Dynamic Data and Lead Columns 

Use

Alongside variables, dynamically created data and lead columns are an additional way in which you can parameterize the structure of a planning layout. This functionality allows you to define data columns or rows in the lead column as a template for a characteristic.

At runtime the system generates the completed planning layout. In this planning layout the system first determines the possible characteristic values from the planning package and then inserts these values in the dynamic columns and rows sequentially.  The number of rows or columns in the planning layout is calculated from the number of characteristic values in the selection for the characteristic that is flagged as dynamic. In this way, a number of columns or rows are generated dynamically from one column or row.

Dynamic columns enhance your options to control the characteristic values to be displayed in the following way:

Lead column

For just one of the characteristics in the lead column you specify that the rows should be displayed dynamically corresponding to the characteristic values contained in the planning level or package, in accordance with the current selection conditions.

You select the characteristic article for the dynamic lead column and in addition include the characteristic country in the lead column. In the second step of the layout definition you first combine article with the (static) value DEand in a further row with the value USA of the characteristic country. With a selection of the articles A1, A2 and A3, you get six rows for the following combinations: A1/DE, A2/DE, A3/DE, A1/USA, A2/USA, A3/USA when executing the layout in the lead column.

Data column

For just one of the characteristics in the data column you specify that the columns should be displayed dynamically corresponding to the characteristic values contained in the planning level or package, in accordance with the current selection conditions. 

You select the characteristic fiscal year for the dynamic data column and in addition include the characteristic country in the data column. In the second step of the layout definition you first combine fiscal year with the (static) value DE and in a further row with the value USA of the characteristic country. With a selection of the fiscal years 2001, 2002 and 2003, you get six data columns for the following combinations: 2001/DE, 2002/DE, 2003/DE, 2001/USA, 2002/USA, 2003/USA when executing the layout.

The selection of a characteristic in the data or lead column that should be handled dynamically can, apart from fixed values, also take place with the help of a variable.  In this case, you can build a scenario for rolling planning with the joint use of dynamic columns and variables that is particularly easy to maintain. For more information see Rolling Planning.

Prerequisites

Compound characteristics

A characteristic that you want to present in dynamic columns is not allowed to be contained as a higher-level characteristic in a compound characteristic. You can use compound characteristics in dynamic columns if the higher-level characteristic is restricted to a single value in the planning level.

Layout types

You can only create dynamic lead columns for the layout types key figures in data columns, rows defined individually, and key figures in lead columns. Dynamic data columns, on the other hand, are supported for all layout types.

Features

From the characteristics contained in the planning level, you can choose a characteristic that should be handled dynamically in the data or lead column. The system offers you the available characteristics in a selection list. In this way you can determine whether the characteristic value, or a text, should be used in the header of the dynamic data column (or in the rows of the lead column). With texts you can choose either short, medium or long texts. 

In the data or lead columns you can add further (static) characteristics in addition to a dynamic characteristic. For such additional characteristics, you must determine the desired values explicitly as usual. You can combine the dynamic characteristic with as many explicitly entered values of the remaining characteristics as you like. 

In addition, it is possible to add comparison columns that contain such predetermined values for the dynamic characteristic which are outside the dynamically determined selection.

If, for example, the characteristic fiscal year appears dynamically with the characteristic values 2001, 2002, and 2003 in the planning layout, you can add a comparison column for the (static predetermined) fiscal year 2000 that always appears in the layout independent of the dynamic value determination.

When generating the new rows or columns, adjacent rows or columns are correspondingly moved either down or to the right. 

If you are using Microsoft Excel for manual planning and have your own areas in an Excel worksheet with your own formats or formulas, these areas may be overwritten if you use dynamic rows or columns. This is because the final structure of the planning layout depends on the number of characteristic values for the dynamic characteristic.   If you have special requirements as to the structure of the entry screen, you can create these on your own worksheet. You can determine the layout structure using VBA macros and copy data between worksheets.

Activities

...

       1.      Choose  Additional Settings in the first step of the layout definition. The system displays further setting possibilities.

       2.      If you want to create a dynamic lead column ensure that you are using a suitable layout type (key figures in data columns, rows defined individually or key figures in lead columns).

       3.      Choose Dynamic for in the group field Lead Columns or Data Columns for the characteristic that should be treated dynamically in the corresponding layout area.

In the Settings for Characteristics table the system modifies the settings automatically according to your choices.  The system inserts the symbol  in the Restriction column to indicate the characteristic that is to be treated as dynamic.

       4.      Choose the desired Text Replacement.

       5.      Choose Continue. You get to the second step of layout definition. From this point, the process for dynamic lead columns and data columns differs:

                            a.      If you are defining dynamic lead columns, choose the tab page Lead Columns.

In a row of the table Configuration of the lead columns choose the indicator Dyn.

The system automatically enters in the column intended for the dynamic characteristic its technical name as well as in the column Text. The technical name in the column Text is replaced by the dynamically determined value of the characteristic when executing the layout.

To display the respective value of a dynamic characteristic in the lead column (or in the column header of a data column) as a label, you must always enter the technical name of the characteristic in the layout definition. This also applies when the characteristic values are determined at runtime using a variable: You also use the technical name of the characteristic in this case (and not that of the variable).

If necessary, include more information on the key figure and further (static) characteristics.

                            b.      If you are defining dynamic data columns choose the tab page Data Columns and proceed as with dynamic lead columns.

       6.      Continue the layout definition as usual.