Representative Values in Sets
Representative values are used to represent all the values entered in a basic or single-dimension set and can be used in planning, hierarchical rollups, and reporting.
Planning
You can use a representative value in planning to represent a group of dimensions for which you want to enter planning values.
Example
You create a basic set of accounts and enter a representative value called ACCTS. When you use this set in your planning parameters and enter planning values, you can enter a total amount for the representative value ACCTS. The amount you enter for the representative value ACCTS represents the total plan amount for all accounts entered in the basic set.
Hierarchical Rollups
When you define a hierarchical rollup, your rollup header set includes a single-dimension set that contains the hierarchy for the dimension you want to rollup (for example, a cost center hierarchy). You enter a representative value for each set within the single-dimension set of your dimension hierarchy. This representative value represents, for example, the node cost center to which you want to roll up data from all other cost centers in the hierarchy set. When the set is processed in the rollup, the system creates data records using the representative values.
Reporting
You can use representative values as part of the authorization check in reporting.
Example
You create a report containing a cost center hierarchy. When you display your report using the
Variation
function, a data extract is created for each hierarchy level. You can use the representative value as an authorization check to prevent users from accessing specific data extracts. Only those users who have authorization for the representative value are allowed to display the report extracts.
If you want to print out a reporting hierarchy and the area of responsibility changes at each hierarchy level, you can enter a representative value for each hierarchy node to assign the report printout to a specific printer.
If you want to display master data for the dimensions used in your report rows and columns (for example, in the report header), the representative value is used to replace the text variables you enter in the report header.
Example
You create a report containing a cost center hierarchy and want to display the name of the cost center manager in the report header. The name of the cost center manager is defined in the cost center’s master data. If you enter a representative value for a specific cost center node in the hierarchy, the name of the manager of the representative cost center displays in the report header when you display the report.