NORFOLK SOUTHERN Synergy Program Business Objects Explorer. End user instructions. How to Instructions Business Objects Explorer

Transcription

1 How to Instructions Business Objects Explorer NORFOLK SOUTHERN Synergy Program Business Objects Explorer End user instructions General Ledger Line Items

2 Amendment Record Version Date Author Revision Description 1 8/20/2012 Vesa Kemppainen 1 st version Page 1 09/10/2012

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ONLINE GUIDES & OTHER GENERIC DOCUMENTATION HOW TO LOGIN ABOUT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INFORMATION SPACE HOW DO I? A FEW EXAMPLES TIPS... 9 Page 2 09/10/2012

4 1 Introduction Business Objects Explorer is a data mining tool that allows a user to explore, search and analyze a set of predefined data without need for a predefined report. Business Objects Explorer utilizes BWA (Business Warehouse accelerator) enabling fast results on search and analyses of a large set of data. Business Objects Explorer information space is typically based on BW infocubes so you are exploring raw data in detail. With Explorer you can: - Search large sets of predefined data in Google type fashion - Graph your results, drill down and filter - Book mark and export to excel With Explorer you cannot: - Create a large list for data dumping - Perform complex cross function reporting for operational management Page 3 09/10/2012

5 2 Online Guides & Other Generic Documentation A. End User Guide: Business Objects Help Documents can be found on the ERC > Help > Reports > Business Objects (BOBJ) > Business Objects Explorer. B. Online Tutorials YouTube online tutorials are available and only take a few minutes each. Please view once before starting so you get the most out of the tool: Concept - Explore Data: Explorer 4.0 FP3 (ignore reference to HANA we are using BWA) Concept - Navigate the Interface: Explorer 4.0 FP3 Sort and Rank Data: Explorer 4.0 FP3 Change the Chart Type: Explorer 4.0 FP3 Filter Data: Explorer 4.0 FP3 Filter Based on Chart Selection: Explorer 4.0 FP3 Create a Bookmark for Data: Explorer 4.0 FP3 (to use bookmark you need to be logged on to Business Objects already) Data to a Recipient: Explorer 4.0 FP3 (to use link the recipient must be authorized and logged on to Business Objects) Page 4 09/10/2012

6 3 How to Login A. Login to Business Objects via ERC B. This will open Business Objects Launchpad within the portal window a. Click F11 for larger screen C. Click on the Explorer icon on the right side of the screen Page 5 09/10/2012

7 D. Business Object Explorer will open a. You will see a list of the information spaces for which you are authorized. In this example, the user has access to R2R-GL GL Line Items E. Click on the information space and BO explorer window will open. Now you can start analyzing, searching, filtering, graphing data. (See YouTube: Concept Navigate the Interface: Explorer 4.0 FP3) Page 6 09/10/2012

8 4 About General Ledger Information space A. Based on BW info cube ZBR2RGL02 (GL line items) data extracted from ECC GL B. Allocated to users that have access to BW Role 455 (Business Warehouse GL1135 Reporting APSE 455) a. Utilizes same authorization profiles (based on company codes and account authorization groups) C. Explorer space contains the information listed below: Navigation fields/characteristics Field Description Key Text Hier. Example (Key) Example (Description) GL account X X X Salaries Company code X N001 Norfolk Southern Cost Center X X X GEN CHARGES & CREDIT Document type X X ZH Conversion- AR/AP Customer X X AAA DOWNTOWN STORAGE LLC Vendor X X OLIVER WYMAN INC Partner company X I_N096 Functional area X Revenue - Switching Clearing status X 2 Open Posting key X X 93 Price difference Fiscal period X JUL 2012 (based on posting date) Document date X 12/31/2011 Posting date X 12/31/2011 Billing document X Accounting document no X Clearing document no X CO reference X Account group X REVE Budget group X PHKFZZ Trading company X C230 Fiscal year X 2012 Measures Description Line item counter 1 Debit amount Credit amount Amount ($) Quantity 5 Page 7 09/10/2012

9 5 How Do I? A few examples A. Search for a specific document? B. List of credit/debits for an account for the year by fiscal period? Page 8 09/10/2012

10 6 TIPS a. Make sure you know which measure you are using you can show up to 3 measures at one time: b. Remember to filter by time (month, date, fiscal period, etc.) to put data into perspective c. Use search for example Nathan Jones Overtime or cleared items Dunlop or a contract number and most relevant results are presented d. You can easily create top N lists on any object in the information space. For example; top 100 invoices of the month, top 10 vendors (by amount), top 25 contracts invoiced, etc. e. Your initial view is looking at raw data. So make sure you use the right filters before making conclusions, i.e. i. Which period am I looking at? ii. Do I want to look at open or closed items (or both)? iii. Do I need to filter by posting key? iv. Am I interested in certain company code or document type only? Page 9 09/10/2012