Definition of Exceptions 

Use

You can define threshold values (exceptions) for a query. The definition of the exceptions is done in the BEx Query Designer or in BEx Web Applications.

Features

The definition of exceptions comprises the following components:

Type of Exception

You determine whether you are defining a status exception or a trend exception. The type of exception affects the display of the exception, among other things.

·        Status exceptions affect absolute key figures. They describe the current status of a number (such as revenue > 30000).

·        Status exceptions affect relative key figures. They describe a change to a key figure (such as deviation > 5 percent).

You can only make this setting in the Exceptions Wizard, not in the Exceptions Editor.

Definition of the Key Figures

You define the key figures. The exception is analyzed based on these key figures. The exception can affect all structure elements of a structure or only a selected structure element.

Time of Analysis

You can set whether the analysis of the exception takes place before or after a local calculation. Choose the required entry, Before Local Calculation or After Local Calculation. See Local Calculations.

Determining the Threshold Values

Set the required alert level and determine the appropriate threshold values and operators.

You can choose from the following alert levels:

·        Good1

·        Good2

·        Good3

·        Critical1

·        Critical2

·        Critical3

·        Bad1

·        Bad2

·        Bad3

You can choose from the following operators:

·        = equal to

·        <> not equal to

·        > greater than

·        >= greater than or equal to

·        < less than

·        <= less than or equal to

·        [ ] between (in the interval)

·        ] [ not between (not in the interval)

These operators require a floating point number as a value. For the operators [ ] is in interval and ] [ is not in interval, you must enter a value area, that is, a lower and an upper threshold value.

The format depends on the country setting in the operative system.

The following convention makes it easier to handle numbers with many zeros:

An apostrophe after the number means multiplied by one thousand, a quotation mark means multiplied by one million, and three apostrophe marks means multiplied by one billion, for example 1.5” = 1.5 mil = 1,500,000.

The system works through the defined alert level and the associated threshold values sequentially. If you have defined multiple alert levels and threshold values for a value, the system displays the worst alert level.

Display / Target

You can set whether the exception affects the data cells or the characteristic cells. According to your setting, the highlighting of the exception appears on the numbers for the selected key figure or the text for the most detailed characteristic value.

When presenting exceptions on the data cells,  you can choose whether the exception is displayed on the analyzed structure element, on another structure element or on all structure elements.

When you are presenting the exception on the characteristic cells, you can choose whether the exception is displayed on the rows, on the columns or on both the rows and the columns.

Display of the Table

You have the following options for displaying exceptions in the table:

·        Background color: The exception is displayed with the background color of the data cell or characteristic cell. The color shading ranges from dark green for the alert level Good1 through yellow for the alert level Critical1 to dark red for the alert level Bad3. There are a total of nine color shades, corresponding to nine different levels of priority.

·        Symbol: The exception is displayed as a symbol

·        Symbol and value: The exception is displayed with a symbol and the value of the data cell or characteristic cell.

·        Value and symbol: The exception is displayed with a value and the symbol of the data cell or characteristic cell.

In the BEx Analyzer, you can only display the exception through the background color of the cell. If you want to assign your own colors, on the design toolbar of the BEx Analyzer, choose Workbook Settings (see also Workbook Settings).

In BEx Web Applications, both display with the background color of the cell and symbol options are available. The background colors are set in the portal theme (see also Portal Themes). The symbols are located in the MIME Repository.

You can only make this setting in the Exceptions Wizard in the Web, not in the Exceptions Editor in the BEx Query Designer.

Characteristic Restriction / Cell Restriction

In the characteristic restriction of the exception, you determine the cells that the exception is to evaluate. For all characteristics, the exception affects only the results unless you define it differently.

Choose from any of the free characteristics, or any of the characteristics from the rows and columns that are used in a query. You cannot use characteristics that have already been used in another restriction row in the list.

Choose your required validity area for the characteristics and restrict the characteristics as needed.

Possible Areas of Validity

Validity Area	Meaning
All	The validity area is not restricted. The exception is valid for every drilldown status of the characteristic.
Results only	The exception is valid only for aggregated values of the characteristic.
Everything except the results	The exception applies to all values of the characteristic apart from aggregated values.
Fixed values	The exception is valid for only one particular value of the characteristic (such as “spare parts” under “product group”, for example). Select the characteristic value you want to use from the list.
Level	The exception is valid only for a particular hierarchy level of the characteristic. Select the hierarchy level you want to use.

Properties

Set whether the exception is active or inactive and enter a description for the condition.

Activities

BEx Query Designer

In the Exceptions screen area choose New Exception in the context menu. The entry with the default text Exception <Number> appears and you edit the description directly. In the context menu, choose Edit. The exception editor appears. This offers the parts of the definition in the tab pages.

BEx Web Applications:

You have the following options:

·        In the context menu, choose Exceptions ® Create New Exception

·        In the Web item List of Exceptions, choose the Add button.

The exceptions wizard appears and helps you to define the exception with step-by-step instructions.

BEx Web Analyzer

You have the following options:

·        In the context menu, choose Exceptions ® Create New Exception

·        Choose Settings and on the Exceptions tab page, choose Add.

The exceptions wizard appears.