Working with Hierarchies 

Use

You are able to display characteristics hierarchically in the Business Explorer (in Web applications or in the BEx Analyzer). The characteristic values of a characteristic are displayed in a tree-type structure.

It is also possible to arrange the structure components of a structure hierarchically in the Query Designer. In the Query Designer, you are also able to determine that one or both axes (rows and columns) be displayed hierarchically.

This function enables you to analyze the data of a query for the individual hierarchy levels.

Integration

Hierarchies for characteristics can be loaded from the source system or created in the BI system. For more information about hierarchies, see Hierarchy.

Prerequisites

This function for displaying characteristics in a hierarchy is available, if hierarchies exist for the characteristics of the query.

Characteristics do not have to have hierarchies for the functions Structures with Hierarchical Display and Display as Hierarchy.

Features

Hierarchies on Rows and Columns

You can display several hierarchies in the rows and columns and navigate in the hierarchy.

You can distribute as many structures, characteristics with active display hierarchies and characteristics without display hierarchies as you like in the rows and columns

The hierarchical display of a characteristic takes place one step at a time. You get a drilldown with the hierarchy nodes of the selected hierarchy. You can get to the lower hierarchy levels using a new drilldown by hierarchy (or by clicking on the hierarchy symbol). Characteristic values that are not arranged in the hierarchy appear in the results area in the row marked ‘Not assigned’. If a characteristic with a hierarchy is sorted according to key and name, then the node ‘Not assigned’ appears at the end.

You can design the hierarchy display (width of the hierarchy indentation and hierarchy buttons) in the motives used using the function Workbook Settings on the design toolbar of the BEx Analyzer. See Workbook Settings.

You can evaluate data for the individual hierarchy levels with the query. To display a characteristic as a hierarchy instead of a list, choose Hierarchy ® Active Hierarchy form the context menu with a right mouse-click. You can now expand the hierarchy to the level you require. Expanding a hierarchy level means that the display of the level that the cursor is positioned on, is extended by one more level, meaning that the level is moved to a position one level lower down. Conversely, the hierarchy can also be reduced by one level (compressed). Choose Expand hierarchy ® Level... from the context menu (right mouse click). However, you can also expand or compress the hierarchy by clicking on the hierarchy symbol.

You can determine the hierarchical display of a characteristic as early as in the query definition.

                                                  i.       Select the characteristic in the Query Designer. The properties dialog for the characteristic is displayed in the Properties screen area.

                                                ii.       On the Hierarchy tab page, select the setting Activate Hierarchy Display.

In the Hierarchy Parameter area, you can set up to which hierarchy level the hierarchy is to be drilled down in the initial view under Expand to Level. See Properties for a Characteristic

Refreshable Expansion Status

When you refresh a query in a BEx Analyzer workbook, the level to which the hierarchy is expanded is recreated when you save the BEx Analyzer workbook status.

Structures with Hierarchical Display

In the Query Designer, you can maintain hierarchical relationships for structural components in a structure. To do this, call the context menu for the structural component and choose Insert (Subordinate). The hierarchical relationship of the structural components is displayed in the executed query as a display hierarchy. You can expand and collapse the nodes.

Display as Hierarchy

In the Query Designer, you can specify for each axis that all objects on an axis (structures, characteristics with or without display hierarchies) are displayed as individual hierarchies.

In the Query Designer, click on the empty area in the Rows or Columns area. The associated properties dialog for the rows or columns is displayed in the Properties screen area. On the General tab page, select Active under Display As Hierarchy. Under Expand to, you can choose up to which hierarchy level the hierarchy is to drilled down to in the initial view.

You can use this function to display multiple drilldowns, for example, Country, Region, Town, although there is no display hierarchy.

As an additional example, you can display the cost center and the cost element hierarchy in one hierarchy.