the navigation path function.

    The selection log provides statistics on the data selection. These include:

    • Runtime of the selection and output programs

    • Number of records read from the database tables

    • Percentage of the data records used in the report

    • Number of records not used in the report on the basis of authorization checks

    • Number of data records used in the current report group

  • Messages

    If the system issues any warning messages when the report is executed, you can display these messages using the Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Messages End of the navigation path function.

    If more than one message is issued when the report data is selected and formatted, the system displays only one message, informing you that several messages have been issued.

  • Technical information

    You can display technical information on the report execution using the Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Tech. information End of the navigation path function. The system displays the program names for the selection, output, and multiple selection, as well as information on the report’s library and report group.

  • Annotations

    You can enter explanatory text for the report using the Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Annotation End of the navigation path function. This text displays after the last report page. You enter annotation text using the SAP script editor.

  • Report documentation

    You can display and print the report documentation by choosing Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Documentation Next navigation step Report End of the navigation path .

  • List/display/change report definition

    You can switch to the report definition by choosing Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Definition Next navigation step Display/Change End of the navigation path . You can then display or change the report definition, depending on the function you chose.

    You can list the entire report definition using the Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Definition Next navigation step List End of the navigation path function.

  • Graphical column heading

    If your report columns contain several headings, you can use the Start of the navigation path Settings Next navigation step Graph. column heading End of the navigation path function to choose the column heading that you want to use as the heading for the output in the graphic display.