Predefined Planning Function Types 

Definition

The predefined planning function types are part of the BI system. When you apply a planning function type to a certain aggregation level, you define a planning function of this type.

Use

The following predefined planning function types are delivered as part of the BI system.

Unit Conversion

With the Unit Conversion function type, you can convert units of key figures into other key figures.

In the Source / Target Key Figure Conversion Type table, you can specify multiple conversions. For each conversion, you have to select the unit or quantity conversion type. The value in the target key figure is overwritten. This also applies when the source key figure is empty.

Since no characteristic values are changed during unit conversion between key figures, this option does not exist in the characteristic usages.

Generate Combinations

With the Generate Combinations function type, you can generate empty records for an aggregation level for all permitted combinations according to the master data and characteristic combinations. These are exactly those combinations that are also valid during the check on this aggregation level (see Characteristic Relationships).

This function type does not permit any other settings: Because new data records are continuously generated for the whole aggregation level, all characteristics must be To Be Changed. The function type works without block characteristics.

The function type writes empty records (like with Copy).

Formula

With the Formula function type, you can use extended mathematical functions to calculate plan data. The same formulas are valid in BI Integrated Planning as were valid in BW-BPS. For more information, see the documentation on BW-BPS in Formula.

Only those blocks are processed that already contain data.

Copy

With the Copy function type, you can copy the key figure values from existing characteristic combinations to other characteristic combinations.

For example, if you want to copy the values from the year 2005 to 2007 without changing another characteristic, set the indicator Will Be Changed for the characteristic Year.

Using the table for key figure selection, you can set which key figures are to be copied.

Using the From and To Values for Copying table, you can either create a simple copying process or multiple copying processes within a planning function.

The function type allows complicated copying processes as well: both the from and to values can be characteristic restrictions on the characteristics to be changed. The system continually totals the values of the key figures on the from page over all the records in the block that correspond to the characteristic restriction, on the to page it continually writes the total on each individual characteristic combination.

You can also copy values from one From value to multiple To values.

You copy from the year „2005“ and version “ACTUAL” to the combination {“2006“, “PLAN01“} and to the combination {2007, „PLAN02“}.

The function type reads and writes empty records.

The following rules apply:

·        The From values are read as reference data and thus do not need to be part of the filter that is transferred to the planning function.

·        The To values are changed; thus they have to be included in the transferred filter.

·        The key figure values for the To values are always overwritten during copying. This is also valid when the From values are empty.

The copying function also forms blocks from the reference data.

Delete

With the Delete function type, you can delete the key figure values for the selected data records.

No characteristic values are changed. In characteristic value usage, you can only select characteristics as condition characteristics.

You can select the key figures to be deleted using a table.

Deleting Invalid Combinations

With the Delete Invalid Combinations function type, you can delete all key figure values for all records whose combination of characteristic values do not correspond to the characteristic combinations that are defined on the underlying real-time enabled InfoCube.

 

Note the following condition: A planning function of this type can only be created on an aggregation level that itself has been created directly on a real-time enabled InfoCube (a simple aggregation level, see Aggregation Level). The aggregation level must include all of the InfoObjects of the InfoCube that are valid in aggregation levels.

Reposting

With the Repost function type, like with Copy, you can post the key figure values for existing characteristic combinations to other combinations. In contrast to copying, the key figure values of the From values are deleted. You can find an introductory example under Planning Functions and Planning Function Types.

Using the table for key figure selection, you can set which key figures are to be reposted.

Using the From and To Values for Reposting, you can either create a simple reposting process or multiple reposting processes within a planning function.

The following rules apply:

·        Both the From and the To values for the reposting process have to be single values.

·        Both the From and the To values are changed and have to be included in the filter that is transferred to the planning function.

·        The key figure values for the To values are always overwritten during reposting. This is also valid when the From values are empty.

Reposting by Characteristic Relationships

With the Repost by Characteristic Relationships function, you can repost transaction data so that it is consistent with the characteristic relationships. The original records are deleted and reposted to the correct characteristic combinations.

In the characteristic usage, you can determine for which characteristics the values are to be corrected. This only makes sense for characteristics that can be derived according to the characteristic relationships.

Note the following condition: A planning function of this type can only be created on an aggregation level that itself has been created directly on a real-time enabled InfoCube (a simple aggregation level, see Aggregation Level). The aggregation level must include all of the InfoObjects of the InfoCube that are valid in aggregation levels.

Revaluation

With the Revaluation function type, you can increase or decrease key figures by one percentage.

No characteristic values are changed. In characteristic value usage, you can only select characteristics as condition characteristics.

You can choose whether you want to enter a common percentage for all key figures or want to revaluation key figures with individual percentages.

Distribution

An introduction to how a planning function of type Distribute works can be found in Process of a Planning Function: Distributing by Key.

Using the table for key figure selection, you can set which key figures are to be distributed.

The distribution process can be controlled in different ways:

·        with a top-down variant

¡        Distribute all: The entire block is totaled.

¡        Only Distribute Not Assigned: Only the value is distributed that has the characteristic value Not Assigned [#]  in the current block on all of the characteristics to be changed.

·        with the table From and To Values for Distribution: You can create one or more distribution processes by manually entering the characteristic restrictions onto the characteristics to be changed.

The system continually totals the values of the key figures on the From side over all the records in the block that correspond to the characteristic restriction, and distributes this total to the To values. The distribution keys and the characteristic combinations to which they are distributed are different for the processes available (Distribution by Keys or By Reference Data).

The system performs the following steps to execute a planning function of type Distribution.

...

                                                  i.       The total amount to be distributed is determined.

                                                ii.       With the data records affected by the From values, the key figure values are deleted.

                                               iii.       According to the distribution keys, the totals are added together with  the key figure values of the data records selected by the To values.

The following rules apply:

·        Both the From and the To values are changed and have to be included in the filter that is transferred to the planning function.

If the From value is created so that it can select data records that are not in the filter, the system does not produce an error message. The data records are not part of the distribution.

If the To value is created so that it can select data records that are not in the filter, the system cancels the entire planning function with an error message.

·        Rounding differences are distributed evenly to those target data records that are already not equal to zero.

Distributing by Keys

With the Distribution by Keys function type, you can generate all characteristic combinations that are distributed to according to the master data. The key figures are distributed according to the expressly specified distribution key. These are distribution functions that determine the weighting of the parts during distribution.

With the From and To Values for Distribution table you can either enter a specific value in the Factor column or select a formula variable from the input help for the To values. The system displays them in the Factor Variable Text  column.

If the characteristic restriction of a To value is not a single value, this key is valid for every characteristic combination that corresponds to the characteristic restriction.

The keys are normalized during processing, which means converted into percentages according to the size distribution. The system first adds the distribution factors that are assigned to the individual characteristic values to a total and then relates them to one another. This results in percentages that always add up to 100 %.

The same key applies to all of the key figures to be distributed for each planning function. 

Distribution by reference data

With the Distribution by Reference Data  function type, you can generate all characteristic combinations that are distributed to according to the reference data. The key figure values are distributed by percentage according to the reference data.

The system provides two parameters for Selection of Reference Data.

Parameter	Description
Reference Key Figure (optional)	You determine a key figure that is to be used in the reference data to calculated the distribution key. ·        If this type of key figures is selected, the system distributes all of the key figures to be distributed according to this key, that is, according to this reference key figure. ·        If no reference key figure is selected, the system calculates a key individually for each of the key figures to be distributed. The same key figure is used in the reference data that is distributed.
Reference Values on Any Block Characteristics	You set a reference value for one or more block characteristics. While reading the reference data for every block, the system overwrites the characteristic value of the block in the characteristic with this reference value. An InfoProvider provides data for the years 2005 and 2006. You want to change transaction data for the year 2006. Thus the data from the year 2006 is selected in the filter that is transferred to the planning function. All of the blocks thus have the year 2006. When the reference value 2005 is specified, you can ensure that the keys are calculated according to the data from 2005, however.

The system distributions to precisely those characteristic combinations that exist in the reference data and fit the characteristic restrictions in the To values.

The percentage distribution corresponds to the percentage distribution in the reference data.

In the top-down distribution, the system distributes to all characteristic combinations that exist in the reference data. The data record is removed that has Not Assigned [#] on all characteristic values.

Currency Translation

With the Currency Translation function type, you can convert currencies of key figures into other key figures.

In the Key Figures and Currency Translation Types table, you can specify multiple translations. For each translation, you have to select a currency translation type. The value in the target key figure is overwritten. This also applies when the source key figure is empty.

Since no characteristic values are changed during currency translation between key figures, this option does not exist in the characteristic usages.