LIS Flexible Analyses

Chapter :6
Chapter :7
LIS Flexible Analyses
Contents
In this chapter you will learn

how to:
Define an evaluation
Generate and execute an

evaluation
Modify the report layout of

a flexible analysis
Learning the Basics of LIS Flexible Analyses.....................................................62

Creating a Report with Flexible Analyses............................................................67
Getting the Most from LIS Flexible Analyses: Tips & Tricks............................618
Review.................................................................................................................. 619
Where to Learn More........................................................................................... 619
Report Development Tools
Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

Learning the Basics of LIS Flexible Analyses

In this chapter you will learn about flexible analyses in the Logistics Information
System (LIS). Flexible analysis is a presentation tool that is used primarily to
display the contents of LIS information structures.
What Is Flexible Analysis?

Flexible analysis gives you an adaptable way of combining and aggregating key
figures to suit user requirements. This flexibility helps meet the information
needs of users at different levels in an enterprise. For example, flexible analyses
can provide administrators with detailed information and management with
aggregated information. You can also define additional key figures by applying
mathematical formulas to existing key figures.
Flexible analyses can be:
Displayed on screen in a table format
Exported (or downloaded) to other applications in the following formats:
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
Word document
Dbase
HTML
Flat file
Saved as an extract which can be viewed later
Flexible analysis is used to execute an evaluation (or report). An evaluation is

based on an evaluation structure. You can use flexible analyses to extract data
from an information structure, via an evaluation structure. All information
structures are automatically available as evaluation structures, regardless of
whether they were delivered with the R/3 System or created by the configuration
team. Therefore, to execute an evaluation, you do not need to create a new
evaluation structure. Simply use an existing evaluation structure, for example
S001E.
How Is Flexible Analysis Different From Standard Analysis?

Unlike LIS Standard analyses, with flexible analyses you can:
View data in a single report, complete with grand totals, subtotals, subsub totals, etc. without having to drill down into the report.
Create formulas and calculations with greater ease.
Combine data from multiple information structures and Logistics
applications in a single report.
Reporting Made Easy

How Is LIS Flexible Analysis Organized?

As shown in the graphic below, flexible analysis consists of the following four
layers:
Physical data basis: The bottom layer contains information structures
and DDIC (data dictionary) tables which store data. One of the first things to
do after you decide to use a flexible analysis is to decide what tables to use
to generate the report.
Logical data view: Evaluation structures provide a logical view of the
information structures or database tables. They do not contain any data, but
list the characteristics and key figures that are available for reporting.
Data collection: The evaluation is the definition of your report. This is
where you define which characteristics and key figures you want to see in
your report. This is also where you define the report layout and the formulas
to include in your report.
Data presentation: The result (or output) of executing your evaluation is
delivered to the user in the form of a list.
Data Presentation
List
Data Collection
Evaluation
Logical Data View
Evaluation
Structure
Physical Data Basis

DDIC
Tables
Info
Structures
In general, a flexible analysis refers to the following activities:

Defining, changing, and displaying an evaluation
Executing an evaluation (running the report)
Varying the report layout
Creating, changing, and displaying an evaluation structure with reference

to either an evaluation structure or a data dictionary table

Terminology
It is helpful to be familiar with some of the essential terms and concepts used
with LIS Flexible analyses.
Information structure
An information structure stores aggregated data resulting from transactions. The
three types of data stored in an information structure are:
Characteristics
Key figures
Periodicity (period unit)
An information structure is a transparent table. For each information structure

generated, a separate database table is created. Among them are Sxxx and
SxxxE , where xxx represents the number of the information structure. For a
list of SAP-delivered information structures, refer to appendix E. Some of the
tables related to LIS can be found in the data dictionary under tables that
begin with TMC.
Information structures are special tables but they are different from the
document tables. While the document tables store all the detailed information
about your documents (such as sales orders and invoices), the information
structures store data aggregated by characteristics and period unit.
Example: S001 (in the Sales Information System) is an information structure.
It contains data related to customers (for example, sales orders, deliveries,
and invoices).
Characteristic
A characteristic is a dimension of your business for which you collect data (also
the aggregation or subtotal levels).
Examples of characteristics include sales organization, purchasing organization,
plant, sold-to party, vendor, storage location, material group, and material.
Key figure
A key figure is a measure of the business data you are collecting.
Examples of key figures include, incoming order value (booking value), incoming
order quantity (booking quantity), invoiced sales value, invoiced sales quantity,
PO order quantity, PO order value, goods receipt quantity, valuated stock
quantity, and valuated stock value.
Periodicity (or Period unit)

The period unit used for aggregating the data stored in the information structure.
The period unit can be daily, weekly, monthly, or by fiscal period (using the fiscal
Reporting Made Easy

year variant established by the finance team). Do not confuse this with periodic
loads of data.
Note: Some information structures do not appear to have periodicity. In such
cases, these information structures are actually built from the data contained
in other information structures. As the source information structure itself
contains a periodicity, the target information structure inherits the
periodicity of the source information structure.
Evaluation structure
An evaluation structure presents a logical view of the data in the information
structure. Unlike information structures, evaluation structures do not store data.
They list the characteristics, periodicity, and key figures that are available for
reporting. Each information structure in the R/3 System has a corresponding
evaluation structure of the same name. For example, information structure S001
has a corresponding evaluation structure S001E.
Evaluation
An evaluation is the definition of your report. In your evaluation, you list the
characteristics, key figures, and period you want to see in the report. You also
define the sort-order of your characteristics and the display-order of your key
figures.
List
A list is the output of your evaluation.
Formula
A formula is a calculation built from key figures in the evaluation structure.
How to Access LIS Flexible Analyses?

You can access the flexible analyses in a number of different ways. How you
access the tool depends on the type of user you are. Since this guide is intended
for a wide range of users, the menu path shown below is one most commonly
used.
To access the LIS flexible analyses, from the SAP main menu choose:
Logistics Logistics controlling (application area of your choice), then
Flexible analyses.

How Does LIS Flexible Analyses Differ from Other Reporting Tools?
The features of flexible analysis differ from other reporting tools as follows:
Flexible analysis can access only evaluation structures and not other
tables within the R/3 System. To access other tables, you must first define
them as evaluation structures. Remember, you cannot use more than one
table for each evaluation structure.
Flexible analysis is an excellent tool for producing aggregated lists easily
and quickly. You can view aggregated data for any level defined in the
information structure.
Flexible analysis allows the user to view and aggregate various levels of
data.
Flexible analysis lets you display a list graphically.
What Are the Prerequisites?

Although you do not need any ABAP programming experience, a
knowledge of the fields is helpful. Additionally, it is useful to understand the
real-life business application of the fields.
Before starting flexible analysis, you must know which evaluation
structure, characteristics, and key figures you want to include in your report.
A general understanding of these fields and the calculated key figures is
helpful. If needed, you can create evaluation structures with reference to one
or more evaluation structures or data dictionary tables. In this chapter, we
use an existing evaluation structure.
When you define an evaluation, you need to specify:
The evaluation structure or source of data for the evaluation (for

example, S001E)
Key figures in the evaluation structure that you want to include in

your analysis (for example, invoiced sales value, invoiced sales quantity,
and invoiced cost)
Characteristics or the way in which the selected key figures are to

be aggregated (for example, sales organization, sold-to party, and
material)
Layout of the report
Formulas, if any (for example, gross profit margin)

When you execute an evaluation, use selection criteria to restrict the scope of
the data for the report. On the selection screen of the evaluation, specify the
characteristic values you want to include in your report (for example, which
month(s) or sales organization(s) should be included).
Reporting Made Easy

Creating a Report with Flexible Analyses

This step-by-step approach is built around a sample report (see graphic on the
following page). Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the scenario and
the desired report.
Example: Bungee Corporation wants a report which uses billing information
(from the Sales Information System) to calculate the gross profit margin. The
report must contain the aggregates of invoiced quantity, invoiced sales,
invoiced costs, and gross profit margin. Users want to be able to view the list
by month, sales organization, sold-to party, and material.
For this list, we will use the evaluation structure S001 and create an evaluation
named 1000. This is the easiest way to get started with Flexible analyses. We
will also create a key figure for the gross profit margin calculation.
Standard information structures are delivered with corresponding evaluation
structures of the same name. Therefore, it is not necessary to create an
evaluation structure. As you will note in the example below, using SAPdelivered evaluation structures is the easiest way to create an evaluation.
For this example we are using Release 4.0B. While this release has a different
look and feel than prior releases, the underlying concepts and terminology
remain the same.

The graphic below shows the typical steps to create an evaluation:
Create
Create the
the evaluation
evaluation
Generate
Generate the
the evaluation
evaluation
Execute
Execute the
the evaluation
evaluation
Modify
Modify the
the layout
layout
Step 1: Create the Evaluation

1. From the SAP main menu,
choose Logistics Logistics
controlling Sales information
system, then Flexible analyses
Evaluation Create.
2. Enter the name of the
evaluation structure that you
wish to base your analysis on.
3. Enter a unique four-character

name and a description for your
analysis.
4. Choose Enter.
Reporting Made Easy

You are now ready to define the

evalution.
5. Choose Characteristics to view
all available characteristics in
your evaluation structure.
6. From the Selection List window,

select the desired
characteristics. In this example,
we chose the following
characteristics:
6
Distribution channel
Material
Month
Sold-to-party
7. Choose Copy + close.
7
The selected characteristics will

appear on the Chosen
Characteristics: Sequence window.
8. Choose Selection list.
9. Check marks on the Selection
List window indicate the
selected characteristics.
10.Choose Copy + Close.
10
8

The steps shown below rearrange

the characteristics in the following
sequences: Month, Distribution
channel, Sold-to party, and
Material.
11.Double-click on Sold-to party.
Once selected, the name will
change to blue.
12
11
12.Click once on Material. Once

selected, a rectangle will
enclose this field.
13.Choose Move
to accept the
revised sequence.
To move the Month, double-click
on the Month and single-click
Distribution channel. Then, click
the Move button to swap their
positions in the sequence (not
shown).
14
13
14.Choose Copy to accept the new

sequence.
The characteristics now appear in
the defined sequence.
You are now ready to select the key
figures.
15
15.Choose Key figures.
10
Reporting Made Easy

16.Select your key figures. In this

example we have chosen three
key figures:
Invoice quantity
Invoiced sales
Invoiced sales: cost
17.Choose Copy + close to close
the popup window.
18.Choose Copy from the Choose
Key figures: Sequence window
(not shown).
16
17
The screen now shows the selected

Characteristics and Key figures in
the desired order.
20
You are ready to define the display

type for your characteristics:
19.Double-click on a characteristic
(for example, Month) to select
it.
19
20.Choose Type to view the

available type selections.
21.Select the default, Standard
display (type ).
21
22.Choose Copy.
22
You can influence the layout of reports through your choice of a characteristic
display type. You can define a display type for every characteristic you
choose. In this way, you can format your report so that you can compare the
key figure values of two or more characteristic columns.
Select one of the following types for each characteristic:
Type (Standard display): The characteristics are shown in the
sequence you defined in the selection. This is the default display type.
Type 1 (Comparison of char. per key figure): This compares the
specified key figures for the characteristic designated in type 1 in adjacent
11

columns. You can select Type 1 display for only one characteristic at a time.
Type 2 (Comparison of key figure per char.): The different key figures
of each characteristic value are displayed in adjacent columns. Only one
characteristic can be chosen.
Type 3 (Characteristic in selection only): The designated
characteristics are not displayed in the output list, but used only for data
selection purposes when an evaluation is executed.
For types 1 or 2, you also need to specify the number of column repetitions,
(i.e., the number of characteristic values that can be compared).
In v o ic e d S a le s
In v o ic e d S a le s Q t y .
S e p t. 1 9 9 8
O c t. 1 9 9 8
S e p t. 1 9 9 8
O c t. 1 9 9 8
C u s to m e r A B C
100 U SD
150 U SD
10 Each
15 Each
C u s to m e r X Y Z
200 U SD
300 U SD
20 Each
30 Each
For example, type 2:

S e p t. 1 9 9 8
In v . S a le s
In v . S ls Q ty
In v . S a le s
In v . S ls Q ty
C u s to m e r A B C
100 U SD
10 Each
150 U SD
15 Each
C u s to m e r X Y Z
200 U SD
20 Each
300 U SD
30 Each
You are now ready to define the

formula for gross profit margin.
23.Select a key figure. In this
example, click once on Invoiced
sales in the Key figures column.
24.Choose Insert formula to create
a new formula using existing
key figures.
12
O c t. 1 9 9 8
24
23
Reporting Made Easy

25.Create a name for the formula.

26.Double-click on the Invoiced
sales field. The system will
display its technical name in the
box.
26
28
27.Enter a minus (-) sign next to

the field.
25
28.Double-click on the field name

Inv. sales: cost. The system will
display its technical name in the
box.
27
29
29.Choose Copy.
The formula (Gross Profit) is now
set up as a key figure and appears
in the Key figures section. To
reorder the sequence of key figures
(for example, to move the Gross
Profit field below the Inv. sales:
cost field), repeat the reordering
procedure.
30
32
33
30.Choose Key figures

31.Using the technique described
in steps 11-14, rearrange the
sequence in which the key
figures appear.
32.Click Save to save the
evaluation.
33.Choose Layout control
to
check the layout of the report.
A window appears, displaying the
sequence of Characteristics.
34.Choose Enter.
Your evaluation is now fully defined
and ready to be generated.
34
Step 2: Generate the Evaluation
13

1. To generate the evaluation,

choose Evaluation Generate.
Before you run an evaluation, it must be generated. (The system will

automatically generate the evaluation upon execution if it was not yet
generated or if there was a change to the evaluation). The generation creates
an ABAP report, according to the rules defined, which is subsequently
executed.
After you generate the evaluation,
the system asks if the evaluation is
to be included in a transport
request. Contact your system
administrator for information on
handling of transport requests.
2. For purposes of this example,

choose No. However, you can
still transport the evaluation at
any time in the future.
14
Reporting Made Easy

Step 3: Execute the Evaluation

1. To execute the evaluation, from
the SAP main menu, choose
Logistics Logistics controlling
Sales information system,
then Flexible analyses
Evaluation Execute.
2. In Evaluation structure, enter

S001, the name of the
evaluation structure you used.
3. In Evaluation, enter 1000, the

name of your evaluation you
defined.
4. Choose Execute.
Note: The word set on the next selection screen relates to the functionality that can be
utilized via Report Writer. Recall that the LIS Flexible analyses utilizes the functionality of
Report Writer.
5. Enter the selection criteria for
your report. In this example, we
entered the month range.
6. Choose Execute.
6
5
When entering selection criteria,

you must also delete the default
set name for that characteristic.
15

The results of the Gross Profit

Margin evaluation appear.
Notice that the column for Gross
Profit is not displayed.
You must modify the layout of the
evaluation to include Gross Profit in
the display.
7. To change the report layout,
choose Settings Report
layout.
Step 4: Modify the Layout

1. To change the report layout,
from the Gross Profit Margin:
Result screen, choose Settings
Report layout (not shown
here).
2. Change the report width from
80 to 120.
3. Choose Enter to return to the

report display.
In addition to changing the width of the report, you can control many other
settings. These settings include:
Row total display
Column total display
Margin control
Numeric representation
16
Reporting Made Easy

For Release 4.0B and earlier, you must save the report settings by choosing
Save within your report. Then rerun the report with the same selection
criteria.
Simply saving the settings does not save the data.
All four key figure columns appear.
The additional functions you can access within the Flexible analyses display
include:
Threshold analysis
Sort data
Hide/show rows
Extract data to send through e-mail
Add title page, header, and footer text
Print report
17

Getting the Most from LIS Flexible Analyses: Tips & Tricks
Key figures: When combining key figures from different evaluation
structures, the characteristics must be the sameall the way down to the
level you wish to report. Otherwise, you will generate a report but the data
will be meaningless. If characteristics in the new evaluation information
structure are not contained in the underlying tables, then the key figures
column will not have data.
Layout: Report Writer is used to generate the reports using the standard
layout set LIS. You can create your own layout set within Report Writer and
assign it to your report and then run your flexible analysis. This lets you
change the layout using the expanded layout control features of Report
Writer.
Sets: The use of sets in flexible analysis allows you to run a report with
predefined selection criteria.
Evaluation structures: Evaluation structures are views of physical data
base structures.
Calculated key figure: If you use two key figures to calculate a third
key figure and you want to display only the calculated key figure in your
report, it is possible using Report Writer.
Report Writer : To find a flexible analysis in Report Writer, execute the
evaluation in flexible analysis. Then, from within the report, select Settings
Layout Page control. A window appears and at the top are the report
library and the report.
Additional Help to Report Developers

When organizing your reporting requirements with Flexible analyses, consider
the following:
Who should be authorized to create evaluation structures?
Who should be authorized to create evaluations?
Remember that all the data you want on the report needs to be passed
from the transactional documents to update the information structures.
Otherwise, you will be forced to retrieve this information in user-exits and
other less efficient ways. This is important to consider because the
application area configuration often takes place before the reporting
requirements are studied and then it is difficult to make changes.
18
Reporting Made Easy

Review
Flexible analysis gives you a flexible way of combining and aggregating key
figures to suit user requirements. Flexible analysis is used to execute an
evaluation (or report). An evaluation is defined based on an evaluation structure.
You can use Flexible analyses to extract data from an information structure, via
an evaluation structure. All information structures are automatically available as
evaluation structures, regardless of whether they were delivered with the R/3
System or created by the configuration team.
To create a Flexible analysis, follow these steps:
1. Determine the fields required for your report.
2. Determine which evaluation structure matches your requirements (i.e.,
contain the characteristics and key figures you want to include in your
report).
3. Create the evaluation, listing the characteristics, key figures, and formulas (if
any).
4. Generate the evaluation.
5. Execute the evaluation.
6. Modify the display, if necessary.
Where to Learn More

R/3 Library (Online help): In Release 4.0B, go to R/3 Library LO Logistics LO - Logistics - General Logistics Information System LO
Logistics Information System Flexible Analyses: Overview
LO930: Logistics Information System, a two-day training course offered by
SAP Education and Training.
19

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LIS Flexible Analyses

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Chapter :6

LIS Flexible Analyses

In this chapter you will learn

Generate and execute an

Modify the report layout of

Learning the Basics of LIS Flexible Analyses.....................................................62

Report Development Tools

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

Learning the Basics of LIS Flexible Analyses

What Is Flexible Analysis?

Exported (or downloaded) to other applications in the following formats:

Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

Flexible analysis is used to execute an evaluation (or report). An evaluation is

How Is Flexible Analysis Different From Standard Analysis?

Reporting Made Easy

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

How Is LIS Flexible Analysis Organized?

Logical Data View

Physical Data Basis

In general, a flexible analysis refers to the following activities:

Executing an evaluation (running the report)

Varying the report layout

Creating, changing, and displaying an evaluation structure with reference

Report Development Tools

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

Periodicity (period unit)

An information structure is a transparent table. For each information structure

Periodicity (or Period unit)

Reporting Made Easy

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

How to Access LIS Flexible Analyses?

Report Development Tools

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

What Are the Prerequisites?

The evaluation structure or source of data for the evaluation (for

Key figures in the evaluation structure that you want to include in

Characteristics or the way in which the selected key figures are to

Layout of the report

Formulas, if any (for example, gross profit margin)

Reporting Made Easy

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

Creating a Report with Flexible Analyses

Report Development Tools

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

The graphic below shows the typical steps to create an evaluation:

Step 1: Create the Evaluation

3. Enter a unique four-character

Reporting Made Easy

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

You are now ready to define the

6. From the Selection List window,

The selected characteristics will

10.Choose Copy + Close.

Report Development Tools

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

The steps shown below rearrange

12.Click once on Material. Once

14.Choose Copy to accept the new

15.Choose Key figures.

Reporting Made Easy

Chapter 6: LIS Flexible Analyses

16.Select your key figures. In this

The screen now shows the selected

You are ready to define the display