Purpose
Hello SAP Community colleagues!
This blog introduces the latest updates in SAP Analytics Cloud to our Modelling Calculations and Currency Rates Table features, released as part of the QRC Q4 2023 release.
Overview
- Modellers and Planners can access a new formula called ToPeriod, at model level, which computes a running total across flexible time granularities for a given period.
- It is now possible to combine LOOKUP, RESTRICT, YOY, SMA & CAGR with other formulas within the same calculated measure, reducing the overhead of creating multiple calculated measures to achieve the same result.
- Modellers and Planners can also avail of improved performance on large Currency Rates Tables, due to the introduction of the Data Import API for Currency.
Let’s take a closer look at these features in greater detail.
ToPeriod Function
A new dynamic time formula called ToPeriod has been released, which computes a running total across flexible time granularities for a given period. This allows modellers to create a standard YTD, QTD, MTD running total at model level, making these types of calculated measures available for consumption across many stories. Other date granularities are also possible, such as Week & Day, depending on the date granularities defined in the model.
ToPeriod is used in conjunction with a LOOKUP or RESTRICT.
The following screenshots illustrates how ToPeriod can be used within a LOOKUP.
Here, we are computing a Month-To-Date of Sales Revenue.
Figure 1: ToPeriod Usage
In the results panel, we can see values over 4 weeks of Jan 2021, where the values accumulate to the total amount seen for Jan 2021.
Figure 2: Running Total for January 2021
Hints are provided as the modeller types the ToPeriod formula and are also seen for other dynamic time formulas, such as First, LastPeriods, Next, Current, Previous etc.
Figure 3: Dynamic Time Hints
Dynamic time formulas usage are now listed within the Functions Help within the Calculation Workspace area of the model.
Figure 4: Functions Help Showing Dynamic Time Functions
2. Combining of Formulas Feature
Our new Combining of Formulas feature provides the capability to combine formulas with other formulas within a single Calculated Measure.
In the past, modelers and planners needed to create numerous calculated measures, so that formulas, such as LOOKUP, RESTRICT, YOY, SMA & CAGR could be combined with others.
With this latest change, these formulas can now be combined into a single calculated measure, meaning that less calculated measures are needed to be created to achieve the same results.
Figure 5: Combining of Formulas into a single Calculated Measure
This helps to simplify calculations created within the model, making the calculation workflow easier to follow & to understand.
3. Currency Rates Table
Changes to the layout of the Currency Rates Table were announced, in QRC Q3 2023, for Cloud Foundry customers. These changes include an enhanced toolbar, featuring Undo and Redo, multiple row deletion, a new grid layout and a new Add Missing Rates dialog. See my previous blog for further details.
https://blogs.sap.com/2023/06/20/whats-new-in-sap-analytics-cloud-model-calculations-qrc-q3-2023/
In QRC Q4 2023, performance improvements are possible for Currency Rates tables containing large volumes of data. This follows the introduction of the Data Import API for Currency.
These include improved loading times, saving times & improved filtering handling for large currency rates tables.
The performance improvements are available for Cloud Foundry customers.
Figure 6: Currency Rates Highlights Dialog for NEO Customers
NEO customers see a new dialog when opening a Currency Rates table, that highlights improvements that are now available on Cloud Foundry, encouraging customers to migrate to avail of this enterprise ready feature.
Conclusion
In summary, Modellers and Planners can access a new formula called ToPeriod, at model level, which computes a running total across flexible time granularities for a given period.
It is now possible to combine LOOKUP, RESTRICT, YOY, SMA & CAGR with other formulas within the same calculated measure, reducing the overhead of creating multiple calculated measures to achieve the same result.
Improved performance can be seen on Currency Rates Tables containing large data volumes, due to the introduction of the Data Import API for Currency.
There are plenty more innovative new Model Calculations features to come in 2024, so watch this space!
If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or post a question to our SAP Analytics Cloud Questions & Answers forum.
See this SAP Knowledge Base Article if you’d like to learn more about FastTrack and Quarterly Release Cycle releases.
For further information, visit our SAP Analytics Cloud Community pages to find more product information, best practices, and more. And check out our SAP Road Map Explorer to see more upcoming features of SAP Analytics Cloud.
Thanks for reading!
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