Defining Key Figures

Within the Report Writer, a key figure is an extension of the cell concept. A key figure performs various cell calculations within a report, such as subtracting subtotals within a column. The key figure pinpoints particular locations of a key figure block within the column-row matrices of a report.

The following graphic is an example of a key figure in a report.

Example Example

In the above graphic, the current key figure (current assets/current liabilities) for 1995 is displayed in the lower portion of the balance sheet report. You can define this key figure using a formula whose operands are cells. These cells are addressed through the symbolic names contained in the row and column sets of the report.

End of the example.

To define the example key figure in the above graphic, you perform the following steps:

  1. Define key figure text.

  2. You define key figure text for the following objects:

    – Key figure block

    A key figure block is a matrix of key figures and lists all key figures that you want to use in the report. You can define a key figure block that contains one or more key figures.

    – Key figure row(s)

    You define this text for the key figure row(s) of your key figure block. The text appears in the report row(s) of the key figure block. For each row you enter, the system creates a row for the current key figure block. The text you enter appears in the report row for the key figure result.

    – Key figure column(s)

    You define this text for the key figure column(s) of your key figure block. This text appears in the report column(s) of your key figure block. For each row you enter, the system creates a column for the current key figure block.

    For the report in the above graphic, the key figure block text is Current Key Figure , the row text is also Current Key Figure , and the column text is 1995 .

  3. Define the key figure formula.

  4. For each key figure row/column intersection that you define for your key figure block, you define a key figure formula that calculates the amount that should appear for the row/column intersection.

    For the report in the above graphic, you would have to define a key figure formula for the row Current Key Figure and column 1995 .

    To calculate the key figure in the above graphic, the Report Writer uses set symbolic names to identify the current assets total (CA) and the current liabilities total (CL). It then divides the current assets by the current liabilities and displays them in the report (as defined in the report row definition). The key figure formula is CA/CL .

  5. Define the cells for the key figure.

  6. You need to define each cell (row/column coordinate) that you use in a key figure formula.

    The key figure formula for the report in the above graphic contains the cells CA (Current Assets) and CL (Current Liabilities). In this key figure, the current assets (cell name CA) are divided by the current liabilities (cell name CL).

    – Cell A : The row coordinate is the symbolic name ASSETS (total of the assets in single-dimension set TD-RACCT-GBS) and the column coordinate is the symbolic name TD-HSL0 (total of local currency in data set TD-ACT-HSL).

    – Cell B : The row coordinate is the symbolic name LIABILIT (total of the liabilities in single-dimension set TD-RACCT-GBS) and the column coordinate is the symbolic name TD-HSL0 (total of local currency in data set TD-ACT-HSL).

    You can also define key figure cells that refer to report rows for which you have entered a formula and/or key figure block.

  7. Insert the key figure in a row block of the report.

Once you have defined the key figure, you insert the key figure block in a row block of the report.

To define a key figure block from any Create Report screen:

  1. Choose Goto → Key figures .

  2. The Create Report: Key Figure Blocks screen appears.

    Entering Text for Key Figures

  3. In the Name field, enter a description for the key figure block that you want to define.

  4. Choose Edit → Rows .

  5. The Rows from <key figure block name> screen appears.

  6. Enter the necessary data and choose Continue :

  7. – Enter the code that represents the character you want to appear before the key figure row ( B field).

    – Enter the code that represents the character you want to appear after the key figure row ( A field).

    – Set the H indicator if you want to highlight the key figure row.

    – Enter the code for the color in which you want the key figure row to be displayed ( C field).

    – Specify whether you want to insert a page break or blank lines between the individual logical rows in a key figure block.

    – Enter the text that you want to appear for the key figure row. The text you enter appears in the row for the key figure block.

  8. Choose Edit → Columns .

  9. The Columns from <key figure block name> screen appears.

  10. Enter the following data as required and choose Continue :

  11. – The print class that you want to use for the key figure column.

    – Specify whether you want to insert a page break or blank lines between the individual logical columns in a key figure block.

    – Enter the text that you want to appear for the key figure column. The text that you enter appears in the column for the key figure block.

    Entering Formulas for Key Figures

  12. Choose Edit → Formulas .

  13. The Formulas from <key figure block name> screen appears. For each key figure that you use in a report, you must define the formula used to create the key figure.

  14. Position the cursor where the key figure amount should appear, and choose Formula .

  15. A dialog box appears.

  16. Enter a formula in the dialog box. This formula must describe a key figure that you want to use in your report. Choose Continue .

  17. If you define a key figure formula, use the mathematical operations contained in the table in Using Set Formulas in the Report Writer . You can enter as many cell names as necessary to calculate your key figure.

    The key figure appears at the intersection of the key figure row and column text on the Formulas from <Key Figure Block Name> screen.

    When you defined cells, you entered apostrophes around the name of the cell. You must also enter apostrophes when defining cells for key figures.

  18. To exit the Formulas from <Key Figure Block Name> screen, choose Continue .

  19. Defining Cells for Key Figures

  20. Choose Edit → List of cells .

  21. The List of All Cells screen appears.

    When a cell has been defined, the Def indicator is set. The No. uses field displays how many times the cell is used in report key figures or column formulas.

    You define key figure cells in a similar way to defining report cells. A cell pinpoints a particular location within a report. Once the Report Writer has located a point, it can then use the corresponding value (amount) for the key figure formula.

    You define the coordinates of a cell using symbolic names. A symbolic name is a name assigned to a set line or to a set header, which defines the row and column coordinates for a report cell. You can use a symbolic name to represent all of the values in a set or to represent an individual set value.

    For more information on symbolic names, see Using Symbolic Names in the Report Writer .

    You can also define key figure cells that refer to report rows for which you have entered a formula and/or key figure block.

    Example:

    Your report contains the following rows:

    Income Accounts (row block 1)

    Expense Accounts (row block 2)

    Sum of the Income and Expense Accounts (row block 3)

    This sum is calculated with the formula ‘001’ + ‘002’

    You can now define a cell in a key figure block that references the sum of the income and expense accounts (the formula entered in row 3 of your report definition).

    The procedure for defining key figure cells has therefore changed slightly to accommodate this new enhancement.

  22. Position your cursor on the first cell you want to define, and choose Define cell.

  23. The Definition of Cell <Cell Name> dialog box appears. In the Block number field, enter the number of the row block for which you want to enter the row coordinate of the cell.

  24. Choose Continue .

  25. The dialog box that appears depends on the type of row block you entered in the Block number field in the previous dialog box.

    If the row block is a Set row block:

    The Definition of Cell <Cell Name> dialog box appears.

    On this screen, you define the row and column coordinates for the cell.

    To select a symbolic name used as a row coordinate for the cell:

    a) Check the row block number in the Row - Block number field. The row block number you entered in the previous dialog box appears as the default value. You can choose a different row block for the row coordinate by choosing Other row block next to the field.

    b) Choose Define row coordinates .

    A dialog box appears, listing the symbolic names that you can use as a row coordinate.

    c) Select the symbolic name that you want to use as a row coordinate and choose Choose .

    The symbolic name appears in the Coord. field and the set name in which the symbolic name is defined appears in the Set ID field.

    To select a symbolic name as a column coordinate for the cell:

    a) In the Block number field, enter a block number.

    b) Choose Define column coordinates .

    A dialog box appears, listing the symbolic names that you can use as a column coordinate.

    c) Select the symbolic name that you want to use as a column coordinate and choose Choose .

    The symbolic name appears in the Coord. field and the set name in which the symbolic name is defined appears in the Set ID field.

    If the row block is a Formula row block:

    The Definition of Cell <Cell Name> dialog box appears.

    On this screen, you define the column coordinate of the cell. The row coordinate is already determined from the row block number you entered in the previous dialog box because a formula row only comprises one report row.

    To select a symbolic name used as the column coordinate of the cell:

    a) In the Block number field, enter a block number.

    b) Choose Define column coordinates .

    A dialog box appears, listing the symbolic names that you can use as a column coordinate.

    c) Select the symbolic name that you want to use as a column coordinate and choose Choose .

    The symbolic name appears in the Coord. field and the set name in which the symbolic name is defined appears in the Set ID field.

    If the row block is a Key figure row block:

    The Definition of Cell <Cell Name> dialog box appears.

    On this screen, you define the row and column coordinates for the key figure block.

    a) Enter the row number of the key figure block.

    b) Enter the column number of the key figure block.

    If you want to define a key figure cell that refers to a key figure block, you must first insert the key figure as a row block in the row definition of you report.

    For more information, see the following subsection Inserting Key Figures in Row Blocks .

  26. Define additional key figure cells.

  27. Refer to steps 12-13 for more information.

  28. On this screen, you can use the additional processing functions in the table Create Report: Initial Screen as well as the functions in the following table.

Additional Processing Functions ( Create Report: Key Figure Blocks)

Choose

Function

Edit ® Rows

Define text for the key figure rows

Edit ® Columns

Define text for the key figure columns

Edit ® Formulas

Define key figure formulas

Edit ® List of cells

Define key figure cells

Edit → Insert block

Insert a key figure block

Edit → Delete block

Delete a key figure block

Goto ® Report layout ® Use standard layout

Reset layout parameters to default values of standard layout

Extra s → List of characteristics

Display a list of characteristics that are used (or can be used) in the report

Extras → Maintenance language

Switch to a new report language (for example, to enter text for the report description in another language).

Extras → Other std layout

Assign new standard layout to the report

Extras → Threshold value

Enter threshold value condition to highlight in color or print report rows, depending on the values in a specific report column

Inserting Key Figures in Row Blocks

To use the key figure in the report, you must insert the key figure into a report row:

  1. Choose Goto → Rows .

  2. The Create Report: Rows screen appears.

  3. Position the cursor on the row block in which you want the key figure to appear.

  4. Choose Edit → Insert key figures .

  5. A list of defined key figures appears in a dialog box. If only one key figure is defined for the report, it automatically appears on the Create Report: Rows screen.

  6. Select a key figure and choose Choose .

The selected key figure appears on the Create Report: Rows screen.