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Reports A report variant allows you to save the values
that you entered into the selection fields on a report. Once the
variant is saved, it can be used every time the report is run. To
use a previously saved variant, click on the Get Variant button
and select the desired variant. The selection fields of the report
are then pre-filled with the values that were saved when the variant
was created or last changed. Each time you run the report using
a variant, you don't need to retype or select all the values in
the fields. You can create several variants for the same
report, each one containing different values. If you want to use
identical selection criteria for multiple reports, for example,
the same range of cost objects, you must create a separate variant
for each report and then save it with the report where the values
will be used. Report Variant Naming and Maintenance Policies Departments, laboratories, and centers are
responsible for creating and maintaining their own report variants
based upon standard naming conventions. Once a variant has been
created, it should be maintained by the department or area where
it was created and should not be changed without the approval of
the creator or the Administrative Officer (AO) of the area. An Administrative Officer or Fiscal Officer
may determine the department naming standards for the last seven
characters of the variant name, but users with reporting authorization
can create their own variants, providing they follow Institute and
department naming conventions. Before creating a report variant, it is recommended
that you check with your AO to find out if there are department
rules for who can create report variants and/or any local variant
naming conventions. See Naming Conventions
for Report Variants below. You can create a variant before a report.
In the following example, a variant is created for the Summary Statement,
though the procedure is the same for creating a variant of any report.
Use the following navigation path from the SAP User Menu screen
or type in the transaction code from any screen:
Navigation
Path: - User menu Transaction
Code : /nzstm 1. Enter the values that you want to save
in the report fields. 2. Click the Save as variant button Result: The "ABAP: Save as Variant"
window appears. Show below is a portion of the screen.
3. Type in the name of the variant following the naming
conventions. 4. Type in a Description so that you and others can identify
the variant. 5. In the Created for selection screens field, accept the
default. 6. Click in the check box next to Protect
variant if you want to make sure that your variant can only
be changed by the person who created it or the last person who changed
it. Even though you check this box, other people can still use your
variants. 7. Click the Save button Result: The report screen returns with a message at the
bottom that the variant has been saved. Naming Conventions
for Report Variants Purpose Naming conventions Some departments, labs, and centers may want to define their
own conventions for the last seven characters, such as assigning
particular number ranges to areas or users. For example, CAO might
develop a naming scheme to separate A/P, A/R, Travel, etc. to
identify each area's report variants. In the following example: RV4018-JSmith "4018" is the first four digits of the MIT department number
or the profit center "-" A hyphen is required to separate the variant name from
the department number "JSmith" is the user-defined report variant name of up to 7
characters The report variant used in this example can be identified as
a user in profit center P401800 with the userid "JSmith" has created
a report variant named RV4018-JSmith.
Note If
your existing report variants are not named according
to these standards, please rename your current variants
to conform to the Institute-wide naming conventions.
The Financial Systems Services (FSS) team will periodically
review all report variants, and with the creator's assistance,
modify the ones which do not follow the standard naming
conventions. 1. Click the Get variant button Result: The "Find Variant" screen is displayed. 2. Type in your variant name if you know it or search for it as
follows: 3. Click the Execute button Result: A list of variants you searched for is displayed. 4. Double-click on a variant to select it. Result: The report entry screen appears, prefilled with
the values that you saved in the variant. (Usually, you will need
to update the month.) 5. Click the Execute button
Note When
executing a report variant, your user authorizations
are checked. You will receive an error if your reporting
authorizations do not permit you to access the data
requested. You can review the contents of a variant before you decide to use
it to run the report. 1. On the report entry screen, follow the menu path: Goto >>
Variants >> Display. Result: The "Find variant" window is displayed. 2. Type in your variant name or search for it. See Finding
a Report Variant. Result: The "Display a variant" screen appears with the
selection criteria for each field. 3. Click the Back button
Important You
need to change your report variant if the report fields
have changed. 1. Display the variant on the report entry screen. If you need
to find your variant first, see Finding a Report
Variant. 2. Type over the values in the fields you selected for the variant. 3. Click the Save as variant button Result: The "Save as Variant" screen appears.
4. Click the Save button Result: A dialogue box appears, asking if you want to overwrite
your variant. 5. Click Yes. Result: The report entry screen reappears with the values
you changed in the fields. A message notifies you that the variant
has been saved. 3. Type over the Variant name. 4. Type over the Description, if you wish. 5. Accept the default for the Created for selections field. 6. Click in the box to the right of Protect variant if you
want to protect your variant. This means that only the person who
created or last updated the variant can change it. 7. Click the Save button Result: You return to the report entry screen. A message
indicating that your variant is saved appears at the bottom of the
screen. You just created a new variant. If you want to delete the
old one, see below. 1. On the report entry screen, follow the menu path: Result: The "Find Variant" screen is displayed. 2. Click the Execute button Result: The "Delete Variant" screen appears with
a list of variants you created. 3. Double-click on the variant you want to delete. Result: A dialogue box asks "In all clients" or
"Only in current clients." 4. Select "In all clients" and click Continue. Result: A dialogue box asks you if you want to delete. 5. Click Yes. Result: You return to the report entry screen with a message
on the bottom saying that your variant has been deleted. Batch
Printing of Report Variants This option is useful if you run many report variants for the same
zmit report every month. You can change the values of the
variants and then execute and print the report(s) in the background
system. (For a definition of background system, see the Glossary.)
The values of the variants will be changed only for this
batch run. 1. Type in the transaction code /nzbatchprt in the Command
field and press the Enter key. 2. Type in the program name of the report (for example, zbill08
for the Summary Statement).
Note To
find the program name, go to the report entry screen
and follow the menu path: System >> Status.
The program name is listed under SAP data. 3. Type in your variant name or select it. See Finding
a Report Variant.
Tip You can even create a
variant for the Batch Print program at this point by
following the menu path: Goto>>Variants>>Save
as variant... Type in a variant name and description
and click the Save button 4. Click the Execute button Result: The variant you specified or the list of variants
you searched for is displayed. 5. Click in the box to the left of each variant to select it. 6. Click the Substitute Values button (on top). Result: The report entry screen is displayed. 7. Type over the values you wish to use for this report. They will
be changed for this batch run only.
Important On
the Summary Statement and DTR entry screen, be sure
to check the Print immediately on printer field
and type in the correct printer name. 8. Click the Save button 9. Click the Back button Result: The list of variant parameters for that screen is
displayed. 10. Click in the box to the left of the field that you changed.
Be sure to select the P_IMMED - Print Immediately on printer
field if available. 11. Click the Enter button Result: You return to the list of program variants where
you can make another selection. 12. Click the Execute button Result: The "Background Print Parameters" screen
is displayed. 13. Make sure that Print immediately is checked and that
the Output Device (printer) is correct. 14. Click the Enter button Result: The message "Printer parameters specified here
can be changed dynamically" appears. Click Enter to bypass
this message. You return to the "Submit a program . . " screen and
the Status Bar reads that your background job was scheduled. Your report will be executed with the variant you changed and then
printed at your selected printer. |
.
on the report entry screen.
on the bottom of the dialog box.
to return to the report entry screen.
on the bottom.