Working with Hierarchies

You can display characteristics hierarchically in Business Explorer (in Web applications or in BEx Analyzer). The characteristic values for a characteristic are displayed in a tree-type structure.

You can also arrange the structure components of a structure hierarchically in Query Designer. In Query Designer, you can also specify that one or both axes (rows and columns) are displayed hierarchically.

These functions enable you to evaluate the data from a query for the individual hierarchy levels.

Hierarchies for characteristics can be loaded from the source system or created in the BW system. More information:Hierarchies.

This function for displaying characteristics in a hierarchy is available if hierarchies exist for the characteristics of the query.

For the Structures with Hierarchical Display and Display as Hierarchy functions, characteristics do not require hierarchies.

Hierarchies in Rows and Columns

You can display multiple display hierarchies in both the rows and columns, and can navigate using hierarchies.

You can distribute any number of structures, characteristics with active display hierarchies, and characteristics without active display hierarchies in the rows and columns.

The hierarchical display of the characteristic takes place step-by-step. A drilldown with the hierarchy nodes of the selected hierarchy is displayed. You can navigate to the lower hierarchy levels using a new drilldown for the hierarchy (or by choosing the hierarchy icon). Characteristic values that are not included in the hierarchy are displayed in the results area in the 'Not assigned' row. If a characteristic with a hierarchy is sorted according to key and name, the 'Not assigned' node is displayed at the end.

Using the query, you can evaluate data for the individual hierarchy levels. To display a characteristic as a hierarchy rather than a list, choose Hierarchy → Active Hierarchy in the context menu. You can now expand the hierarchy to the required level. Expanding a hierarchy level means that the display of the level where the cursor is positioned is extended by one level, meaning that the level is moved down one level. Conversely, the hierarchy can also be reduced by one level (compressed). In the context menu, choose Hierarchy → Expand Hierarchy → Level. You can also expand or compress the hierarchy by choosing the hierarchy icon.

Refreshable Expansion Levels

When you refresh a query in a BEx Analyzer workbook, the level that the hierarchy is expanded is restored to the state from when the BEx Analyzer workbook was saved.

Structures with Hierarchical Display

In Query Designer, you can maintain hierarchical relationships for structural components in a structure. To do this, choose Paste as Child in the context menu for the structural component. The hierarchical relationship of the structural components is displayed in the executed query as a display hierarchy. You can also expand and collapse the nodes.

Display as Hierarchy

In Query Designer, you can specify for each axis whether all objects on an axis (structures, characteristics with or without display hierarchies) are displayed as individual hierarchies.

In Query Designer, place the mouse on the empty area in the Rows or Columns area. The corresponding properties dialog for the rows or columns is displayed in the Properties screen area. On the General tab page, select Active under Display As Hierarchy. Under Expand to, you can choose up to which hierarchy level the hierarchy is to be drilled down in the initial view.