In this blog, you will learn how to write back comments from SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) to SAP BPC live connectivity using characteristic key figures in SAP BW. Check out the previous blog here, to learn how to write back data from SAC to BPC embedded using a live connection.
Pre-requisite
From the 2019.19 release, SAC supports characteristics as key figures in SAP BW queries. As a pre-requisite, create a BW characteristic (example: ZCOMMENT) and mark the checkbox Use Charecteristic as Key Figure in the properties of the ADSO. In the BW query, add this characteristic under the Key Figures tab, and ensure that it is input-ready for planning.
Please note: BW characteristics have a limitation of 1333 characters which means your comment cannot exceed 1333 characters.
Figure 1 – Input-Ready enabled for Characteristic as Key Figure
Once you consume the BPC query in SAC using live connectivity, you will notice this characteristic under the Measures tab.
Figure 2- Characteristic under Measures
Now, you can consume the SAC Model in a Story or Analytic Application for planning. Please note that live connectivity is supported only on SAP BPC Embedded.
Before writeback
Create a new Story and add a table widget by consuming the Model with planning enabled. Add the necessary fields to the table, including the characteristic key figure created earlier. Once you enable planning in the builder panel, the table is input ready, and you can start entering comments. (No additional steps are needed.)
Figure 3 – Table is ready to enter comments
In this example, the following comments were added:
- In Feb 2018 for Product Bottles – “10% Increase compared to PY for Feb”.
- In Mar 2018 for Product Cans – “Need to increase Sales Amount by 15% for March 19”.
The BPC is on the BW4/HANA system, and you can see the query output below before the comments are added.
Figure 4 – BW4/HANA query output before write-back
Writeback comments to BPC embedded live connection
Comments can be entered by double-clicking a cell. Alternatively, you can enable Mass Data Entry mode which allows you to enter multiple comments and process them together using the Process Data button.
Figure 5 – Enter Comments in Mass Data Entry mode
Values without error are highlighted once processing is complete.
Figure 6 – Values without error are highlighted once processing is complete
Next, publish the data for the write-back to complete.
Figure 7 – Publish Data option in the main toolbar
Figure 8 – Select OK to publish the data to the backend
After writeback
Run the BW query to ensure the comments have been written back successfully.
Figure 9 – Comments visible in the backend query
Thus, planners can use this feature to leave a comment for any record within SAC which could be written back to the BPC Models. If the planner needs to change the comments, the data cell can be edited, and the updated comments will be written back to the system.
To know more about planning in SAP Analytics Cloud, check out the series of blogs here.
