Planning Sequences 

Use

Planning sequences are used within BI Integrated Planning to group planning functions. They allow you to save groups of planning functions in a sorted sequence and execute groups of planning functions sequentially.

Integration

Planning sequences can be edited, saved and tested in the planning modeler.

They can be included in a process chain as a step. They can also be linked to a variant of variable values.

Features

A planning sequence can be made up of one or more steps. The following types of step are available:

Step Types for a Planning Sequence

Type	Description
Planning function	Based on an aggregation level, the system saves a planning function and a filter with which the planning function is executed.
Input template	You can embed input templates into the sequence especially for testing planning functions. Input templates are defined by an aggregation level and a filter. If a planning sequence is executed as a whole, the embedded input templates are not taken into account.

Activities

Testing a Planning Sequence in the Planning Modeler

In the planning modeler, choose Execute to test entire planning sequences or execute planning sequences step by step. In the latter case, the input templates appear at the bottom of the application.

When you execute the steps, the system keeps the data in the buffer. The system only writes the transaction data from the buffer to the database when you choose Save.

If the planning sequence includes input-ready variables, you can set them manually before executing the steps and save the value combinations of the variables as a variant.

Execution of a Planning Sequence Within a Process Chain

You can embed a planning sequence in a process chain using the process type Execute Planning Sequence. The planning sequence can be linked with a stored variant for variable values. More information: Scheduling Planning Sequences in Process Chains; an example is also available under Planning Sequence for Bottom-Up Planning.