Defining Columns 

1. On any Create Report screen, choose Goto ® Columns.

The Create Report: Columns screen appears.

2. Enter the name of the set(s) to be used as the column block.

You can use a basic, data, single-dimension, or multi-dimension set as the column block.

You cannot enter a set that contains characteristics that are already being used in a row block or as selection criteria in the report. You can use the same characteristic in more than one column block and you can use more than one characteristic in a column block(s); however, you cannot use the characteristic again in a row block or as selection criteria in the report.

You can enter a set that has not already been created in your system. The system asks you whether you want to create the set and displays a series of dialog boxes in which you choose whether you want to create a report set or a general set and then select the relevant set type.

Beginning with Release 4.0, you can enter basic and multi-dimension sets that have been created for characteristics from tables other than the table that the report uses. To do so, the characteristic of the column block set must be compatible with the corresponding characteristic in the report’s table.

The table-independent usage of sets in reports is not possible for data and multi-dimension sets.



You can use variables in your column headings. The variables are replaced with the default variable value when you execute your report if the column text type Key is selected in the report’s standard layout (Create Report: Layout: Column Texts screen).

You enter the variable for the column heading in your column set (Short text of set line field in the set maintenance transactions).

For example, your report uses the value variable &PERIOD for the period and you want to display the current value for the period in a column heading. You enter the variable &PERIOD in your column set as the set line description for the relevant period and enter the set in the column definition of your report. If the column text type Key is selected in your report’s standard layout, the variable &PERIOD will be replaced with the period value (for example, 5 ) when you execute the report. The description is printed for all other column text types (for example, May).

3. For each column block, enter the following data as required:

– Specify whether you want to insert a page break before a column block or insert blank lines between column blocks.

To insert a page break before a column block, enter * in the Page break field.

To insert a specific number of blank column lines before a column block, enter the number of blank column lines you want in the Page break field.

– Specify whether you want to inactivate the column block. The column block is then inactivated for all row blocks. You cannot refer to an inactive column block in a key figure.

For more information about inactivating a column block for a specific row block, see Inactivating Columns for a Row Block .



If you want to suppress a column in a report and refer to it in a key figure, you can do this by assigning the column width 0 (using format groups).

For example, your column block is a basic set that uses the characteristic Year (value: 1997). You want to suppress the column for 1997, but still refer to it in a key figure. You:

a) Assign a format group to the basic set value 1997 (for example, 5).

b) Define the column width for format group 5 as 0 in the report parameters.

4. Choose Enter.

The descriptions for the column blocks appear.



The Report Writer can use sets from all set classes. However, a set name is only unique within one set class.

If you entered a set name that exists in two different set classes, the system displays a dialog box in which you select the set that you want to use as the column block.

5. If you want to enter additional text for the column blocks:

Position the cursor on the column block for which you want to enter the texts and choose Extras ® Additional texts.

The Texts for Column Block No. <Number> dialog box appears.

For more information about entering additional text for the column blocks, see step five in Defining Rows .

6. On this screen, you can use the additional processing functions in the following table, as well as the functions in the table for the Create Report: Initial Screen in Creating a Report Definition .

Entering Characteristic Information for a Column Block

Using Formula Variables in Reports: Examples