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Creating Reusable StructuresLocate this document in the navigation structure

Use

You can usestructures in several different queries. You have to save them in the InfoProvider to reuse them. These structures are then called reusable structures.

When you use a reusable structure in a query, the structure is not copied, but rather the reference to it is.

Changes made to reusable structures affect all queries in which reusable structures are used.

To better distinguish between the two kinds of structures, structures that are not saved as reusable structures are called local structures. Local structures are used in only one query.

You can make local structures from any existing query reusable. Similarly, you can make reusable structures that you use in a query local.

Prerequisites

At least one InfoProvider that is filled with data must be available in the BW system.

Procedure

Creating Reusable Structures

  1. Start the Query Designer and choose Query → New Query in the menu bar.
  2. You get to the selection screen for all InfoProviders for which you can define a new query. From the list of all available InfoProviders, select the InfoProvider for which you want to create the reusable structure. The available objects in the InfoProvider you selected are displayed as a directory tree in the InfoProvider screen area in the Query Designer.
  3. In the Rows or Columns directory of the Query Designer, choose New Structure from the context menu (secondary mouse button).
  4. Create a new structure. Select the characteristics and key figures of the InfoProvider that you want to use in the new structure and drag them into the structure directory. Where necessary, restrict a characteristic or a key figure, or define a new calculated key figure.
    Note

    You can copy individual structural components within a structure. This enables you to create similarly structured structural components quickly and easily. For example, if you want to use the formula for a calculated key figure (K1) in another calculated key figure (K2), you can copy K1 and continue to build the formula in K2.

    From the context menu of the structural component, choose Copy and from the context menu of the structure, choose Insert. You can also copy structural components using temporary storage locations (Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V).

  5. Highlight the new structure. From the context menu (secondary mouse click), choose Save Structure As... and enter a Technical Name and a Description.

Making Local Structures Reusable

  1. Select the local structure in the query and choose Save Structure As… in the context menu.
  2. Enter a technical name and a description.

Using Reusable Structures Locally in a Query

Select the reusable structure in the query and choose Remove Referencein the context menu.

In this way, you use the reusable structure locally in this query. Changes to reusable structures have no effect on the local structure.

In this process, the system changes the ID of the structure and the IDs of the structure elements it contains.

Caution

Note that query views, enterprise reports and workbooks that are based on this query reference incorrect IDs after such a change and no longer work correctly. In rare cases parts of Web templates (e.g. a filter command) that reference this structure or its structural components can be affected and no longer work correctly.

We therefore recommend that you make a where-used list for the query before removing the references. In this way you can see its effect on other objects.

Result

The reusable structure is in the structure list of the InfoProvider tree and you can use it again when you create new queries.

More Information:

Defining New Queries