Formula Operands (in Dependency on Key Figure and Characteristic Value) 

Definition

The operands that you use as a formula element within a parameter group in the formula editor are either concerned with constants (for example, a surcharge value that is added to the value of the key figure) or with expressions that result from the name of a key figure, the value of a characteristic (or several characteristics), or a combination. An operand is, therefore, to be understood as a tuple of the available characteristics and key figures that you assign a value to with the formula.

Use

The syntactically correct form of an operand is directly dependent on which elements that you have included in the list of fields to be changed. Because you edit this list at planning function level, the resultant syntactic requirements for operands apply for all parameter groups that you create for a given formula function.

The following table shows the relationships:

Fields to Be Changed	Operand Form	Example	Explanation
only key figure	<key figure name>	REVENUE = PRICE * SQTY	a)
only characteristic	<characteristic value>	2004 = 2003 * 1.1	b)
several characteristics	{ <characteristic value>, <characteristic value>, ... }	{ 2004, EMEA } = { 2003, EMEA } * 1.1	c)
key figure and several characteristics	{ <key figure name>, <characteristic value>, <characteristic value>, ... }	{ REVENUE, 2004, EMEA } = { REVENUE, 2003, EMEA } * 1.1	d)

Explanations:

a) If you only include the generic key figure name entry in the list of fields to be changed, you can use constants as well as all the key figures in the planning level as operands in the formula editor.

b) If you only include a characteristic (and no key figures) in the list of fields to be changed, you can use constants as well as all the valid values of the selected characteristic as operands in the formula editor. The revision of key figure values carried out by the formula has the same effect on all key figures that are contained in the planning level (in the example given, all key figure values for the fiscal year 2004 are increased by 10% compared with the values from the previous year).

c) If you include several characteristic (but no key figures) in the list of fields to be changed, you can use constants and all of the combinations of valid values for the selected characteristic as operands in the formula editor. Since every value combination within the formula has the character of an individual operand, the values of every combination must be grouped together in braces and separated from each other by commas. As with b), the revision has the same effect on all key figures of the planning level (in the example given, all key figure values for the fiscal year 2004 and the region “Europe, Middle East, Africa” (EMEA) are increased  by 10% compared with the values from the previous year).

d) If in addition to the case described in c) you also include key figures in the formula, you can use constants and all of the combinations of valid values for the selected characteristic, as well as the name of a key figure as operands in the formula editor. Since every value combination of characteristic values and key figure names within the formula has the character of an individual operand, the values of every combination and the key figure name must be grouped together in braces and separated from each other by commas.

 

Note that a key figure that you want to use as an operand must be inserted into the formula with its technical name, whereas for the characteristic you insert a value of the corresponding characteristic.

For the assignment of decimal fractions to an operand, use a point “.” for the decimal hyphen. The comma “,” is reserved for separating the elements of an operand.

 

So that it is easier to enter syntactically correct operands, the system shows which operand elements are to be transferred and in which order this must happen, above the formula editor.

You can check your formulas for their accuracy with the help of Syntax Checks .

You can obtain more information about the mathematical operands that are available by positioning the text cursor anywhere in the formula editor and using the F1 help.

Likewise, you can obtain input help for entering an operand from anywhere in the formula editor by using the F4 function key. Permissible values are offered here for every operand element. When you confirm, the system inserts the syntactically correct operands into the formula rows.

 

See also:

Formula