GL data by period - Live connection

 Let's break down how to achieve this dynamic GL data analysis in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) on a live model, focusing on period-based analysis, account-level detail, and profit center hierarchy filtering.

Understanding the Requirements

• GL Data by Period: You have GL data with a "Period" dimension.
• Account-Level Analysis: You need to display account balances on rows.
• Profit Center Hierarchy: You want to use a Profit Center hierarchy as an input control.
• Dynamic Filtering: Selecting a node in the Profit Center hierarchy should filter the data to that level and its descendants.
• Live Model: You're working with a live model, meaning data is queried directly from the source system.

Steps to Implement

1. Model Verification (Live Model):
   • Ensure your live model in SAC has the following dimensions:
     • Period: (e.g., Year/Month, Fiscal Period)
     • Account: (e.g., GL Account Number, Account Description)
     • Profit Center: (Must have a defined hierarchy)
     • Measures: (e.g., Debit, Credit, Balance)
   • Verify that the Profit Center dimension has a correctly defined hierarchy in the source system and that it's correctly reflected in the live model.
2. Create a New Story in SAC:
   • Start a new story and select your live model as the data source.
3. Build the Table:
   • Add a table chart to your story.
   • Rows: Drag the "Account" dimension to the rows.
   • Columns: Drag the "Period" dimension to the columns.
   • Measures: Drag the relevant measure (e.g., "Balance") to the values section.
   • Format the table as needed (e.g., number formatting, conditional formatting).
4. Add the Profit Center Input Control:
   • Click "Insert" and choose "Input Control."
   • Select the "Profit Center" dimension.
   • Choose "Hierarchy" as the input control type.
   • Ensure the input control is configured to "Filter Story."
5. Configure Hierarchy Filtering:
   • When you select a node in the Profit Center hierarchy input control, the table should automatically filter to show data for that Profit Center and all its descendants.
   • Verify that the input control is correctly linked to the table. If there are issues, check the input control settings and the table's filter settings.
6. Enhancements (Optional):
   • Variance Analysis: Add calculated measures to show period-over-period variances or variances against a budget.
   • Account Hierarchy: If you have an account hierarchy, use it to drill down into account details.
   • Chart Visualizations: Add charts (e.g., bar charts, line charts) to visualize trends over periods. Link the charts to the same Profit Center input control.
   • Ranking: Add ranking to the accounts, to show the top or bottom performers.
   • Exceptions: Use exception aggregations to highlight accounts that have unusual variances.
   • Calculations: Create restricted measures to show only specific account types.
   • Story Filters: Add story filters to further refine the data (e.g., by company code).

Important Considerations for Live Models:

• Performance: Live models rely on the performance of the underlying source system. Large datasets or complex queries can impact performance. Optimize your source system queries and data model.
• Authorization: Ensure users have the necessary authorizations in the source system to access the data. SAC respects the authorization settings of the live data source.
• Data Consistency: Data in a live model is always up-to-date. However, this means that changes in the source system are immediately reflected in SAC. Be aware of potential data inconsistencies if changes occur during analysis.
• Hierarchy Maintenance: Changes to the Profit Center hierarchy in the source system must be reflected in SAC. Regularly check that the hierarchy is up-to-date.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Data Not Filtering:
  • Verify that the input control is correctly linked to the table.
  • Check the input control settings and the table's filter settings.
  • Ensure the Profit Center hierarchy is correctly defined in the source system.
• Performance Issues:
  • Simplify your table or charts.
  • Optimize your source system queries.
  • Consider using aggregate data if possible.
• Authorization Errors:
  • Check the user's authorizations in the source system.
  • Verify that the live model connection is configured correctly.

By following these steps, you can create a powerful and dynamic GL data analysis report in SAP Analytics Cloud on a live model, enabling users to explore period-based data and gain insights based on the Profit Center hierarchy.