Under certain circumstances it might be necessary to enhance data that was not available at the time of updating at the point of evaluation, or to interpret data on a higher aggregation level that was already updated and thus calculate new key figures.
Such a key figure can be created when defining an information structure. This key figure is excluded from the update process, as the values are first determined by means of a so-called method when the standard analysis is carried out.
In the standard analyses, a method is a FORM routine which supports the enhancement of, or changes to, statistical data and it is automatically called up by the standard analysis.
These methods are similar to the methods that you can use in Copy Management.
In standard analyses, a distinction is made between two types of methods:
This method enables you to determine key figures for which such a determination is not practical at individual data record level, i.e. it is impossible to interpret them meaningfully when they are expressed as a total.
Such a key figure can be the proportion of one key figure in terms of another key figure and is expressed as a percentage value. This proportion must be redetermined on every list level.
If a standard analysis features the list, then the key figures in the information structure are transferred to the FORM routine that describes the method for every list line and for every totals line so that they can be changed.
In order to support and facilitate the creation of methods, SAP provides several transformation scenarios. Each scenario consists of both a detailed business desciption (documentation) and a reference method which the system automatically adapts to the information structure that you have chosen. It is then copied to the clipboard so that the system can make use of it when creating a method.
A scenario is only automatically adapted to the source and target information structures when you call up the reference method via the pushbutton Copy from.
You also have the option of calling up a reference method from the accompanying documentation. In this case, no automatic adapting can take place.
The methods maintenance is integrated in the IMG activity "Change settings". In the case of self-defined information structures, you can select a list enhancement method as well as the accompanying scenarios in the parameters settings screen by using the Maintain function.
Proceed as follows:
enhancement.
In addition to these methods, which you can use to calculate as many key figures as you like from other key figures, you can also use formulas for list enhancement.
Formulas enable you to make simple key figure calculations.
A formula is a series of calculation steps. Each step has the form: Key figure = Operand1 Operator Operand2. Operand1 and Operand2 can either be key figures of the info structure or a normal number. The four basic calculation types can be operators: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
For example, the average of the key figures value1 and value2 can be represented by the following calculation steps, for example: