BPC420 NW Administration L01- L06 Flashcards
What is Lesson 01?
Lesson: Benefits, Interfaces, components
What are key terms of BPC?
Key Terms (Dimensions, Models, Environments, BW, Properties, Dimension Members, Base Level Members)
What are the benefits of SAP BusinessOjbects Planning & Consolidation?
Key Features:Familiar/EasyUnifiedOwned by BusinessBusiness Process Centric (bpf)Open/adaptable (sap & non-sap)
Describe the components if BPC?
Model, environment, Performer, AuditTrail, Scope(fka Group),Web Reports/Input Forms, Ownership Manager, Context, Data Access Profile, Environment Shell, Controls
What are the most important features of BPC?
Ease of Use & Central Database; not in local spreadsheets.
How does data retrieval differ from Excel to Word to PPT?
Data retrieval options are the same regardless of source. !Only BPC has data input and data manager. Copy delete, move
What is unique about BPC compared to other retrieval methods?
!Only BPC has data input and data manager. Copy delete, move
What are current version terms?
Model, environment, Performer, AuditTrail, Scope(fka Group),Web Reports/Input Forms, Ownership Manager, Context, Data Access Profile, Environment Shell, Controls
What are Prior version terms?
Old words: applications, appsets, owner, DataSource, Group, Live Reports, Dynamic Hierarchy Editor, Current View, Member Access Profile, Apshell, Validations
What is the platform?
Platform = MS or NW
How is data stored in EPM 10.0? P12
Data is stored in InfoCubes (star schema comprised of Fact and Dimension tables)
What distinguishes EPM Data Retrieval from BPC?
EPM Data retrieval vs BPC only: BPC (input, planning, workbook collection, data manager) EPM (create reports, analyze data, dynamic formatting, calculations and charts, print and share) p13
What are special functions of BPC? How Disaggregate planning data?
Planning – spread, trend, weight. Used to disaggregate planning data
What is a BPF?
BPF – web based Launchpad, guided navigation, email, and visibility of process status. Used to improve coordination of a process. Action status is changed via the “actions” button. Action can only be performed if the predecessor is complete. Ensure consistency and visibility. Enforce policy and procedures.
Why would a BPF have a status of pending?
preceding action to be performed. Action can only be performed when preceding is complete.
What button is used to change Action status?
Action button
What is Its responsibility for BPC?
hardware, security & authentication
What is business’s responsibility for BPC?
Hierarchies, BPFs, Dashboards, EPM templates, Metrics (create & modify)
What are the components of the Home Workspace?
Home Workspace Start Page ,(Activities(BPF), launch pad, process monitor, library (web and input), documents (attachments), Consolidation Central, Audit)
What is start page?
links to create reports and launch Excel interface
What is Activities?
BPFs assigned to the user. Work on activities here.
What is Process Monitor?
status of processes / BPFs
What is Library?
public and private reports, input forms, workspaces, dashboards.. - BPC objects
What is Documents?
Storage for attachments
What is Consolidation Central?
Container for Consolidation Monitor, Controls Monitor, Journals, Ownership Manager
What is Consolidation Monitor?
execute closing activities and monitor progress
What is Controls Monitor?
execute data validation and monitor results
What is Journals?
manage and create journal entries
What is Ownership Manager?
manage ownership data
What is Lesson 02?
Implementing
Discuss the implementation process
Roadmap to Success 1. Prepare Pilot 2. Blueprint 3. Realize 4. Prepare Final 5. Go Live and Support
Describe the general business requirements
Structure using SAP delivered business content, Collect business requirements focusing on the process, Combine interview and workshops
What are the 6 implementation factors?
6 ! implementation factors p 18 (objectives, resources, scope, sequence, strategy, timeline)
What are most important success factors?
Most important success factors – product expertise, structured deliver (Method based scoping (ASAP 7.1 BPC Add-on), Blueprinting, Quality Assurance(QA)
What are possible reasons for performance issues?
Possible reasons for performance issues (lack of data, lack of stress testing with concurrent users, Design Errors) p19
What are 3 key steps in process of implementing?
Roadmap includes 1. SAP BI Strategic Decision 2. Pilot Project 3. Project
What is an example of BI Strategic Decision?
use existing BW server or install a standalone
What is Pilot Project?
pilot phase of “to be” solution
What is “Project”?
implementation of “to be” solution
What is the implementation roadmap?
Implementation Roadmap is methodical framework
(manage project, configure, test, train)
What are the 5 steps of the implementation roadmap?
Roadmap to Success 1. Prepare Pilot 2. Blueprint 3. Realize 4. Prepare Final 5. Go Live and Support
What is the time allocation for blueprinting?
Blueprinting (20 to 30 percent of total project time depending on documented requirements)
What is the value of prototyping?
Prototyping is key, reduces change management. Business requirement gathering is key.
What are the information gathering steps?
Information Gathering Process P 23 PRMP
What are some steps of preparation?
Identify interview/workshop team and attendees and interviewees, Schedule interviews/workshops, Communicate project goals, roles, responsibilities
What are some steps of Requirements Analysis?
Structure using SAP delivered business content, Collect business requirements focusing on the process, Combine interview and workshops
What are some steps of Matching?
Check requirements against business content, Identify Gaps, Develop strategies to close gaps
What are some steps of Presentation?
Prepare and publish the results, Agree on next steps, Determine success and risk factors, Development Guidelines
What are some development guidelines?
Naming, responsibilities, Authorization, Master data, data targets…
What does DG stand for in these cards?
Development Guidelines
What is Development Guideline - Naming Guidelines?
Naming Guidelines - define naming conventions for all objects
What is Development Guideline - Responsibilities?
Responsibilities - define and communicate to each team member
What is Development Guideline - Authorization concept?
Authorization concept - build your security plan early in the project
What is Development Guideline - Global / Local data?
Global / Local data - identify data staging layers where you may have a corporate repository of Global data versus an application-specific set of Local data.
What is Development Guideline - Master data?
Master data - identify where master data will be maintained
What is Development Guideline - Transaction data?
Transaction data - identify where transaction data will be sourced
What is Development Guideline - Data flow?
Data flow - similar to the above but including transformations
What is Development Guideline - Data targets?
Data targets - in the data flow, identify where data will be stored
What is Development Guideline - BI objects?
BI objects - determine which BW objects will be involved in the data flow
What is Development Guideline - Data model integration?
Data model integration - are there integration points between BW and Planning InfoCubes for example?
What is Development Guideline - EDW?
EDW - do you need to use other Enterprise Data Warehousing solutions such as Informatica?
What is Development Guideline - Archiving?
Archiving - a life cycle strategy is important to reduce the storage of olderdata
What is Development Guideline - Initial data transfer?
Initial data transfer - during start-up, how will the initial data transfer occur?
What is Development Guideline - Data handling?
Data handling - similar to the above, but also include possible transformation and mapping
What is Development Guideline - Operating concept / transports?
Operating concept / transports - where will new objects be created and how will the transport process work?
What is Development Guideline - Business content?
Business content - during the gathering of business requirements, check to see if you can use any delivered business content
What is Development Guideline - Documentation?
Documentation - document why your solution and objects are built the way they are so that subsequent team members can follow what you did, for example
What is Development Guideline - Special topics?
Special topics -
What is Development Guideline - List of all applications?
List of all applications -
What is Development Guideline - List of dimensions per application (and dimension type)?
List of dimensions per application (and dimension type) -
What is Development Guideline - List of properties for each dimension?
List of properties for each dimension -
What is Development Guideline - High level content for each dimension?
High level content for each dimension -
What is Development Guideline - Description of internal data flows between applications?
Description of internal data flows between applications -
What is Development Guideline - Data sources for master data and transaction data?
Data sources for master data and transaction data -
What is Development Guideline - Central / De-central data load?
Central / De-central data load -
What is Development Guideline - Automatic / Manual trigger?
Automatic / Manual trigger -
What is Development Guideline - Full versus. Incremental load?
Full versus. Incremental load -
What is Development Guideline - Technology used for data load (out-of-the box, development in ABAP, …)?
Technology used for data load (out-of-the box, development in ABAP, …) -
What are 6 Requirements Analysis tools?
Analyze Requirement / Requirements Analysis (project focus, interviews, workshops, documentation, Gap Analysis, Reporting Requirements)
What is Requirement Analysis tool - Project focus?
Project focus - this should be done periodically since conditions change over time
What is Requirement Analysis tool - Interviews?
Interviews - conduct them with individuals or small groups to ensure that everyone has input. Collect information about the business process
What is Requirement Analysis tool - Workshops?
Workshops - use larger groups to do brainstorming
What is Requirement Analysis tool - Documentation?
Documentation - good documentation is critical to avoid miscommunication
What is Requirement Analysis tool - Gap analysis?
Gap analysis - compare as is with to be
What is Requirement Analysis tool - Reporting requirements?
Reporting requirements - include planning and / or consolidation requirements
What are some detail analysis level questions?
How soon do you need to have ECC data in BW?, How much history do you need to store?, Where can data be archived?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 01
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 01
- What type of planning do you perform and in which system?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 02
- What level of detail?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 03
- Who are the planners?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 04
- What is a typical day in the life of a planner?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 05
- Is there a service level agreement for performance milestones? (Example:
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 06
reports must run in 30 seconds or less)
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 07
- What are the top-down and bottom-up requirements?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 08
- Is it next year’s tactical plan or the 5 year strategic plan?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 09
- Are there offline scenarios?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 10
- Do you need to track status and provide guided navigation?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 11
- How will you lock approved data?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 12
- When should we track who changes the data?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 13
- Where is the actual data coming from?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 14
- Do you need to replicate ECC Cost Center Planning, for example?
Sample Business Requirements for a Planning Project 15
- What types of business calculations are needed?
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 01
• Gather the business requirements
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 02
• Compare as is with to be
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 03
• Consider delivered content
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 04
• Specify the required architecture
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 05
• Develop the data flow requirements
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 06
• Create the environment
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 07
• Create dimensions and properties
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 08
• Create models and set up security
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 09
• Set up Data Manager packages, logic scripts / BAdIs, business rules
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 10
• Update exchange rates
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 11
• Set up work status and a business process flow
Sample Implementation Steps for a Planning Project 12
• Create new reports and input schedules
What is Lesson 03?
Modeling Aspects
Discuss the key terms of BPC?
Model, Dimension, Members, hierarchies
Explain the main idea of Dimension properties in BPC
whole modeling of scenarios is based on properties
Describe modeling of Bottom up and Top Down in BPC
bottom up: from base members. Top down 3 workarounds.
What are some Environment structures?
Model, Dimension, Members, hierarchies
What is a leaf? What is a node member?
Hierarchy – leaf = children, node member = parents. Consequence of one dimension.
What type of hierarchy does BPC support?
based on one dimension. Always on ONE dimension.
What is an environment?
Environment = Database. A group of models. No objects can be shared across environments.
What is environment shell?
Environment Shell is a delivered environment and the starting point.
What are 4 account types?
4 account types ! EXP, INC, AST, LEQ
What are 3 object types?
!Object types (CE, SK, A) CostElement, StatKey, Activity
What are two types of Consolidation?
Legal/Statutory or Management Consolidation
When are aggregated data sets stored?
!No aggregated data sets are stored by sending data. Done with calculation. P 32
When does node member get value?
!Node Member gets value when data is saved. Sum and aggregation are automatically executed by the system
Is a node in all hierarchies? Is a leaf in all hierarchies?
A node is a node in all hierarchies, a leaf is a leaf in all hierarchies
Are external or text hierarchies available in BPC? BW?
!External hierarchies or text hierarchies , are available in BW, not available in BPC
What are 3 work arounds for top-down planning?
Excel line, 2 users (data doubling), hierarchy(budget leaf member, distribution leaf member p35
What is Unit 02?
Configuration
What is Lesson04?
Lesson: Describe the technical architecture of BPC (BO PC)
Define the technical background of SAP BPC
See detail questions
What are the 2 parts of BPC installation?
2 parts 1. ABAP Application Server & 2. “Client Installation”
What is new with EPM 10.0?
.Net server is no longer required, Harmonized UI and common EPM add-in
What is the application built on top of?
NetWeaver Flex Client Platform. RESTful connection to ABAP, consistent accessibility, client side localization and logging capabilities.
What is no longer part of the BPC architecture?
! p44 .NET server is no longer part of architecture. Replaced with BO PC REST layer which is part of the BPC Add-on
Does BPC support virtualized production environments?
!Planning and Consolidation now supports virtualized production environments as described in SAP Notes 1098847 1409608
What are the key advantages of the system landscape?
SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) – easy integration, 64 bit ABAP application support, OS and Database independence, when running operating systems and databases supported by the NetWeaver ABAP application server, Patented, enterprise-scale Microsoft Office integration with a work class user interface
What are 4 components of BPC?
BPC REST layer (replaces .Net server), Business Service Layer & Infrastructure layer, Infrastructure layer, One important change of this layer is the system is using NW users for authentication
What is new with authentication?
One important change of this layer is the system is using NW users for authentication
What are some additional components?
Requires SAP NW 7.3, Any OS supported by 7.3, ABAP Application server, VMware for productive usage, any DB supported by 7.3
What are local computer software components?
Vista, XP, 7 (32 & 64), IE 7 & 8, MS 2003, 2007, 2010 (32 & 64)
What are two “big” components of BPC?
Web Client using IE browser ( SBC BUI Flex Framework, BPC Web UI), BPC add-in office part of EPM add-in
What is Lesson 05?
Lesson: Navigating Administration Interface
Navigate in the Web UI Client
See detail questions
Discuss the Workspace and Library Concept
See detail questions
Navigate in the Admin UI Client
See detail questions
Where can a user see their access rights?
!Show Access Rights
What is a workspace?
Workspaces – menu with all the components authorized. Behaves like a flolder, reports, inputs, Crystal Dashboards.p49
How can a user customize the Web UI?
Preferences/Customize UI / language/ theme, font size
Tell about the “Grid”
Grid that displays data – order columns, drag and drop, filter data using “Toggle Search “ icon, display or hide columns using column selector
What are activities?
Activities – are Business Process Flows (BPF) p50
What are the status options for activities?
Statuses: Open, Completed, Reopened, Pending, Rejected, Delayed (previous activity reopened). P51 hyperlinks
What is the process monitor?
Process monitor – complete list of processes.
How does process monitor differ from activities?
Don’t actually work on activities. Monitor.
What is library? 4 main folders?
Library – 4 main folders (private, public/company, teams, favorites). Create, view, or edit objects (workspaces, reports, Input Forms, Dashboards, books)
What are documents?
Documents – store or share files or websites. Email notification. Any file type. May have to set permission.
What are 4 components of Consolidation Central?
Consolidation Central (4) 1 Consoldiation Monitor, 2 Controls Monitor 3 Journals 4 Ownership Manager
Why is Consolidation Monitor a key component?
Consolidation Monitor – key for incremental consolidations, tells consolidation engine which entities to execute translation or consolidation on.
What does Control Set and Status tell us?
Consolidation Monitor – Control set status – verify the accuracy of reported data
What does Consolidation monitor do?
Consolidation Monitor – work status, currency translation, consolidation status, run consolidation, display running processes and percent of completion, reset consolidation status (i.e. due to master data change)
On what are controls run?
Controls – run on a selected entity or group of entities
What is the purpose of a journal? Options?
Journals – record and make adjustments in the database. Create, modify, copy, post. NOT delete.
What is Ownership Manager?
Ownership Manager – periodic and version dependent hierarchies for statutory consolidations. Category & Time required! P56
What is Audit?
Audit – track changes concerning security settings, transaction data, administration, dimension members (if enabled)
What is a data audit configuration use?
Data Audit Configuration – audit changes of ownership and Business Rule data
Is BPF audit an option under Audit?
Yes, operation, instance, activity
Where is the navigation panel in whe Web UI?
Navigational Panel p58
Where is Manage & Change Environment?
Manage & Change Environments
What are 3 distinct pages for Dimensions?
Dimensions – 3 distinct pages for managing (structure, maintenance, hierarchical)
What is the BW impact of creating a model?
Creating a model means creating a Real-Time Info Provider from BO PC.
What is a model?
Model – contains the business data that defines relationships, calculations, and data of an organization or business segment
What are the 2 user types in BPC?
Security – allows mass maintenance. “Technical – not required” and “Individual Users” (Dialog, Internet, Technical)
What type user is “technical” set up as?
If technical, set up as “Communication” type user
What are the 4 components of Security?
Users, Teams, Task Profiles, Data Access Profiles
What are the 4 components of Rules?
Rules – 4 ! 1 Member Formulas 2 Logic Scripts 3 Business Rules 4 Controls
What are member formulas?
Member Formulas – create and execute formulas and calculations on dimension members. System calculates formulas at retrieval time. Formulas ! can slow retrieval performance if used incorrectly. MDX and K2 functions(Consolidation Keywords) available for selection
What are differences between Start Page & Adminstration page?
START PAGE: Activities, Process Monitor, Libray, Documents, Consolidation Central, Audit.
CREATE: workspace, report, input form LAUNCH:
ADMIN: Dimenions & Models, Security, Rules, BPFs, Features
Features(work status, journals, context defaults, Dril-Through, Document types, Audit)
When do you use logic and when do you use a “Member Formula”?
Member formulas for more simple situations. Usually use logic.
On what level member is logic written?
!Logic is on base level members only! P62
What are business rules?
Business Rules – calculate and post Monetary amounts in support of common accounting activities such as intercompany booking, currency translation and elimination and adjustments. Main focus on Business Rules is Consolidation.
What are controls?
Controls are validations on Transaction Data. Essential to Consolidation. Optional for Planning. Controls replace validation rules. “blocking control” or warning. !A document(report or input) can be linked to control to take user to where the control needs to be corrected or for understanding.
What are activities?
Activities fka BPFs – guide you through a sequence of tasks within a defined business process. !! BPFs show up in Activities AND Administration Navigation panel.
How are activity templates managed?
Activity Templates – copy, assign, same as prior BPC, validate, lock, archive, deploy p64
What is a process instance?
“Process Instance” – an iteration of a process template that is in active use p 65
How is an activity template created?
Create a Template – Define, Save, Validate, deploy. A non-running instance can be reset to initial state. “Instance Owner” is informed by all changes via email.
What does work status allow a user to do?
Work Status – allows you to lock a region (or slice) of data in a model. Overrides a user’s member access privileges to write to a given region.
What are 2 components of Work Status?
Work Statu & Data Locking: Work Status allows you to lock a region (or slice) of data in a model. The work status setting overrides a user’s member access privileges to write to a given region. P66
Journal Templates
allow users to capture an audit trail of the changes and adjustments made to the database
Where and what is context default?
Context Defaults - model, dimensions, and members authorized to user and applicable to what is displayed in the workspace, folder, or view. Applies to Web Client.
What is drill-through?
Drill Through – source data that includes content that can be accessed from a URL, website, BW Query, ERP report.
What is purpose of Document types?
Document types for Library p69
At which level is admin & user task auditable? At which level is data?
Audit – admin & user tasks at environment level. Data at Model level
What is Multi-User Object Locking? When does it occur?
multiple uses accessing the same administration objects like dimensions, models, security, BPFs results in locking the objects.
What is Lesson 06?
Lesson: Create an Environment
Create an Environment
See detail questions
Configure an Environment
See detail questions
How does master data impact data in the environment?
Each model contains the master data that controls the data in the environment
Can you delete an environment with data? A dimension with data?
You can delete an environment that contains data. You can’t delete a dimension with data.
What is an environment?
Envrionment = InfoArea in BW. Environment is equivalent to InfoArea in BW. No objects are shared across environments, except delivered properties (scaling, formula,..). An InfoArea shares objects. Environment does not.
What is the location of the installation guide?
Installation Guide: operations guide on SAP Service Marketplace at http://service.sap.com/instguidesEPM-BPC. Transport between Development and QA
What does creating a new environment do?
Copies Data, web environment, BW Objects, security, rolls back on failure.
What can users do when environment is offline?
! View data (incomplete), work offline on parked or locked documents p76
How do you force an update of dynamic templates?
Dynamic templates for reports or schedules, force an update by changing the template version.
How can user activity be viewed?
“manage all environments” / “User Activity”.
What is the technical name of InfoArea for environment?
/CPMB/ - technical name of InfoArea for environment
What is Application Prefix? What is application set prefix? Number of chars?
“Application Prefix”(model) / “Application Set Prefix”(environment) – UJA_ - Application 2 Character Prefix; Model has a 3 character prefix p 78
What is the code for Data Checker?
UJA_Data Checker – use this after transport to check environment
What are the 4 sample models in the delivered environment shell?
Environment Shell – do not modify. Use copies. !4 sample models(Planning, Rate, Consolidation, Ownership)
What are the contents of the environment shell? P81
4 sample models, Set of dynamic report and input schedule templates, Data Manager Packages, Blank documents in “documents” and reports in “library” view, Required administration setup parameters, All required dimensions with the properties needed to create a basic planning and consolidation environment
What are the two dimensions specific to Consolidation? What is the ID?
Type ID: Scope-G & Flow-S
What are the dimensions common to both Planning and Consolidation? What is the ID?
Type ID: A,C,D,E,I,R,T Account, Category, AuditTrail, Entity, InterCo, Report Currency, Time
What is the dimension specific to planning? What type?
Type ID = U user-definied, Product
Which dimensions are specific to the Rates Model? Type?
A,E,R R_Account, R_Entity, InputCurrency
Which dimension is specific to the Ownership Model? Type?
A O_Account