Creating a Report With a Multi-Dimensional Data Source

In this section:

You create a report using a multi-dimensional data source in Report Painter the same way you would if you were reporting from any other type of data source. For both level and parent/child hierarchy models, all reporting functionality is available. One of the differences between reporting against a multi-dimensional data source and reporting against another type of data source is that you have additional folders that group related fields in the Object Inspector and other tools that display field lists. These cube-related folders are Variables (SAP BW), Measures, Characteristics, Hierarchies, and Properties. See Viewing the Field Lists.

In addition, the following features are available for hierarchies that use the parent/child model. (If you are working with the level hierarchy model, you can still sort and screen data using the traditional methods.) These include:

There are specific reporting rules that apply to multi-dimensional data (parent/child and level). When you use Report Painter, these rules are automatically enforced. For more information, see Summary of Reporting Rules For Multi-Dimensional Data Sources.


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Viewing the Field Lists

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When you are creating a report with a multi-dimensional data source, you see the following additional folders in the Object Inspector and all other field lists.



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Reference: Organization of Variables, Measures, Characteristics, Properties, and Hierarchies

Variables, Measures, Characteristics or Dimensions, Properties, and Hierarchies are organized in folders that contain the fields you can use in your report. The following image shows these categories and what they contain for an SAP BW and Essbase data source.

SAP BW and Essbase datasource

The following image shows these categories and what they contain for a Microsoft Analysis Server data source.

MS Analysis Server data source



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Reference: Parent/Child and Level Hierarchy Display

When the synonym for the data is created, it is set up as either a parent/child hierarchy or level hierarchy. Hierarchies appear in the Characteristics category. The following image shows the difference between the parent/child and level hierarchy display. Both field lists show the Material class hierarchy expanded in the tree. The list on the left shows a parent/child hierarchy while the list on the right shows a level hierarchy.

hierarchy

The parent/child and level hierarchies contain the same data but are represented differently. For example, in the parent/child hierarchy shown in the previous image, you have one field (Member Caption) that contains all the members of the hierarchy. In the level hierarchy, the members of the hierarchy are listed as separate fields.

Note: The parent/child hierarchy also contains virtual (or define) fields (for SAP BW). See Fields in a Parent/Child Hierarchy for details.



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Reference: Fields in a Parent/Child Hierarchy

By default, the following fields are shown for each hierarchy in the field lists when you select the Dimension view (this is the default view for SAP BW metadata):

These fields show all combinations of Caption and Key that you can use in your report. The last three fields you see in a parent/child hierarchy represent Key, Key-Caption, and Caption-Key. These are virtual fields that are defined during synonym creation for SAP BW.

Name or Key is the technical name and Caption is the user-friendly name (description) for the cube item. Caption cannot be used as a By field unless a field representing either the Name (Member Name) or Member Unique Name is included in the report. The reason for this is since it is possible for more than one item to have the same Caption, if you do not identify the Name or Member Unique Name then there is potential for aggregation of data at different levels. When you include the Name or Member Unique Name, then Caption can be uniquely identified and it can be used as a By field.


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Using Advanced Fields in a Parent/Child Hierarchy (SAP BW)

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When you are working with a data source that has been set up to use a parent/child hierarchy, the default display for the hierarchy in the Object Inspector and the field lists is to show the Member Caption field and the virtual fields. All characteristics have a hierarchy called flat hierarchy that represents the leaf nodes of the hierarchy. A leaf node is a node that does not have any children. Flat hierarchies are represented with only one field.

You can view additional fields, such as the Member Unique Name, Parent Level, and Member Children Cardinality, and so on. To view these fields, right-click in the Object Inspector or any fields list and select Show Advanced Fields. The fields list refreshes and collapses to show the Advanced Fields for the hierarchy members in the Characteristics folder.

The following image shows the same hierarchy (Product Hierarchy for material MARA), with the default field display on the left and the Advanced Fields display on the right.

product hierarchy

The Advanced Fields are:



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Reference: Hierarchy Icons

The following table describes the icons that appear in the Object Inspector and in the field lists when you are creating a report using a multi-dimensional data source.

For more information about Report Painter, see the Creating Reports With Report Painter manual.

The first column shows the icon and the second column provides a description of the icon.

Icon

Description

Characteristics icon

Characteristics contains the Properties and Hierarchies folders.

Optional variable icon

Optional variable.

mandatory variable

Mandatory variable that is not satisfied (selection criteria has not been created).

Satisfied mandatory variable icon

Mandatory variable that is satisfied (selection criteria has been created).

Measure icon

Measure.

Hierarchy icon

Hierarchy.

Attribute icon

Attribute.

Level 1 hierarchy icon

Represents a leaf node in a parent/child hierarchy. A leaf node is a member of a hierarchy that does not have any children.

Represents Level 1 in a level hierarchy.

Level 2 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 2 in a level hierarchy.

Level 3 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 3 in a level hierarchy.

Level 4 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 4 in a level hierarchy.

Level 5 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 5 in a level hierarchy.

Level 6 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 6 in a level hierarchy.

Level 7 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 7 in a level hierarchy.

Level 8 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 8 in a level hierarchy.

Level 9 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 9 in a level hierarchy.

Level 10 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 10 in a level hierarchy.

Level 11 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 11 in a level hierarchy.

Level 12 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 12 in a level hierarchy.

Level 13 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 13 in a level hierarchy.

Level 14 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 14 in a level hierarchy.

Level 15 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 15 in a level hierarchy.

Level 16 hierarchy icon

Represents Level 16 in a level hierarchy.


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