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BUSINESS INFORMATION WAREHOUSE

Dependencies Between
Different Output Conditions
for Key Figures in BW

BW 3.0
December 2001
Output Conditions for Key Figures 2

In Business Information Warehouse, different functions are available for displaying key figure values by using
the OLAP processor.
This paper will describe how the functions for conditions, ranking lists, and zero suppressions can be used in
the different list types (the different drilldown statuses in a query).
Among the different output functions for key figure values are dependencies, which influence the result of a
query according to the display and drilldown status.
For example a query, that displays the top ten customers and their respective top twenty products, delivers
another result as a report that displays the top 200-customer/product combinations. On the other hand, one
would get another result if one selected the top twenty products and their respective top ten customers.
The drilldown of characteristics likewise influences the result in columns, in rows, or in both directions. Again,
there are dependencies for additional OLAP functions, such as sorting, suppressing results, or selecting a
presentation hierarchy. Also note that a structure from the list can be partially used as a drilldown
characteristic, although it differs strongly in its technical aspects and with regard to its contents. Additional,
important terms will be explained below.

Display Hierarchies. In addition to the already mentioned presentation hierarchies (a single characteristic is
displayed along with an external hierarchy as a tree), there are display hierarchies. Several characteristics
are drilled down successively here, and a specification for every higher display level is the aggregate for the
respective characteristic lines or columns on the lower level. The total result then has level 0. For the
following analyses and for processing, it is irrelevant whether the totals are displayed above, below, or on the
left-hand side.
Frequently, several of the following characteristics that are directly on top of each other are displayed
vertically on the same level. One attains this by activating the function "Suppress Results – Always" for the
characteristic with the higher level. (In extreme cases, the function "Suppress Results – Conditional" likewise
removes all results from this level, but does include the different display levels for the characteristics. This
significantly influences the usability and the result of conditions and ranking lists.)

Intersection Tables. The intersection tables play a special role. Intersection tables are created when
characteristics are drilled down in a hierarchy in columns as well as in rows. In doing so, rows and columns
are built in the form of display hierarchies. All of the usable conditions, ranking lists, zero suppressions, and
results suppressions are used independently for each axis (as if there the other axis were not there). In this
way, the column headings and row headers for the intersection table are defined. Afterwards, all cells are
filled in this matrix for which data is found. Since the conditions, ranking lists, zero suppressions, and results
suppressions are already included for the margins, then they are no longer evaluated when completing the
inner data cells and consequently do not affect them. (An exception would be the following: suppressing
zeroes influences the zero value display in the inner area of the table – zero values are displayed there and
from there as empty cells).
Conditions can be defined for individual characteristics or for combinations of characteristics. A condition for
a combination of characteristics is then only activated for a display hierarchy if all characteristics for the
combination succeed each other consecutively in the display hierarchy (meaning if they succeed each other
on the same axis and are interrupted only by structures).
In these terms, the suppression of zeroes is defined as a condition for all individual characteristics and for all
possible combinations of characteristics.
Something that applies for ranking lists is that all characteristics have to have the same level. Ranking lists
result in no meaningful results for hierarchical characteristics. For the same reason, ranking lists are unable
to be used in conjunction with a presentation hierarchy. Therefore, the system automatically activates the
function "Always Suppress Results" in order to be able to use a ranking list for the respective combination of
characteristics.
A condition can be defined in three different ways in terms of its application area:
1. Condition for a characteristic: The condition is applied to the individual characteristic as soon as it
is situated on an axis in the drilldown and no concurrent conditions exist.
2. Condition for combinations of characteristics: The condition can only be applied if all
characteristics are situated on the same axis and they are only interrupted by structures in the

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Output Conditions for Key Figures 3

sequence. In addition, no concurrent condition can be active. If this is the case, then the results rows
are automatically suppressed for all characteristics of the condition, and the condition is applied to
the combination.
3. Condition for all characteristics: This is a special setting that simplifies the process of posing
questions (for example, "Always show me only the top three sales figures independently from the
drilldown characteristic"). The condition is then treated as if it were separately defined for each
drilldown and then the former is deactivated. Two conditions are concurrent if they are both active
and applicable, and the quantities of characteristics (that they affect) are not the same, but rather
intersect.
Example: B1 (M1,M2), B2 (M1,M2,M3), B3(M3), B4(M4). The conditions (B1,B2), (B2,B3) are
concurrent. In contrast, for example, the conditions B1 and B4 can be active simultaneously without any
problems.

Different "condition rows" are linked through a logical OR. This means that an object is output if it is sufficient
for one of the condition rows. Different conditions are linked through a logical AND. This means that a
displayed object has to be sufficient for all conditions or, to put it another way, it is already omitted if it does
not fulfill only one of the conditions.

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Output Conditions for Key Figures 4

Known Problems
Structures:
With output conditions, individual items are not suppressed within a structure. This means that a display
object is displayed with all structure items. Individual structure items can be suppressed, however, in the
query definition or also in the dynamic filter. If one has, for example, a display hierarchy with a structure S, a
characteristic C, and the option “suppress zero rows/columns” activated, then the list that is output appears
as follows:

Without Zero Suppression

S C Sales
s1 110
c1 50
c2 0
c3 60
s2 0
c1 0
c3 0

C S Sales
Result
s1 110
s2 0
c1
s1 50
s2 0
c2
s1 0
s2 0
c3
s1 60
s2 0

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Output Conditions for Key Figures 5

With Zero Suppression

S C Sales
s1 110
c1 50
c3 60
s2
c1
c3

C S Sales
Result
s1 110
s2
c1
s1 50
s2
c3
s1 60
s2

2. Intersection tables:
As described above, when filling the cells of an intersection table, no check of the condition is made. It is not
possible for an intersection table C1 x C2 to display only such cells (c1 x c2) that are sufficient for the
condition (for example, are not zero), and then add the necessary remaining row or column results
afterwards.
In this case, you also need to drill down the characteristic C2 in the rows or establish the drilldown after C2
by using a structure. Note that you can also create a wide, dynamic structure with the help of variables.

3. Results rows:
If one has a simple list with key figures, a structure in the columns, or a characteristic C with a condition in
the rows, then it is often expected that the total number of displayed rows is found in the results row. First of
all, it is clear that partial quantities of C that are filtered and displayed need to exist that use the condition on
behalf of not the total number, but rather on behalf of the result created according to the key figure or
structure item rules. However, in display hierarchies with additional characteristics it is unclear which value
needs a subtotal. Also, that is why the hierarchy node value furnished with names needs to change, because
only some of the children are displayed. If one still wants to display the total amount of currently displayed
rows or columns, then the function "Calculate Result As ... " is available for this purpose.

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