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 Switching to Another Information Structure

You can switch to another information structure in a standard analysis and move around within the entire Logistics Information System. It is easy to switch between information structures and the selection entries can also be retained.

Switching to a different information structure allows you to:

  • Obtain detailed information which is stored in aggregated form in the information structure used in the standard analysis but is contained in detailed form in another information structure.

Example Example

You carry out a standard analysis, which is based on an information structure containing the characteristics ‘plant’ and ‘storage location’. You, however, wish to evaluate the materials for a specific storage location. You can call up a different information structure from the standard analysis that contains data at material level.

End of the example.

  • Obtain information from other functional areas

Example Example

You want to evaluate data for a certain material from inventory management in the Purchasing Information System. You can use the function Start of the navigation path Goto Next navigation step Other Next navigation step info structure End of the navigation path and thus easily switch to an information structure from Inventory Controlling for a one time data selection from the Purchasing Information System and display key figures on the inventory status.

End of the example.

  • Change over to an information structure whose data was updated in a different period unit.

Example Example

You carry out a standard analysis that is based on data which is updated on a monthly basis. You can now switch to an information structure containing data which is updated on a daily basis.

End of the example.

When switching information structures in standard analyses, the system also observes the following selection criteria made in the original standard analysis:

  • Characteristic values

The following characteristic values are transferred to the target standard analysis and are used to select the data:

  • The characteristic values that were specified in the selection screen of the initial standard analysis

  • The characteristic values that were defined by the drilldown

  • The characteristic values that were defined by the position of the cursor

Obviously, no key figure values can be displayed for those characteristics that feature in the initial standard analysis, but not in the standard analysis that you are switching to.

  • Period to analyze

The system determines the period to analyze in the standard analysis that you are switching to.

Examples: Calculating the Period to Analyze

Note Note

If you are switching between one information structure that is updated on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis into an information structure that is updated on the basis of posting periods and to which no fiscal year variant is assigned, the system cannot determine the period to analyze. In this case, you need to redetermine the period to analyze for the standard analysis to which you are switching.

End of the note.

Procedure

If you want to switch to another information structure while in a standard analysis, proceed as follows:

  1. If you want to display key figures for a certain characteristic value from a different information structure, position the cursor on the characteristic value you require.

  2. If you do not position the cursor on a specific characteristic value, then the standard analysis that you are switching to does not place any further restrictions on the characteristic values in the list displayed in the initial standard analysis. This means that all available characteristic values are called up for the target standard analysis.

    In the initial standard analysis, position the cursor on the characteristic customer Miller Inc. In the target standard analysis you will then see values for this particular customer.

    If the cursor is not positioned on the customer Miller Inc., no other restrictions will be placed on the selected customers when the selection of the data from the target analysis is made.

  3. Select Start of the navigation path Goto Next navigation step Other info structure. End of the navigation path

    Specify the name of the information structure to which you want to switch in the info structure field.

    If you want to specify additional selection parameters on the selection screen of the standard analysis that will be selected for the desired information structure, choose Manual selection.

    If more than one standard analysis exists for the selected information structure, a dialog box will appear which displays all those standard analyses based on the specified information structure.

Place the cursor on the standard analysis you require and pressEnter.

You now switch to the standard analysis you selected. The selection criteria will be passed on to the analysis as described above. If you selected Manual selection, a selection screen of the standard analysis will appear.

The initial list of the standard analysis is displayed. You will see the key figures that have been configured for this standard analysis in Customizing or in the user-specific settings.

You can use the drilldown function to move to the desired characteristic value you require.

Tip:

To check the selection criteria, you can display the drilldown log using: Start of the navigation path Extras Next navigation step Select log. End of the navigation path