Restricting Characteristics 

Use

When defining a query, you can restrict characteristics to single characteristic values, value ranges, hierarchy nodes or characteristic value variables.

Prerequisites

You want to restrict a characteristic to one or more values in the query or restricted key figure definition. You have selected the characteristic and chosen Restrict from the context menu (secondary mouse click).

Procedure

When you select characteristics in the query definition, you can use the same functions as the F4 Help in the executed query. For the following functions, see the descriptions under Selecting Filter Values.

·        Selecting single values

·        Selecting value ranges

·        Selecting hierarchy nodes

·        Searching for values

·        Deleting values from the selection window

·        Excluding characteristic values

·        Displaying value keys

You can choose from the following additional functions in the query definition:

Selecting variables

When you select characteristic values in the query definition, you can also select variables instead of fixed values. These act as benchmarks and are only filled with fixed values when the query is executed.

Selecting single value variables

...

       1.      Choose Single Value in the top left area of the selection field and flat list in the top right.

       2.      Select the Variables tab page.

       3.      Select one (or, in exceptional cases, more than one) variable from the list of available variables displayed in the left-hand window, and drag the variable(s) into the Selection box on the right (alternatively, use the pushbutton with the arrow pointing to the right to move the values).

Selecting value range limits

...

       1.      Choose Value Range from the top left of the selection field, and the operator that you want to use (top right).

       2.      Select the Variables tab page.

       3.      If you have chosen the operator Between, first select both the upper and lower interval limits from the list of available variables displayed in the left-hand window and drag them using Drag&Drop (or using the arrow pointing to the right) in the Selection window on the right-hand side of the screen.

If you choose one of the operators Is greater than or equal to, Is less than or equal to, Is greater than, or Is less than, select a value from the list of available variables in the left-hand window, drag it across, and drop it into the Selection window on the right (alternatively use the button with the arrow pointing to the right to move the variable across into the Selection window).

Selecting intervals with variables and a fixed limit

...

       1.      In the top left corner of the selection field, choose value range and between as operator.

       2.      Select the fixed limit on the Fixed Values tab.

       3.      Select the variable limit on the Variables tab.

       4.      Finally, choose the arrow button pointing to the right.

Selecting intervals whose upper and lower limits refer to the same variable

...

       1.      In the top left corner of the selection field, choose value range and between as operator.

       2.      Select the required variable from the Variables tab page and drag it into the Selection box on the right (or use the arrow icon pointing to the right).

       3.      Now specify offsets for the upper and lower limits. (See below: Selecting variable offsets)

Please note that you cannot combine other values, hierarchy nodes or variables with a variable of the type Selection option or Query variable.

Selecting variable offsets

You can only use this function for characteristic value variables of the type single value.

...

       1.      Select the required variable in the right-hand window.

       2.      Choose variable offsets from the context menu (secondary mouse click). This brings you to the dialog window Entering Variable Offsets.

       3.      Enter the required offset.

       4.      Choose OK.

You want to select the period of the last 5 years for evaluating your data.

-         In the top left corner of the selection field, choose value range and between as operator.

-         Select the variable current calendar year from the Variables tab page and drag it into the Selection box on the right (or use the arrow icon pointing to the right).

-         Choose variable offsets from the context menu (secondary mouse click). The Variables – Offsets popup appears for both the upper and lower interval limits.

-         For the lower limit, enter the offset 5.

-         Do not enter an offset for the upper limit.

-         Choose OK.

Swapping interval limits

If you are using variables in the interval limits, you can swap the limits.

...

       1.      Select the required variable in the right-hand window.

       2.      Choose Swap Interval Limits  from the context menu (secondary mouse click).

Selecting fixed/variable hierarchies/hierarchy nodes

You can also restrict characteristics by hierarchy or hierarchy node, on a fixed or variable basis. See Restricting Characteristics: Hierarchies

Excluding variable values

You use this function to select the values that you do not need for your report.

This function is only valid for single value variables and not for variable quantities.

...

       1.      Select the desired value in the right Selection window.

       2.      Choose Exclude from Selection from the context menu (secondary mouse click).

If you want to include the value in the selection again, choose Include in Selection from the context menu (secondary mouse click).

Direct entry

You cannot use this function if you want to restrict the characteristic. You cannot make a direct entry when you are selecting structure elements (for example, key figures) or values from a hierarchy.

...

       1.      In the entry field (bottom left) specify a characteristic value in external format.

Instead of characteristic values in external format, you can also enter variables in the form of &<variable name>& (ampersand (&) at the beginning and at the end of the entry, and without blank spaces).

       2.      Choose the button with the arrow pointing to the right.

The system checks whether this value exists. If the value does not exist, you get a warning. However, you can still use the value in the variable.

Note the following conventions for making entries for value ranges and intervals:

Value range: <operator><value>, for example, >= 1995

Intervals: <lower limit>;<upper limit>, e.g. A01; B99

Interval with a variable limit, for example, &VAR&;2000

Empty characters are not allowed in these fields.

Result

You have now restricted a characteristic by certain characteristic values. Choose OK.You return to the query definition. Save your entries and execute the query.

If you have restricted a characteristic to a variable value, before the query is executed, a dialog box appears for you to enter variable values manually (provided that the variable is flagged as ready for input). For more information, see Using Variables: The Variable Wizard and the Variable Editor.

Enter the required values and choose OK. The query is now executed with the chosen values.

The query is created according to your selection conditions. The selected characteristic values are displayed in the filter cells, on the right, next to the corresponding characteristic. Only the characteristic values you selected are included in the results area.