Report Development Tools Building Custom Reports in the R/3 System

xi Part 1: Core Report Development Tools Chapter 1: Choosing the Right Report Development Tool.... 6–1 Part 2: Business Information Warehouse Chapter 7: Overview of Reporting in the Busi

Report Development Tools Building Custom Reports in the R/3 System

Release 4.0B

SAP Labs, Inc

Palo Alto, California

Reporting Made Easy

Copyright

© 1999 by SAP AG All rights reserved

Neither this documentation nor any part of it may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means or translated into another language, without the prior consent of SAP AG

SAP AG makes no warranties or representations with respect to the content hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose SAP AG assumes no

responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice SAP AG reserves the right to make any such changes without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes SAP AG makes no commitment to keep the information contained herein up to date

Trademarks

SAP, the SAP logo, R/2, R/3, ABAP, and other SAP related products mentioned herein are registered or unregistered trademarks of SAP AG All other products mentioned in this document are registered or

unregistered trademarks of their respective companies

R/3 Simplification Group

SAP Labs, Inc

3475 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, CA 94304

www.saplabs.com/simple

simplify-r3@sap.com

Second edition

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 1-893570-63-0

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Contents at a Glance

About This Guide xi

Part 1: Core Report Development Tools Chapter 1: Choosing the Right Report Development Tool 1–1 Chapter 2: ABAP Query 2–1 Chapter 3: Report Painter/Report Writer 3–1 Chapter 4: Drilldown Reporting 4–1 Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses 5–1 Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses 6–1

Part 2: Business Information Warehouse Chapter 7: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse 7–1 Chapter 8: Creating Workbooks 8–1 Chapter 9: Creating Queries 9–1 Chapter 10: Working With the BEx Browser 10–1 Chapter 11: Business Information Warehouse: Special Topics 11–1

Part 3: Other Report Development Topics

Chapter 12: ABAP Report Templates 12–1 Appendix A: The ABAP List Viewer A–1 Appendix B: Extended Export of Lists (XXL) B–1 Appendix C: SAP Open Information Warehouse C–1 Appendix D: Web Reporting D–1 Appendix E: LIS Information Structures E–1 Appendix F: Creating a Drilldown Report in the Executive InformationSystem (EIS) F–1 Appendix G: Glossary G–1

Contents at a Glance

Reporting Made Easy iv

Acknowledgments

Reporting Made Easy v

The publisher thanks the following individuals who provided time, expertise, and resources to help

make the Reporting Made Easy series possible

Julie Beehler and John Huck (Anheuser-Busch, Inc.)

Ron Greenfield, David Jones, and Ben Matteson (Anthro Corporation)

Ann Zediker and Chuck Marx (Arthur Andersen, LLP)

Bruce Scott (BrightStar Information Technology Group, Inc.)

Amy Vorbeck (CCAi, Inc.)

Nancy White (Chevron Corporation)

Tom Eisenhart (Lucent Technologies, Inc.)

Hans Hess, Sven Jensen (Metamor Enterprise Solutions)

Igor Smelansky and Winnie Chang (Network Associates)

Erin Andrews (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP)

Mohamad Hakim (Softline, Inc.)

Clare Carver (The Pair Group)

Margie Coolidge, Ron Giovannelli, and Patrick Zalamea (Ziatech Corporation)

Pamela Anderson and Robert Smith (publishing consultants)

Werner Aigner, Simone Baeumer, Tami Becker, Randi Bethel, Sylvia Chaudoir, Muge Das, Elisa Davis, Ray Fan, Sampath Gomatam, Maria Gregg, Darrin Griggy, Reiner Herde, Michael Hielbrink, James Hill, Reiner Hoeltke, Claus Horn, Beverly Kennedy, Ruediger Kretschmer, Michael LaStella, Sylvia Lehnen, Robert Loughran, Bob Mackenzie, Rhondda Macleod, Natascha Marienfeld, Steffen Mock, Heinrich Mueller, Rolf Neuhaus, Doug O’Brian, Mary Odabashian, Wolfgang Otter, Brian Potter, Lori Ritzert, L.Kay Roberts, Thomas Rumbach, Sabine Scheppat-Hinze, Stefan Sigg, Donald Silva, Birgit Starmanns, Gerald Steele, Henri Stein, Peter Tillert, Cindy Vineberg, Wolfgang Weiss, Daniela Weckesser, April Wu, Daniel-Benjamin Zaidspiner, Peter Zimmerer, and Theo Zimmermann (SAP)

Detailed Table of Contents

About This Guide xiii

Why This Guide xv

How This Guide Is Organized xv

Part 1: Core Report Development Tools xv

Part 2: Business Information Warehouse xvii

Part 3: Other Report Development Topics xviii

Who This Guide Is For xix

How to Use This Guide xix

Report Examples Use IDES Data xix

Training and Documentation xix

Navigating the System xix

Special Icons xx

Typographical Conventions xxi

Part 1: Core Report Development Tools Chapter 1: Choosing the Right Report Development Tool 1–1

Choosing the Right Reporting Tool: The Big Picture 1–2 Organization of Report Development Tools 1–3 Using the Application Hierarchy 1–6 Using the Tools Summary Matrix 1–9 Using the Tool Summaries 1–11 Learning More About Report Development Tools 1–12 Review 1–13

Chapter 2: ABAP Query 2–1

Learning the Basics of ABAP Query 2–2

What Is ABAP Query? 2–2 Who Uses ABAP Query? 2–2 Functional Areas 2–3 User Groups 2–4 Queries 2–4 Related Terminology 2–5 How to Access ABAP Query Components? 2–5 How Does ABAP Query Differ from Other Reporting Tools? 2–6 What Are the Prerequisites? 2–6

Creating a Report with ABAP Query 2–7

Step 1: Create a Functional Area 2–8 Step 2: Assign Required Fields to Functional Groups 2–11 Step 3: Generate the Functional Area 2–16

Detailed Table of Contents

Step 4: Create User Group 2–17 Step 5: Assign the Functional Area to the User Group 2–17 Step 6: Create the Query 2–18

Running the Query 2–26 Understanding the Report List 2–27 Getting the Most from ABAP Query: Tips & Tricks 2–27

Adding Selection Criteria in a Functional Area 2–27 Using Table Joins in a Functional Area 2–29 Assigning Reports with Report Call Functionality in a Query 2–32 More Helpful Hints for Report Developers 2–32

Review 2–33 Where to Learn More 2–33

Chapter 3: Report Painter/Report Writer 3–1

Learning the Basics of Report Painter/Report Writer 3–2

Overview 3–2 What Is Report Painter? 3–2 What Is Report Writer? 3–2 How Is Report Painter Different From Report Writer? 3–3 How Is Report Painter/Report Writer Organized? 3–5 Related Terminology 3–5 Report Definition 3–5 Key Figures 3–5 Characteristics 3–6 How to Access Report Painter/Report Writer? 3–6 How Does Report Painter Differ from Other Reporting Tools? 3–6 What Are the Prerequisites? 3–6

Creating a Report with Report Painter 3–7

Example 1: Gross Profit Margin Report 3–8 Step 1: Determine the Table 3–9 Step 2: Find the Library 3–9 Step 3: Create Sets 3–9 Step 4: Create Variables 3–9 Step 5: Create Report 3–9 Define Rows 3–10 Define Columns 3–12 General Data Selection 3–14 Change Layout 3–17 Example 2: Billing Report 3–18

Understanding the Report List 3–26 Getting the Most from Report Painter/Report Writer: Tips & Tricks 3–26

LIS Evaluation Structures 3–26 Report/Report Interface 3–28 Background on Using the Report/Report Interface 3–30 Report/Report Interface 3–30 Working With Formula Variables 3–31

Rolling Periods: Fixed Number of Periods up to Period p Across Fiscal Years 3–31 Display Periods of Quarter q 3–32 Display Periods of a Quarter Containing Period p 3–33 Display Variable Number of Columns for Periods p1 to p2 3–33

Working With a Shifted Fiscal Year 3–34

Detailed Table of Contents

Reporting Made Easy viii

Creating User Exits for Formula Variables 3–35

Creating a Report With Actual/Budget Values Depending on Period p 3–35

General Notes on Formula Variables 3–36 Web Interface to Report Writer Reports 3–36 More Report Painter/Report Writer Tips & Tricks 3–36 Use Report Groups 3–36 Consider Background Processing 3–37 Copy Before You Create 3–37 Use Variation 3–37 Naming Conventions 3–37

Review 3–38 Where to Learn More 3–38

Chapter 4: Drilldown Reporting 4–1

Learning the Basics of Drilldown Reporting 4–2

What Is Drilldown Reporting? 4–2 Drilldown Functions 4–2 Where Is Drilldown Reporting Used? 4–3 Types of Drilldown Reports 4–3 Basic Report 4–3 Form Report 4–4 How Is Drilldown Reporting Organized? 4–4 Key Figures 4–5 Characteristics 4–5 Forms 4–5 Related Terminology 4–5 How Does Drilldown Reporting Differ From Other Reporting Tools? 4–6 What are the Prerequisites? 4–6 Quick View of the Output 4–7

Creating a Drilldown Report: Profitability Analysis 4–7

Basics Steps in Creating Drilldown Reports in CO–PA 4–9 Creating a Two-axis Form Report With Key Figures (in CO-PA) 4–9 Step 1: Set Operating Concern and Currency 4–10 Step 2: Define the First Axis (Columns) 4–12 Step 3: Define the Second Axis (Rows) 4–15 Step 4: Select General Data and Desired Characteristics 4–17 Step 5: Attach Your Form to a Report 4–19 Step 6: Execute Report and Analyze Data 4–21

Getting the Most from Drilldown Reporting: Tips & Tricks 4–23

Characteristic Variable 4–24 Report/Report Interface 4–25 Exceptions 4–26 Cells 4–27 Freezing Report Data 4–29 Background Processing 4–30 Characteristic Hierarchies 4–32

Review 4–33 Where to Learn More 4–34

Detailed Table of Contents

Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses 5–1

What Is the Logistics Information System (LIS)? 5–2 Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses 5–2

Terminology 5–3 Information Structure 5–3 Characteristic 5–4 Key Figure 5–4 Periodicity (or Period Unit) 5–4 Initial List 5–4 Drilldown List 5–4 How to Access LIS Standard Analyses? 5–5 How Does LIS Standard Analyses Differ from Other Reporting Tools? 5–7 Integration 5–7 Planning 5–7 Graphics 5–7 Exception Analysis (Early Warning System—EWS) 5–7 Enhancements 5–7 Archiving 5–8 User Settings 5–8 What Are the Prerequisites? 5–8

Creating a Standard Analysis 5–9

Step 1: Decide Which Data You Want to See 5–10 Step 2: Determine the Component Information System 5–10 Step 3: Enter the Selection Criteria for the Standard Analysis 5–11 Step 4: Run the Standard Analysis 5–11 Step 5: Create the Initial List 5–12 Step 6: Slice and Dice Data as Needed 5–13 Drilldown 5–13 Key Figures 5–15 Sort Key Figures 5–16 Ranking List 5–17 Settings 5–17 ABC Analyses 5–18 Document Information 5–20

Getting the Most from LIS Standard Analyses: Tips & Tricks 5–22

Information Structures 5–22 Communication Structures 5–23 Miscellaneous 5–23 Troubleshooting Tips 5–24

Review 5–24 Where to Learn More 5–24

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses 6–1

Learning the Basics of LIS Flexible Analyses 6–2

What Is Flexible Analysis? 6–2 How Is Flexible Analysis Different From Standard Analysis? 6–2 How Is LIS Flexible Analysis Organized? 6–3 Terminology 6–4 Information structure 6–4 Characteristic 6–4 Key figure 6–4 Periodicity (or Period unit) 6–5

Detailed Table of Contents

Reporting Made Easy x

Evaluation structure 6–5 Evaluation 6–5 List 6–5 Formula 6–5 How to Access LIS Flexible Analyses? 6–5 How Does LIS Flexible Analyses Differ from Other Reporting Tools? 6–6 What Are the Prerequisites? 6–6

Creating a Report with Flexible Analyses 6–7

Step 1: Create the Evaluation 6–8 Step 2: Generate the Evaluation 6–14 Step 3: Execute the Evaluation 6–15 Step 4: Modify the Layout 6–16

Getting the Most from LIS Flexible Analyses: Tips & Tricks 6–18

Additional Help to Report Developers 6–18

Review 6–19 Where to Learn More 6–19

Part 2: Business Information Warehouse Chapter 7: Overview of Reporting in the Business Information Warehouse 7–1

What Is the Business Information Warehouse? 7–2 Business Information Warehouse Architecture: An Overview 7–2

What Is the Business Explorer (BEx) ? 7–4 How Is the Business Explorer Organized? 7–4 Business Explorer Browser 7–4 Business Explorer Analyzer 7–4 What Is the Business Information Warehouse Server? 7–5 What Is the Administrator Workbench? 7–5 What Is the Meta Data Repository? 7–5 What Is the Staging Engine? 7–5 What Is an InfoCube? 7–6 What Is the Operational Data Store? 7–6 What Is the OLAP Processor? 7–6 What Are Source Systems? 7–7 Business Content in the Business Information Warehouse 7–7

Business Information Warehouse Terminology 7–8

InfoObject 7–8 InfoSource 7–8 InfoCatalog 7–8

Business Information Warehouse Reporting Environment 7–9

What Is a Query? 7–10 What Is a Workbook? 7–10 Where Do We Go From Here? 7–11

Review 7–12

Chapter 8: Creating Workbooks 8–1

Overview 8–2 Before Getting Started 8–3

Business Scenario 8–3

A Quick Look at the Output 8–4

Detailed Table of Contents

Report 1: Sales Analysis Report 8–4 Report 2: Gross Profit Analysis Report 8–4

Creating a Workbook: An Overview 8–5 Step 1: Starting the BEx Analyzer 8–6

What Is the Business Explorer Toolbar? 8–6

Step 2: Creating a Workbook Template 8–7

Formatting the Workbook Background 8–8 Hiding the Window Views 8–9 Hiding the Microsoft Excel Toolbars 8–10 Inserting Company Logo 8–10 Saving a Local Copy of the Template 8–11

Step 3: Saving the Template to the InfoCatalog 8–12 Step 4: Inserting Queries into the Workbook 8–14 Step 5: Adding Visual Basic Functionality to Workbook 8–16

Creating Pushbuttons 8–16 Creating a Textbox 8–21

Step 6: Saving the Workbook to the InfoCatalog 8–23

Chapter 9: Creating Queries 9–1

Overview 9–2

Before Getting Started 9–2 Creating Queries Based on the SAP DemoCube 9–3

Creating and Saving a New Query 9–3

The Query Toolbar 9–6

Defining a Filter in a Query 9–9 Creating Restricted Key Figures 9–10 Creating a New Formula—Percentage Change InfoObject 9–12 Creating a Calculated Key Figure 9–14 Working with BW Queries: Additional Functions 9–16

Suppressing the Display of Repeated Texts and/or Key Values 9–17

In Queries 9–17

In Workbooks 9–18 Disabling Interactive Drilldown 9–19 Selecting Filter Values for Characteristics 9–20 Slice & Dice: Drilling Down 9–21 Slice & Dice: Drilling Across 9–22 Sorting Data 9–23 Positioning/Hiding the Totals Row 9–24 Converting Currencies 9–25 Displaying Reports Graphically: Using Charts 9–27 Modifying an Existing Query 9–32

Review 9–34

Chapter 10: Working With the BEx Browser 10–1

Overview 10–2 Creating Channels in the InfoCatalog 10–3 Assigning Users to Channels 10–5 Adding Workbooks to the Favorites Channel 10–6