Filter 

Use

A filter is an object that describes a multidimensional segment of data from a data set. Filters are used in reporting, analysis and planning, for example, to restrict data to a certain business area, certain product groups or certain time periods. This segmenting of the data can be achieved so that users or user groups only have access to the data that is relevant to them or that only certain data areas are available within an application scenario.

Within BI Integrated Planning, filters set the selection for the data upon which a planning function operations. A planning sequence comprises a set of planning functions. A filter is assigned to each of these functions.

You want to revaluate your transaction data in your InfoProviders by a factor of 10%. However, you want to only perform the revaluation for certain groups of customers. To do this, you create a filter that contains the group of customers that you wish to revaluate.

Filters can be reused in planning functions and in queries.

Integration

You can create multiple filters for an InfoProvider. Here you can use the Planning Modeler or Planning Wizard and the Query Designer. You can only define filters on aggregation levels in the Planning Modeler or Planning Wizard.

For more information on filters in the query, see the documentation on the Query Designer under Filter

Prerequisites

In order to create a filter for use in BI Integrated Planning, you need an aggregation level. For more information, see Aggregation Levels.

Features

You choose the characteristics that you want to restrict from the characteristics of an aggregation level and insert them into the filter.

A filter has the following components:

Filter Components

Element	Description
Characteristic Restrictions	On the restriction dialog, you can further restrict the characteristic using single values, value ranges, hierarchy nodes and variables. These characteristic restrictions determine the selection of data for a filter.
Default Values	Default values are only relevant in queries. They can be defined in the same way as characteristic restrictions and set the initial filter status of the query upon execution.

To determine time-dependent selections, such as for determining a time-dependent hierarchy for time-dependent hierarchy node selections, a Filter Key Date can be specified.

The delivered variable 0PLANDATA can be used on the characteristic 0CALDAY for synchronizing key dates in queries, filters, characteristic relationships, data slices and planning functions. In this way, you can ensure that the same key date is used in these objects.

The function of a filter depends on its use, either in a planning function or in a query.

Filters in Planning Functions

In connection with planning functions, a filter in the characteristic restrictions describes the data that is used for executing a planning function.

Selections in the default values are not  used for executing planning functions.

You can also use a key date for the filter to determine time-dependent selections.

Filters in a Query

The values defined in the characteristic restrictions restrict the data that is available for further filtering at runtime of a query. Filtering a characteristic value outside of these value sets is then no longer possible.

The default values determine the initial filter status of the query.

The settings Changeable upon Execution and Only Single Value generally refer to the use of filters with a query.

Changeable upon Execution sets whether the value selection made in the characteristic restrictions can be changed during execution of the query. This setting is a prerequisite for the definition of default values for a characteristic.

When the option Changeable upon Execution was selected, you can use the Only Single Value option to determine whether only a single value may be used for filtering the query.

For more information on filters in the query, see the documentation on the Query Designer under Filter.

Activities

You are in the InfoProvider  tab page of the Planning Modeler. In the Filter Selection screen area, you can create, copy, delete, change, check, save and activate filters.

Creating Filters

...

       1.      To create a filter, choose Create.

       2.      In the Create Filter screen area, enter a technical name and a description for the filter to be created.

       3.      In the Aggregation Level Selection screen area, choose the required aggregation level. If you do not enter a search term and choose Start, the system shows all the aggregation levels available in your system.

Choose Transfer. In the lower part of the Planning Modeler screen area, the system displays the Filter and Settings tab pages.

       4.      On the Filter tab page, choose the characteristics to be restricted.

You can adapt the display of the characteristics according to your needs (display with key, text, key/text or text/key).

Add the characteristics that you wish to restrict to the list. You can add individual or all characteristics of the aggregation level (using Add or Add All) to the list.

       5.      Select the characteristic to be restricted and choose the symbol for input help in the column after Characteristic Restrictions. The dialog box for determining characteristic restriction appears.

You can choose single values, value ranges and hierarchy nodes or variables as needed. You can also transfer values from the history or from favorites.

You can choose one of the following views to select single values, value ranges and hierarchy nodes or variables:

·         All Values to display all characteristic values

·         Search  to search for a specific characteristic value or hierarchy node

·         Value Range to define value ranges (such as intervals)

·         Variables to select or create a variable

·         All Nodes to display and select hierarchy nodes

       6.      In the value list, select one or more values, value ranges or hierarchy nodes and choose Insert and saved the affected selection with OK. The system transfers the affected settings to the list of restricted characteristics.

       7.      With Show Enhanced Settings, you can make further restrictions:

¡        Changeable upon Execution (determines whether the characteristic restrictions can be changed at execution)

When you select the Changeable upon Execution option, you can make further settings:

¡        Only Single Value(determines whether only a single value may be used for filtering at runtime)

¡        Default Value.Choose the symbol in the column after Default Value. The dialog box for determining the default value appears. Proceed as you did when restricting the characteristic values.

       8.      On the Settings tab page you can set the key date.

       9.      To save the definition of the filter, choose Save.

   10.      To check the definition of the filter in view of consistency, choose Check.

Even when the check for a filter fails, the filter can be saved in the Planning Modeler or Planning Wizard (like in the Query Designer). The procedure allows you to save filters without characteristic restrictions and then create them in the system later, for example. A consistency check is done, however, during execution of the filter, before it is used.