Hierarchy
SAP_BW (Software Component) SAP Business Warehouse⤷
BW-WHM-DST (Application Component) Data Staging⤷
RSFO_DEP (Package) Release-Specific RSDO Objects
Basic Data
| Data Element | RSFO_FORMULA_BUILDER_NEW |
| Short Description | Operating Instructions: Formula Builder |
Data Type
| Category of Dictionary Type | Direct Type Entry | |
| Type of Object Referenced | No Information | |
| Domain / Name of Reference Type | ||
| Data Type | CHAR | Character String |
| Length | 1 | |
| Decimal Places | 0 | |
| Output Length | 1 | |
| Value Table |
Further Characteristics
| Search Help: Name | ||
| Search Help: Parameters | ||
| Parameter ID | ||
| Default Component name | ||
| Change document | ||
| No Input History | ||
| Basic direction is set to LTR | ||
| No BIDI Filtering |
Field Label
| Length | Field Label | |
| Short | 10 | F. Builder |
| Medium | 15 | Formula Builder |
| Long | 20 | Formula Builder |
| Heading | 12 | F. Builder |
Documentation
Formula Builder
The formula builder is used to process formulas within different applications.
Structure
The formula is displayed in the upper half of the screen.
In the center of the lower half, there are pushbuttons for frequently used operators and functions for manually entering strings, numbers, constants and comments. To the right of these are additional functions and operators, to the left are the possible fields (table fields, InfoObjects, system fields, and so on).
Use
There are two processing modes in the formula builder. You can switch between them using the pushbutton or from the main menu, Process -> Standard/Expert Mode.
- Standard Mode
- Expert Mode
1. Standard Mode
Entering Formulas
You enter a formula by selecting formula elements in the lower half of the screen. You can add operators to the formula by clicking the pushbutton once; fields and functions in the worklists are added by double-clicking. These are either added to the end of the formula or to the position in the formula where the cursor was positioned.
You can use the pushbuttons underneath the operators to call dialog boxes, through which the following fields can be added:
- String: an alpha-numeric constant (that is, any character string)
- Number: a numerical constant (that is, any number)
- Constant: a type-related constant, for which input help is available.
- Comment: a comment ignored when the formula is calculated.
In the formula, you can select a field by double-clicking. You can also double-click a function to select it. Syntax help appears in the status bar of the formula window. For more information about functions, select the required function and choose F1.
The fields in the worklist and in the builder are displayed with short descriptions. Functions are displayed with technical names and short descriptions.
You can make changes to the formula using the Delete and Change pushbuttons. You can also access these functions from the context menu.
To have a better overview when processing formulas, you can select the formula in the builder and choose Change Formula Element. The formula parameters are then displayed in the dialog box and can be changed. Input help is available for the individual fields. It returns suitable operands for these parameters. Formula definition is facilitated by the documentation for the function and the syntax display.
Checking Syntax
The syntax check does not take place simultaneously. In the pushbutton toolbar, you must activate it using the Check pushbutton. The field, operator, or function where the error occurred is highlighted using a different color.
A warning message appears if the formula still has syntax errors when exiting the formula builder. Depending on the application context, you can save the formula without exiting the formula builder.
Compiled Formula
If the formula is syntactically correct, it is translated into ABAP code. Load performance is then better than when the formula is interpreted at runtime. You can display this generated ABAP code by choosing Goto -> Compiled Formula.
Search and Sort Functions
You can sort the entries with the Sort Ascending and Sort Descending pushbuttons.
In the dropdown list box(es) above the worklist, you can restrict the number of displayed entries by category.
Using the input field and both pushbuttons that are in the top of the dropdown list box, you can search for specific entries. Enter your search criteria and choose Search. All suitable entries are highlighted, and the cursor is place over the next suitable entry. If you choose Hit List instead, all entries that meet the search criteria are displayed in the worlklist for all categories. You can also search for substrings with or without wildcards (+ and *). The system not only searches in all technical names but also in all short descriptions.
2. Expert Mode
Entering Formulas
Most functions from the standard mode are also available in this mode. In addition, you can also enter constants and comments directly in the formula. To be able to distinguish them from field names, enter alpha-numeric constants in single quotes ('Constant') and comments in quotation marks ("Comment"). Numbers (numeric constants) do not need to be entered with a limiter.
You can also use Drag&Drop to move fields and functions into the required position. When a function is added, the required parentheses and quotes/quotation marks are added at the same time between which the functional parameters have to be inserted. In addition, a syntax field appears in the status bar of the formula field, which tells you which parameters are required by the function and for what reason.
You can also undo changes. All text entries in the formula as well as Drag&Drop actions are viewed as changes (but not selections by single or double-click). Using the pushbuttons in the formula window, you can choose the regular functions required to edit a text.
The fields in the worklist and in the builder are displayed with their technical names and short descriptions, as are the functions.
Checking Syntax
You can carry out the syntax check using the Check pushbutton in the pushbutton toolbar, as in the standard mode. When the system finds an error, it highlights the error position and places the cursor directly next to it.
Processing and Saving Formulas
You have the option of saving the formula in its current state as a local file or to import a local file that already exists into the formula builder. This allows you to save and reuse parts of a formula you have already defined, in situations where you want to exit the builder despite having an incomplete or incorrect formula.
History
| Last changed by/on | SAP | 20130604 |
| SAP Release Created in | 30B |
