Restricting Characteristics 

Use

When defining a query, you can restrict characteristics in the filter to single characteristic values, value ranges, hierarchy nodes, or characteristic value variables.

Prerequisites

You have selected the characteristic in the filter and have chosen Restrict from the context menu (secondary mouse button).

Procedure

General functions of input help

When you select characteristics in the query definition, you can use the same functions as for input help in the executed query. For the following functions, see the descriptions under Restricting Characteristic Values.

●     Selecting single values

●     Selecting value ranges

●     Displaying value keys

●     Values available in history

●     Saving values in favorites

●     Deleting values from the selection window

Searching for values

A search option is available in the input help dialog box. For more information, see Searching for Values.

Personalization of input help

You can make various user-specific settings to personalize the functions of input help. For more information, see Maintaining User Settings for the Input Help Dialog Box.

Functions of Input Help in the BEx Query Designer

In contrast to calling the input help dialog box from the BEx Analyzer and the BEx Report Designer, the input help dialog box in the BEx Query Designer always appears with the full range of functions and in both screen areas. The right window, Selection, which displays the selected values, is always visible.

You can choose from the following additional functions in the query definition:

Excluding Values from the Selection

You use this function to select the values that you do not need for your report.

This function is only used with single values or single value variables.

...

       1.      Select the desired value in the right Selection window.

       2.      Choose  Exclude from Selection.

If you want to undo the procedure, choose  Include in Selection from the context menu (secondary mouse button).

Selecting Variables

When you select characteristic values in the query definition, you can also select variables instead of fixed values. These act as placeholders and are only filled with fixed values when the query is executed.

When selecting the variables it is also possible to define new variables, change variables, and delete them. These functions are always available to the right of the selection of variable type.

Selecting variables

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...

       1.      Choose Show  ® Variables.

       2.      Under Type, choose the variable type (such as Characteristic Value Variable, Hierarchy Node Variable) from which you wish to choose the variable.

       3.      Select one (or, in exceptional cases, more than one) variable from the list of available variables and add it (using the right arrow) to the right Selection window.

Selecting value range limits

...

...

       1.      Choose Show ® Value Ranges.

       2.      Select your required operator from the dropdown box. You have the following operators:

○     Between

○     Less Than or Equal to

○     Greater Than or Equal to

○     Less Than

○     Greater Than

       3.      Choose the required value or the required values for the value range and choose  : Input help appears in a new dialog box and provides you with the selection of variables under Show  ® Variables.

       4.      Under Type, choose the variable type (such as Characteristic Value Variable, Hierarchy Node Variable) from which you wish to choose the variable.

       5.      Select the required variable and choose OK.

       6.      For the between operator, two single values are required for the interval limits; the system automatically offers you two dropdown boxes. In this case, repeat steps 3-5.

       7.      After you have set the value range, choose OK.

       8.      Add the selection to the right Selection window using the right arrow.

Selecting intervals with one variable and one fixed limit

...

...

       1.      Choose Show ® Value Ranges.

       2.      Choose the Between operator.

       3.      Choose the fixed limit:

The values from your history can also be selected in the dropdown box.

If you want to choose another value, choose .  The input help appears in a new dialog box and offers the associated single values under Show ® Single Values or History for selection. Select the required value and choose OK.

       4.      Select the variable limit by following steps 3-5 from the Selecting Value Range Limits section above.

       5.      After you have set the value range, choose OK.

       6.      Add the selection to the right Selection window using the right arrow.

Selecting variable offsets

You can only use this function for characteristic value variables of the type single value.

...

       1.      Select the required variable in the right Selection window.

       2.      Choose  Set Variable Offsets.

       3.      Enter the required offset value.

       4.      Choose OK.

You want to select the period of the last 5 years for evaluating your data.

                                                  i.       Choose Show ® Value Range and Between as the operator.

                                                ii.       Choose the variable Current Calendar Year and copy it to the right Selection window using the right arrow.

                                               iii.       Select the variable and choose  Set Variable Offsets.

                                               iv.       For the lower limit, enter the offset 5.

                                                 v.       Do not enter an offset for the upper limit.

                                               vi.       Choose OK.

Swapping interval limits

If you are using variables in the interval limits, you can swap the limits. In the Set Variable Offsets dialog box, choose the function Swap Interval Limits.

...

Selecting fixed/variable hierarchies/hierarchy nodes

You can also restrict characteristics by hierarchy or hierarchy node, on a fixed or variable basis. See Restricting Characteristics: Hierarchies

Result

You have now restricted a characteristic by certain characteristic values. Choose OK. You return to the query definition. Save your entries and execute the query.

If you have restricted a characteristic to a variable value, before the query is executed a dialog box appears for you to enter variable values manually (provided that the variable is flagged as ready for input). For more information, see Variables.

Enter the required values and choose OK. The query is now executed with the chosen values.

The query is created according to your selection conditions. The selected characteristic values are displayed in the filter pane, on the right, next to the corresponding characteristic. Only the selected characteristic values are included in the table (or in the chart or map).