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The context specifies the dimensions and associated members for a specific connection.

The context represents the following:
  • The dimensions that are included in the current cube/model.
  • The members that are used in the current display of a report (or the saved members in an offline report).

The context enables you to define, for each dimension of a selected cube/model, a member corresponding to the default member to be applied for unspecified dimensions in any EPM function or in any report created.

Note The members that are selected in the axes of a report override the members selected in the context.

The context applies to the user for a connection. If you open other workbooks and connect to the same cube or model, the context will be the same even if you have modified it in one of the workbooks.

The context is displayed in the dedicated EPM Context bar.
Note When using a Planning and Consolidation connection, the name of the current model is displayed in the bar.
Note You can alternatively display the context settings inside the EPM pane by selecting the Display Context inside EPM Pane option in the User Options dialog box.
However, you can set a specific member on a specific workbook or worksheet. When you set a member, you automatically lock its dimension and you cannot select another member from the EPM Context bar: the dimension dropdown list is greyed out.
Note If you set a member on a specific workbook, the member is also set on all the sheets of the workbook.
To change the context in a report:
  • You can select other members from the EPM Context bar. The data displayed changes to reflect the new context settings. To select another member for a dimension, select a dimension dropdown list, then select Select Other Members. The Member Selector opens and you can make your selection.
  • You can also enter directly enter the complete ID of a dimension member in the EPM Context bar dropdown lists provided that the Enable Manual Entry of Members option is selected in the User Options. This option in not selected by default. When the option is selected, the name of the dimension and the color are not displayed anymore in dropdown lists. Note that the dropdown lists are not case-sensitive.
  • Alternatively, you can select a context favorite or save the current context as a context favorite (see Context Favorites).
Note If the dropdown list is greyed out, you cannot select another member: this is because the dimension has been locked in the Context Options.

To lock a dimension on a workbook or worksheet, select Start of the navigation path EPM Next navigation step Options Next navigation step Context Options End of the navigation path. In the Context Lock tab, select the level from the dropdown list, then click the member and select the one you want from the Member Selector that opens. The Lock checkbox is automatically checked for the dimension.

Note You can set a workbook to refresh automatically upon selecting a member from the context by selecting the Automatic Refresh on Context Changes option in the User Options dialog box.