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10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing

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Best Practices For Reporting Against


SAP Business Planning and
Consolidation (Powered by SAP
HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for
Excel

https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 1/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

Welcome to this blog mentionning some key concepts/best practices to have in mind when designing a
report/input schedule utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel on the top of SAP Business Planning and
Consolidation 10.0 (powered by SAP HANA). This document will be updated as soon as some new concepts
are coming from implemention teams. But before jumping directly to best practices, here's first a quick
introduction on this front-end tool.

EPM ADD-IN VERSIONS

EPM Add-in dotnet 3.5:

Supports only Office 32 bits


Not limited to certain function
Performance hit when querying via ODBO connection
Run with .NET 3.5 framework (has 1.2 GB RAM limitation)
Can be updated with *.msp file (no need to uninstall/re-install)
Master Data downloaded to client (No support of BIG VOLUME (BV) mode)

EPM Add-in dotnet 4.0:

Supports Office 32 bits or Office 64 bits


Possibility to enable the BIG VOLUME mode on BW data sources (ODBO / XMLA connections only).
Standard mode or Big Volume mode are supported.
In Standard mode, it runs the same features as the 3.5 version.
Better performance via ODBO connection
Can be updated with *.msp file (have to uninstall/re-install)
Supports Office 2010 64 bits to get the most out of client-side performance (no RAM limitation)
Supports SAP BW (INA provider) connections (for BPC 10.1 embedded model).

Big Volume (ODBO connection)

With the Big Volume mode enabled, you cannot write data back to the database, you can only render
data. Additionally, certain specific BPC functions are not available (EPMMemberProperty/EVPRO,
etc), as well as some EPM add-in functionalities (Freeze data refresh, Member Selector
dimension/member properties and Data Ranking/Sorting).

The Big Volume mode changes the interface for member selection so that dimension members are
displayed in pages instead of the default tree view (SP 07). This improves performance for dimensions
with large numbers of members.The BV mode only loads metadata asked for, or required, not all of it.

BPC 10.1 EMBEDDED MODEL (BW INA provider)

Latest Drill-Down performance test results showed interesting improvement when activating "Refresh only
Expanded and Inserted Members" option in the EPM User Options. It's recommended to use it as a default
setting for BPC embedded customers.

CONNECTIONS

The EPM Add-in is an add-in to Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Office PowerPoint and
is used to analyze data in the following applications:

SAP Business Financial Consolidation

https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 2/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

SAP Business Planning and Consolidations, version for SAP NetWeaver **


SAP Business Planning and Consolidations, version for the Microsoft platform**
SAP Profitability and Cost Management
SAP NetWeaver BW InfoProviders (different ODBO connector for BPC MS and BPC NW version).

** Allows write back of data via BPC Web Service connection

Local
This connection type is for ODBO connections, (FC SSAS cubes, FC BW cubes, SSAS standard cubes, BW
standard cubes, PCM ODBO provider, SSM ODBO provider, BPC MS ODBO provider and SAP BW OLE
DB provider. An ODBO connection doesnt allow data input, and is only used for data retrieval. Data Manager
features are also not reachable with an ODBO connection. However, the usage of custom members (to build
some complex MDX calculated members) can only be performed with an ODBO connection.

Planning & Consolidation


This type is for Web Service connections, on the top of BPC 10 MS and BPC 10 NW. A Web service
connection allows data input, and the use of the Data Manager ribbon, but does not support the creation of
custom members (only local members).

FUNCTIONS & FORMULAS

EPMInsertCellBeforeAfterBlock and EPMCopyRange big impact on the writing time.


Use EPMDimensionOverride instead of manually changing the EPMOlapMemberO function for very
large EPM reports.
Try to avoid mixing EPM Report, EPMRetrieveData, and EPMCommentFull/Partial since the EPM
Add-in does a separate call to the database for each type of function (EPMOlapMemberO,
EPMRetrieveData, EPMCommentFull/Partial). And all those queries are not parallelized.
Functions DimensionOverride and AxisOverride are costly on loading, especially when a report is huge
and have lots of formulas to evaluate.
Enter the connection name in all EPM formulas (EPMModelCubeID or a static text cell can be used as
reference somwhere in a hidden place of your report).
Avoid volatile Excel functions like Row(), Column(), and Offset(), as well as cascade references
between cells.

REPORT OPTIONS

Create EPM Reports instead of using EPMRetrieveData function.


Parallelization is activated by default with the Axis Sharing feature, and on the same data
source/connection. Caution: the Axis Sharing feature is a bit heavy in terms of performance.
Try not to use custom Measures such as MTD or WTD (process not optimized).
EPM reports will outperform EVDRE reports. EVDRE does have some performance optimization but
EPM10 report have 2-3 times better performance for the same layout/behavior.
If different member IDs have the same descriptions, ensure Use EPMMemberID in EPM formulas is
checked in User Options. Caution: It also has an impact on performance as the EPMemberID formula
is automatically inserted for each dimension member. A better option would be to manually create a
local member mentionning the EPMMemberID function only where it is necessary (without checking
the User Option).

https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 3/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

In case of input, consider using Calculate Parents in Hierarchies (Sheet Options) for on-the-fly
calculation on Parent Node members. But be aware that, even it's a very useful feature, the rendering
time is bigger as the EPM Add-in has to insert the SUM function based on the hierarchy definition.
Multi selection in Page Axis: the SUM is performed on the client side. Cartesian product is returned
from the server and summed up on the front-end.
Exclude functionality changes your report from symmetric mode to asymmetric mode. But depending
the number of tuples you decide to exclude, performance could be worse.
Avoid using complex formulas mixing EPM and Microsoft Excel functions, such as functions that
create a dependence (a formula references another formula; a formula creates a dependence
between two reports), or functions that include a condition (IF).
By default, the EPM Add-in uses the "Insert Method" to write reports. To get around this, enable "Keep
Formulas Static that Reference Report Cells" option in the Sheet Options to clear the entire report and
re-write it entirely on a refresh.
In case of drill-down, check option to "Refresh only Expanded and Inserted Members" in the User
Options instead of refreshing the entire report.
In case of using the "Collapse" feature, there is a new tag in the FPMClient config file in EPM add-in
SP15: "Collapsewithoutqueryingserver". Its default value is set to "FALSE", but it can be turned to
"TRUE" for better performance.

FORMATTING

Limit the number of formatting rules and make sure those rules dont overlap each other.
Avoid using Microsoft Excel conditional formatting within an EPM add-in dynamic formatting sheet due
to the evaluation of each cell.
Avoid overriding rules because the Add-in is formatting the cell multiple times (Pattern for example).
Avoid using the CONTENT override because the EPM Add-in is retrieving data twice (writing +
calculation).
Create several EPM add-in dynamic formatting sheets instead of only one, if possible. For example,
Report 1 displays only properties A and B, and Report 2 displays only properties C and D, you should
create two different dynamic formatting sheets for better performance.

LOCAL vs CUSTOM MEMBERS

Local Members

Created for the purpose of containing a dynamic formula. An editor screen assists with the creation of
the Excel-based formula
A local member is specific to a single report
Local Members can be made context-sensitive. This is in the options for Local Members

Custom Member

Custom members are created for the purpose of containing an MDX formula
An editor screen is presented to help create the formula
Customer members can be used throughout a worksheet
Only available for ODBO type connections

General note: When data is existing on the spread sheet, choose Local Members. Local Members is
native Excel functionality and will always perform better.
https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 4/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

VBA

Look for existing API before creating custom code


Avoid Loop (Do, While...)
VBA Best practice acceleration function: the initial variables (screen updating, calculations,
events) must be deactivated and then reactivated to their initial status in the exit of the macro.

ANALYZING & DEBUGGING

Review the How to Debug the EPM Add-in document (https://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-38755


(https://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-38755))

Determine the source of the issue (client vs. server)

Fiddler (3rd party software) measures the network traffic


EPM Add-in logs to measure the client traffic
ST12 (NetWeaver) Single Transaction Trace to measure the server traffic. UJSTAT can also be used
for analyzing queries on the server.

Not sure where an issue occurs?

The Development Team may ask for a trace from the customer. To obtain one, here is the recommended
process using Fiddler:

In Excel, click More Clear Metadata Cache from the EPM toolbar.
Log off from the EPM Add-In.
Add the TRACE flag to the FPMXLClient.dll-ExcelLogConfig.xml file against the Trace logger.
Start the Fiddler tool running to capture web events (Capture Events [F12]).
Log into the EPM Add-In opening the necessary Connection and Model.
Recreate the issue or refresh the report.
Stop the capture and save the resulting trace log that it has produced (.SAZ file) and send it to
development.

Doing this gives Development all of the data and metadata needed to reproduce an issue without the actual
data and metadata files from the customer.

USEFUL LINKS

EPM Add-in Academy (http://wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/CPM/EPM+Add-in+Academy


(http://wiki.scn.sap.com/wiki/display/CPM/EPM+Add-in+Academy))

Videos and solutions of EPM Add-in functionality (Comments, Formatting, Macros, Local Members,
Miscellaneous Reporting, etc.)

Use EPM Add-in to Report on Top of HANA Views (http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-69556)

Tags: sap_business_planning_and_consolidation_sap_runs_sap, bpcnw10, best_practices,


enterprise_performance_management, bpc_on_hana, excel, epm

(https://people.sap.com/patrick.favre)

Patrick Favre (https://people.sap.com/patrick.favre)


June 16, 2016 at 03:56 AM

https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 5/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

35 Likes

9 replies

(https://people.sap.com/miguel.gonzalez2)

Miguel Gonzalez (https://people.sap.com/miguel.gonzalez2)replied

November 27, 2013 at 10:16 AM


Essential reading for EPM users and content creators! Very

well done Patrick!

0
likes
(https://people.sap.com/sreeraj.sukumaran)

SREERAJ SUKUMARAN (https://people.sap.com/sreeraj.sukumaran)replied

December 18, 2013 at 16:09 PM

1. use locked content for MEASURES and not used


dimension, because if you lock them then they affect
your reports and nobody will change them by mistake.
2. Hide the real page axis and use
EPMSELECTMEMBER or EPMCONTEXTMEMBER for
user to select the variable page axis.

0
likes
(https://people.sap.com/vadim.kalinin)
Vadim Kalinin (https://people.sap.com/vadim.kalinin)replied

December 18, 2013 at 16:49 PM


Hi Patrick,

https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 6/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

All the mentioned points mean only one thing - general


finance user is unable to create more or less efficient EPM

report

likes
(https://people.sap.com/arnold.warhonowicz)

Arnold Warhonowicz (https://people.sap.com/arnold.warhonowicz)replied July 17, 2014 at 17:04 PM

Hi Partick,

great document, I have one question though. You write

Enter the connection name in all EPM formulas (EPMModelCubeID or a static text
cell can be used as reference somwhere in a hidden place of your report).

How do you deal with users creating their own connections? What happens when the
report, written by an admin, uses a connection called MODEL - ENVIRONMENT but the
user who runs the report has connections called ENVIRONMENT - MODELL?

0
likes
(https://people.sap.com/jef.baeyens)
Jef Baeyens (https://people.sap.com/jef.baeyens)replied

July 18, 2014 at 09:30 AM


I would never use the connection name. Just the BPC Model name
works as well.

0
likes
(https://people.sap.com/patrick.favre)

Patrick Favre (https://people.sap.com/patrick.favre)replied July 18, 2014 at 09:41 AM

Hi Arnold,

https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 7/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

Jef is right... you should NOT use the customized connection name created by a user...

When designing the report, the .best would be to enter the model name ("Finance" or
"Consolidation" for example) in a hidden cell of your report, and reference that cell in the
connection parameter of your formula.

You can either enter is static (see above) or use the "=EPMModelCubeID()" formula, in
order to be a bit more dynamic.

Hope it helps.

Cheers,

Patrick

0
likes
(https://people.sap.com/jef.baeyens)
Jef Baeyens (https://people.sap.com/jef.baeyens)replied

July 18, 2014 at 10:04 AM


Hi Patrick,

The EPMModelCubeID is using the "Active Connection" right?


What's the difference with using an empty parameter, because I
think it behaves the same?

In my experience, relying on the Active Connection is not nice when


you are jumping a lot between reports that are connecting to
different models.

A static "Finance" or "Consolidation", (or referring to this text in a


common excel cell), is definetely my preference.

0
likes
(https://people.sap.com/jeanne.bigonnet)

Jeanne BIGONNET (https://people.sap.com/jeanne.bigonnet)replied

December 14, 2015 at 10:54 AM


hi patrick
https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 8/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

I'm not able to add content to your page. Could you kindly add
the following link?

Or better add it content on your page as it's part of the" best


practices" ?

http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-69556
(http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-69556)

thanks!!

Jeanne

1
likes
(https://people.sap.com/john.leggio)
John Leggio (https://people.sap.com/john.leggio)replied

December 14, 2015 at 21:46 PM

done!

0
likes
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https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 9/11
10/19/2017 Best Practices For Reporting Against SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (Powered by SAP HANA), utilizing the EPM Add-in for Excel

https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 10/11
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https://archive.sap.com/documents/docs/DOC-49455 11/11

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