Working with Hierarchies 

Use

You are able to display characteristics hierarchically in the Business Explorer (in Web applications or in the BEx Analyzer). The characteristic values of a characteristic are displayed in a tree-type structure.

It is also possible to arrange the structure components of a structure hierarchically in the Query Designer. In the Query Designer, you are also able to determine that one or both axes (rows and columns) be displayed hierarchically.

This function enables you to analyze the data of a query for the individual hierarchy levels.

Integration

Hierarchies for characteristics can be loaded from the source system or created in the Business Information Warehouse. For more information about hierarchies, see Hierarchies.

Prerequisites

This function for displaying characteristics in a hierarchy is available, if hierarchies exist for the characteristics of the query.

Characteristics do not have to have hierarchies for the functions Structures with Hierarchical Display and Display as Hierarchy.

Features

Hierarchies on Rows and Columns

You can display several hierarchies in the rows and columns and navigate in the hierarchy.

You can distribute as many structures, characteristics with active display hierarchies and characteristics without display hierarchies as you like in the rows and columns

The hierarchical display of a characteristic takes place one step at a time. You get a drilldown with the hierarchy nodes of the selected hierarchy. You can get to the lower hierarchy levels using a new drilldown by hierarchy (or by clicking on the hierarchy symbol). Characteristic values that are not arranged in the hierarchy appear in the results area in the row marked ‘Not assigned’. If a characteristic with a hierarchy is sorted according to key and name, then the node ‘Not assigned’ appears at the end.

You can configure the hierarchy display (width of the hierarchy indentation and hierarchy buttons) individually, by using the function Format on the BEx toolbar. See Formatting.

You can evaluate data for the individual hierarchy levels with the query. To display a characteristic as a hierarchy instead of a list, choose Active hierarchy form the context menu with a secondary mouse-click. You can now expand the hierarchy to the level you require. Expanding a hierarchy level means that the display of the level that the cursor is positioned on, is extended by one more level, meaning that the level is moved to a position one level lower down. Conversely, the hierarchy can also be reduced by one level (compressed). Choose Expand Hierarchy  ® Level... from the context menu (right mouse click). However, you can also expand or compress the hierarchy by clicking on the hierarchy symbol.

You can determine the hierarchical display of a characteristic as early as in the query definition.

·         Choose Change from the BEx toolbar.

·         Select the characteristic you want and choose Properties from the context menu (secondary mouse click).

·         In the field, choose Presentation hierarchy active.

In the field Presentation Hierarchy you can also set up the Start Expand Level, that is, to what hierarchy level you want to drilldown to in the initial view. See Characteristic Properties

Refreshable Expansion Levels

When you refresh a query in a BW workbook, the level to which the hierarchy is expanded is recreated when you save the BW workbook status.

Structures with Hierarchical Display

In the Query Designer, you can maintain hierarchical relationships for structural components in a structure. To do this, call the context menu for the structural component and choose Descending or Ascending.  The hierarchical relationship of the structural components is displayed in the executed query as a display hierarchy. You can expand and collapse the nodes.

Display as Hierarchy

In the Query Designer, you can specify for each axis that all objects on an axis (structures, characteristics with or without display hierarchies) are displayed as individual hierarchies.

In the Query Designer, use the right mouse button in the context menu for the row or column and choose Display as Hierarchy. You can also set up the Start Expand Level from the context menu, that is, to what hierarchy level you want to drilldown to in the initial view. To do this, choose Expand to…

You can use this function to display multiple drilldowns, for example, Country, Region, Town, although there is no display hierarchy.

As an additional example, you can display the cost center and the cost element hierarchy in one hierarchy.