Question:
We have a requirement for BPS: get the data off-line, plan and then send it back to BPS/BW.
The solution we thoght until now involves some developments and is high on maintenance: using a background job in BW to run a report and send an e-mail to the users. After planning the users will send the report back by e-mail to the BPS administrator who will run a macro and uploads the data back into BW.
Anyone with experience, ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Nelson
Answer:
In service.sap.com/sem ("Media Library">"Help To Use SEM">"How To...") you can find a How To with the title "How to Load Flat File into SEM-BPS", maybe that makes the upload easier.
Anyway, why using a macro or a function for the uploads? Why not a flat file upload via BW?
Answer:
Hi Guille, thanks for your reply.
The use of the macro is to simplify the job of the administrator in converting a normal excel into a flat file that can be loaded into SEM/BW.
The document you mentioned as usefull information, with solution they purpose the process for upload will be easier.
I also found a FAQ document, where SAP explains two possibilities for offline planning:
"1.The Excel layout can be saved locally within the planning framework. If the user is offline, he can enter data locally. If he goes online again, he can load the data into the Excel layout again with a VBA macro and subsequently save in BW.
2.Data can be filled in the local Excel sheet from BW in the online mode with the solution “Excel as Client”. If the user goes offline, he can enter data or change data loaded beforehand.
In both cases, the BPS planning functions (for example top-down distribution) are not available in the offline mode. Planning functions, which were created with VBA within the Excel sheet (for example calculation of a contribution margin scheme) can be executed in the offline mode."
But both of them demand the user to be pro active, one of the requirements is for them to be reactive, i.e., get the information validate/change and send it back.
If you have other thoughts/ideas feel free to give inputs
Answer:
Hi,
As regards sending the data there is no easy way. One way is the one you are using. A variant of that could be to use the Reporting Agent functionality which can be run ... say every night...and mails a specific Plan report to the user.
Question for you - why not use the Web based solution. Then the users can just logon to the system and get the Plan Information from there.
To load the data - the options mentioned above are the only ones I have know about. I think in certain predelivered Planning Functions SAP provides code from which the data can be loaded by the user itself. But that uses API functions and if the application is custom then you'll have to work with the API functions to develop an upload application.
with regards
atw
Answer:
The main reason for this requirements as to do with the fact that the users should be reactive, i.e., receive something and then act (change/validate data) as opose to, go to the system to change the data.
The purposed solution is the one that we have been talking here:
1. Use repost agent to send the report (workbook protected) via e-mail to the users;
2. The administrator receives the information, run a macro in the workbook;
3. upload the data using the the BPS functionality of uploading a file.
Thanks to all of you for the support,
Nelson
Answer:
Hi,
Are u talking about layout screen where plan is donr or BEx report.
Manu
biwcafe@yahoo.com