SAP Financials 2008 Tips and Tricks for Building a Web-Based Planning Application in SAP NetWeaver BI Integrated Planning

1. Tips and Tricks for
Building a Web-Based
Planning Application
in SAP NetWeaver BI
Integrated Planning
Anna Vladi
LAZAR Consultants
© 2008 Wellesley Information Services. All rights reserved.

2. What We’ll Cover …
• Creating planning applications aimed at the business
• Creating real-time InfoCubes
• Building the planning model
• Developing the planning application in WAD
• Deploying your planning Web Application
• Wrap-up
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3. Overview of Planning Applications
• Planning applications are SAP NetWeaver® BI applications that
are based on a planning model. Power users combine the objects
of the planning model into an interactive planning application that
allows data to be entered and changed automatically or manually
by users.
BEx Query
Designer
2

4. Planning Model Objects Include …
• InfoProviders that contain data
• Aggregation levels as InfoProviders that provide a set of
data with a particular level of granularity for data entry
and change
• Input-ready queries that allow you to make manual
entries for the aggregation level
• Planning functions that allow automated changes to be
made to data in the aggregation level, and therefore
model a part of the data flow
3

5. Planning Tools
• In addition, planning sequences can belong to the
planning model
• Tools are available for creating planning scenarios.
These tools are also used in reporting scenarios.
 For Excel-based planning applications: BEx Analyzer
 For Web-based planning applications: BEx Web Application
Designer
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6. Example
• The two InfoCubes (at the
bottom) contain the same
characteristics, and have at least
one common key figure; the only
difference is the key figure Year.
One of the characteristics is
Country. This has to be included
in the query.
• This graphic shows how the
objects in the planning model are
related.
5

7. Starting Point
• Is this you?
Budget Planning Revenue Planning
Tool Set A Tool Set C
Tool Set B Tool Set D
6

8. Benefits of BI Integrated Planning
• Enhanced user productivity
• Faster implementation and lower maintenance costs
• Better performance
• Business user friendly
7

9. BPS vs. BI Integrated Planning
• Planning level has been replaced by aggregation level,
and packages have been replaced by filters
Source: SAP 8

10. Example of the Planning Model
Source: SAP 9

11. BI Integrated Planning as a Part of SAP NetWeaver BI
• Planning can be Web-enabled by using the new Planning
Wizard in SAP NetWeaver BI 7.0 IP
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12. Common Points of Difficulty/Confusion
• Taking into consideration the behavior of the real-time
InfoCube
• Knowing when to utilize MultiProvider object in your
planning
• Learning the algorithms behind the “out of the box”
planning functions such as forecasting and trend
analysis. Further information about them can be found
on SAP Help Portal.
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13. What We’ll Cover …
• Creating planning applications aimed at the business
• Creating real-time InfoCubes
• Building the planning model
• Developing the planning application in WAD
• Deploying your planning Web Application
• Wrap-up
12

14. Creating Real-Time InfoCubes – Step 1
Make sure that Real Time check mark is checked

15. Creating Real-Time InfoCubes – Step 2
• Usually real-time InfoCube would have a similar structure to the
standard InfoCube that you use in your model. Use a template to
drag and drop InfoObjects.

16. Behavior of Real-Time InfoCubes
If you choose option #1
(loading the data), then
planning is not allowed.
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17. What We’ll Cover …
• Creating planning applications aimed at the business
• Creating real-time InfoCubes
• Building the planning model
• Developing the planning application in WAD
• Deploying your planning Web Application
• Wrap-up
16

18. Planning on the MultiProvider – Manual Planning

19. Planning Modeling
• You can design your planning model by using the
Web-based Planning Modeler
Business Experts do not have access to RSA1 but
receive access to Planning Modeler
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20. Planning Modeling (cont.)
• A wizard is available that simplifies your initial access to
planning modeling
The wizard takes you through a
simple scenario based on an
InfoProvider.

21. Mandatory Steps in Developing a Planning Model
1. Choose an InfoProvider
2. Create an Aggregation Level
3. Create a Filter
4. Create a Variable for the Filter
5. Create a Planning Function
6. Develop a Planning Sequence
7. Execute and Test
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22. Steps to Model – Choose Your InfoProvider
Step 1:
Search or type your
InfoProvider name
Step 2: Step 3: Txn
Choose from Click Start RSPLAN
the list
21

23. Steps to Model – Build an Aggregation Level
1 4
2
3
Selection of key
figures and
characteristics
22

24. Steps to Model – Saving Aggregation Level
• Once you save the aggregation level, it becomes
available on the modeling side of BI.
23

25. Steps to Model – Create a Filter
• Define a selection of characteristics values within the aggregation
level that are shared with the Query Designer, and are dynamic
and flexible (such as Variables, Hierarchies, or Attributes)
24

26. Steps to Model – Create a Variable for Use in Filters
1 2 5
Don't
Forget
3 4
Variable
Wizard
25

27. Creating Planning Functions
Planning Functions are delivered by SAP
To learn what a specific function does,
Where
visit http://help.sap.com, under
to
SEM-BPS-Planning Functions FIND it
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28. Steps in Planning: Create Forecast Planning Function
There must be data
available that can
serve as reference
data for the forecast
Aggregation Level
and Filter must have
a Time Characteristic
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29. Steps in Planning: Create Forecast Planning Function (cont.)
In Forecast Data,
you must select:
1. Key figures you
are forecasting on
2. Historic key
figures you are
forecasting
against
3. Forecast strategy
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30. Steps in Planning: Planning Sequence Definition
Creating a Planning
Sequence is the last
step that you need
to do to finalize
your planning
model.
Planning
sequences can be
integrated into
Process Chains for
automation.
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31. Steps in Planning: Execute/Test Your Planning Sequences
• Check your Planning Model when you create it. You can
capture data manually, and validate whether the model
delivers expected results.
Solution
30

32. Steps in Planning: Create Ready for Input Query
Queries should be
based on an
aggregation level
and are able to
write back to the
InfoCube
Make sure to choose one of these options
to enable changes to be made during
planning
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33. Planning Model Impact
• One user-friendly user interface for Business Planning
and Analysis applications
• Analytical capabilities such as drilldown, hierarchies,
and calculated key figures
• Plan/actual comparison in one planning layout
• Using existing real-time InfoProviders
• Taking advantage of the MultiProvider concept
• Integration of information from SAP and non-SAP
sources
• Alignment with ESA (Enterprise Services Architecture)
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34. What We’ll Cover …
• Creating planning applications aimed at the business
• Creating real-time InfoCubes
• Building the planning model
• Developing the planning application in WAD
• Deploying your planning Web Application
• Wrap-up
33

35. Creating a Web Application Designer Template
Combine planning and
analysis capabilities in Web
Applications to provide
intuitive planning for end
user.
Steps:
1. Create a layout. Use the
new Container Layout
Web Item to layout Web
Items in an organized
manner.
2. Configure the layout
3. Choose Data Binding to
assign a Query to the
Web Item
4. Configure interaction
Prerequisite: All queries have to have
where properties are
been created, and be input-ready
maintained
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36. Common Features for WAD Planning
• Tables, charts, and templates
• Buttons for execution of planning functions
• Wizards for charts, maps, and commands
• Wizard for layout elements (buttons)
• Dialog boxes for parameterization
• Navigation area for selection
• Drop down for selection such as variables
• Document browser
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37. WAD: How to Work with the Container Layout Web Item
• The Container Layout
Web Item helps you to
visually arrange the
content in a Web
Application. You can
specify which Web Item
is to be displayed for
each cell in the layout
grid; only one item can
be displayed for each
cell. In this way, you
can systematically
arrange Web Items
over, under, or adjacent
to, one another.
• Shown: A Container
Layout item that
includes an Analysis
item and Drop-Down
Box
36

38. WAD: Results of the Container Layout Web Item
Results would
mimic the design
in WAD
37

39. WAD: How to Work with the Analysis Web Item
• The Analysis Web
Item displays the
values of a data
provider as a table
in the Web
Application. The list
geometries that are
used in the BEx
Analyzer are also
supported here.
Characteristics and
structures can be
displayed in both
rows and columns.
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40. WAD: Results of the Analysis Web Item
39

41. WAD: How to Use a Drop-Down Box Web Item
• You can specify the content of the drop-down box:
 Characteristic values for filtering
 The connected Data Provider is filtered according to
this value
 Query View Selection
 Lets you switch, in one step, from one
Data Provider (displayed in a table, for
example) to another that may be
displayed differently (e.g., in a chart)
 Fixed List of Options
40

42. WAD: How to Work with Drop-Down Box Web Item
1. Specify 3. Specify
2. Specify Read
which Data which
Mode: Master
Provider is the Characteristic
Data Table or
source to filter on
Fact Table
4. Choose
Characteristic
for the Filter
41

43. WAD: Result of Data Binding in Drop-Down Box Web Item
42

44. WAD: How to Work with the Button Group Web Item
• You can use the Button
Group Web Item to add
commands from the Web
Design API to your Web
Application.
• To do this, define a
command or sequence
of commands for each
button. You can insert
any text (language-
dependent and
language-independent)
for the button labels,
assign a quick link to
them, and specify their
design.
43

45. WAD: How to Work with the Button Group Web Item (cont.)
1. Set
properties for a
button
2. Choose
planning
function
command
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46. WAD: Results of Using the Button Group Web Item to
Create Planning Functions
Planning
functions are
ready for use
45

47. WAD: How to Work with the Tab Pages Web Item
• You can assign one Web Item to each tab page. You must first
insert the subordinate Web Items into the Tab Page Web Item.
46

48. WAD: Results of Using the Tab Web Item
• Using the Tab Pages Web Item, you can arrange and
display Web Items as tab pages in your Web Application.
47

49. What We’ll Cover …
• Creating planning applications aimed at the business
• Creating real-time InfoCubes
• Building the planning model
• Developing the planning application in WAD
• Deploying your planning Web Application
• Wrap-up
48

50. Your Application Is Ready to Use in Planning
Planning can
now be done
using the
planning
functions on
the left
The cells open up for user entry
49

51. Deploying Complex Integrated Planning Applications
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52. What We’ll Cover …
• Creating planning applications aimed at the business
• Creating real-time InfoCubes
• Building the planning model
• Developing the planning application in WAD
• Deploying your planning Web Application
• Wrap-up
51

53. Summary – Review the Steps
1. Create real-time InfoCube(s)
2. Create Aggregation Level(s)
3. Create Filter(s), using variables
4. Create Planning Functions
• Visit help.sap.com (under SEM-BPS-Planning functions) to
learn more about the functions
5. Create Planning Sequence(s) (needed for process chains)
6. Create ready-for-input queries
7. Develop WAD Planning Application
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54. Resources
• Help.sap.com – Creating Planning Applications in the
BEx Web Application Designer
 http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw70/helpdata/en/43/c8240e47460
aa5e10000000a1553f6/frameset.htm
• SAP Developers Network – Planning- and reporting-
related presentations and white papers!
 www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/304
27aea-ea4f-2a10-e1b9-8c203f17b2cb
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55. 7 Key Points to Take Home
• Use MultiProviders in your planning model to enable
“Planned vs. Actual” reporting
• Use Planning Wizard (New Feature in IP)
• Use variables when working with filters for flexibility
• Always check for prerequisites for your planning (for a
forecasting function you must have time characteristic in
your aggregate level)
• Use planning sequences to schedule planning in
process chains
• Build ready-for-input query on aggregate level, not the
InfoCube
• Utilize container item and tabs when developing in WAD
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56. Your Turn!
How to contact me:
Anna Vladi
annavladi@lzar.com
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