Definition of columns

Topic overview

This document describes the definition and use of column schemes. In Comarch Financials Enterprise there are standard evaluations and reports, such as open item lists, totals and balance lists, account statements or posting journals, for which the basic structure is largely specified. In contrast to these evaluations, you can create individually defined reports. These individually defined reports always consist of a column and a row scheme. Within the application Output defined reports, you can then combine the column and row scheme as well as the periods to be evaluated for printing.

Application description

Defined reports with columns and rows are among other things required to create a profit and loss account, a balance sheet or a cost distribution sheet. Due to the separate definition of columns and rows, complex and structured reports can be output. By numbering the lines and using different line types (e.g. text lines, value lines, formula lines, total lines), you can create as many subtotals, group totals and final totals as you want.

A column scheme is not permanently assigned to a report. Therefore, one column scheme can be used for multiple reports. The same applies to a row scheme. Only when printing or when creating a report you specify which column and which row scheme should be used. Note that changes to a column or row schema affect all reports in which they are used.

There may be restrictions when combining columns and lines when creating a report, as not every column scheme matches every row scheme.

The monthly balances of all general and personal accounts as well as the totals of actual and planned figures of the optional dimensions are available as a database for your self-defined reports. Comparisons with the previous year and with planned and actual data are possible.

Identification pane

The identification pane contains the input fields that are necessary to identify a column scheme. Before a new column scheme can be created, the field Column schema type must be filled. If a selection with dimension elements is made as the Column schema type, a dimension type must be specified. With the dimension type (dimension 1-20) you specify which data should be evaluated (e.g. cost centers, projects, representatives, regions, etc.). The following describes the individual fields in the identification area of the Column scheme application:

  • Column scheme type – the type of column scheme determines which contents can be indicated in the columns. It is used to check whether a column scheme can be combined with a row scheme if assigned to a report. The available settings include:
    • Cost types: cost types can be compared or evaluated in the columns.
    • Dimension members with cost types: dimension elements, such as cost centers, can be compared or evaluated in connection with cost types.
    • Period and data type: several time periods and different types of data (plan/actual) can be compared or evaluated in the columns.
    • Dimension elements: dimension elements, e.g., cost centers, cost units, regions, etc., can be compared or evaluated with one another.
    • Information system (deviation analysis): with a column scheme of this type, you can define a deviation analysis for two selected columns, including deviation and percentage deviation.
  • Dimension type – the dimension type (e.g., cost centers, projects, representatives, etc.) must be specified if the selection “Dimension elements” or “Dimension elements with cost types” was specified in the Column scheme type.
  • Column scheme – the name uniquely identifies the Column scheme. The assignment of names is possible with both numbers and letters.
  • Description – the description serves as an additional identifier for the column scheme. Enter a meaningful, memorable, and possibly unique description to make searches easier. The designation is freely selectable and can be ambiguous, meaning several column schemes can have the same name. It is recommended to assign different names in each case. The designation can be entered in several languages.
Tab General

In the tab General, you define the uniform attributes for all column headings. Basically, you specify the maximum number of header lines that the columns can have. You can also specify whether the headings should be printed in large font and in bold, italic or normal. Remember, this is only about the headings of a defined report. Which attributes the column contents, i.e. the values within a column, should have, is done here in the column scheme for each individual column number under the “Print” tab. Which attributes the content of columns should have, is done here in the column scheme for each individual column number on the tab Print.

Note
These assigned attributes for column contents can be adopted when defining the rows in the row scheme with the selection Definition in column or overridden by different information. Again, the attribute information for row details of a row can be overridden when a report is called up. However, you will find more detailed descriptions of this in the documentations for Row scheme and for Defined reports.
  • Font size – here you specify the font size of the column headings. This information applies to the headings of all defined columns in a column scheme. The following settings are available for the text display:
    • Normal
    • Enlarged
  • Bold print – here you define the font design for the column headings. This entry applies to the headings of all defined columns in a column scheme. The following settings are available for the text display:
    • Normal
    • Bold print
    • Italic
  • Number of headings – definition of the maximum number of header lines that the columns in a column scheme can have. 1 to 5 lines can be selected.
  • Display additional text – activate this field if the additional text from the line definition should be displayed. The additional text is only displayed in the template optimized for Excel and in the application “Query defined reports” after the line description.

Work pane

In the Column scheme application, the work pane consists of a position editor and a position table. The individual columns of a column scheme can be created and edited in the position editor. When a column is closed and saved, it is displayed in the position table with its essential information and can also be edited or deleted there.

Position table

It is possible to change some of the information for the columns within the position table. However, for extensive editing and for the creation of new columns, you have to switch to the position editor.

  • Column number – the column numbering of the column scheme regulates the order in which the columns are printed. When defining the columns in ascending order, it is recommended to choose column numbering in 10-step increments to ensure that new columns can be added later.
  • Description – the description serves as an additional identifier for the column. Enter a meaningful, memorable, and possibly unique description to make searches easier. The designation is freely selectable and can be ambiguous, meaning several column schemes can have the same name. It is recommended to assign different names in each case. The designation can be entered in several languages.
  • Column schema type – the column schema type of a column cannot be overwritten in the position table; it can only be changed using the position editor. The column schema type determines the tab that is displayed, on which further information can be given depending on the context. The following settings are available:
    • Formula column
    • Value column
    • Line description
    • Line number
    • Percent column 1–4
  • Help column – determines whether this column is a help column. Help columns are used to save intermediate results. This column can be printed or hidden depending on the report call.
  • Data type – enter a valid data type. Data types separate the transaction data into actual, budget, plan, target (flexible budgeting), and other types of data.
  • Standard analysis period – the standard evaluation period is only important for value columns. The values displayed in this column depend on the evaluation period specified when the report is called up.
    Example: If “Current quarter” is defined as the evaluation period in the column and the report is called with the evaluation period 08/11, the values for 07/11 09/11 are displayed in this column. If the report is called with the evaluation period 01/11, the values for 01/11 03/11 are displayed in this column.
  • Fiscal year – enter an underlying fiscal year. You can specify that the displayed values are determined from a fiscal year that differs from the year of the report call.
    Example: If the report is called for 12/11 and the relative fiscal year is defined as the 1st previous year, the values for 12/10 are displayed in this column.
  • Prefix reversal – here you specify how to handle the sign. This applies to the representation of numbers, the formation of sums, and arithmetic operations in formulas. The following settings are available:
    • Without prefix reversal
    • Actual reversal of prefix
    • Sign reversal for print
  • Figure dimension – here you specify the unit of numbers for values. For example, if the value “in hundreds” is selected, the number 12,345,678.90 is displayed as 123,456.79 in this column when the report is printed or displayed, with the second decimal due to rounding. The following settings are available:
    • In ones
    • In tens
    • In hundreds
    • In thousands
    • In tens of thousands
    • In hundreds of thousands
    • In millions
Position editor

In the position editor, the individual columns of a column scheme can be newly created and completely edited. The position editor consists of the following tabs and fields:

Tab General
  • Column type – the content of this field determines the tab displayed, where additional information can be provided depending on the context. The following settings are available:
    • Formula column
    • Value column
    • Line label
    • Line number
    • Percentage column 1
    • Percentage column 2
    • Percentage column 3
    • Percentage column 4
  • Description – the description serves as an additional identifier for the Column scheme. Enter a meaningful, memorable, and possibly unique description to make searches easier. The designation is freely selectable and can be ambiguous, meaning several column schemes can have the same name. It is recommended to assign different names in each case. The designation can be entered in several languages.
  • Help column – determines whether this column is a help column. Help columns are used to save intermediate results. This column can be printed or hidden depending on the report call.
  • Resizable – this field is only open for input for the column type “Row description.” Activate this indicator if the description should be expanded vertically when the text is larger than the frame. Deactivate this checkbox to cut off the data if the text is larger than the frame.
  • Maximum number of characters – this field is only open for input for the column type “Row description.” Here, you can specify the maximum number of characters for the row description. This information applies to both defined and resolved rows.
Tab Analysis

The tab Analysis is only displayed for the column type Value column.

  • Standard analysis period –the standard evaluation period is only important for value columns. The values displayed in this column depend on the evaluation period specified when the report is called up.
    Example
    If “Current quarter” is defined as the evaluation period in the column and the report is called with the evaluation period 08/11, the values for 07/11 09/11 are displayed in this column. If the report is called with the evaluation period 01/11, the values for 01/11 03/11 are displayed in this column.
  • Fiscal year – enter an underlying fiscal year. You can specify that the displayed values are determined from a fiscal year that differs from the year of the report call.
    Example
    The report is called for 12/11 and the relative fiscal year is defined as the 1st previous year, then the values in the column for 12/10 are displayed.
  • Relative appeal period – for report evaluations, it can be specified here that the displayed values are determined from a period that deviates from the call period.
  • Relative appeal period with closing periods – this indicator is useful when working with relative periods, particularly if the period that differs from the call period is outside the fiscal year. It controls whether the closing periods are used to determine the deviating period or not.
  • Period total – defines which value should be used for the total in a column. An average value can be calculated from the evaluation period that is called up, or the total or only the first or last value of a period can be displayed.
    Example: If you want the statistical value “Number of employees” displayed in a column, selecting “Total” wouldn’t be appropriate since the number of employees per period cannot be added. In this case, it makes more sense to choose the average value or the value of the first or last period.
  • End of period – determines whether and how the column is supplied with values. The following settings are available:
    • Period end to
    • End period with call period
    • Period to call period with column suppression
  • Type of fix period – when specifying fixed periods (fixed period from/to), you can choose whether posting or closing periods should be used. This allows individual closing periods to be evaluated in the report.
  • Fix period from – the values are printed from the specified period. The fiscal year is specified when the report is called. The parameter evaluation period must be defined as a “Fixed period.”
  • Fix periods with carried forward – tn addition to the values of a fixed period, the values of the presentation period are also printed. The fiscal year is specified when the report is called. The evaluation period parameter must be defined as a “Fixed period.”
  • Fix period – the values up to the specified period are output. The fiscal year is specified when the report is called up. The evaluation period parameter must be defined as a Fixed period.
  • Fix periods with closing periods – in addition to the values of a fixed period, the values of the closing periods are also printed. The fiscal year is specified when the report is called up. The evaluation period parameter must be defined as a Fixed period.
  • Previous periods – the values of the current period, including the specified previous periods, are printed. The current period is replaced by any period that the user selects when calling the report. The parameter evaluation period must be defined as Current period.
  • Subsequent periods – the values of the current period, including the specified subsequent periods, are printed out. The current period is replaced by any period that is selected when the report is called. The parameter evaluation period must be defined as Current period.
  • Previousand subsequent with closing periods – this indicator is only useful if you are working with previous and subsequent periods, and the deviating periods are outside the fiscal year. The flag controls whether the closing periods are used to determine the deviating period or not.
  • Reference column normal balance – determination of whether the normal balance should be checked using the accumulated value up to the call period or over the column period of the reference column.
    • If nothing is specified in the reference column, the normal balance is determined as before over the call period of the report.
    • If a column is specified in the reference column, the normal balance is determined for the column from the period of the reference column.
    • The reference column must come from the same column schema.
    • The reference column must be a value column.
    • The reference column can be defined as a help column and therefore does not necessarily have to be displayed in the report.
Tab Content

The tab Content is only displayed for the column types Value column and Formula column.

  • Data type – enter a valid data type. Data types separate the transaction data into actual, budget, plan, target (flexible budgeting), and other types of data.
  • Decimal places – definition of the number of decimal places for the report output. The following settings are available:
    • Without decimal places
    • 1 decimal place
    • 2 decimal places
    • 3 decimal places
    • 4 decimal places
    • 5 decimal places
    • 6 decimal places
  • Direct / secondary – with this selection, you control which data should be considered in the column. The following settings can be selected:
    • (All): this setting takes both the direct and the secondary into account.
    • Direct data: the direct data are taken into account in the row.
    • Secondary data: the secondary data are taken into account in the row.
  • Transaction flag – if direct or secondary data should be evaluated, you can also restrict the selection of the data to be evaluated by specifying one or more transaction flags. If you do not specify a transaction flag, all relevant data is taken into account.
  • Posting type – this selection field is only open for input for a column scheme to which the type Period and data type is assigned. With this selection, you control which data should be considered in the column. The following settings can be selected:
    • (All): with this setting, both the real and the simulation postings are taken into account.
    • Real booking: the real bookings are taken into account in the column.
    • Simulation posting: the simulation bookings are taken into account in the column.
Note
With the setting Definition in columns, a combination with one of the other settings is not possible. The settings Real posting and Simulation posting can be used in combination to evaluate both the real and the simulation postings in the line.
  • Simulation posting type – if simulation postings should be evaluated, you can additionally restrict the selection of the simulation postings to be evaluated by specifying one or more simulation posting types. If you do not specify a simulation posting type, all simulation postings are taken into account.
  • Prefix reversal – here you specify how to proceed with the sign. This applies to the representation of numbers, the formation of sums, as well as to arithmetic operations in formulas. The following settings are available:
    • Without prefix reversal
    • Actual reversal of prefix
    • Sign reversal for print
  • Negative values – definition of how negative values are represented. The following settings are available:
    • Definition in column
    • 123,00 (black)
    • 123,00 (black)
    • (123,00) (black)
    • 123,00 (red)
    • 123,00 (red)
    • (123,00) (red)
  • Debit/Credit – this field is only used if the expression “traffic figures” is defined in a line from the row schema used in the “function” field. The following settings are available:
    • Not relevant
    • Definition in column
    • Debit
    • Credit
  • Figure dimension – here you specify the unit of numbers for values. For example, if the value in hundreds is given, the number 12,345,678.90 is displayed in this column as 123,456.79 when the report is printed or displayed. The 2nd decimal is due to the type of rounding. The following settings are available:
    • In ones
    • In tens
    • In hundreds
    • In thousands
    • In tens of thousands
    • In hundreds of thousands
    • In milions
  • Priority formula – determination of which formula definition has priority in the event of a conflict. Priorities can only be assigned for formula columns. This information controls the time at which the column formula is calculated.
  • Convert – determination of whether the values in this column are converted into the foreign currency for reports with a foreign currency. In the case of report evaluations in the main or parallel currency, this parameter is not taken into account. The following settings are available:
  • Do not convert
  • Convert
    Note
    Reports can currently only be called in local currency. Therefore, this field is currently to be maintained only in preparation.
  • Selection assignments – in the row definition, for cost types or account assignments, an indicator can be stored for which column they should be valid. Up to three corresponding entries can be made within a column (e.g., A, B, C). When the report is printed or displayed, only values from the cost types/object accounts that have been defined with selection indicators A, B, C, or without information in the line assignment are displayed in this column. If no entry is made here, the values of all cost types/object accounts are relevant for this column.
  • Accounting standard – if you specify a valid accounting standard, only the values of this accounting standard are shown in this column. Accounting standards are used to evaluate and present the accounting system according to various accounting regulations (e.g., according to the HGB, the depreciation regulations are different from the IAS guidelines, which leads to different valuations in the balance sheet and to a different income statement).
  • Currency – if necessary, enter a valid parallel currency in this field in which the values in this column are to be displayed.
Tab Formula

The tab Formula is only displayed for the column type Formula column.

Formula – formulas may only be specified for the column type Formula. With the help of formula columns, arithmetic links can be defined within a column scheme. The columns with which the desired arithmetic operation is to be carried out must be defined. It is also possible to include constants in the formulas. Which calculation formulas are possible is described under Calculation formula.

Tab Assignments

The tab Assignments is displayed for the Column schema type Cost types, Dimension elements and Dimension elements with cost types in connection with the column type Value column.

  • Use classifications cost type – here you specify whether cost types should be selected individually or via a classification. If you select Without classification, the cost type is selected for report evaluations. When you select a classification (1 to 5), all cost types that are assigned to the stored node within the classification tree are selected for report evaluations.
  • Cost type – if the value Without classification has been selected in the field Use classification cost types, enter a cost type. However, this field can also remain empty. Then the cost type from the call is used.
  • Use classification dimensions – here you specify whether optional dimensions should be selected individually or via classification. The following settings are available:
    • Without classification
    • With classification 1
    • With classification 2
    • With classification 3
    • With classification 4
    • With classification 5

If you select Without classification, the optional dimension is selected for report evaluations.

When a classification is selected, all optional dimensions that are assigned to the stored node within the classification tree are selected for report evaluations.

  • Dimension assigned – if the value Without classification has been selected in the field Use classification dimensions, enter an optional dimension. However, this field can also remain empty. Then the dimension from the call is used.
Tab Print
  • Bold print – in this field, you can determine which font design should be used for the column contents, i.e., the values within a column. The following settings are available for the text display: Bold type, Normal.
  • Font size – in this field, you can determine which font size the column contents, i.e., the values within a column, should have. The following settings are available for the text display: Normal, Enlarged.
  • Line alignment – in this field, you can determine which line alignment should be given to the column headings. This information can be overwritten in the lower fields for each heading line, giving you the option of aligning each heading differently. The following options are available: Right align, Left align, Centered.
Tab Percent

Percentage columns 1-4 can be defined for the percentage calculation in defined reports. With this distinction, up to 4 different basic definitions can be accessed in the lines in the row scheme.

The tab Percent is only displayed for the column types Percent column. On this tab you select the type of calculation and the related columns to which the calculation refers.

  • Processing – select the type of processing here. The processing can have the following contents: Percentage calculation, Per thousand calculation, Division, Multiplication.
  • Related column – here you enter the column that should be used for the calculation. This should normally be the immediately preceding column to make the report easier to interpret.
    Note
    Only value and formula columns may be selected.
  • Related column 100% – the column for the 100% base value for calculating the percentage is specified here. This column can differ from the related column.
  • Note: Only value and formula columns may be selected.
  • Absolute value – this indicator controls whether the absolute value for the Related column 100% is used for the calculation.
Position table for header lines

In this table, the individual heading lines are maintained for each column. Formatting information, individual texts or variables for the header lines can be specified.

  • Number – depending on how many headings you use, the numbers 1-5 will be displayed.
  • Heading – depending on how many heading lines (1 to max. 5) you use, you can enter individual text for each heading line in these fields per column.
  • Line alignment – depending on how many heading lines are used per column (up to 5 heading lines), you can specify in this field how the text should be aligned for each individual heading line. The selection “Same as text alignment” refers to the information in the field “Text alignment” for the general printing information.
  • Type title – instead of an individual text for a column heading, enter fixed constants here. Fixed constants and individual texts can be combined.
    Example
    Individual text: Constant, Period: Period from, Print: Period: 0311
    The following settings are available:
    • Deposited text,
    • Dimension element (code),
    • Dimension element (name),
    • Cost type (code),
    • Cost type (description),
    • 2nd assignment (code),
    • 2nd assignment (designation),
    • Balancing group,
    • Data type,
    • Period from,
    • Period until,
    • Number format,
    • Fiscal year.
Calculation formulas

Column numbers can be used as operators within formulas. The specification is made with the suffix “ID_” + column number. You have the same option in a row scheme, provided that a row has been defined as a formula line. The specification is also made here with the suffix “ID_” + line number.

Example: You want to add column 10 and column 30 in column 40. Column 40 should be defined as a formula column. The following information must be stored as a formula: ID_10 + ID_30

Multiplication with a fixed value is also possible, e.g. ID_10x (-1)

Note
For a new Column scheme of the type Info system (deviation analysis), two formula columns (for deviation and deviation in percent) are automatically created. Since the formulas of these formula columns are flexibly prepared at runtime, the usual variables (e.g. ID_10) cannot be used in the formulas. For this reason, the variables BASEVALUE and REFERENCEVALUE are used for the base and reference value and the following formulas are thereby generated:

Formula for deviation: REFERENCEVALUE BASEVALUE

Formula for deviation in percent: (REFERENCEVALUE BASEVALUE) / BASEVALUE * 100

If new formula columns are created and columns within this column scheme are accessed, the “ID_” variables can be used again.

 Functions and brackets
Function / Bracket Explanation
+ Plus
– Minus
* Multiplication
/ Division
% Remainder

(Example: 11/3=3, Rest 2 Syntax: 11%3  Result: 2)
( Bracket opened
) Bracket closed

The following application-related action is available in the “Definition of columns” application:

Realign columns

With this action, the columns within the column scheme are renumbered. The new column number is assigned in steps of 10.

Note
This action is carried out directly in the dialog without confirmation and cannot be undone.

 Customizing

No settings need to be made for the Definition of columns application in the Customizing application.

Business Entitys

The following business entity is relevant for the Definition of columns application that you use, for instance, for:

  • Assign authorizations
  • Set up activity definitions
  • Import or export data

Column scheme

com.sem.ext.app.fin.reporting.obj.ColumnHeader

The business entity is part of the following business entity group:

com.sem.ext.app.fin.reporting.MasterData

Authorizations

Authorizations can be assigned by means of authorization roles as well as by assigning an organization. The authorization concept is described in the article Authorizations.

Special capabilities

The Definition of columns application has no special capabilities.

Organizational assignments

An organizational assignment is not required for the Definition of columns application.

Special features

There are no special features for the Definition of columns application.

Authorizations for business partners

The Definition of columns application is not released for business partners.

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