Variable (SAP Library - General Ledger Accounting (FI-GL))

Variable

Definition

A variable can be used to make the creation of forms and reports more flexible. It is a parameter of the report that is determined at the time the report is started and that can be replaced in different ways.

There are two types of variables, local and global. In the G/L Account Information System, only global variables are used.

Use

Various variables are included in the SAP System for the G/L Account Information System. You can use the following variables for your forms and reports:

	Variable	for characteristic
Fiscal year	&1FY	Fiscal year
	&2FY	Half year
	&3FY	Quarterly period
	&4FY	Month
Period	&1PF	From period
	&1PT	To period
	&2PF	From period (half year)
	&2PT	To period (half year)
	...	...

You can define additional variables. To do so, in Financial Accounting Customizing chose General Ledger Accounting ® Information System ® Drilldown Reports (G/L Accounts) ® Define Global Variables.

You can include constants with variables that reference a numerical entry field (such as &1FY-1 for the previous fiscal year).

Replacement of variables by the system

In the following examples for the G/L Account Information System, you can see how the system replaces the variables entered in the form (step 1) with values (step 3), based on user entries when running the report (step 2)

Example	Step 1		Step 2	Step 3
	Variable entered in form		User entry when running report	Output in report
	Column 1	Column 2	User entry when running report	Column 1	Column 2
Year comparison for two fiscal years	&1FY	&1FY-1	Fiscal year: 2000	2000	1999
Half year comparison to previous fiscal year	&2FY &2PF &2PT	&2FY-1 &2PF &2PT	Fiscal year: 2000 Period: Second half of the year	2000 007 016	1999 007 016
Quarterly comparison to previous fiscal year	&3FY &3PF &3PT	&3FY-1 &3PF &3PT	Fiscal year: 2000 Period: Third quarter	2000 007 009	1999 007 009
Monthly comparison to previous fiscal year	&4FY &4PE	&4FY-1 &4PE	Fiscal year: 2000 month: 10/2000	2000 10	1999 10

Structure

The following variable types are used in the G/L Account Information System:

Variables for characteristics

If you do not want to enter a fixed value for a characteristic in a form or report, you can use a variable for the value of the characteristic. You define the value for the characteristic when running the report.

Variables for text

If you do not want to enter a text in a form (for example, for a column header), you use a text variable. You enter the value for the text when running the report.

Note

You can use the same variables for texts as those used for characteristics.

Example

If you use a variable for the value of a characteristic in your report (such as fiscal year), the text for the column header is also not in the definition of the form. In this case, you select the same variable for the text variable as well as for the value of the characteristic.

You can find more information on variables in the SAP Library under Cross-Application Components ® CA Drill-Down Reporting ® Reports ® Variables.