Part 1:
What is SAP BPC?
SAP BPC is a SAP module that provides planning, budget, forecast, and financial consolidation capabilities. SAP BPC meaning Business Planning and Consolidation. It provides a single view of financial and operational data and a unified solution that supports Performance Management processes like adjust plans and forecasts or speed up the budget and closing cycles.
It delivers built-in functionalities for
- Strategic Planning
- Budgeting
- Reporting
- Forecasting
There are two platforms in SAP BPC finance. About 80% of its functionality is same except the difference in the back-end. In each platform, there is two version.
- SAP BPC MS (Microsoft Platform) – SAP BPC 7.5 MS and SAP EPM 10
- SAP BPC NW (Net Weaver Platform) – SAP BPC 7.5 NW and SAP BPC 10 NW.
Like any other module, SAP BPC module too holds master and transaction data. BPC in SAP is divided into two components namely “Administration” and “Reporting“.
SAP BPC Overview
For any organization to run a business successfully financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting are important attributes. SAP BPC software provide everything in one package.
- Unified – Planning and Consolidation in One Product. Single application lessens maintenance, enhance data integrity, and simplifies deployment. It also enables flexible planning & consolidation functions
- Owned and Managed by Business Users: – Business users manage processes, models & reports with little IT dependence.
- An open, adaptable application: – Extends the value of your investment in both SAP and non-SAP environments
- Familiar, Easy to use: – It is easy to use and support native Microsoft Office tools (e.g. Excel) and web browsers accessing a central database.
- Align Financial and Operational plans: – It helps to determine financial goals and operational plans with strategic objectives.
- Reduce budget cycle time: – It helps to reduce budget cycle time.
Let’s see each attribute of SAP BPC in detail,
Strategic Planning
It helps management team to formulate its vision, mission, core values, and objectives. The team develops strategic plans to uphold its competitive advantage in the marketplace. It helps them to answer the following questions.
- What does corporate want to be?
- What to do?
- How to do?
- How to measure what we do?
- What do operating units need to do to achieve corporate objectives?
Budgeting
It is not just a prediction of future results. It is also a plan of actions and expected operations of the organization over the next year. Budgeting is done for proactive management and measurement of corporate performance.
- How to execute corporate strategy at operating unit level?
- How to measure what operating units do?
- What is the quantitative execution plan of operating units?
Reporting
It ensures performance progress is monitored, problems are anticipated, and continuous improvement efforts are promoted.
- How to measure that we perform towards achieving our targets and objectives?
- What information would help management decision making?
- How to control performance of corporate?
Forecasting
It is the act of predicting outcomes. It is done throughout the year to reflect changes that have occurred both in the internal and external environment. It determines how the internal or external environment impact on the original plans and budgets? The main objective is to provide more accurate information for less risk management planning and decision making.
What is EPM in SAP?
The EPM solution use is widening over the financial divisions. It is similar to CPM (Corporate Performance Management), BPM( Business Performance Management) and FPM (Finance Performance Management). EPM is being used as a unique repository to manage relevant information.
Business needs | Benefits & features |
Process controls | Business Process Flow (BPF) technology for context-driven workflow and process enablement |
Centralized data and application management | |
Status monitoring and workflow management | |
Role-based security and User Authentication | |
Dimensional audit trail for budgeting, forecasting, and actuals | |
Versioning control supporting any number of versions | |
Data lockdown by dimension or specified period | |
Compliance and Auditability | Audit trail history across the planning, reporting, and forecasting |
“A single version of the truth” on reported numbers | |
transparency based on data – and data change – visibility | |
Ensures accountability as confidence in the numbers drives ownership responsibility | |
Audit report information stored, recalled, and reported on as needed to maintain optimal process performance and accountability | |
Consolidation | Legal & Management Consolidation |
Currency conversion | |
Inter-company eliminations | |
Journal entries | |
Reports including P&L, Cash Flow, Balance Sheet, and Fixed Assets | |
Budgeting & Forecasting | Single application tightly linking budgeting with data and processes for forecasting, reporting, and scorecard |
Ensuring the integrity and accuracy of results | |
Rolling forecasts based on any time period | |
Unlimited versioning | |
Centralized, collaborative templates that simplify the enterprise-wide forecasting process | |
Factors for trends and seasonality that can impact plans and budgets | |
Incorporates real-time actuals with historical data for the most effective forecast seeding | |
Comprehensive process management including versioning, workflow, and status control | |
Automatic forecasting and budgeting process | |
Collaborative top-down & bottom-up process ensures organizational alignment and stakeholder agreement | |
“What-if?” analysis & scenario planning for any situation including realistic, optimistic and pessimistic projections |
SAP BPC Architecture
SAP BPC Architecture. It uses various business rules and script logics for doing the planning. The key components in BPC architecture are shown in the image below.
SAP BPC Architecture
BPC Administration
BPC Administration allows administrators to perform maintenance and setup tasks for BPC client applications.
How to start BPC administration
BPC financial administration has two interfaces; a client application and a web interface. The administration action pane lists the available tasks for both interfaces
To start BPC administration
- Any of the following shall work
- Open a browser and type http://<server name>/osoft, where <server name> is the name of your BPC server.
- From the Windows Start menu, select SAP > BPC
- From your Windows Desktop, click the BPC icon
- From the Launch page, select BPC Administration
- From the Administration action pane, select the desired task
The console client is a Microsoft explorer-like window. Where we manage items such as application sets, applications, business rules, dimensions and business process flows. The browser client allows to control application set and application properties, as well as maintain BPC web parameters.
Creating a new dimension
Dimensions represent the entities of a business (e.g., accounts, company codes, and categories). They represent the master, text, and hierarchy data for each of the business entities.
It is possible to create new dimensions in a BPC application set. There is no restriction to create a number of dimensions in SAP BPC. These dimensions then become shared dimensions that are available for use in any application within the appset.
Some dimensions are required dimensions. It must exist in all the applications within an application set. While the dimension type determines the default properties to be included in the dimension. It is possible to add additional properties as needed.
Dimension types
Required in each application
- A = Account type dimension
- C = Category type dimension
- E = Entity type dimension
- T = Time type dimension
Required in each application set
- R = Currency type dimension
Needed to validate currencies that are input in Entity type dimension. This may not be part of any applications within the application set
Required for Intercompany Eliminations
- I = Intercompany
It is also possible to create additional dimensions as a requirement
Un = User defined dimension type. For each user-defined dimension, the number ‘n’ will be incremented. For e.g; U1, U2, U3 and so on
Creating Dimensions
Select Dimension Library on the left side. The action pane will display the related dimension tasks.
To create a new dimension, click on “Add a new dimension”.
Similarly, it is possible to copy, modify, process and delete dimensions. While adding dimensions, you need to enter reference type.
Next in this SAP BPC training, we will learn about BPC reporting.
BPC Reporting
BPC for Office combines the power of BPC with the rich functionality of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Powerpoint. With BPC for Office, we have all of the Microsoft functionality we are used to. On top of it documents, worksheets, and slideshows can be linked directly to the BPC database that has Company’s reporting data.
BPC for Office allows to collect data, build reports, perform real-time analysis and publish reports in a variety of formats. You can save your reports so that you can use them disconnected from the database. You can take reports completely offline and distribute them based on user access rights
A sample layout looks as follows
BPC Security
BPC security is managed in Administration Console. There are four key components in BPC security?
- Users: It is used to add users to the environment and manage their access rights
- Teams: You can define a group of users with same access rights
- Data Access Profiles: It enables setting up profiles for tasks to be performed.
- Task Profiles: It is used to set up profiles and enable access to data in models.
Part 2:
- What is BPC?
Ans:
BPC stands for Business Planning and Consolidation. BPC is used for both Planning and Consolidations, unlike IP, which is used for only planning.
2.When BPC 7.5 NW is available?
Ans:
The 7.5 version is currently in the ramp-up stage and should be available in a few months. I am not sure of the exact month.
3.What are the two versions available for SAP BPC?
Ans:
SAP BPC NetWeaver
BPC MS
- BPC for NW has an aggregation level or not, Is BPC an application on top SAP-IP?
Ans:
BPC and IP have completely different architecture. BPC doesn’t use aggregation levels or filters. BPC and IP have no relation and thus, cannot be compared. BPC uses various script logics, business rules for doing the planning. Manual planning can be done with input schedules. The input schedules are on the excel platform and are quite versatile. You can use BPC functionalities along with native excel functionalities for better design of the input schedules.
- What about BPC in the consolidation part?
Ans:
BPC comes with pre-delivered components for consolidation, which can be leveraged on. There are a few business rules, which make the consolidation process easier.
- What is the concept of plan data from BPC?
Ans:
The concept of planning is the same as you have in any other tool. The functional side of the planning remains the same. However, the tool differs. The way you configure a planning scenario will be much different than any other planning tool. Unfortunately, it will not be feasible to address this in the forum. You can definitely go through the study materials for a better understanding.
7.BPC for NW needs to install .NET application server and Web server or not?
Ans:
Yes, You can have a look at the installation guide available on the marketplace for detailed requirements.
8.What is the BPC client tool? And If I planning on the BEx report, I have to create an aggregation level for planning data or not?
Ans:
BPC client sits on the client machines, from where; you will be doing the design. There are mainly 3 interfaces available – BPC Admin, BPC Office, and BPC Web. BPC Office, in turn, has 3 interfaces – Excel, Word, PowerPoint. These interfaces can be used for various requirements.
- Can you debug the data manager package?
Ans:
UJD_TEST_PACKAGE.You must specify the User ID. The DM package can be selected with F4.
10.What are scoping commands?
Ans:
The following keywords can be used to modify the scope: *XDIM_MEMBERSET Overwrites the scope for that dimension *XDIM_ADDMEMBERSET Add members to the scope of that dimension *XDIM_FILTER Filters the members of the scope of that dimension *XDIM_MAXMEMBERS Specifies the maximum number of members that should be included in one query (per dimension)
- What are the key Features of BPC MS?
Ans:
- What are the system variables?
Ans:
%USER% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation User %APPSET% – Returns current SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation AppSet (Application Set) %APPLICATION% – Returns current SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation Application %YEAR% – Returns current calendar year.
- What is the difference between EVGTS and EVANS?
Ans:
EVGTS: The EVGTS (Get value and scale) function retrieves a data value based on the specified members, and scales the value if the scale property is enabled on the dimension. The report templates provided in the sample application set have a scale reference in the Control Panel area of the template.
EVSND: EVANS This Send function references another cell and sends its value to the database when you select Send and Refresh Schedules. The parameters specify the dimensions that identify where the data value is to be sent in the database. EVSND returns the value from the database to the referenced cell. You do not need to add any EVGET functions to the sheet to return values to the cell. Since the values are returned to the referenced cell, BPC sends only the cells that have changed since the last send in the current session. By putting the formula in the EVANS cell and not in the input cells, you decrease the chances of your formulas getting overwritten or erased. To further protect the formulas, you may want to hide the EVSND cells in the input schedule. This function takes members that not specified from the current view settings.
14.What is the difference between DRILLDOWN and DRILL THROUGH
Ans:
Drill down is different than drill through. Drill down is used to drill down on member data within dimensions. You can drill down on members in a worksheet, or you can drill down on charts and graphs. Drill down is conducted within one report in the Excel interface whereas drill through is a ‘jump’ outside of the Excel Interface.
15.What are the options of DRILL THROUGH?
Ans:
Jump to any website Jump to a BW query Jump to ECC code.
16.What steps are in processing a dimension?
Ans:
Processing a dimension will execute the following steps:
- Validate Hierarchy.
- Validate Dimension member formulas.
- Update member data into BW.
- BW Attribute change run.
- What fields will be in the Distribution Template?
Ans:
A Distribution Template may contain the following fields:
- BOOK: the title of your distributed book.
- SECTION: denotes the beginning of a section.
- RENAME report filename, location, and title (can also be for Input Schedules).
- FIXKEY: sets dimension members to the fixed values when generating the report. For example, you can ensure that a report runs for 2008.TOTAL and ACTUAL.
- VARKEYS: lists the dimensions and dimension members that should vary for each report that will get created.
For example, if you want to create a new offline report for each Entity/Cost Center/etc, you would specify that dimension as a Very Key
- What are the key components in BPC architecture?
Ans:
Requirement: SAP NetWeaver ABAP 7.3 or 7.31
- Database: Any of the above versions of SAP NetWeaver support.
- Operating System: Any supported version of the SAP NetWeaver system and database engine.
- Which databases are supported by SAP BPC with the NetWeaver version?
Ans:
This layer is responsible to store all the data in the database. SAP NW back-end system is responsible to create objects and data stored for BPC system. NetWeaver supports most of the databases like SQL Server, DB2, Oracle, and many more.kk\
- What is the Model in SAP BPC?
Ans:
To meet the Business Planning and Consolidation requirement of an organization, you need to build a model in an environment, which is defined as a collection of several dimensions.
- What is the use of Logic Scripts in SAP BPC?
Ans:
Logic Scripts is defined as a set of SQL or MDX programming structures to perform some customized functions for flexibility and manage data models. When some specific requirements are not achieved using business rules, those can be met by the use of Logic Scripts.
22.While creating a legal consolidation application, which of the dimensions needs to be created in BPC?
Ans:
C_Acct (A) − For maintaining charts of account.
- C_Category (C) − To define the category.
- Groups (R) − Like GROUP A (USD), GROUP B (EUR), and GROUP C (RMB).
- Entity (E) − It contains the business unit used to derive the process.
- C_Datasrc (D) − Data Source Dimension.
- IntCo (I) − It determines the level of the entity hierarchy at which level the elimination needs to be performed.
- Time (T) − Time in all dimensions.
- Flow (S) − To keep track of movements in Consolidation.
- What is the use of dimension – R_Acct (A), while creating a Rate Application in BPC?
Ans:
R_Acct (A) is used for maintaining different types of Rate.
- Which design models are available in SAP BPC to fulfill the business requirements?
Ans:
Standard Model, Embedded Model
- How the Standard model is different from the Embedded BPC design model?
Ans:
Embedded model is different from the Standard model and includes data access to all community users. For the Embedded design model, the initial versions used were SAP BW Integrated Planning and Planning Application Kit i.e. BW-IP and PAK.
In the Standard Model, the BPC environment contains the BPC applications or models and each model generates a BW InfoCube which is hidden.
26.What is the use of the Transformation file? What are the different sections in a Transformation file?
Ans:
The transformation file provides the mapping of fields from BW to BPC and is an excel file in BPC. It contains transaction data from InfoObjects in BW with BPC dimensions defined in the administration console.
There are three sections defined for the mapping file.
- Options − Contains the general settings.
- Mapping − Used to assign dimension in the BPC system with a source column in BW InfoObject.
- Conversion − Contains the link of other Excel sheets to apply the conversion routine.
27.What is the use of a conversion file? Name different sections in a conversion file?
Ans:
A conversion file is used to apply the conversion rules for the BPC dimension and is an Excel file. It contains three sections
- External − Contains the value from an external source.
- Internal − Contains the value it should be having for the BPC dimension.
- Formula − Defines the conversion formula applied to each record.
- What are the different methods that can be used to create reports and input schedules in Business Planning and Consolidation?
Ans:
Using Default Templates
- EvDRE Builder
- Drag and Drop Interface
- Blank workbook
- Have you used any default templates in BPC for reporting purposes? Name a few of the default templates?
Ans:
This custom report contains an Account dimension with subtotals in rows and any dimension across in columns. | |
Variance | This custom report contains any dimension in rows and categories comparison in columns. It also features Variances calculation (both amount and percentage). With both YTD and Periodic boxes. |
Consolidating | This custom report contains any dimension in rows and Entity type members across in columns with hierarchy. |
Comparative X | This custom report contains any dimension in rows and categories comparison in columns and also retrieves the Last Year same period data. With both YTD and Periodic boxes. |
Comparison with 3 -year | Year over Year comparison. |
Drill in Place | This template performs drill in place. |
Nested | This allows any two-dimension to be nested in a row and the third dimension in the column. |
Sort on value | This template performs the sort of total value. |
Drill Dimension | This allows using the drill in one dimension to others. |
30.How can you migrate EvDRE reports created by BPC 7.5 Excel to BPC 10.0?
Ans:
Go to EPM Ribbon → More → EvDRE Migration.
- What is the syntax for Dimension logic? Which operators can be used in Dimension logic?
Ans:
To define the member dimension formula, you have to put a Square bracket around the dimension and there is a dot between two.
- [PRODUCT].[PRODUCT1] – [PRODUCT].[PRODUCT2]
- [SALES].[SALES1] / [SALES].[SALES2]
Standard Arithmetic functions have to be used in dimension formula – addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), division (/) – are used in SAP NetWeaver.
- What are the requirements to perform simple currency conversions and complex currency conversions?
Ans:
Simple Conversion:
- There should be a Rate application where you store the exchange rates.
- You should have an account dimension, which includes RATETYPE.
- The entity dimension should include a property CURRENCY.
- FXTRANS logic should be available and DEFAULT logic should include a call to FXTRANS logic.
- The entity dimension should include property TRANSALATE_TO.
Complex Conversion:
- There should be a Rate application where you store the exchange rates.
- The application should contain a CURRENCY type dimension.
- There should be property REPORTING for the CURRENCY dimension.
- The entity dimension must include property CURRENCY.
- Account dimension must include property RATETYPE.
- FXTRANS logic should be available.
- DEFAULT logic should include a call to FXTRANS logic.
33.What is the use of work status? What are the key attributes in defining work status?
Ans:
Work status is used to lock a region of data in a model. This is used to override the user’s member access privilege to write to a particular region.
There are multiple dimensions defined for a region with one property called as OWNER. While defining the work status, the following are defined
- Work States − It belongs to the physical state of data.
- Security − You can set different levels of security on changing data in the system –All or Locked. You can set who can change the work state − Manager or Owner.
- Data Update − This defines how data will be updated by the customer.
- Push − This option is used to push the same work state for all the children of a member.
- How is auditing done in SAP BPC? What are the different audit reports that can be pulled for audit purposes?
Ans:
Audit functions allow you to create reports that contain a history of user sessions and system information.
You can create Audit reports on the following topics
Business Process Flows − You can create these reports in BPF.
- Standard
- Step
- Audit
Security − You can create these reports in Security.
- User
- Team
- Task Profiles
- Data Access Profiles
- BPF
General − You can create these reports in general.
- Work Status
- Administration Activities
- Comments
- Data Changes
35.What are the two sections in the Custom Menu Template?
Ans:
Custom menu content is defined by two sections in the custom menu template – The default section and Menu item section.
- Explain the parameters that can be used with the Custom Menu Template?
Ans:
Parameters | Options |
NORMALSCREEN | Value is True − It opens the custom menu in the Excel interface. Value is False − It opens the custom menu in Standard Excel. |
IDEEVTOOLBARS | If Value is True − It will hide the Planning and Consolidation Toolbar. If Value is False − It will display the Planning and Consolidation Toolbar. |
CVLIST | It is used to define the dimensions that have to be displayed on the top of the custom menu page. These dimensions can be changed into the report mentioned in the Custom menu. |
- What is the difference between Reporting Model and Driver and Rate Model?
Ans:
We use reporting models for analysis purposes. Non Reporting modules include Driver and Rates model and are used for currency rates, price, ownership data, etc.
Types of Reporting Models:
- Consolidation
- Finance
- Generic
Types of Non-Reporting Models:
- Rate
- Ownership
- To perform intercompany elimination, which dimensions should be defined, and what properties should be created for these dimensions?
Ans:
To perform currency conversion and intercompany eliminations, you need a dimension type – Intercompany dimension (I). To execute intercompany elimination, an application should have the following:
- Dimension Type “I” for intercompany elimination.
- Dimension “I” should include a property ENTITY.
- The account dimension should include property ELIMACC.
- The entity dimension should include property ELIM.
- You should set the appropriate business tables.
- There should be a DPT package to execute intercompany logic that should be available.
- What Steps Are In Processing A Dimension?
Ans:
Processing a dimension will execute the following steps:
- Validate Hierarchy.
- Validate Dimension member formulas.
- Update member data into BW.
- BW Attribute change run.
- What Is The Difference Between Drilldown And Drillthrough?
Ans:
Drilldown is different than drillthrough. Drill down is used to drill down on member data within dimensions. You can drill down on members in a worksheet, or you can drill down on charts and graphs. Drill down is conducted within one report in the Excel interface whereas drill through is a ‘jump’ outside of the Excel Interface.
41.What Is The Difference Between Evgts And Evsnd?
Ans:
EVGTS: The EVGTS (Get value and scale) function retrieves a data value based on the specified members, and scales the value if the scale property is enabled on the dimension. The report templates provided in the sample application set have a scale reference in the Control Panel area of the template.
EVSND: EVSND This Send function references another cell and sends its value to the database when you select Send and Refresh Schedules. The parameters specify the dimensions that identify where the data value is to be sent in the database. EVSND returns the value from the database to the referenced cell. You do not need to add any EVGET functions to the sheet to return values to the cell. Since the values are returned to the referenced cell, BPC sends only the cells that have changed since the last send in the current session. By putting the formula in the EVSND cell and not in the input cells, you decrease the chances of your formulas getting overwritten or erased. To further protect the formulas, you may want to hide the EVSND cells in the input schedule. This function takes members that not specified from the current view settings.
- What Is Epm?
Ans:
SAP Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) allows your organization to improve its financial and operational performance management. SAP EPM supports various functionalities with SAP Business Planning and Consolidation BPC-NW or BPC-MS like financial consolidation, financial information management, supply chain performance management, strategy management, and many other areas.
- What Are The Two Version Available For Sap Bpc?
Ans:
SAP BPC NetWeaver, BPC MS
- What Are The Key Benefits Of Using Sap Bpc With Netweaver?
Ans:
Star Schema for Exceptional Reporting : SAP BPC uses NW InfoCubes to store the data. The dimension model used is extended Star Schema so it makes BPC with NW system an exceptional system for reporting.
No Database Dependence Version: BPC NW version is not dependent on database version and can run common databases like DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.
BW Accelerator Support : SAP NetWeaver BW accelerator tool is an additional feature that can be used to enhance the performance of reporting in the system even if you are using large datasets. It indirectly helps in saving the cost for a company as less number of report performance issues are reported.
BAdI Development and ABAP Support: SAP BPC with NetWeaver allows you to use ABAP programming to develop K2 script logic. It enables to create business add-in BAdi interface in the back-end system, which can be called later from script logic developed in BPC system. It helps in solving the complex business requirements and reducing the development time for an organization.
45.What Are The Key Advantages Of Using Bpc Ms?
Ans:
Dimension Logic: This can be configured in BPC system using simple mathematical formulas.
Business Rules: This allows you to create rules in BPC system to perform specific functions. K2 Script Logic: This is used to perform some specific functions which can’t be achieved using out-of-box functionality to meet the business requirements. You can create K2 script logics to perform certain functions, which can be performed in a standard system.
- What Are The Key Components In Bpc Architecture?
Ans:
Requirement: SAP NetWeaver ABAP 7.3 or 7.31 Database: Any of the above version of SAP NetWeaver support. Operating System: Any supported version of SAP NetWeaver system and database engine.
- Which Databases Are Supported By Sap Bpc With Netweaver Version?
Ans:
This layer is responsible to store all the data in database. SAP NW back-end system is responsible to create objects and data stored for BPC system. NetWeaver supports most of the databases like SQL Server, DB2, Oracle, and many more.
- What Is Model In Sap Bpc?
Ans:
To meet the Business Planning and Consolidation requirement of an organization, you need to build a model in an environment, which is defined as a collection of several dimensions.
- While Creating A Legal Consolidation Application, Which Of The Dimensions Needs To Be Created In Bpc?
Ans:
- C_Acct (A) − For maintaining charts of account.
- C_Category (C) − To define category.
- Groups (R) − Like GROUP A (USD), GROUP B (EUR), and GROUP C (RMB).
- Entity (E) − It contains the business unit used to derive process.
- C_Datasrc (D) − Data Source Dimension.
- IntCo (I) − It determines the level of the entity hierarchy at which level the elimination needs to be performed.
- Time (T) − Time in all dimensions.
- Flow (S) − To keep track of movements in Consolidation.
- What Is The Use Of Dimension – R_acct (a), While Creating A Rate Application In Bpc?
Ans:
R_Acct (A) is used for maintaining different types of Rate.
- Which Design Models Are Available In Sap Bpc To Fulfill The Business Requirements?
Ans:
Standard Model, Embedded Model
- How Standard Model Is Different From Embedded Bpc Design Model?
Ans:
Embedded model is different from Standard model and includes data access to all community users. For Embedded design model, initial versions used were SAP BW Integrated Planning and Planning Application Kit i.e. BW-IP and PAK. In Standard model, BPC environment contains the BPC applications or models and each model generates a BW InfoCube which is hidden.
- What Is The Use Of Transformation File? What Are The Different Sections In A Transformation File?
Ans:
Transformation file provides the mapping of fields from BW to BPC and is an excel file in BPC. It contains transaction data from InfoObjects in BW with BPC dimensions defined in the administration console. There are three sections defined for mapping file:
- Options: Contains the general settings.
- Mapping: Used to assign dimension in BPC system with a source column in BW InfoObject.
- Conversion: Contains the link of other Excel sheets to apply the conversion routine
- What Is The Use Of Conversion File? Name Different Sections In A Conversion File.?
Ans:
A conversion file is used to apply the conversion rules for BPC dimension and is an Excel file. It contains three sections:
- External: Contains the value from external source.
- Internal: Contains the value it should be having for BPC dimension.
- Formula: Defines the conversion formula applied to each record.
55.What Are The Different Methods That Can Be Used To Create Reports And Input Schedules In Business Planning And Consolidation?
Ans:
Using Default Templates
- EvDRE Builder
- Drag and Drop Interface
- Blank workbook
- How Can You Migrate Evdre Reports Created By Bpc 7.5 Excel To Bpc 10.0?
Ans:
Go to EPM Ribbon → More → EvDRE Migration.
- In SAP BPC, how can you define the usefulness of Logic Scripts?
Ans:
Logic Scripts are primarily defined as a set of SQL or MDX programming structure meant for performing few customized functions for the purpose of managing data models along with flexibility. When few of the specific requirements are not attained by virtue of using business rules, those can be achieved by using the Logic Scripts.
- Please tell what are the two version available for SAP BPC?
Ans:
The two versions available for SAP BPC are:
- SAP BPC NetWeaver
- BPC MS
- In SAP BPC, what is the usage of Logic Scripts?
Ans:
Logic Scripts has been defined as a set of SQL or MDX programming structure which are meant for performing some customized functions for flexibility and manage data models. When some specific requirements are not achieved using business rules, those can be met by the usage of Logic Scripts.
60.In SAP BPC, what is Model ?
Ans:
For meeting therequirements within an organization, in an environment, the user is required to build a model and this stated as a collection of various dimensions.
- Can we use VB script in Netweaver BPC?
Ans:
No, VB script cannot be used in NetweaverBPC
- What are various SAP BPC built-in functionalities?
Ans:
The various built-in functionalities delivered BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation) are:
- Strategic Planning
- Budgeting
- Reporting
- Forecasting
- What are the various components of BPC security ?
Ans:
The following components for BPC security are:
- Member access profile
- Task profile
- Teams
- Users
- Define the various pre-requisites (on the server side) used for installation in SAP BPC 10.1?
Ans:
For installing the software, the user requires SAP NetWeaver BW 7.4 SP05 as a basis along with SAP UI5 1.16. All the databases which are supported by BW – i.e. few some traditional databases and SAP HANA.
- For BPC 10.1, what is the BW release required?
Ans:
For both BPC 10.1, the embedded and standard the minimum BW release is BW 7.40 SP5.
66.For BPC 10.1, Is HANA DB a mandate?
Ans:
BPC 10.1 Standard has provisions for supporting both HANA DB and non-HANA DB. The Embedded BPC 10.1 only supports HANA DB.
- Which version of HANA SP is essential for BPC 10.1?
Ans:
HANA SP7 is required for BPC 10.1 and BW 7.40 SP5 requires HANA SP7. Incase the customer is only utilizing BPC , then is software component CPMBPC required to be installed.
- When BPC 7.5 NW is available?
Ans:
The 7.5 version is currently in the ramp-up stage and should be available in few months. I am not sure of the exact month.
69.BPC for NW has an aggregation level or not, Is BPC an application on top of SAP-IP?
Ans:
BPC and IP have completely different architecture. BPC doesn’t use aggregation levels or filters. BPC and IP have no relation and thus, cannot be compared. BPC uses various script logics, business rules for doing the planning. Manual planning can be done with input schedules. The input schedules are on the excel platform and are quite versatile. You can use BPC functionalities along with native excel functionalities for better design of the input schedules.
- What about BPC in the consolidation part?
Ans:
BPC comes with pre-delivered components for consolidation, which can be leveraged on. There are few business rules, which make the consolidation process easier.
71.What is the concept for plan data from BPC?
Ans:
The concept of planning is the same as you have in any other tool. The functional side of the planning remains the same. However, the tool differs. The way you configure a planning scenario will be much different than any other planning tool. Unfortunately, it will not be feasible to address this in the forum. You can definitely go through the study materials for a better understanding.
- BPC for NW needs to install the .NET application server and Web server or not?
Ans:
Yes. You can have a look at the installation guide available on the marketplace for detailed requirements.
- What is the BPC client tool? And If I planning on BEx report, I have to create an aggregation level for planning data or not?
Ans:
BPC client sits on the client machines, from where; you will be doing the design. There are mainly 3 interfaces available – BPC Admin, BPC Office, and BPC Web. BPC Office, in turn has 3 interfaces – Excel, Word, PowerPoint. These interfaces can be used for various requirements.
- Can you debug the data manager package?
Ans:
UJD_TEST_PACKAGE.You must specify the User ID .The DM package can be selected with F4.
75.What are scoping commands?
Ans:
The following keywords can be used to modify the scope: *XDIM_MEMBERSET Overwrites the scope for that dimension *XDIM_ADDMEMBERSET Add members to the scope of that dimension *XDIM_FILTER Filters the members of the scope of that dimension *XDIM_MAXMEMBERS Specifies the maximum number of members that should be included in one query (per dimension)
- What are system variables?
Ans:
%USER% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation User
- %APPSET% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation AppSet (Application Set)
- %APPLICATION% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation Application
- %YEAR% – Returns current calendar year.
- What is the difference between DRILLDOWN and DRILLTHROUGH?
Ans:
Drill down is different than drill through. Drill down is used to drill down on member data within dimensions. You can drill down on members in a worksheet, or you can drill down on charts and graphs. Drill down is conducted within one report in the Excel interface whereas drill through is a ‘jump’ outside of the Excel Interface.
- What are the options of DRILL THROUGH?
Ans:
Jump to any website Jump to a BW query Jump to ECC code what steps are in Processing a dimension?
Processing a dimension will execute the following steps:
- Validate Hierarchy.
- Validate Dimension member formulas.
- Update member data into BW.
- BW Attribute change run.
- How to debug the script logic?
Ans:
UJKT Program UJK_SCRIPT_LOGIC_TESTER will allow you to test and debug script logic
80.START_BADI ROUND. CODE …. ENDBADI. What is ROUND?
Ans:
The technical name of the BADI.
- startroutine = C1 endroutine = C2 What is C1 ?
Ans:
Badi filters.
- Process performed by setting up two Excel files?
Ans:
Transformation file (required) .Conversion file (optional)
- Where you can use Javascript?
Ans:
Conversion File
- Can the VB script be used in Netweaver BPC?
Ans:
No VB script in NetweaverBPC.
- The list of supported MDX functions is available from the function module
Ans:
BAPI_MDPROVIDER_GET_FUNCTIONS.
- Which are the on-the-fly calculations?
Ans:
Dimension member formulas.
- Which logic is stored in the database?
Ans:
Script logic.
- What do you need to use dimension member formulas?
Ans:
Formula property in the dimension
- What is SAP BPC?
Ans:
SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) is SAP’s flagship product for planning, budgeting, forecasting, and both legal and management consolidations. SAP BPC provides a highly scalable, robust database combined with business process and logic capabilities to provide a true Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) platform. SAP BPC is a unified solution that does not require individual software components to perform a core set of business functions and tasks.
- BPC’s capabilities with an overview of the five core EPM business processes it is most commonly used to address.
Ans:
Core Capabilities
Planning Planning is typically defined as long-range planning spanning multiple years, that can be entered in any combination of periodicity (week, month, quarter year). Some companies use models with strategic or long-range planning that span years or decades into the future. These plans are usually at a higher level than the budget or forecast. The planning cycle also combines a variety of financial and non-financial information to form a complete view. BPC provides a platform to integrate business planning, connecting strategy, operations and financial processes.
Budgeting A budget cycle is a full outlook for the upcoming year based on your business calendar. Some budgets start out with predefined assumptions or targets (top-down), while others begin with a set of detailed inputs from various participants across the organization (bottom-up). It is quite common for organizations to develop a budget with a combination of both top-down and bottom-up assumptions, with multiple versions being developed during an iterative and collaborative process.
Forecasting Many companies have abandoned the traditional 12-month budget in favor of a rolling forecast, which looks at the remaining months of the year and a full 12-18 months (or more) into the future. BPC easily combines the actual periods with forecast periods into one category or version. This facilitates more efficient reporting and analysis. For example, the May forecast version (category) would have four periods of actual data (January – April), and at least eight periods of forecast data. This also allows users to easily compare the current forecast to previous forecast periods.
Consolidations BPC has built-in financial intelligence including robust legal and management consolidation capabilities. These capabilities include the ability to import data from various data sources. SAP BPC customers can enjoy a variety of integration options, including real-time consolidations with SAP’s flagship ERP solution, S/4HANA. BPC also fully supports non-SAP ERP systems. Many BPC users have multiple ERPs – one of our customers had so many acquisitions they consolidate over 90 different GLs with different COAs. Additional consolidation features include currency translation, intercompany eliminations, allocations, partial ownership, equity pick-up, journals, and reporting and analysis. Reporting and analysis features include P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow statements to accommodate internal and external financial reporting requirements.
Legal and Management Reporting & Analysis for both Operations and Finance BPC enables a wide variety of reporting and analysis formats including what-if scenarios with real-time modeling, by leveraging Excel to dynamically read data and write back to the database. Users can easily develop both ad-hoc and production reports, including financial statements, in their required format. BPC includes a book publication wizard within the Excel interface that dynamically generates any combination of cost centers, profit centers, product lines, etc. and product books into a distributable PDF document. An optional Disclosure Management solution is available from SAP to help automate filing with various regulatory agencies, including SEC.
- What is EPM?
Ans:
SAP Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) allows your organization to improve its financial and operational performance management. SAP EPM supports various functionalities with SAP Business Planning and Consolidation BPC-NW or BPC-MS like financial consolidation, financial information management, supply chain performance management, strategy management, and many other areas.
- What are the key benefits of using SAP BPC with NetWeaver?
Ans:
Star Schema for Exceptional Reporting − SAP BPC uses NW InfoCubes to store the data. The dimension model used is extended Star Schema so it makes BPC with NW system an exceptional system for reporting.
No Database Dependence Version − BPC NW version is not dependent on database version and can run common databases like DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.
BW Accelerator Support − SAP NetWeaver BW accelerator tool is an additional feature that can be used to enhance the performance of reporting in the system even if you are using large datasets. It indirectly helps in saving the cost for a company as less number of report performance issues are reported.
BAdI Development and ABAP Support − SAP BPC with NetWeaver allows you to use ABAP programming to develop K2 script logic. It enables to create business add-in BAdi interface in the back-end system, which can be called later from script logic developed in BPC system. It helps in solving the complex business requirements and reducing the development time for an organization.
- What is the use of Logic Scripts in SAP BPC?
Ans:
Logic Scripts is defined as a set of SQL or MDX programming structure to perform some customized functions for flexibility and manage data models. When some specific requirements are not achieved using business rules, those can be met by the use of Logic Scripts.
- How Standard model is different from Embedded BPC design model?
Ans:
Embedded model is different from Standard model and includes data access to all community users. For Embedded design model, initial versions used were SAP BW Integrated Planning and Planning Application Kit i.e. BW-IP and PAK.
In Standard model, BPC environment contains the BPC applications or models and each model generates a BW InfoCube which is hidden.
- How can you migrate EvDRE reports created by BPC 7.5 Excel to BPC 10.0?
Ans:
Go to EPM Ribbon → More → EvDRE Migration.
- What are the two sections in Custom Menu Template?
Ans:
Custom menu content is defined by two sections in custom menu template – Default section and Menu item section.
- Can we do reporting on Non Reporting models and assign work status?
Ans:
You can do reporting on non-reporting models but you cannot assign work status to them.
- What are the different methods that can be used to create reports and input schedules in Business Planning and Consolidation?
Ans:
Using Default Templates
- EvDRE Builder
- Drag and Drop Interface
- Blank workbook
- What does BPC stand for in SAP?
Ans:
SAP Business Planning and Consolidation The SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (SAP BPC) application delivers planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial consolidation capabilities, so you can easily adjust plans and forecasts, speed up budget and closing cycles, and ensure compliance with financial reporting standards.
- How many model types are available in BPC?
Ans:
BPC supports two model types – Standard and Embedded. For a more detailed comparison of BPC Standard vs. Embedded please visit “SAP BPC NW 10.1 Standard and Embedded Compared”. The Standard model is a BPC model structure (or cube) with a single account dimension.
Part 3:
Q1. What is BPC?
Ans: BPC stands for Business Planning and Consolidation. BPC is used for both Planning and Consolidations, unlike IP, which is used for only planning.
Q2. When BPC 7.5 NW is available?
Ans: The 7.5 version is currently in the ramp-up stage and should be available in a few months. I am not sure of the exact month.
Q3. What are the two versions available for SAP BPC?
Ans:
- SAP BPC NetWeaver
- BPC MS
Q4. BPC for NW has an aggregation level or not, Is BPC an application on top SAP-IP?
Ans: BPC and IP have completely different architecture. BPC doesn’t use aggregation levels or filters. BPC and IP have no relation and thus, cannot be compared. BPC uses various script logics, business rules for doing the planning. Manual planning can be done with input schedules. The input schedules are on the excel platform and are quite versatile. You can use BPC functionalities along with native excel functionalities for better design of the input schedules.
Q5. What about BPC in the consolidation part?
Ans: BPC comes with pre-delivered components for consolidation, which can be leveraged on. There are a few business rules, which make the consolidation process easier.
Q6. What is the concept of plan data from BPC?
Ans: The concept of planning is the same as you have in any other tool. The functional side of the planning remains the same. However, the tool differs. The way you configure a planning scenario will be much different than any other planning tool. Unfortunately, it will not be feasible to address this in the forum. You can definitely go through the study materials for a better understanding.
Q7. BPC for NW needs to install .NET application server and Web server or not?
Ans: Yes, You can have a look at the installation guide available on the marketplace for detailed requirements.
Q8. What are the key benefits of using SAP BPC with NetWeaver?
Ans:
- Star Schema for Exceptional Reporting: SAP BPC uses NW InfoCubes to store the data. The dimension model used is extended Star Schema so it makes BPC with the NW system an exceptional system for reporting.
- No Database Dependence Version: BPC NW version is not dependent on database version and can run common databases like DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.
- BW Accelerator Support: SAP NetWeaver BW accelerator tool is an additional feature that can be used to enhance the performance of reporting in the system even if you are using large datasets. It indirectly helps in saving the cost for a company as less number of report performance issues are reported.
- Badi Development and ABAP Support: SAP BPC with NetWeaver allows you to use ABAP programming to develop K2 script logic. It enables the creation of a business add-in BAdi interface in the back-end system, which can be called later from script logic developed in the BPC system. It helps in solving the complex business requirements and reducing the development time for an organization.
Q9. What is the BPC client tool? And If I planning on the BEx report, I have to create an aggregation level for planning data or not?
Ans: BPC client sits on the client machines, from where; you will be doing the design. There are mainly 3 interfaces available – BPC Admin, BPC Office, and BPC Web. BPC Office, in turn, has 3 interfaces – Excel, Word, PowerPoint. These interfaces can be used for various requirements.
Q10. Can you debug the data manager package?
Ans: UJD_TEST_PACKAGE.You must specify the User ID. The DM package can be selected with F4.
SAP BPC Certification Questions
Q11. What are scoping commands?
Ans: The following keywords can be used to modify the scope: *XDIM_MEMBERSET Overwrites the scope for that dimension *XDIM_ADDMEMBERSET Add members to the scope of that dimension *XDIM_FILTER Filters the members of the scope of that dimension *XDIM_MAXMEMBERS Specifies the maximum number of members that should be included in one query (per dimension)
Q12. What are the key advantages of using BPC MS?
Ans:
- Dimension Logic − This can be configured in the BPC system using simple mathematical formulas.
- Business Rules − This allows you to create rules in the BPC system to perform specific functions.
- K2 Script Logic − This is used to perform some specific functions which can’t be achieved using out-of-box functionality to meet the business requirements. You can create K2 script logics to perform certain functions, which can be performed in a standard system.
Q13. What are the system variables?
Ans: %USER% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation User %APPSET% – Returns current SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation AppSet (Application Set) %APPLICATION% – Returns current SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation Application %YEAR% – Returns current calendar year.
Q14. What is the difference between EVGTS and EVANS?
Ans: EVGTS: The EVGTS (Get value and scale) function retrieves a data value based on the specified members, and scales the value if the scale property is enabled on the dimension. The report templates provided in the sample application set have a scale reference in the Control Panel area of the template.
EVSND: EVANS This Send function references another cell and sends its value to the database when you select Send and Refresh Schedules. The parameters specify the dimensions that identify where the data value is to be sent in the database. EVSND returns the value from the database to the referenced cell. You do not need to add any EVGET functions to the sheet to return values to the cell. Since the values are returned to the referenced cell, BPC sends only the cells that have changed since the last send in the current session. By putting the formula in the EVANS cell and not in the input cells, you decrease the chances of your formulas getting overwritten or erased. To further protect the formulas, you may want to hide the EVSND cells in the input schedule. This function takes members that not specified from the current view settings.
Q15. What is the difference between DRILLDOWN and DRILL THROUGH?
Ans: Drill down is different than drill through. Drill down is used to drill down on member data within dimensions. You can drill down on members in a worksheet, or you can drill down on charts and graphs. Drill down is conducted within one report in the Excel interface whereas drill through is a ‘jump’ outside of the Excel Interface.
Q16. What are the options of DRILL THROUGH?
Ans: Jump to any website Jump to a BW query Jump to ECC code.
Q17. What steps are in processing a dimension?
Ans: Processing a dimension will execute the following steps:
- Validate Hierarchy.
- Validate Dimension member formulas.
- Update member data into BW.
- BW Attribute change run.
Q18. What fields will be in the Distribution Template?
Ans: A Distribution Template may contain the following fields:
- BOOK: the title of your distributed book.
- SECTION: denotes the beginning of a section.
- RENAME report filename, location, and title (can also be for Input Schedules).
- FIXKEY: sets dimension members to the fixed values when generating the report. For example, you can ensure that a report runs for 2008.TOTAL and ACTUAL.
- VARKEYS: lists the dimensions and dimension members that should vary for each report that will get created.
For example, if you want to create a new offline report for each Entity/Cost Center/etc, you would specify that dimension as a Very Key.
Q19. What are the key components in BPC architecture?
Ans:
- Requirement: SAP NetWeaver ABAP 7.3 or 7.31
- Database: Any of the above versions of SAP NetWeaver support.
- Operating System: Any supported version of the SAP NetWeaver system and database engine.
Q20. Which databases are supported by SAP BPC with the NetWeaver version?
Ans: This layer is responsible to store all the data in the database. SAP NW back-end system is responsible to create objects and data stored for BPC system. NetWeaver supports most of the databases like SQL Server, DB2, Oracle, and many more.
Q21. What is the Model in SAP BPC?
Ans: To meet the Business Planning and Consolidation requirement of an organization, you need to build a model in an environment, which is defined as a collection of several dimensions.
Q22. What is the use of Logic Scripts in SAP BPC?
Ans: Logic Scripts is defined as a set of SQL or MDX programming structures to perform some customized functions for flexibility and manage data models. When some specific requirements are not achieved using business rules, those can be met by the use of Logic Scripts.
Q23. While creating a legal consolidation application, which of the dimensions needs to be created in BPC?
Ans:
- C_Acct (A) − For maintaining charts of account.
- C_Category (C) − To define the category.
- Groups (R) − Like GROUP A (USD), GROUP B (EUR), and GROUP C (RMB).
- Entity (E) − It contains the business unit used to derive the process.
- C_Datasrc (D) − Data Source Dimension.
- IntCo (I) − It determines the level of the entity hierarchy at which level the elimination needs to be performed.
- Time (T) − Time in all dimensions.
- Flow (S) − To keep track of movements in Consolidation.
Q24. What is the use of dimension – R_Acct (A), while creating a Rate Application in BPC?
Ans: R_Acct (A) is used for maintaining different types of Rate.
Q25. Which design models are available in SAP BPC to fulfill the business requirements?
Ans:
- Standard Model
- Embedded Model
Q26. How the Standard model is different from the Embedded BPC design model?
Ans: Embedded model is different from the Standard model and includes data access to all community users. For the Embedded design model, the initial versions used were SAP BW Integrated Planning and Planning Application Kit i.e. BW-IP and PAK.
In the Standard Model, the BPC environment contains the BPC applications or models and each model generates a BW InfoCube which is hidden.
Q27. What is the use of the Transformation file? What are the different sections in a Transformation file?
Ans: The transformation file provides the mapping of fields from BW to BPC and is an excel file in BPC. It contains transaction data from InfoObjects in BW with BPC dimensions defined in the administration console.
There are three sections defined for the mapping file.
- Options − Contains the general settings.
- Mapping − Used to assign dimension in the BPC system with a source column in BW InfoObject.
- Conversion − Contains the link of other Excel sheets to apply the conversion routine.
Q28. What is the use of a conversion file? Name different sections in a conversion file?
Ans: A conversion file is used to apply the conversion rules for the BPC dimension and is an Excel file. It contains three sections
- External − Contains the value from an external source.
- Internal − Contains the value it should be having for the BPC dimension.
- Formula − Defines the conversion formula applied to each record.
Q29. What are the different methods that can be used to create reports and input schedules in Business Planning and Consolidation?
Ans:
- Using Default Templates
- EvDRE Builder
- Drag and Drop Interface
- Blank workbook
Q30. Have you used any default templates in BPC for reporting purposes? Name a few of the default templates?
Ans:
totals by Account | This custom report contains an Account dimension with subtotals in rows and any dimension across in columns. |
Variance | This custom report contains any dimension in rows and categories comparison in columns. It also features Variances calculation (both amount and percentage). With both YTD and Periodic boxes. |
Consolidating | This custom report contains any dimension in rows and Entity type members across in columns with hierarchy. |
Comparative X | This custom report contains any dimension in rows and categories comparison in columns and also retrieves the Last Year same period data. With both YTD and Periodic boxes. |
Comparison with 3 -year | Year over Year comparison. |
Drill in Place | This template performs drill in place. |
Nested | This allows any two-dimension to be nested in a row and the third dimension in the column. |
Sort on value | This template performs the sort of total value. |
Drill Dimension | This allows using the drill in one dimension to others. |
Q31. How can you migrate EvDRE reports created by BPC 7.5 Excel to BPC 10.0?
Ans: Go to EPM Ribbon → More → EvDRE Migration.
Q32. What is the syntax for Dimension logic? Which operators can be used in Dimension logic?
Ans: To define the member dimension formula, you have to put a Square bracket around the dimension and there is a dot between two.
[PRODUCT].[PRODUCT1] – [PRODUCT].[PRODUCT2]
[SALES].[SALES1] / [SALES].[SALES2]
Standard Arithmetic functions have to be used in dimension formula – addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), division (/) – are used in SAP NetWeaver.
Q33. What are the requirements to perform simple currency conversions and complex currency conversions?
Ans:
Simple Conversion:
- There should be a Rate application where you store the exchange rates.
- You should have an account dimension, which includes RATETYPE.
- The entity dimension should include a property CURRENCY.
- FXTRANS logic should be available and DEFAULT logic should include a call to FXTRANS logic.
- The entity dimension should include property TRANSALATE_TO.
Complex Conversion:
- There should be a Rate application where you store the exchange rates.
- The application should contain a CURRENCY type dimension.
- There should be property REPORTING for the CURRENCY dimension.
- The entity dimension must include property CURRENCY.
- Account dimension must include property RATETYPE.
- FXTRANS logic should be available.
- DEFAULT logic should include a call to FXTRANS logic.
Q34. What is the use of work status? What are the key attributes in defining work status?
Ans: Work status is used to lock a region of data in a model. This is used to override the user’s member access privilege to write to a particular region.
There are multiple dimensions defined for a region with one property called as OWNER. While defining the work status, the following are defined
- Work States − It belongs to the physical state of data.
- Security − You can set different levels of security on changing data in the system –All or Locked. You can set who can change the work state − Manager or Owner.
- Data Update − This defines how data will be updated by the customer.
- Push − This option is used to push the same work state for all the children of a member.
Q35. How is auditing done in SAP BPC? What are the different audit reports that can be pulled for audit purposes?
Ans: Audit functions allow you to create reports that contain a history of user sessions and system information.
You can create Audit reports on the following topics
Business Process Flows − You can create these reports in BPF.
- Standard
- Step
- Audit
Security − You can create these reports in Security.
- User
- Team
- Task Profiles
- Data Access Profiles
- BPF
General − You can create these reports in general.
- Work Status
- Administration Activities
- Comments
- Data Changes
Q36. What are the two sections in the Custom Menu Template?
Ans: Custom menu content is defined by two sections in the custom menu template – The default section and Menu item section.
Q37. Explain the parameters that can be used with the Custom Menu Template?
Ans:
Parameters | Options |
NORMALSCREEN | Value is True − It opens the custom menu in the Excel interface. Value is False − It opens the custom menu in Standard Excel. |
HIDEEVTOOLBARS | If Value is True − It will hide the Planning and Consolidation Toolbar. If Value is False − It will display the Planning and Consolidation Toolbar. |
CVLIST | It is used to define the dimensions that have to be displayed on the top of the custom menu page. These dimensions can be changed into the report mentioned in the Custom menu. |
The menu Item section includes the following parameters
- Menu Item: Text description that the user can select for the menu item.
- Actions: Highlight, custom menu function, or menu command.
- Level: Level can be selected from section, item, or sub-item.
- Parameters: For custom menu functions.
- Normal Screen: Default is a full screen. This is set to the true, open custom menu on the normal screen.
- CV Override: This is used to change current view dimensions while switching applications
Q38. What is the difference between Reporting Model and Driver and Rate Model?
Ans: We use reporting models for analysis purposes. Non Reporting modules include Driver and Rates model and are used for currency rates, price, ownership data, etc.
Types of Reporting Models:
- Consolidation
- Finance
- Generic
Types of Non-Reporting Models:
- Rate
- Ownership
Q39. To perform intercompany elimination, which dimensions should be defined, and what properties should be created for these dimensions?
Ans: To perform currency conversion and intercompany eliminations, you need a dimension type – Intercompany dimension (I). To execute intercompany elimination, an application should have the following:
- Dimension Type “I” for intercompany elimination.
- Dimension “I” should include a property ENTITY.
- The account dimension should include property ELIMACC.
- The entity dimension should include property ELIM.
- You should set the appropriate business tables.
- There should be a DPT package to execute intercompany logic that should be available.
Dimension | Property | Length | Content |
Account | ELIMACC | 20 | Valid account |
Entity | ELIM | 1 char | It contains ‘Y’ or blank |
InterCompany | Entity | 20 | Entity Id w.r.t Intercompany member |
Currency | Reporting | 1 | ‘Y’ or blank |
Part 4:
- What is BPC?
As you must be aware that SAP BPC stands for Business Planning and Consolidation. As the name suggests, BPC is used for both Planning and Consolidations, unlike IP, which is used for only planning.
- When BPC 7.5 NW is available?
The 7.5 version is currently in the ramp-up stage and should be available in few months. I am not sure of the exact month.
- BPC for NW has an aggregation level or not, Is BPC an application on top of SAP-IP?
BPC and IP have completely different architecture. BPC doesn’t use aggregation levels or filters. BPC and IP have no relation and thus, cannot be compared. BPC uses various script logics, business rules for doing the planning. Manual planning can be done with input schedules. The input schedules are on the excel platform and are quite versatile. You can use BPC functionalities along with native excel functionalities for better design of the input schedules.
- What about BPC in the consolidation part?
BPC comes with pre-delivered components for consolidation, which can be leveraged on. There are few business rules, which make the consolidation process easier.
- What is the concept for plan data from BPC?
The concept of planning is the same as you have in any other tool. The functional side of the planning remains the same. However, the tool differs. The way you configure a planning scenario will be much different than any other planning tool. Unfortunately, it will not be feasible to address this in the forum. You can definitely go through the study materials for a better understanding.
- BPC for NW needs to install the .NET application server and Web server or not?
Yes. You can have a look at the installation guide available on the marketplace for detailed requirements.
- What is the BPC client tool? And If I planning on BEx report, I have to create an aggregation level for planning data or not?
BPC client sits on the client machines, from where; you will be doing the design. There are mainly 3 interfaces available – BPC Admin, BPC Office, and BPC Web. BPC Office, in turn has 3 interfaces – Excel, Word, PowerPoint. These interfaces can be used for various requirements.
- Can you debug the data manager package?
UJD_TEST_PACKAGE.You must specify the User ID .The DM package can be selected with F4.
- What are scoping commands?
The following keywords can be used to modify the scope: *XDIM_MEMBERSET Overwrites the scope for that dimension *XDIM_ADDMEMBERSET Add members to the scope of that dimension *XDIM_FILTER Filters the members of the scope of that dimension *XDIM_MAXMEMBERS Specifies the maximum number of members that should be included in one query (per dimension)
- What are system variables?
- %USER% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation User
- %APPSET% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation AppSet (Application Set)
- %APPLICATION% – Returns current SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation Application
- %YEAR% – Returns current calendar year.
- What is the difference between EVGTS and EVSND?
EVGTS: The EVGTS (Get value and scale) function retrieves a data value based on the specified members, and scales the value if the scale property is enabled on the dimension. The report templates provided in the sample application set have a scale reference in the Control Panel area of the template. EVSND: EVSND This Send function references another cell and sends its value to the database when you select Send and Refresh Schedules. The parameters specify the dimensions that identify where the data value is to be sent in the database. EVSND returns the value from the database to the referenced cell. You do not need to add any EVGET functions to the sheet to return values to the cell. Since the values are returned to the referenced cell, BPC sends only the cells that have changed since the last send in the current session. By putting the formula in the EVSND cell and not in the input cells, you decrease the chances of your formulas getting overwritten or erased. To further protect the formulas, you may want to hide the EVSND cells in the input schedule. This function takes members that not specified from the current view settings.
- What is the difference between DRILLDOWN and DRILLTHROUGH?
Drill down is different than drill through. Drill down is used to drill down on member data within dimensions. You can drill down on members in a worksheet, or you can drill down on charts and graphs. Drill down is conducted within one report in the Excel interface whereas drill through is a ‘jump’ outside of the Excel Interface.
- What are the options of DRILL THROUGH?
Jump to any website Jump to a BW query Jump to ECC code
what steps are in Processing a dimension?
Processing a dimension will execute the following steps:
- Validate Hierarchy.
- Validate Dimension member formulas.
- Update member data into BW.
- BW Attribute change run.
- What steps are in processing a dimension?
Processing a dimension will execute the following steps:
- Validate Hierarchy.
- Validate Dimension member formulas.
- Update member data into BW.
- BW Attribute change run.
- What fields will be in the Distribution Template?
A Distribution Template may contain the following fields:
- BOOK: the title of your distributed book.
- SECTION: denotes the beginning of a section.
- REPNAME: report filename, location, and title (can also be for Input Schedules).
- FIXKEY: sets dimension members to the fixed values when generating the report
For example, you can ensure that a report runs for 2008.TOTAL and ACTUAL. - VARYKEYS: lists the dimensions and dimension members that should vary for each report that will get created.
For example, if you want to create a new offline report for each Entity/Cost Center/etc, you would specify that dimension as a Vary Key.
You then map a specific Vary Key to a User ID who should receive that report (for example, the Cost Center manager). This way, each user who gets a report has the required dimension(s) set to their individual values
- SECTIONEND: denotes the end of a section.
- How to debug the script logic?
UJKT
Program UJK_SCRIPT_LOGIC_TESTER will allow you to test and debug script logic
- START_BADI ROUND. CODE …. ENDBADI. What is ROUND?
The technical name of the BADI.
- startroutine = C1 endroutine = C2 What is C1 ?
Badi filters.
- Process performed by setting up two Excel files?
Transformation file (required) .Conversion file (optional)
- Where you can use Javascript?
Conversion File
- Can the VB script be used in Netweaver BPC?
No VB script in NetweaverBPC.
- The list of supported MDX functions is available from the function module
BAPI_MDPROVIDER_GET_FUNCTIONS.
- Which are the on-the-fly calculations?
Dimension member formulas.
- Which logic is stored in the database?
Script logic.
Q25. What do you need to use dimension member formulas?
Ans – Formula property in the dimension