 InfoFlex process

The InfoFlex process transforms data, using existing data or input values to do so.

An InfoFlex process can do any of the following:

• copy data (including supporting details, comments, and row notes)
• move data
• allocate existing data
• increase data values by a percentage
• forecast based on year-to-date data

Example use cases for InfoFlex:

• Creating a starting point for next year's budget by copying from an actuals version to a plan version.

• Optionally, transform the copied actuals data by increasing the values by a specified percentage.

• Allocate (spread) expenses from one department to many, or one account to many (the value is removed from the source).

Transformations are applied against cube data only, which contains up-to-date data as of the last Update Cube process, that is, when the Update Cube process was last completed or a dimension was last saved. If you want to include recent data changes in the transformation (that is, leaf-level data found in the fact table), run the Update Cube process prior to running InfoFlex. After the data transformations are complete, the target data (resulting data) is stored in the fact table. To ensure these changes are included in cube data, follow the InfoFlex process with another Update Cube process.

  Use Case:  Basic allocations with InfoFlex.

  Note:  Alternatively, you may want to consider using the Predictive Forecast process.

General tab

• Description: Optional. Up to 250 characters.

• Connection and Cube: The connection and the cube where the data resides.

• Processing Options

  Select how to store or allocate data:

  • Store or allocate based on existing data: The value of the source member(s) is stored/allocated across target member(s) for each member combination on the Common Dimensions tab.

  • Store the following value: The value that you type is stored in each member combination on the Common Dimensions tab.

  • Allocate the following value: The value that you type is allocated across target members for each member combination on the Common Dimensions tab.

    Note:  To some extent, the selection of the remaining tabs and their content depends on the Processing Option that you choose.

Common Dimensions tab

Select dimensions and members to create combinations. The processing option you chose in the General tab will be applied to each member combination. For allocations, these members "bind" the target members. In other words, values are allocated to the target member in each common dimension member combination. The number of common dimension member combinations determines the number of times the transformation option is applied.

  Note:  Clearing a dimension's check box enables that dimension in the Source/Target Members tab.

To see the number of member combinations that will be processed based on the Processing Option you chose above, click Check Impact.

Source/Target Members tab

The processing option you chose in the General tab determines the options available in this tab.

• Source Data

  This area only applies if you selected Store or allocate based on existing data. For allocations, the aggregate (sum or average) value of the selected member(s) is allocated.

• Target Members

  This area only applies if you selected Store or allocate based on existing data or Allocate the following value. The defined values will be allocated to the selected target members.

    Note:  Only leaf members can be target members.

Data Transformation tab

• Data Calculation Options

  The options that appear in this area depend on your selections in the previous tabs. You may see any of the following options:

  • Source data aggregation option: Determines how a single value is calculated from multiple source values; that is, when multiple members are selected in a source dimension. The options are Aggregate (sum), Average including empty values, Average excluding empty values, and Copy between time members (only in contiguous time situations).

  • Delete data from source: Select if you want to permanently delete the source data that you selected. You may want to use this option, for example, when you are moving data from one member to another.

  • Generate contra account entry: A contra account is used to "zero" unallocated amounts and store allocated values to a target account. This option appears when Accounts is the source/target dimension and at least one other dimension is included on the source/target dimension tab.

    More about contra accounts

    Contra accounts may be the same as target accounts. For example, Total Corporate Human Resources Expenses may be allocated to the various revenue-generating Profit Centers based on Revenue. The first table shows the accounts before the allocations:

    Account	Total Company	Corporate	Western	Eastern
    Total HR Expenses (source)	12,000	12,000	0	0
    Allocated HR Expenses (contra and target)	0	0	0	0
    Total HR Expenses plus Allocated HR Expenses	12,000	12,000	0	0
    Revenue	30,000	0	20,000	10,000

    The second table shows the accounts after the allocations:

    Account	Total Company	Corporate	Western	Eastern
    Total HR Expenses (source)	12,000	12,000	0	0
    Allocated HR Expenses (contra and target)	0	(12,000)	8,000	4,000
    Total HR Expenses plus Allocated HR Expenses	12,000	0	8,000	4,000
    Revenue	30,000	0	20,000	10,000

  • Apply the following transformation to the source data: Provides options to transform the source value, by increasing or decreasing by a given percentage, by increasing or decreasing by an absolute amount, or multiplying by a given amount.

  • Target data write options: Source values can be applied to the existing target value in the following ways: overwrite the existing value, add to the existing value, or subtract from the existing value.

• Supporting Details

  Use these options to control how cell comments or line item details are copied.

  • Copy cube data values: If you only want to copy input values, clear this check box.

  • Copy cell comments: Brings over cell comments from the source to the target.
    • Replace all existing comments in the largest version: Select if the target already contains cell comments and you want them deleted before copying comments from the source.
  • Copy row notes: Select to have the row notes from the source added to the row notes in the target. After adding, row notes longer than 2,000 characters will be truncated.
    • Replace all existing row notes in the target version: Select to have all row notes in the target member combinations replaced by row notes from the source combinations; if turned off, the existing row notes will remain and row notes from the source combinations will be appended to them.

  • Copy line item details: Brings over line item details from the source to the target, for all time periods. However, line item values from the source time range will only be populated for the specified target time range.

      Note:  If this option is selected, you must run an Update Cube process immediately after, otherwise your future InfoFlex processes may generate errors.

  To enable Supporting Details

  The Supporting Details section only appears if you set up the InfoFlex process as follows:

  • In the General tab, select Store or allocate based on existing data.
  • In the Common Dimensions tab:
    • Define all dimensions other than Version and Time as common dimensions.
    • Select all members for all dimensions in this tab; typically as All.PlusDescendants or All.LeafDescendants.
    • Optionally, define Time as a Common dimension, in which case any member selection is acceptable, including non-contiguous members.
    • "Special" dimensions such as Currency, Classification, and Allocation must only be used in the Common Dimension tab.
  • In the Source/Target Members tab:
    • In the Source Data section:
      • Time Perspective must be Base.
      • Measures must be Value.
      • Versions must be a single member, of type Actual or Plan.
    • In the Target Members section, Versions must be a single member, of type Actual or Plan.
    • If Time is defined as a source and a target, the following requirements must be met:
      • In both Source and Target, the time range must be composed of contiguous members.
      • Source and Target must include the same number of members.
  • In the Data Transformation tab:
    • If you defined Time as a source and a target, set Source data aggregation option to Copy between time members.
    • Turn off Delete data from source.
    • Set Apply the following transformation to the source data to None.
    • Set Target data write option to Overwrite existing data.

   

    Tip:  If you copy supporting details to a target Version and then find that you want to delete the data, you can do so using the Remove Data process.

 

Time Spread tab

The Time Spread tab appears if:

• In the Source/Target Members tab you specified Time members.
• In the Data transformation tab in the Source data aggregation option you selected Copy between time members.

• Leaf Member Spreading Method

  Specify how amounts are spread across Time dimension leaf members when there is more than one target dimension member.

  • Spread evenly: Spread the value evenly to all leaf members.
  • Spread based on existing data: Spread to leaf members based on the existing data pattern in the current member combination.
  • Store: Store the value to all leaf members with no spread.
  • Spread based on values in member property: Spread to leaf members based on the values in the selected member property.
  • Spread based on data in: Spread to leaf members based on the existing data pattern in the selected member combination.

Dimension Spread tab

The Dimension Spread tab appears if:

• In the Source/Target Members tab you specified at least one Other dimension
• In the Source/Target Members tab at least one dimension (excluding Account, Version, and Time) has more than one target member selected.

• Leaf Member Spreading Method

  Specify how amounts are spread across leaf members when there is more than one target dimension member.

  • Spread evenly: Spread the value evenly to all leaf members.
  • Spread based on existing data: Spread to leaf members based on the existing data pattern in the current member combination.
  • Store: Store the value to all leaf members with no spread.
  • Spread based on values in member property: Spread to leaf members based on the values in the selected member property.
  • Spread based on data in: Spread to leaf members based on the existing data pattern in the selected member combination.

Processing Options tab

The options in this tab allow you to select the processing engine, the log-detail level, and the actions to execute for invalid values or non-editable members.

• Use SQL processing engine: InfoFlex calculations can be processed using either the SQL or MDX processing engine.

  To use MDX, clear the check box; however, note that the use of this option is normally not desirable.

• Warnings: To check for potential problems click Warnings.

• Log potential non-editable member combinations: Select to enable logging.

When the MDX processing engine is to be used, the following options appear:

• Spread Based on Zero

  • When a time spread based on an invalid value is encountered, how should it be handled?: Select the behavior you want for time spreads.

  • When a dimension spread based on an invalid value is encountered, how should it be handled?: Select the behavior you want for dimension spreads.

• Non-Editable Member Combinations

  • When a target member combination that is non-editable is encountered, how should it be handled?: Select the behavior you want for non-editable member combinations.

About the processing options

Should I use SQL or MDX?

The MDX engine can always be used, but the SQL engine is preferable because it almost always performs more quickly.

Why is the SQL processing option not available?

The options you choose for an InfoFlex definition can make SQL processing unavailable. In this case, the Processing Options tab shows: MDX processing engine will be used. To learn why SQL processing is unavailable, click .