Working with BEx Query Designer
General Concepts
BEx Query Designer is structured according to the following concepts, intended to provide you with flexibility and ease of operation.
Error Handling, Correction Help, Messages and Warnings
The error handling concept in Query Designer allows you to create and edit objects without disrupting your work. Query Designer informs you of errors by underlining incorrect or incomplete objects in red. However, your work will not be disrupted by error messages appearing in popups. Error messages are displayed in the Messages screen area instead. Warnings and information are also displayed here. The messages are displayed in groups for improved clarity. They are displayed in the following categories, which you can expand and collapse as needed:
● Messages for the current query
● Messages about elements stored on the server that were loaded for use in the query by Query Designer.
● Status messages
Correction help is available in several places:
● In the context menu for the incorrect objects - underlined in red
● In the context menu for the error message in the Messages screen area
● In the Query Designer menu bar under Help
● In the Tasks screen area
With the Explain These Errors menu option, the error message text is displayed in the Documents screen area. By choosing Jump to Error, you can return to the object that has errors. The Correct These Errors menu option provides situation-specific context-sensitive correction options.
Tasks
In the Tasks screen area, Query Designer provides various situation-specific context-sensitive editing options. These functions can be called either from the context menu or the menu bar. The Tasks area is intended for users who do not work very often with Query Designer or do not have much experience with the tool. The tasks make it easier for you to find the required functions. The tasks also provide correction help for incorrect objects, together with further explanations.
Working with Unfinished Objects
You can define new objects (formulas, selections, restricted and calculated key figures, exception cells, variables, conditions or exceptions) wherever you need them. The object (without a definition) is created and is given a standard name. You can change the name directly at the object. The object can be used in other objects without a definition. You can decide whether to define it immediately or later. A message is appears in the Messages screen area reminding you to define the object..
Automatic Generation of Technical Names
The system automatically generates technical names for reusable objects you create (variables, restricted key figures or calculated key figures). As long as you have not yet saved an object, you can change its technical name in the relevant dialog. Once you have saved the object, you cannot change the technical name again. The generation rule is (VAR/RKF/CKF)_<date><time>, for example RKF_20050818122045. If you have not yet saved the object, and the generated technical name has not been changed, a warning appears informing you that you should change the technical name.
Automatic generation of technical names ensures that the objects are unique immediately and allows you to work with unfinished objects.
Simultaneous Editing of Multiple Objects
You can edit several objects at the same time. The objects should all be of the same type, so that you can use all available options when working with each one. If a function is not allowed for all of the selected objects, it will not displayed.
The Edit and New functions for selections, formulas, variables, restricted or calculated key figures do not allow simultaneous editing of multiple objects. The Technical Name input field is also hidden when editing the properties of multiple objects at the same time. Since the technical name must always be unique, Query Designer does not allow simultaneous editing.
For drag and drop operations with multiple objects, it proceeds as if drag and drop is being performed for all objects allowed for this operation. The drag and drop operation is not executed on objects that may not be dragged to the selected location.
If you want to delete multiple objects at the same time, Query Designer proceeds as in drag and drop operations. All deletable objects are deleted. Objects that cannot be deleted (for example, reusable objects that are part of other queries) are not deleted. The relevant information is displayed in the Messages screen area.
Reusable Properties
The properties for query components show you whether the setting has been defined locally at the object or at the underlying object. You can decide yourself whether to use a local setting or to use the default value. If you use the default value, the local object references the default value. If you reference another object, you can only edit the referenced object (the default value) when making settings. The change is visible automatically in all other objects that use the default value.
More information: Properties and How They Are Derived
Procedures
To create a query, proceed as follows:
Click on the plus or minus symbols to expand or collapse the directories. This allows you to display the list of all key figures in the InfoProvider by expanding the key figure node in the InfoProvider tree.
Using drag and drop or the temporary storage location (Ctrl C – Ctrl V), you can drag characteristics, key figures, and reusable objects from the InfoProvider to the directories in Query Designer (Filter, Rows, Columns, Free Characteristics).
Using the secondary mouse button, you can call all functions offered in the current context menu. First select the required query component and then choose a menu option from the context menu.
If you double-click an element in Query Designer, the standard function is called for this element. You can also call the standard function from the context menu, where it is displayed in bold. If, for example, you double-click a characteristic, the dialog box for restricting the characteristic appears. If you double-click on a calculated key figure, for example, the Change Calculated Key Figure dialog box appears.
You can cut objects and paste them in another location. With the Edit menu or an object’s context menu, you can use the Cut function. The object will not be deleted immediately. It will continue to be displayed here at first. Once you use the Paste function (from the context menu or Edit menu) at a new location, the object disappears from the old location and appears at the new one. This ensures that the object is not removed if you forget to insert it at another location. If you forget to insert the object and cut and paste another object instead, the clipboard with the object you cut before is not overwritten. The object you cut before remains at the old location.
Remove or Delete
If you want to remove objects from the query, choose Remove from the object context menu. If you want to delete a reusable object, choose Delete from the context menu. Deletion means that the object is deleted from the BI server and is no longer available in a query. Removing means that the object is removed locally from the query but remains available in other queries provided that it is a reusable object.
Edit Text Directly at the Object
When a new object is created, it is displayed with a standard name. If you click on the standard text, the cursor appears directly on the standard text of the object, and you can overwrite it.