businessobjects metify abm link for business analysis cognos

BusinessObjects Metify ABM Link for Business Analysis Cognos PowerPlay Edition User Guide

BusinessObjects EPM

Windows

Patents Business Objects owns the following U.S. patents, which may cover products that are offered and sold by Business Objects: 5,555,403, 6,247,008 B1, 6,578,027 B2, 6,490,593 and 6,289,352.

Trademarks Business Objects, the Business Objects logo, Crystal Reports, and Crystal Enterprise are trademarks or registered trademarks of Business Objects SA or its affiliated companies in the United States and other countries. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Copyright Copyright © 2007 Business Objects. All rights reserved.

Third-party Contributors

Business Objects products in this release may contain redistributions of software licensed from third-party contributors. Some of these individual components may also be available under alternative licenses. A partial listing of third-party contributors that have requested or permitted acknowledgments, as well as required notices, can be found at: http://www.businessobjects.com/thirdparty

http://www.businessobjects.com/thirdparty

Contents Chapter 1 Introduction to Link for Business Analysis for Cognos PowerPlay..........................3

1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................41.2 Overview .......................................................................................................4

1.2.1 Selective Transfer of Values ................................................................41.2.2 Consolidation of Models.......................................................................41.2.3 Period Selection...................................................................................51.2.4 Build Level Options..............................................................................5

Chapter 2 Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis ..........................................................72.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................82.2 Starting Metify Link for Business Analysis ......................................................82.3 Specifying the options....................................................................................8

2.3.1 Welcome screen..................................................................................92.3.2 Metify Link Tool Selection screen.........................................................92.3.3 Metify ABM Model Selection screen...................................................102.3.4 Metify ABM Period Selection screen ..................................................122.3.5 Metify ABM Currency Selection screen ..............................................132.3.6 Select Metify ABM Value Fields screen ..............................................142.3.7 PowerPlay Cube Options screen one.................................................142.3.8 PowerPlay Cube Options screen two .................................................152.3.9 Generate Cube Build Options screen .................................................162.3.10Confirmation screen...........................................................................17

2.4 Transferring the data ...................................................................................182.4.1 Current Build Status screen ...............................................................18

2.5 Ending Metify Link for Business Analysis .....................................................19

Chapter 3 Batch Run Processes .........................................................................................213.1 Introduction .................................................................................................223.2 Creating a Batch Run Process.....................................................................22

3.2.1 Create a new shortcut........................................................................223.2.2 Running a batch process ...................................................................22

Chapter 4 The PowerPlay Cube..........................................................................................254.1 PowerPlay Cube Dimensions.......................................................................264.2 Viewing the PowerPlay Cube.......................................................................264.3 Single Model Transfer..................................................................................264.4 Multiple Model Transfer ...............................................................................28

4.4.1 Models...............................................................................................284.4.2 Cube Structure ..................................................................................28

4.5 Size of the PowerPlay Cube ........................................................................294.6 Naming Restrictions.....................................................................................29

Chapter 5 Tables and Values..............................................................................................315.1 Introduction .................................................................................................32

Appendix A Business Objects Information Resources............................................................37A1. Documentation and information services......................................................38A2. Documentation ............................................................................................38A3. Customer support, consulting and training ...................................................39A4. Useful addresses at a glance.......................................................................40

Index...........................................................................................................................................41

BusinessObjects EPM Link for Business Analysis Cognos PowerPlay User Guide 1

Contents


Introduction to Link for Business Analysis for Cognos PowerPlay

1|Introduction to Link for Business Analysis for Cognos PowerPlay Introduction

1.1 Introduction The Metify Link for Business Analysis has been designed with a Wizard 97 interface. The link uses individual custom Metify tools for the Cognos® PowerPlay™, iTM1™ and Essbase™ OLAP Tools. The required Metify Tool is defined by the user and appears as part of the wizard interface.

The wizard is designed to guide the user through the steps needed to successfully build the cube(s) for the desired OLAP Tool. There is a change from the previous commercial link to the process with the user now selecting the desired tables required for the cube, rather than selecting a cube to build. However, this function is still available through settings (.ini) files.

The user will work through various screens that are generic to the link, then through the pre-defined OLAP screens and finally back into the generic screens to build the cube(s).

1.2 Overview This section contains an overview of Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay, together with details of how to use it. The Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay is an application which allows you to export results from one or more Metify ABM models directly into a PowerPlay Cube, allowing you to explore the Metify ABM data using all of the features of PowerPlay.

If you are new to Business Analysis and Advanced Reporting, we recommend that you attend the Metify ABM Advanced Reporting training course.

Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay will generate a PowerPlay cube using selected data from one or more Metify ABM models. A Metify ABM model may have complex grouping structures and duplicate members throughout any dimension. The Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay will balance the dimension totals and resolve any double counting to allow accurate analysis.

The main features of Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay are:

• Selective Transfer of Values; ability to select different values from different tables.

• Consolidation of Models; ability to transfer one or more models into a single iTM1 cube.

• Period Selection; ability to transfer one or more periods.

• Build Level Options; ability to build to intermediate or full levels.

1.2.1 Selective Transfer of Values A Metify ABM model contains various costs and values, which represents your organisation. The Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay provides the ability to transfer a selection of these costs into a PowerPlay cube. The Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay generates all the files needed to build a PowerPlay cube. These files can either be built manually or automatically depending on the build options set.

1.2.2 Consolidation of Models Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay enables you to combine one or more models into a PowerPlay cube. The values from each model are transferred to a different slice of the cube allowing you to view the models either individually or collectively.


Introduction to Link for Business Analysis for Cognos PowerPlay Overview |1

1.2.3 Period Selection You can specify one or more Metify ABM Periods from which the costs will be taken. The names(s) used in the PowerPlay cube will be the same as those in Metify ABM. If more than one model has been added, but only one is selected then only Periods for that model will be available for export.

1.2.4 Build Level Options You can specify the level to build the PowerPlay cube to in the link. You can generate just the files needed to run Transformer and then manually create the cube there or generate the cubes automatically when running the link. There is also the option to run PowerPlay automatically from the link when the cubes have been created.


1|Introduction to Link for Business Analysis for Cognos PowerPlay Introduction


Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis

2|Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis Introduction

2.1 Introduction Running the Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay can be viewed as a sequence of four phases:

• Starting Metify Link for Business Analysis.

• Specifying the options; where you specify the parameters of the transfer.

• Transferring the data; where Metify Link for Business Analysis creates the required structure and transfers the specified costs.

• Ending Metify Link for Business Analysis.

2.2 Starting Metify Link for Business Analysis To initiate the Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay, click on the Metify Link for Business Analysis shortcut in the Windows Start Menu. This will start the application and a splash screen will appear. The main wizard screen will then appear as follows:

Note Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay will abort processing if it cannot find enough free disk space for its intermediate files. Disk space must be freed and the application re-run.

Caution To avoid transferring inconsistent data, it is essential that the model be calculated prior to being transferred. You should use a model that is not currently being used by other users.

2.3 Specifying the options The following section describes the dialog boxes in the Metify Link for Business Analysis wizard for the PowerPlay tool, and how you should set up the options, in order to correctly build a PowerPlay cube.


Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis Specifying the options |2

The Metify Link for Business Analysis wizard contains a number of different dialogs that are accessed by ‘Next’ and ‘Back’ buttons. Each dialog box is used to specify settings that together will enable Metify Link for Business Analysis to perform the required transfer. You can input data into these dialog boxes in any order, but the normal method of data specification is to access the dialog boxes in the wizard sequence order. Each dialog is detailed below, together with an explanation of the data input required by the user.

Note Each Dialog box has a ‘Cancel’ button at the bottom, which you can click at any time (before you press the finish button) to exit the application.

Note User Help for the link can be accessed at any point by pressing the F1key.

Note At the end of the wizard there is a dialog box that will display all the information selected. You can navigate back through the dialog boxes to correct or change any information.

2.3.1 Welcome screen The welcome screen shows a brief introduction to the link. There is no user interaction required here, except to navigate to the next screen

2.3.2 Metify Link Tool Selection screen This screen allows you to select the required Metify Tool for use with the link. Selecting the OLAP tool from the dropdown list does this. There is a Load Settings button on this screen that can be used to access an open file dialog where any previously saved settings files can be loaded.

2.3.2.1 Open File dialog The Open File dialog is a standard file open dialog, which enables you to navigate through your local and remote drives to find the location of the required settings file. These settings are saved as .ini files and can be saved later in the wizard.


2|Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis Specifying the options

It is possible to save the Metify Tool in the ini file. Loading an ini file where this selection has been made will automatically select the tool.

Note If you have already selected a Metify Tool and load a settings file with a different tool, the tool in the settings file will not be selected.

2.3.3 Metify ABM Model Selection screen This screen gives access to the Select Model dialog, where the required ABM model(s) to be used in the link are selected. Once the model(s) has been selected model aliases can be changed. Users and passwords for the model(s) can also be changed.

This dialog uses buttons to open other dialog boxes:

2.3.3.1 Add Model Adding a model is performed by clicking on the Add Model button. This then opens the Select Model to Add dialog.

10 BusinessObjects EPM Link for Business Analysis Cognos PowerPlay User Guide


The dialog gives you access to navigate through your local and remote drives to find the location of the required Metify ABM file. By default the location is set to you local machine hard drive. When a model is selected a username and password prompt will appear.

Note If there is no username and password set in the model, this will not be required. No prompt will appear.

Caution You are allowed three attempts to enter the correct details, after which the model will not be available and must be reselected from the dialog.

Once the model has been selected and any usernames and passwords have been entered the model will appear in the list. By default a tick is placed in the Use field to show that the model is selected. To deselect the model click on the tick to remove it – the model is now deselected and will no longer be used in the link.

2.3.3.2 Change Model Aliases Changing a model alias is performed by clicking on the Change Model Aliases button. This will open the Change an Existing Alias screen.



This dialog is separated into two sections. • In the left-hand section you select the model for which you wish to change the alias.

• In the right-hand section you change the model alias to the new name.

Once changes have made, click Next to return to the Metify ABM Model Selection screen.

2.3.3.3 Change Users Changing a User is performed by clicking on the Change Users button. This will open the login prompt screen. The advantage of being able to change a user is that you can change to a user who has different permissions.

Note You can only change to an existing username and password. You cannot create new users from this screen.

2.3.4 Metify ABM Period Selection screen This dialog allows you to specify the desired Period(s) for export to the cube. This is done by clicking in the Use column next to the appropriate period. You must select at least one period for each model.



Note Periods are ordered by model, then period.

Caution If there are no Periods selected for any models then the link will fail to build the cube.

2.3.5 Metify ABM Currency Selection screen This dialog allows you to specify the desired Currency(s) for export to the cube. This is done by clicking in the Use column next to the appropriate currency. You must select at least one currency for each model.

Note Currencies are grouped by model.



Note When there are no currencies defined in the model, any values selected for this model will be placed under the N/A Currency leaf item in the Currency hierarchy.

2.3.6 Select Metify ABM Value Fields screen This dialog allows you to select the required value fields for export, from a set list of tables. Each table lists it’s own set of values. Values are selected by scrolling to the appropriate table in the list and then selecting the required values from those shown by clicking in the Use column next to the appropriate value.

A full list of the available tables and their associated value fields can be found in Section Error! Reference source not found..

Note At least one value must be selected. More than one value per table can be selected, as can multiple tables.

Caution If a value is selected from a table, which has no records in Metify, then the link will fail to build the cube. An error message will be logged.

2.3.7 PowerPlay Cube Options screen one This is the first of the PowerPlay screens. In this dialog you select the directory where the cube is to be stored and the name of the cube to be built. As the Cube Directory Path is read only field you need to navigate to the desired location using the Browse button.



Upon clicking the Browse button a browse folder dialog box will open. This allows you to navigate to the desired directory.

Once you have selected the required directory, click the OK button. The dialog is closed and you are returned to the PowerPlay Cube Options screen. The Cube Directory Path field will now display the correct directory and its path. The next stage is to select the PowerPlay Cube Name. This is a free format field, which accepts alphanumeric input up to 246 characters in length.

2.3.8 PowerPlay Cube Options screen two

This dialog allows you to select the level to which the cube is to build to. There are three levels to which a cube can be built. They are: Generate Intermediate Files. Here the application will only create the files needed to run Cognos

PowerPlay Transformer™ Generate PowerPlay Cube. Here the application will generate the files (as in point 1) but will also

run Cognos PowerPlay Transformer™ and build the PowerPlay cube file. Run PowerPlay Application. Here the application will generate the files (as in point 2) but will

automatically start the PowerPlay application and display the cube.



Note If you select to run option 3 then the two previous options will be selected by default. Likewise, if option 2 is selected then option 1 will be selected by default.

2.3.9 Generate Cube Build Options screen

This dialog allows you to select the required logging level for the build. During the build process a log file is created which stores the events taking place. This log file is written to the same directory as the cube files and shows the date and time of the actions recorded. There are four options available. They are: None. All error messages are logged, along with the started and finished building cube message. Default. As per None, but with the addition of started and finished messages for processing of

dimensions and values. High. As per Default, but with the addition of extra information about the launching of PowerPlay

and generation of the cube. Full. As High. The log file is created in the same directory as the cube files, set in section PowerPlay Cube

Options screen one.



Note The log file is created at the end of the build process. If the build fails then the log file may not be available.

2.3.10 Confirmation screen This dialog allows you to verify all selections made in the previous screens prior to building the cube. Any required selections that have not been made will be displayed in the status window. You can start the build by clicking on the Start Build button.

Note If you have not set all the mandatory data (I.E. you have not selected a Period) then the Start Build button will not be available.


2|Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis Transferring the data

From this screen you can also save the settings that you have chosen, so that they can be loaded again. This is done by clicking on the Save Settings button. This action opens the following dialog box.

From here you can navigate to the required directory and save the settings file using a file name of your choice.

Note Saving the ini file does not save the Metify Tool, which you selected in the Metify Link Tool Selection screen. If you wish to save the tool in the ini file then you must check the Save Tool Name with Settings box.

2.4 Transferring the data Once you have checked the details and saved the settings (if required) the build of the cube can be started by clicking on the Start Build button.

2.4.1 Current Build Status screen This dialog displays the status of the build. The status displayed is a shorter version of that displayed in the log file. There is also a Stop Build button that enables you to stop the build once it has been started. When pressed the build is aborted and a message is displayed in the status screen.


Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis Ending Metify Link for Business Analysis |2

2.5 Ending Metify Link for Business Analysis Once the build is completed and any required settings have been saved the link can be closed by clicking on the Close button.


2|Using the Metify Link for Business Analysis Ending Metify Link for Business Analysis


Batch Run Processes

3|Batch Run Processes Introduction

3.1 Introduction By creating a separate shortcut to the Metify Link for Business Analysis, and editing the Target field in the shortcut properties window, you can create a Batch Run Process. This means that you can run the application automatically, from a saved ini file with no user intervention. This is of particular use if you are running the link over a large model where the build process may take several hours.

3.2 Creating a Batch Run Process To create this process you must first have a saved ini file that can be used. You can create this file by following the steps in the section Error! Reference source not found..

Note When saving the ini file you must check the box to Save Tool Name with Settings.

3.2.1 Create a new shortcut To create a new shortcut for the link you can right-click on the existing link and select Send To, then Desktop (Create Shortcut). This will place a copy of the existing shortcut on your desktop. Once you have done this, complete the following steps to set the icon to run as a batch process.

1. Right-click on the new shortcut and select Properties.

2. In the Target field enter b=to the end of the text.

e.g. "C:\Program Files\MLBA\metifyOLAPLinkFrontEndv1.exe" b=

3. Next, immediately after the b= enter the location of the .ini file.

e.g. "C:\Program Files\MLBA\metifyOLAPLinkFrontEndv1.exe" b=C:\Settings_Files\BatchTest.ini

4. Save the changes by clicking on Apply and then OK, to close the properties window.

Note When entering the location of the settings file, do not leave a space between the = sign and the start of the location (usually the drive letter).

The next stage is to rename the icon. To do this, complete the following steps: 1. Highlight the icon and press F2, making the name text editable.

2. Change the text to the desired name.

3. Press Return to save the changes.

3.2.2 Running a batch process To run a batch process, double click on the batch run icon created in Creating a Batch Run Process. Once you have double clicked the icon, the application should start and the Current Build Status screen will appear.


Batch Run Processes Creating a Batch Run Process |3

Note When the link has completed the Current Build Status screen will automatically close.


3|Batch Run Processes Creating a Batch Run Process


The PowerPlay Cube

4|The PowerPlay Cube PowerPlay Cube Dimensions

4.1 PowerPlay Cube Dimensions Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay builds PowerPlay cubes with dimensions approximate to the measures you have selected.

The way in which PowerPlay views a hierarchical structure is similar to the way in which it is viewed by Metify ABM. The main differences are:

• Metify ABM allows duplicated items within a dimension, and prevents double counting of the duplicates by only holding the costs at item level. PowerPlay, however, can also have duplicate items, but it only holds the costs at group level, which would cause double counting of those items. The link overcomes this problem by creating hidden members, which are not visible to the User, but will eliminate any double counting.

• Metify ABM allows costs to be associated at the group level (for Cost Objects). The cost associated for a group in PowerPlay is the consolidated cost of its items; there is no concept of group only cost. Therefore, the link creates an additional item for each Cost Object group to hold the group cost.

4.2 Viewing the PowerPlay Cube When viewing the in PowerPlay, the correct “view”, e.g. Cost Object Costs, must be selected prior to any analysis. Failure to select a view may result in you misinterpreting the figures being displayed. Care must be taken while viewing results as percentages in PowerPlay. This feature only works for the second drill down level onwards. The total percentage of the top level of a dimension may not add up to 100%. This is due to an extra group being added to all dimensions at the top level to compensate for double counting. (See Below)

Notes If, when the link has completed and no mdc file has been created, this could be because the model(s) has no data and so an empty cube has been generated. If an item or group has no values, then it will not be displayed in the PowerPlay cube. In the Value Management cube, the Period dimension can be ignored. The View dimension always shows values from the Current Value Management Item.

4.3 Single Model Transfer An example of how a nested Product hierarchy in a Metify ABM model is represented in PowerPlay is given below. All dimensions are treated similarly apart from Periods; Metify link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay ignores the Metify ABM Period hierarchy, and always creates a linear Period hierarchy in PowerPlay.


The PowerPlay Cube Single Model Transfer |4

This example has a complex Product hierarchy with the following feature:

• An item which appears twice, in a group and at the top level; Cola • No duplicate groups.

Metify Link for Business Analysis will create a PowerPlay cube with the following structure:

In the above example note the following:

• The item Cola appears twice in the list. • The group names are now groupname Consolidate


4|The PowerPlay Cube Multiple Model Transfer

4.4 Multiple Model Transfer

4.4.1 Models The Metify ABM models are represented in the PowerPlay cube by the dimension Model. This contains the Model Description, which you should set up in Metify ABM to uniquely identify each model. If two or more models have the same description, then the model alias should be changed to all but the first occurrence.

4.4.2 Cube Structure When more than one model is transferred, then the Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay builds a structure which is a superset of the Metify ABM structure. If the models are of the same structure or have dimensions that have no items in common, then there is no ambiguity in viewing the resultant cube. If, however, the models have overlapping structures, i.e. items in common, then you must take care to interpret the data correctly. In the example below, if you look at the values for the group HQ Activities across all models, the group contains values for Finance Activities / HR / Planning, and not just Finance Activities that is present in the first Activities hierarchy.

The consolidation of the two Metify ABM models, which are shown above, will result in the following PowerPlay structure:


The PowerPlay Cube Size of the PowerPlay Cube |4

Note that The group HQ Activities contains different children in the two Metify ABM models, and that in the PowerPlay cube it contains all the children.

4.5 Size of the PowerPlay Cube The size of the PowerPlay Transformer intermediate files generated by the Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay depends upon the depth of the dimensions, i.e. the number of levels, and the number of duplicate members within the Metify ABM model(s). There is no method for calculating the size of these intermediate files before processing takes place. However, the PowerPlay Transformer Client will allow a maximum of 50 million records (in PowerPlay version 6) to be processed for any one PowerPlay cube. Within this data file a maximum of 500,000 categories can be used across all dimensions. A category can be defined as a parent or child member of any dimension.

4.6 Naming Restrictions The following names should not be used in a Metify ABM model:

• Department Consolidate • Account Consolidate • Activity Consolidate in Departments • Accounts or Activities.

These names may be generated by the link in the PowerPlay cube, and if these items already exist in the Metify ABM model inconsistencies may arise in the PowerPlay cube values.


4|The PowerPlay Cube Naming Restrictions

Names and the Model Description must not contain the comma (,) or pipe (|) characters since Metify Link for Business Analysis for PowerPlay uses these as field separators in the files that it creates.


Tables and Values

5|Tables and Values Introduction

5.1 Introduction The various dimensions in the tables in Metify ABM are different from each other. This multidimensional structure is difficult to recreate in an environment such as Powerplay. Creating a single PowerPlay cube with a large number of Metify ABM tables could create enormous, cumbersome and very sparse cubes.

Therefore Metify Link for OLAP Applications allows you to select different tables and values, building one cube in PowerPlay from the selections made.

The available tables for export are listed below, along with their associated dimensions and values.

Table Name Dimensions Value Fields Capacity Currency Capacity V6-CAPACITY Department Unit Rate

Activity Activity Cost Cost Driver Period

Cost Driver Volume Currency Volume Input V6-COSTD_VOL Cost Driver Volume

Product Customer Channel Metify Data Types Period

Department Account Cost Currency Cost V6-DEPT_ACCT_COST Account Pct Variable Input

Department Fixed Cost Method Pct Variable Metify Data Types Period

Department Activity Cost Currency Cost V6-DEPT_ACT_COST Department Realloc in Cost

Activity Period

Dept Activity Account Cost Currency Cost V6-DEPT_ACT_ACCT_COST Department

Activity Account Period

Dept Activity Method Vals Currency Value V6-DEPT_ACT_METHOD_VALUE Department Scale

Activity Method Value Method Unit Method Value Period Override

Total Cost

Dept Method Values Currency Value V6-DEPT_METHOD_VALUE Department

Method Period

Product Volume Currency Volume


Tables and Values Introduction |5

V6-DIM_3_VOL Product Period

Cost Object Costs V6-DIM_RES

Currency Activity Product Customer Channel Period

Value Value in Override Unit Rate

Summarize Cost Object Cost V6-DIM_RES_SUMMARY

Currency Product Customer Channel Period

Value Unit Rate

Cost Driver Weightings V6-DIM_WEIGHTING

Currency Department Cost Driver Activity Product Customer Channel Period

Weighting

External Cost V6-EXT_COST

Currency Product Customer Channel Cost Type Metify Data Types Period

Cost Input Cost

Override V6-OVERRIDE

Currency Department Account Activity Period

Value

Process Definitions V6-PROCESS_DEFN

Currency Process Department Activity Period

Time Input Time Input as Unit Rate Total Time Pct Util Activity Cost

Profile Data V6-PROFILE_DATA

Currency Profile Period

Profile Value

Realloc Activity Cost V6-REALLOC_ACT_COST

Currency Department Activity Period

Cost

Realloc Activity Acct Cost V6-REALLOC_ACT_ACCT_COST

Currency Department Activity Account Period

Cost



Revenue V6-REVENUE

Currency Product

Revenue Units

Customer External Cost Channel Period

Activity Cost Profit Unit

Unallocated V6-UNALLOCATED

Currency Activity Period

Cost

Reallocation Index V6-REALLOC_INDEX

Currency Department Activity Source Department Source Activity Source Account

Cost

Period

Override Cost Object Costs V6-OVERRIDE_DIM_RES

Currency Department Activity Product

Value

Customer Channel Period

Activity Unit Rate V6-ACT_UNIT_RATE

Currency Department Activity Cost Driver Period

Cost Volume Unit Rate Capacity Unit Rate Unit Rate Variance

Reallocation Movement V6-REALLOC_MOVEMENT

Currency Department Activity Source Department Source Activity Final Department Final Activity Method

Value

Overridden Method Period Level

What-If Dept Activity Costs V6-WHAT_IF_DA

Currency Department Activity Cost Driver

Original Volume New Volume Capacity Volume Factor

Period Max Variable

What-If Dept Act Acct Costs V6-WHAT_IF_DTA

Currency Department Activity Account

Original Value Pct Variable Factor New Value

Method Period

What-If Dept Act Method Vals Currency Orig Method Value V6-WHAT_IF_DAM Department New Method Value


Tables and Values Introduction |5

Activity Original Method Pct Method New Method Pct Period

Expanded Profitability Currency Revenue V6-EXPAND_PROFIT Product Cost

Customer Profit Channel Activity Cost Source Product External Cost Source Customer BOM Activity Cost Source Channel BOM External Cost Metify Data Types Period

Activity Cost Driver W’ting Currency Weighting V6-VIRTUAL_DIM_WEIGHTING Department

Period Activity Product Customer Channel Cost Driver

Source Dept Act Acct Cost Currency Cost V6-SOURCE_DEPT_ACT_ACCT Department Variable Cost

Activity Fixed Cost Source Department Cost Drvr Unit Rate Account Cost Driver Period

Traceback Currency Cost V6-VIRTUAL_TRACEBACKTABLE Department Variable Cost

Activity Fixed Cost Account Cost Drvr Unit Rate Product Customer Channel Metify Data Types Cost Driver Period

Pre Realloc Dept Act Costs Currency Cost V6-PRE_REALLOC_DEPT_ACT Department

Activity Period

Value Management T’back Currency Revenue V6-VM_TRACEBACK VMI Cost

Department Capital Activity Valuation Account Cost Driver Volume Product Customer Channel Metify Data Types Cost Driver

Expanded Traceback Currency Cost V6- Department Variable Cost



EXPANDED_TRACEBACKTABLE Activity Fixed Cost Account Cost Drvr Unit Rate Dest Department Product Customer Channel Metify Data Types Cost Driver Period


Business Objects Information Resources

A|Business Objects Information Resources Documentation and information services

A1. Documentation and information services Business Objects offers a full documentation set covering its products and their deployment. Additional support and assistance are also available to help maximize the return on your business intelligence investment. The following sections detail where to get Business Objects documentation and how to use the resources at Business Objects to meet your needs for technical support, education, and consulting.

A2. Documentation You can find answers to your questions on how to install, configure, deploy, and use Business Objects products from the documentation.

What’s in the documentation set? View or download the Business Objects Documentation Roadmap, available with the product documentation at http://www.businessobjects.com/support/ . The Documentation Roadmap references all Business Objects guides and lets you see at a glance what information is available, from where, and in what format.

Where is the documentation? You can access electronic documentation at any time from the product interface, the web, or from your product CD.

Documentation from the products Online help and guides in Adobe PDF format are available from the product Help menus. Where only online help is provided, the online help file contains the entire contents of the PDF version of the guide.

Documentation on the web The full electronic documentation set is available to customers on the web from support web site at: http://www.businessobjects.com/support/ .

Documentation on the product CD Look in the docs directory of your product CD for versions of guides in Adobe PDF format.

Send us your feedback Do you have a suggestion on how we can improve our documentation? Is there something you particularly like or have found useful? Drop us a line, and we will do our best to ensure that your suggestion is included in the next release of our documentation: [email protected]. Note: If your issue concerns a Business Objects product and not the documentation, please contact our Customer Support experts. For information about Customer Support visit: http://www.businessobjects.com/ support/ .


http://www.businessobjects.com/support/


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.businessobjects.com/

Business Objects Information Resources Customer support, consulting and training |A

A3. Customer support, consulting and training A global network of Business Objects technology experts provides customer support, education, and consulting to ensure maximum business intelligence benefit to your business.

How can we support you? Business Objects offers customer support plans to best suit the size and requirements of your deployment. We operate customer support centers in the following countries:

• USA • Australia • Canada • United Kingdom • Japan

Online Customer Support The Business Objects Customer Support web site contains information about Customer Support programs and services. It also has links to a wide range of technical information including knowledgebase articles, downloads, and support forums. http://www.businessobjects.com/support/

Looking for the best deployment solution for your company?

Business Objects consultants can accompany you from the initial analysis stage to the delivery of your deployment project. Expertise is available in relational and multidimensional databases, in connectivities, database design tools, customized embedding technology, and more. For more information, contact your local sales office, or contact us at: http://www.businessobjects.com/services/consulting/

Looking for training options? From traditional classroom learning to targeted e-learning seminars, we can offer a training package to suit your learning needs and preferred learning style. Find more information on the Business Objects Education web site: http://www.businessobjects.com/services/training



http://www.businessobjects.com/services/consulting/

http://www.businessobjects.com/services/training

A|Business Objects Information Resources Useful addresses at a glance

A4. Useful addresses at a glance Address Content

Business Objects product information http://www.businessobjects.com

Information about the full range of Business Objects products.

Product documentation http://www.businessobjects.com/ support

Business Objects product documentation, including the Business Objects Documentation Roadmap.

Business Objects Documentation mailbox [email protected]

Send us feedback or questions about documentation.

Online Customer Support http://www.businessobjects.com/ support/

Information on Customer Support programs, as well as links to technical articles, downloads, and online forums.

Business Objects Consulting Services http://www.businessobjects.com/ services/consulting/

Information on how Business Objects can help maximize your business intelligence investment.

Business Objects Education Services http://www.businessobjects.com/ services/training

Information on Business Objects training options and modules.


http://www.businessobjects.com


mailto:[email protected]




Index | Index

B T

Batch Run Processes, 21 Tables and Values, 31 The PowerPlay Cube, 25

I

Introduction, 4 U

Using Metify Link for Business Analysis, 7


|Index


Filename: MLBA_PowerPlay.doc Directory: D:\Metify Docs\Metify Links for Business

Analysis\PowerPlay\US English\Documentation Template: C:\Documents and Settings\pdufeu.INTL\Application

Data\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dot Title: Subject: Author: Alistair MacIntosh Keywords: Comments: Creation Date: 21/02/2007 09:38:00 Change Number: 27 Last Saved On: 05/03/2007 17:03:00 Last Saved By: PDufeu Total Editing Time: 30 Minutes Last Printed On: 05/03/2007 17:03:00 As of Last Complete Printing

Number of Pages: 44 Number of Words: 5,886 (approx.) Number of Characters: 33,851 (approx.)