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Function documentationCreate Distribution Lists Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

You create a distribution list that defines the current view settings for different users. This allows you to distribute the same report or input schedules to a group of users, showing only information relevant to them.

Features

  • You can e-mail reports and input schedules to users, or place them in a designated folder.

  • Users can modify offline input schedules and e-mail them back to you using the same distribution list.

  • After creating one or more report or input schedules, you can create a new distribution list, or use the a Distribution List template as a guide. The template is located in \Webfolders\ApShell\Planning\eExcel\PDBooks\Distribtution Template.xlt.

The Distribution list template contains the following fields:

Field

Description

BOOK

The title of your distribution list.

SECTION

Denotes the beginning of a section of the distribution list. You can have multiple sections in your distribution list.

Each section must include REPNAME, FIXKEY and VARYKEYS, defined below. The Distribution Wizard allows you to select the sections you want to publish within a book.

See Distribute Reports and Input Schedules.

REPNAME

The file path to the report template being used to create the reports. You can also add a title for the report in the cell immediately following the path. You must set a password before you distribute report or input schedule templates. See Workbook Options.

FIXKEY

Used to set a dimension value for all reports in the distribution (for example, TIME - 2008.JAN).

FixKey also supports the use of dimension members from another application within the application set.

To specify a dimension member from another application, use the following syntax: APPLICATION:DIMENSIONNAME.

VARYKEYS

The list of dimensions and user IDs for which the distribution is created. Enter the dimensions and the user IDs in columns. The system creates reports for each intersection of dimensions and users that have access to the data.

  • To include all the children of a parent use the following syntax: %All%. For example, SalesUS.%ALL% creates reports for Sales US and all its children.

  • To include the base member of a parent, use the following syntax: %BAS%. For example, WorldWide1.%BAS% returns the base members of WorldWide1.

  • To include the immediate descendants of a parent use the following syntax: %DEP%. For example, WorldWide1.%DEP% returns the children of WorldWide1.

  • To use the CurrentView for a dimension instead of specifying a view use the following syntax: %CUR%.

SECTIONEND

Denotes the end of a distribution section.

Note Note

Any dimension not specified in the distribution template has its value (member) taken from the current view.

End of the note.

Activities

To create a distribution list, take the following steps:

  1. From Interface for Excel, select   ePublish   Manage distribution list   New  .

  2. Edit the distribution list, as described in the table above. Make sure to protect any specified reports or input schedule template(s) with a workbook password. See Workbook Options.

  3. When you are satisfied with the distribution list, select   ePublish   Manage distribution list   Validate  . Validating checks the template for workbook protection, and errors in syntax, structure, and provided information.

  4. Select   ePublish   Manage distribution list   Save  .