Insight Creator V5.3 – User Guide

PostedDecember 19, 2022

UpdatedMay 23, 2023

The new Insight Creator is out

As promised new features are avaialble

1. Overview

DPRO’S Insight Creator is simplifying SAP by providing users the tool for implementing a new or revised process in hours rather than weeks.

Insight Creator is a spreadsheet-like application within SAP to support your business processes by providing a dynamic shared working environment that is easy to use and quick to apply.

Insight Creator variant – Flow of events:

The original report is executed (internally) in runtime
Contents (data and metadata) are retrieved by Insight Creator(AKA Baseline)
Baseline is enhanced with additional content
Content is enhanced by further styling
The result is then intersected with Authorization layer
Presented to the requester (SAPGUI, Fiori app., Insight Publisher)

No code is being cloned into Insight Creator.

All standard authorizations (in original report) are being checked.
Any changes in original report will be reflected automatically.

Here are the top three reasons to use Insight Creator in your SAP:

Implement a new or revised process in hours rather than weeks.
Simple to use and requires almost no help from IT to implement
Keep your business logic and data secured within SAP and eliminate the need to export data to desktops or other systems.

This document will explain and show how to use the Insight Creator. It requires no previous knowledge other than basic SAP experience.

By the end of it, you will be able to create new reports, add columns, use conditional formatting, filter the results and send them.

2. Define and Maintain a Insight Creator Variant

This section will show how to create or maintain a new Insight Creator variant to an existing report (SAP Standard or customer developed).

Login to SAP
Go to the Insight Creator transaction in ‘/DPS/RAINBOWALV’ (T-code). You might want to save this transaction in your favorites.
The following window will open:

InsightZAP Creator Monitor Selection Screen

The Creator Monitor Selection Screen Menu Bar contains the following menu items:

Menu	Menu Item	Parent	Keyboard Command	Description
Program
	Execute		F8
	Execute and Print		Ctrl + P
	Execute in Background		F9
	______________
	Exit		Shft + F3	Exit Monitor
Variant
	Create		F6	Create New Creator Variant
	Import			Import Creator Variant
Edit					`
	All Selections
	Chosen Selections
	______________
	Selection Options		F2
	______________
	Delete Selection Row		Shft + F2
	Delete All Select…
	______________
	Dynamic Selections
	______________
	Cancel		F12
Goto
	Variants
	Get…	Variants	Shft + F5
	Display…	Variants
	Delete…	Variants
	Save As Variant.	Variants	Ctrl + S
	______________
	User Variables..
	Selection Screen Help		Shft + F6
	______________
	Customizing			InsightZAP Creator IMG
	More
	List of Transactions	More		List of New Transaction codes
	______________
	Logical Transaction	More		Logical Transaction codes
	______________
	Variant Change Documents	More		Variant Change Log
	Application Log	More		Variant Application Log
	Log Viewer	More
	Navigations – W.Used	More
	______________
	Back		F3

The GUI status toolbar contains the following icons:

Quick Info Text	Keyboard Command	Function
Execute	F8	Lounches the Monitor once the report parameters are set
Get Variant…	Shft + F5	Opens a menu with a list of any available Variants to use
Create	F6	Invokes the Create New Variant screen

The screen is separated in to two areas:

On the left panel:

An easy way to quickly find and invoke the needed variant.

Get Variant…
- This list corresponds to the saved Selection Variants.
- In case a Selection Variant was selected using the Get Variant… icon (from the GUI status toolbar) it will be added to the list.
- The list will display the recently used Selection Variants and it will show a max number of 5 records.
- Pressing the text itself, will populate the selection screen with the saved parameters. Pressing the Clock icon (to the left of the text) will populate the selection screen with the saved parameters and will invoke the Creator Variant (Execute) thereafter.
Favorites:
- A list of 5 Insight Creator variants you mark as your favorite.
- This list corresponds to the Creator Variants that were marked as Favorites. For further information, check the Favorite Column in the InsightZAP Creator Monitor.
- In case a Variant was marked as Favorite, it will be added to the list.
- The list will display up to 5 Variants that were marked as Favorites (ascendingly sorted by Variant ID).
- The title itself (Favorites) is a link and it corresponds to clicks. In case more than 5 Variants were marked as Favorites, clicking the title will navigate to the entire Favorite list.
- Pressing the text itself, will invoke the selected Favorite Variant. Pressing the Hamburger button (The icon consisting of three horizontal bars to the left of the text) will invoke the Creator Variant (Execute) with the selected Favorite Variant.

Recently Used:
- This list corresponds to the Creator Variants that were recently used.
- In case a Variant was invoked, it will be added to the list.
- The list will display up to 5 Variants that were recently invoked.
- The title itself (Recently Used) is a link and it corresponds to clicks. In case more than 5 Variants were recently-used, clicking the title will navigate to the entire recently-used list.
- Pressing the text itself, will invoke the selected Variant. Pressing the Hamburger button (The icon consisting of three horizontal bars to the left of the text) will invoke the Creator Variant (Execute) with the selected Variant.

Atop the left panel, a Menu Item could be found.

Menu item

Help button – this button opens two direct links
1. User Guide – a direct link to the Insight Creator user guide at the Insight-SAP knowledgeable website.
2. Release Notes – a direct link to the Insight Creator release notes document.
3. Open Service Ticket – a direct link to Insight-SAP support team where you may open a ticket.

On the right panel:

A select option and parameters that will help you narrow the list of the available Insight Creator variants.

Important Note:

In order to display also report statistics (such as columns that were added, rules and graphics) check the ‘Statistics’ option .

1. Click on the to create a new Insight Creator variant – you may find more details under “Create a New Insight Creator Variant”.
2. Click on the button or press F8.
  The following window will open:
  Creator Monitor Variant List

4. The main menu bar includes the following actions:

Quick Info Text	Keyboard Command	Function
Create variant		Create a new Insight Creator variant
Copy variant	Shift+F1	Makes a copy of a chosen Insight Creator variant
Display variant		Displays a Insight Creator variant
Change variant	Shift+F8	Display the Insight Creator variant properties
Delete variant	Shift+F4	Delete a Insight Creator variant
Execute		Three Options are available: 1. Hit the button to Execute a Insight Creator variant. 2. Hit the sub-option “Via Sel.Screen” to Execute the Insight Creator variant and allow to change the default selection screen. 3. Hit the sub-option “Empty Sel. Screen” to Execute the Insight Creator variant and set the selection screen parameters.
Execute SAPUI5 Application	F7	Execute Insight Creator variant in SAPUI5 mode (via browser)
Execute original report		Two Options are available: 1. Execute the original report (no Insight Creator additions) 2. Hit the sub-option “Via Sel.Screen” to Execute the Original Report and allow to change the default selection screen.
Create Insight Publisher Job		Two Options are available: 1. jump to Insight Publisher to create a new Insight Publisher job 2. Hit the sub-option “Insight Publisher Jobs” to jump to Insight Publisher and display the jobs that are based on the selected Insight Creator variant.
Details
Sort in Ascending Order	Cntrl+F4
Sort in Descending Order	Cntrl+Shift+F4
Find…		Searches for requested data on the current screen
Find Next		Searches further for requested data on the current screen
Set Filter…
Totals
Subtotals
Print		Print data on the current screen
Views
Export
Choose Layout

5. The Pull-Down menu includes the following additional actions:

Menu	Menu Item	Parent	Keyboard Command	Description
List
	Print			Print the list of Insight Creator Variants
	Export			Export the list of Insight Creator Variants – Choose the desired format option.
	Word Processing…	Export	Ctrl+Shft+F8
	Spreadsheet…	Export	Ctrl+Shft+F7
	Local File…	Export	Ctrl+Shft+F9
	Additional Functions of SAP Query	Export
	Send To			Send the list of Insight Creator Variants – Choose the desired option.
	Mail Recipient	Send To	Ctrl+F7
	Folder	Send To			`
	______________
	Exit		Shft+F3	Exit Insight Creator displayed Transaction
Variant
	Execute		F9	Execute the selected Insight Creator Variant in SAP GUI
	SAPUI5			Execute the selected Insight Creator Variant in SAP UI5 (If Applicable)
	Execute (More)			Additional options to execute the selected Insight Creator Variant in SAP GUI
	Via Sel.Screen	Execute (More)	Ctrl+F12
	Empty Sel. Screen	Execute (More)	Ctrl+F2
	Execute Original Report	Execute (More)	Ctrl+F3
	______________
	Create			Create a new Insight Creator Variant
	______________
	Copy		Shft+F1	Copy a selected Insight Creator Variant to a new one
	Change		Shft+F8	Change a new Insight Creator Variant
	Delete		Shft+F4	Delete a new Insight Creator Variant
	______________
	Create Insight Publisher Job			Create a new Insight Publisher Job based on the selected Insight Creator Variant
	______________
	Import/Export			Import a Insight Creator Variant from a local file
	Export	Import/Export		Export a Insight Creator Variant to a local file
	Import	Import/Export
	______________
	Import Update	Import/Export		Import to An Existing Variant
	______________
	Versions	Import/Export
	Version Management	Versions		Insight Creator uses version management mechanism. it supports display all the available versions and Import Update, Export and Delete version.
	Generate Version	Versions		Generate a new Version
	______________
	Export To Database	Import/Export		Export selected Creations as XML to file system
	Import From Database	Import/Export		Import a Creation from an external XML file
Edit				Standard ALV display options
Goto
	Customizing			A shortcut to the Insight Creator Customizing menu (IMG)
	List of Transactions			Displays all the transactions that were created with reference to Insight Creator Variant Report (New Tcode)
	______________
	Logical Transaction			Reports w/o transaction code (e.g. SAP Query) can also be handled using logical transaction code. Please refer to the Knowledge base – Insight Creator Tips&Tricks “Create a Insight Creator Variant from Report/Query without transaction (T-Code)”
	______________
	Variant Change Do…			Display all the changes that were made in a specific Insight Creator Variant
	Application Log			Display Insight Creator’s Application log (SLG1)
	Log Viewer			Display Insight Creator use audit
	Navigations – W.Used			Display where-used (Insight Creator variants) of navigation business objects/transactions (T-code /DPS/RET_NAV_WUS)
	______________
	Back			Exit Insight Creator displayed Transaction
Settings				Standard ALV display options

Important Note:

Deleting a variant will delete all changes, i.e., paint, columns, comments, etc.
In order to Export a variant the variant must me executed and data must be available to display.
Copy/Import variant function enables the user to decide what objects (columns graphs, etc.) are to be copied during copy/import.
In order to Export a Insight Creator variant, field catalog should also be exported.
In case report couldn’t be executed, field catalog cannot be retrieved and export file will be incomplete.
A warning message will appear in such case.

Version Management

From the very early versions of Insight Creator, Creations could be exported and imported using XML files. This functionality could be reached from the main Creator menu under Variant⇒Import/Export.

This feature was mainly used for following use-cases:

Working outside Production and importing the resulting Creation to Production, thereafter. This use-case is characterized by industries with tight regulation (such as medical devices) that ban changes in Production system no whatsoever.
Saving backup versions, before major changes made to a Creation

This concept falls short in few aspects:

Continuous Delivery – In case the organization would like to constantly develop a creation outside the Production system and to delta-update the Creation on Production with changes made externally. Since the simple Import operation creates yet another Creation in the SAP system, content created in previous imports (input fields, comments, changes to display layouts and others) will be available to the newly imported version.
Rollback – In many cases, changes to existing Creations cause unwanted results, and rollback was in need.

In order to overcome these deficiencies, the Import/Export approach was extended to support the other use cases:

Import for Update – This feature allows to import, into existing Creation, the delta changes made externally in other Creation. This way, existing content remained untouched, yet corrections and new features (Columns, Conditional-Formatting, Grouping, and others) could be imported. Actually, two Creations (Original & Copy) could coexist allowing monitored Export/Import from one Creation (in one system) to another Creation (in another system).
Technically, the export process stays the same- the source Creation is exported and saved as an XML file. Nonetheless, using the Import Update menu item, the delta changes in the Source Creation could be now imported to the Copy Creation.
Version Management – The version control allows saving various versions of the same Creation. In contrast to the Import/Export features (which uses external XML files), versions are saved within the SAP system. The Version management is composed of two main features:
1. Generate Version – New version is being generated and saved
2. Version Management – a whole Version Management screen pops up and allow Creators to move between versions and to export needed versions out of the system, in case they are needed elsewhere.
  Creator Version Management

3. Creating a New Insight Creator Variant

Almost every SAP (standard or customer) report is supported.

Pre-requisites:

ALV table (both list and grid) is used. Not ABAP list (with WRITE statements), printout, etc.
ALV table can be displayed directly from the selection-screen (In case multiple screens/tables are displayed in the same report).
The report is background enabled (i.e., could be executed in background).
- Verification –
  - You should be able to schedule the report as a background job directly in transaction SA38/SM36
  - Use the report name rather than the transaction name.
  - Use predefined report (selection screen) variant and verify that job isn’t aborted/cancelled. ALV table should be written to spool.

* There are some special reports which require special handling to support them (for example, cases where report name or ALV layout is determined dynamically). This topic will be discussed later on, in unit “Handle special reports”.

Click on the ‘Create variant’ button (Shift+F5) .

The following window will open:

The following window will open:

Field	Description	Type
Description	The name of the Insight Creator variant	Obligatory
Group	A Group to collect some Insight Creator variants (for example Finance, Procurement, Sales, etc.)	Optional
New Transaction Code	A new T-code for the Insight Creator variant	Optional
Create	Create a new T-code for the Insight Creator variant	Optional
Delete Transaction Code	Delete the Insight Creator variant’s T-Code * Enabled only if a T-code was created	Optional
Private	Check if the Insight Creator variant is personal. Sharing is prohibited	Optional

Transaction Tab

Field	Description	Type
Original transaction	The T-code of the original report	Obligatory
Program Name	The program of the report (arrive automatically)	Calculated
Variant Name	The relevant existing report’s variant	Optional
Create Variant	Define a new variant to the report This option available only after adding the Original transaction	Optional
Change Variant	Maintain the selected variant of the report. This option available only after adding the Original transaction	Optional
User-Specific	User-specific report’s variant	Optional
Via sel. screen	When executing a Insight Creator variant a popup is always display enabling the user to choose the report’s selection screen variant. SAP OSS Note 2918966 must be installed to support it.	Optional
Variant for Sel.	When executing a Insight Creator variant a popup is always display enabling the user to choose the report’s selection screen variant	Optional
Layout	The relevant existing layout from the report (3 fields – use the search help on the first field)	Recommend
Advanced search	In some cases, a report used by transaction invokes inside another program so that an ALV layout is stored for that internal program and can’t be normally found with a standard F4 logic	Optional
Without invisible columns	Check to ignore invisible columns	Optional

Original Transaction Search Help (F4) – You can use this search help to choose three types of SAP Reports. each type has it’s own search help Tab:

Report by Transaction – Search and choose an SAP or a custom developed transaction.
LogicalTransaction – Create an Insight Creator variant based on Logical Transaction that was created in the Insight Creator environment (see previous chapter and at the Insight Creator Tips&Tricks Knowladge base – Create a report based on Logical Transaction.
Suggested Transactions – These are Insight SAP suite transaction that can be used to create new Insight Creator variants. In order to use them you first have to execute them separately and define a Variant to be used.
- /DCM/CLEAR_LOG – Change Log Viewer – A report used to display the changes tracking report from the Insight SAP Change.
- /DCM/FILE_VIEW – Excel-In – Enables creating an Insight Creator Variant based on an external file like Excel Sheet.
- /DCM/IDOC_MONITOR – IDoc Monitor+ – A report used to display the IDocs report from the Insight SAP IDoc Monitor+.
- /DCM/SE16N – General Table Display – Enables the usage of a database table (like SE16N) to create a Insight Creator variant.

Transaction code is obligatory (authorization requirements).
- Authorization for (original) transaction code is being checked during execution.
- Reports w/o transaction code (e.g. SAP Query) can also be handled using logical transaction code. This topic will be discussed later in unit “Handle special reports”.

Snapshot Tab

Field	Description	Type
Key*	Insight Publisher Key Insight Creator link	Optional
Snap ID*	Insight Publisher Job Number Insight Creator link	Optional

Field	Description	Type
Aggregation Mode	The report will display only the last record according to the predefined sorting by the key	Optional
Consider original coloring	Remove the check-mark if you would like to ignore the original coloring	Optional
Exit ID	Add customer function to a report. Look for ‘Creating Customer-Defined Functions’. This feature is obsolete. it’s available only for Variants that were created in older versions (and is in use)	Optional

* To be used in conjunction with Insight Publisher.

2. Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) to save the new Insight Creator Variant.

Function Tab

By selecting a specific Toolbar function, this option generates a whiteboard Creation based on that Toolbar Function interface. The Toolbar Function fields , in their predefined sequence, will be placed as input fields in that Creation. Users may key in rows of data entries. Selecting the requested records and pressing the Toolbar Function button, will apply the coded functionality onto those records.
In case needed, the resulted Creation may be used as a full fledged Excel interface. Using the ‘Import’ button, an Excel (or CSV) file in the structure of the Toolbar Function interface, could be uploaded. In needed, pressing the ‘Download Sample’ button will popup an Excel file with the needed field structure.

Important Note:

Insight Creator variant can be either Public or Private.
To add documentation to the variant press the Documentation (Shift+F1) button.
To translate the Insight Creator variant’s description to other languages, select the Insight Creator variant (after creation) then press the translate button at the bottom of the screen (available in change mode only!).

4. View and Maintain a Insight Creator Variant

This section shows how to Maintain and view an existing report.

In SAP, go to the Insight Creator transaction at ‘/DPS/RAINBOWALV’ or ‘/DPS/RAINBOW_ME’ (to display only variants created by you).
Mark the relevant report and double-click it or click on the ‘Execute’ button .
The following window will open:

The main menu bar includes all available actions. You can use the ‘More Options’ and ‘Hide’ buttons to display or hide the additional buttons on the bar.

Important note:

You may know the Variant Report number from the pull-down menu Report->Variant.

Main Menu Bar

Views

This action will display/hide additional views options

Click on the ‘Views’ button (F6)
The following panel will open:

Selection Values – Check to display the report selection values at the Header Panel.
Variables – Check to display the report Variants values at the Header Panel. (Enabled only if exist)
ALV Layouts – Allows to set favorite ALV layouts and switch between them easily.
Pivot Tables – Set and manage pivot tables.
Grouping Tree – If “Groups” was defined as a group Check to display the group’s tree
Data – Check to display the report data
Paint Rules – Check to display the paint rules
Graphs – Check to display the Graphs panel

Pivot Tables

A pivot table is a table of grouped values that aggregates the individual items of a more extensive table within one or more discrete categories.

Paint

The Paint action helps the users to color specific fields and lines.

1. Mark report fields or lines

2. Click on the ‘Paint’ button (F9) .
The following window will open:

3. Choose the color from the color chart (F4), style and scope.

4. Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) .

Important Note:

This action gets higher priority than coloring done by a rule.
To use ‘Paint’ for a single field, you must set a key first.
The ‘Paint’ can be a Private or Public.

Comment

The ‘Comment’ action enables users to write a new comment on any field in the report or view existing comments.

Users may update/change existing comments.

Two comment types are available:

Comment for a row.
Comment for a specific cell in a row.

Create a New Comment

Mark entire row if the comment is relevant to the entire row or mark a specific cell.
Click on the ‘Comment’ button (Shift+F8) .
The following window will open:

3. Mark the “Scope” type.

Public – All users can view the comments
Private – the comment is restricted to it’s creator only

4. Enter your comment.

5. You may assign collaborators to the comment:

Add the Collaborators to the table.
Each of the collaborators will receive an email with reference to the Insight Creator variant and the comment added.
A special icon will appear to let the user easily know which comment is collaborated.

5. Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) .

Important Note:

Users can delete comments using the Trash bin icon .

Add/Change Text to a Comment

To modify a comment or add additional comment double click on a Comment cell.
The following window will open:

3. You may change the “Scope” type.

Public – All users can view the comments
Private – the comment is restricted to it’s creator only

4. To options are available:

Add a new comment.

Type the comment. a new line with the User name, the date and time will be created.

Update or Change a previous comment

A special icon will appear to let the user easily know which comment is collaborated.

Double click on the comment index table to choose the relevant comment to change.

Type the desired comment.

The system will show the user who added the comments.

By selecting a comment with the icon the list of the collaborators will appear.

For example in the screen shot above the Username GIL created the comment and the Username OFFERN added more comments.

5. Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) .

Important Note:

Users can delete comments using the Trash bin icon .

Display Values Texts

he ‘Text’ action let the users add a text column containing the related business-object columns description. The functionality uses an algorithm the searches SAP for Text in case such Text exists.

Select a report column.
Click on the ‘Text’ button (Ctrl+F5) .

For example, if your report contains ‘SD-1044’ in the ‘Material’ column, and you will press on the ‘Text’ button, the Insight Creator will add an additional column showing the material description ‘Ergo Monitor 20IN’.

Selection of value text (in Text columns) from time-dependent text tables (e.g. CEPC for data element PRCTR). Selection is done according to current date.

Advanced Filter

This action filters the data by the Insight Creator features. This feature allows the user to filter the data by colors and comments.

Color Filtering: color level, specific color, rule id, and specific columns.

Comment Filter: text, field name, created by and created on or days ago (with seven days default).

Row: restrict color filter to row color (in similar to restriction by color of specific column).

Specific Column: restrict color filter to a column (in similar to restriction by color of specific row). you may check the “Include Row Color” if you wish to take into account the color of the entire row and not the specific column. For example you need to mark this checkbox if the entire row is red and no color was selected to the specific cell/column in order to show it.

Data:
The advanced filter is enhanced with a filter: Duplicates ->
Find/Remove duplicates.

Click on the ‘Filter’ button (Ctrl+F12) .
The following window will open:

The button Choose enables the user to choose a report field and filter the data according to its Color or according to a “Rule ID” criteria.
The “Choose” button
Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) .

Outlook Message

This action will send selected data using Microsoft Outlook.

Select the data fields (cells/Rows/columns) which you would like to send in the mail. If you do not select any line, the action will send the entire report.
Click on the ‘With Outlook’ button (Shift+F5) .
The following window will open:

Choose a file format for the report.
1. Send via Outlook of XLSX enables column width optimization.
2. Dispatching of HTML format with embedded links as well as incorporating the selected data within the body of HTML formats (e.g. emails)
If graphs were defined, check the “Attachment” and select the relevant “Graphic ID” in order to send it.
Select the “Content Link” checkbox to set a (perma) link to the report (via ITS).
The link will navigate directly to the Insight Creator variant with the selected report variant, ALV layout and the selected rows.
Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) .

5. More Options and Hide

Use the ‘More Options’ button (Shift+F9) to show additional actions and ‘Hide’ to conceal them. The hidden/displayed actions are ‘Set Key’, ‘Columns’, ‘Groups’, ‘Graphics’, ‘Auth.’, ‘Functions’, ‘Variables’, and ‘Send’:

Set Key

This action sets the key for the table. The table’s key must be unique.

Click on the ‘Set Key’ button (Shif+F4) .
The following window will open:

Choose the fields that will set the keys of the report.
Click on the ‘V’ icon .
A popup screen will allow the user to verify the uniqueness of the selected keys
Creator Monitor Set Key Screen
Press the desired button

Important Note:

A key must be unique to all Non “Aggregation Mode” variant.
Changing the key will delete the created comments and colors.

Additional Columns

This action will manage the custom Insight Creator columns in the report.

Click on the ‘Columns’ button (Shift+F1) .
The following window will open with all the existing custom columns:

The following actions are available:

Icon	Quick Info Text		Function
	Add New Column		Create a new Column
	Copy Column		Makes a copy of a chosen Column
	Display		Displays a Column
	Change		Changes a Column
	Delete		Deletes a selected Column
	Set Navigation		Defines drill down navigation from a Column
	Where used		Shows column with connected (i.e. Text column of the selected one). Use the additional button option too search where the column is used in ALV Layout.
	Scroll		Returns to the Insight Creator variant report and show select (mark) the column. allows selecting invisible columns too.
	Details		Displays details of a column
	Sort in Ascending Order
	Sort in Descending Order
	Find…		Searches for requested data on the current screen
	Find Next		Searches further for requested data on the current screen
	Set Filter…
	Col. Kind		Filters the column by the column type (Comments, Formula, Input, etc.)
	Print		Print data on the current screen
	Views
	Export
	Change Layout

Important Note:

During deletion of a column the system checks and issues an error if:
- Dependencies are found.
- If the column is defined as a key column (Relevant only for aggregation mode).

Create a Column

Click on the Create icon .
The following window will open:
Creator Monitor Formula Column Screen
Choose the type of column. You can choose:

Aggregation – This column will allow aggregation (Total/Min/Max/Average/Median/Count) of specific column, grouping by group of other columns (or none).
Table Lookup – insert a new field from external source/table.
DB Lookup type – insert a new field from any table required to define a relevant key.
Formula type – calculated on base data from other existing columns
Input type – Date, Number, Text, Xfeld or Domain.
Long Text – Display a long text data (For example Purchase order header Text)

3. If needed set column authorization (customizable in Insight Creator IMG)

Important Note:

A new column will have a field name that begins with /DPS/.
The Heading field has two line:
1. Editable label field – here you can enter the column’s desired name.
2. after selecting the Data Element, the dictionary label will be displayed. It’s the default label in case no value has been entered above (line 1).

Aggregation Column

Select ‘Aggregation’ in the ‘Kind of column’ field

Heading – The data element text will showed by default – user can change overwrite.
1. For setting only a dynamic value, fixed heading should be left empty.
  For setting a fixed value together with dynamic part, &1 placeholder
  should be used (e.g. “Value for &1”).
Variable – A formula to effect the header.
Explanation – Enter a short description. This explanation will appear when the cursor hovers over the column’s title.
Field – Enter the field you want to aggregate upon.
Aggregation – Choose the type of aggregation you want to use.
Group by->Fields Name – Enter the fields you want to group the results by.
Authorization – Select the Authorization Group ID of the column (Please review the customizing chapter in this user guide).

To add documentation to the column press the Documentation

(Shift+F1) button.

Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) and then click on the ‘Close’ button.

Important notice:

Total/Mean value is supported only for numeric columns.
In case of total, data type should be converted (to the highest decimal value with the same decimals) in order to avoid of overflow.
The calculation doesn’t support aggregation of currency/quantity columns with different currency keys/unit of measures (warning will be written to log in such case).
ALV Aggregation (totals) will be disabled for aggregation columns because it would display incorrect results (due to the nature of these columns).
To add documentation to the column press the Documentation (Shift+F1) button.

Formula Column

Select ‘Formula’ in the ‘Kind of column’ field

Heading – Enter the heading of the column.

- For setting only a dynamic value, fixed heading should be left empty.
- For setting a fixed value together with dynamic part, &1 placeholder
  should be used (e.g. “Value for &1”).
Variable – A formula to effect the header.
Explanation – Enter a short description. This explanation will appear when the cursor hovers over the column’s title.
Formula – In change mode the column’s formula will be displayed.
Active – An option that allows the column to be disabled without deleting it.
Authorization – Select the Authorization Group ID of the column (Please review the customizing chapter in this user guide).

Open the search help of the Data Element field (F4/Double click).

Choose the relevant data element (relevant in Formula and Input type)

The list is grouped by basic standard types (as dates, time, texts etc.), Categories such as business partner, and by application area (SAP modules).

You can use the Other Searche Help (F5) to change to SAP Standard Data Element Search Help.

Please consult the customizing guide in order to add additional Data Elements.

Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) .

SAP formula builder screen will open:

Formula builder – Define the formula. The formula editor contains four parts:

Top of the screen shows the Formula
Lower left – Report and system fields
Lower right – Standard and Insight Creator specific functions
Lower center – Operation pool

Write your formula using the fields and actions.

Click ‘Save’ button .

To add documentation to the column press the Documentation (Shift+F1) button.

Click on the ‘Close’ button.

Please consult the customizing section to add additional formulas.

Important Note:

Special Insight Creator “Link” Data Element are available:
- /DCM/FILE – Open (local) file
- /DCM/URL – Open URL in web browser
- /DCM/EMAIL – Open email with email address (send to)
- /DCM/TELF – Open dialer with telephone number (call to)
Further formula’s documentation is available by selecting a formula and hitting the F1 button.
You can develop you own custom formulas using the Insight Creator IMG.
To add documentation to the column press the Documentation (Shift+F1) button.

Error Log

There are situation where a rule formula is valid, yet during the evaluation error is found.

If an error is found a special icon will appear on the report toolbar.

By pressing the Log icon a detailed explanation will appear.

For example, the report’s plant code includes characters and thus could not be compared with number

Input Column

Select ‘Input’ in the ‘Kind of column’ field

Data Element – Choose the relevant data element. For further explanation, please refer to the Data Element of the Formula type.
Heading – The data element text will showed by default – user can change overwrite.
1. For setting only a dynamic value, fixed heading should be left empty.
  For setting a fixed value together with dynamic part, &1 placeholder
  should be used (e.g. “Value for &1”).
Variable – A formula to effect the header.
Explanation – Enter a short description. This explanation will appear when the cursor hovers over the column’s title.
Change document -This flag is used to create change documents for business objects. Logging only takes place if the fields whose contents were changed refer to a data element that was flagged as relevant for the change document. You can go to the maintenance screen for change documents from the initial screen of the ABAP Workbench with Development -> Other tools -> Change documents or by selecting the cell or Column and using the Context-Menu (Right Click).
Locked for edit – You can manage and lock for edit the column.
Active – An option that allows the column to be disabled without deleting it.
Authorization – Select the Authorization Group ID of the column (Please review the customizing chapter in this user guide).
Condition – A reference to an existing column for column kinds: DB Lookup, Table Lookup, Long Text. It controls whether the value will be selected/evaluated for this record: When the value initial, the value won’t be evaluated.

Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) and then click on the ‘Close’ button.

Cell Lock Mechanism

In order to support “shared workbooks” (multiple users working on the same data-set at the same time), a unique lock mechanism is implemented.

Lock is set only on input (for specific cells).
The mechanism is noticeable only while several users concurrently modify the same input cells
In case cell is locked by another user, it cannot be updated.
In case cell was updated by another user in the meantime (user had updated value and saved it), the user get a prompt about this update (with the new value) and may decide whether to override value or adapt it.
Lock is released on save (or when data is reverted).

In case cell is locked by another user, it cannot be updated!

In case cell was updated by another user in the meantime (user had updated value and saved it), the user will be prompt by a message.

Display Mode for Input Columns

When using multiple layouts, the end user could identify and access quickly his favorite layout.

Click on ‘Display’ button .

The following list will open:

Insight Creator variants with input columns are now opened by default in Display mode. Edit mode should be explicitly switched on.

In display mode, standard functionality like subtotals collapse/expand and auto-refresh are available.

Also, the ALV layout button (at the ALV toolbar) was extended with an additional sub-menu of Favorites, which lists the favorite ALV layout of the end-user.

To add documentation to the column press the Documentation (Shift+F1) button.

Important Notes:

Edit mode is saved as part of ALV layout
Favorites may be maintained via ‘Manage…’.

DB Lookup Column

Select ‘DB Lookup type’ in the ‘Kind of column’ field

Heading – Enter the heading of the column – The dedfault will be of the lookup field.
1. 1. For setting only a dynamic value, fixed heading should be left empty.
    For setting a fixed value together with dynamic part, &1 placeholder
    should be used (e.g. “Value for &1”).
Variable – A formula to effect the header.
Explanation – Enter a short description. This explanation will appear when the cursor hovers over the column’s title.
Table – Enter the relevant table name. This field contains the table’s name that you would like to get the data from.
Field – Enter the relevant field that you want to get the values from.
Expert mode – Enables more lookup options (please review below).
Key Fields – Please check and fill all necessary fields that are required for key.
Active – An option that allows the column to be disabled without deleting it.
Authorization – Select the Authorization Group ID of the column (Please review the customizing chapter in this user guide).
Condition – A reference to an existing column for column kinds: DB Lookup, Table Lookup, Long Text. It controls whether the value will be selected/evaluated for this record: When the value initial, the value won’t be evaluated.

Expert mode

This features allows even more lookup options like freely selected table fields and aggregation.

click on the Expert mode button the screen will change as followed:

Additional button will appear on the DB Lookup area:

Standard mode – Returns to the standard mode options.
Copy text, Insert with overwrite – Used for easier typing.
Insert Row – Use this to add more fields to the lookup key – this button opens a list of all the fields of the lookup table to choose from.
Delete Row – Delete a selected field from the key.
Index In Use – Display all available indexes of the lookup table. By selecting one of them all the index fields will be added to the DB Lookup fields.
Aggregation – Process the selected rows of the DB Lookup field. the following options are available: Count, Count Unique, Exist, Maximum, and Minimum.
Authorization – Select the Authorization Group ID of the column (Please review the customizing chapter in this user guide).
Condition – A reference to an existing column for column kinds: DB Lookup, Table Lookup, Long Text. It controls whether the value will be selected/evaluated for this record: When the value initial, the value won’t be evaluated.

To add documentation to the column press the Documentation

(Shift+F1) button.

Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) and click ‘Close’.

Important Note:

When using Expert Mode keep in mind the performance especially when not using database index.

Table Lookup

In some cases it is required to add data to Insight Creator variant from an external source/table, in similar to DB lookup column (which selects data from DB table).

This option also allow lookup of other Insight Creator reports, Excel, etc.

Data source is restricted to snapshot.

In contrary to other mappings, the mapping in this column type is less strict: It allows mapping of (compatible) data types in shorter length (and not only exactly the same length, like in other mappings).

Select ‘Table Lookup” type in the “Kind of column” field

Creator Monitor Table Lookup Field Screen

Heading – Enter the heading of the column – The default will be of the lookup field.
- For setting only a dynamic value, fixed heading should be left empty.
  For setting a fixed value together with dynamic part, &1 placeholder
  should be used (e.g. “Value for &1”).
Variable – A formula to effect the header.
Explanation – Enter a short description. This explanation will appear when the cursor hovers over the column’s title.
Snapshot– Enter the relevant Key name and Snap ID. These fields contains the Insight Publisher Snapshot that you would like to get the data from.
Field – Enter the relevant field that you want to get the values from.
Key Fields – Please check and fill all necessary fields that are required for key.
Aggregation – Process the selected rows of the DB Lookup field. the following options are available: Count, Count Unique, Exist, Maximum, and Minimum.
Active – An option that allows the column to be disabled without deleting it.
Authorization – Select the Authorization Group ID of the column (Please review the customizing chapter in this user guide).
Condition – A reference to an existing column for column kinds: DB Lookup, Table Lookup, Long Text. It controls whether the value will be selected/evaluated for this record: When the value initial, the value won’t be evaluated.

Long Text Column

Select ‘Long Text’ in the ‘Kind of column’ field

Heading – The data element text will showed by default – user can change overwrite.
1. 1. For setting only a dynamic value, fixed heading should be left empty.
    For setting a fixed value together with dynamic part, &1 placeholder
    should be used (e.g. “Value for &1”).
Variable – A formula to effect the header.
Explanation – Enter a short description. This explanation will appear when the cursor hovers over the column’s title.
Long Text – You must map the desired long text of an SAP object (i.e. header text of Purchase Order) or to a Standard Text (transaction SO10).
Alternative Language – controls whether to select text in alternative language if no text was found for the input language.
Active – An option that allows the column to be disabled without deleting it.
Authorization – Select the Authorization Group ID of the column (Please review the customizing chapter in this user guide).
Condition – A reference to an existing column for column kinds: DB Lookup, Table Lookup, Long Text. It controls whether the value will be selected/evaluated for this record: When the value initial, the value won’t be evaluated.

Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) and then click on the ‘Close’ button.

Change a Column

Mark one of the lines and click on the “Change Column” button.

Change column screen will appear.

In this screen you can change the column definition.

Important Note:

You can change also the translation of the column using the Translate (F7) button
When changing a Formula type column a button will appear to enter the formula builder.

Define a “Drill Down” Navigation of a Column

The screen is a limited and thus pretty expensive piece of real estate. That’s why User-Interface designers spend so much time optimizing it. In the old world of SAP, if the needed information could not be found in the current screen, users needed to work with a few sessions (screens) concurrently. It’s very common to find a business end user following the ritual of opening several sessions and syncing them together to have a complete view over the matter in hand. Indeed, a well planned screen will make the end-user’s life easier yet it is somehow limited. In some cases users need to move from one business object to another and in other cases they need a broader information regarding a specific topic:

Business objects chain – The essence of ERP systems is the relationship between business objects (master data). No matter how well the screen was designed, it cannot occupy the entire scope of business objects connections. The Purchase Order (PO) is attributed to a Vendor assigned to a Plant and contains Materials. It also may refer to a Purchase Requisition (PR) and/or specific Sales Order where the latter has a Customer and so on. The ability to move from one Business Object to another is manifested by Navigation.
Related Reports – In many cases the needed information could not be added since it uses a 1:many cardinality. That is to say, one record in the current record-set may point at a whole other record-sets. This way a data record containing a specific material should point at that material’s stock (warehouse), that material’s consumptions, or that material’s moving prices. Again, Navigation to another report will save the day.

As a result, Navigation is one of the most important services business end-users need. Using wisley planned Navigation fields, all needed information is laid in front of the users’ eyes or awaits them a click away.

InsigntSAP Creator supports a plethora of Navigation Types:

B – Business Object
R – Report Transaction
T – Parameter Transaction

Business Object Navigation –

This is the most common way to navigate around. SAP offers many Business Objects per each display method implemented. Thus, Simply by pointing the column to the right Business Object, Navigation to that Object’s main transaction is enabled. Since there is a tight relationship between domains and their corresponding Business Objects, in many cases this Navigation is automatically enabled. InsightZAP enables out-of-the-box Navigation to many Business Objects such as: Customer, Vendor, Employee, PO, PR, Sales Order, Invoice, Plant, and many many others. In those cases, automatically Customer fields will point to XD03, Vendor fields will point to KD03, Material fields to MM03 as so on. As probably observed, by default the Transaction Type is set to Display mode. However, in case SAP implemented the Change Method at the Business Object level, the Change Transaction Type could be selected, allowing direct Navigation to the Transaction Code in Change Mode. In that case, Customer fields will point at XD02, Vendor fields will point to KD02, Material fields to MM02 as so on.

In some cases, InsightZAP delivers new objects to overcome a shortage in SAP standard. Check Object /DCM/USER for an example. Since SAP did not implement the Display method per Business Object USER, It was implemented by InsightZAP with a new Business Object that enables drill-down to the user data (Transaction Su01D).

URI LInks –

A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is a unique sequence of characters that identifies a logical or physical resource used by web technologies. In some cases a special link to the URI scheme is required. These are common schemes which are assigned to desktop/mobile apps. InsightZAP offers the following Business Objects:

/DCM/URL – Website hyperlink (HTTP/HTTPS). The hyperlink will be opened by the default web browser.
/DCM/EMAIL – SMTP e-mail addresses (mailto:

). A new email message addressed to the input address will be composed by the default email client.
/DCM/TELF – Telephone number (tel:). A new phone call to the input telephone number will be opened by default dialer app.

In addition, the following special business objects are available:

/DCM/LFILE (Local File) – A local file (full path name) will be opened. This navigation is supported only in SAP GUI and not in any other GUI (including SAP GUI for HTML).

Adding new Business Objects –

In case a required business object is missing, a new custom (Z) business object can be developed. The development is done in transaction SWO1 and requires an implementation of the object key and the Display (and/or Change) method. The object must be released. To complete the process, the newly created Business Object must be added to the InsightZAP Navigation scheme using T-code /DPS/OBJ_NAV (Business Objects Navigation).

Click on the Set Navigation button .

The following window will open:

Enter the object that you would like to open in the drill down. Select the desired Transaction Type (Display or Change) and map the object Key fields.

Click on the ‘OK’ button (F8) .

Report Transaction –

Using the Report Transaction Navigation Type, one may customize the Navigation to another Report Transaction or Insight Creation in a specific context. Technically speaking, this Navigation Type is calling a given Report (using its T-code) with a specific Selection Variant. However, it replaces specific fields, within this Variant, with the fields mapped from the current Insight Creation.

This way, in a vendor report Navigation to Vendor’s open invoices report could be configured. By the same token, Navigation to a specific Material’s Goods Movement report (or stock report) could be added or Navigation to a customer’s debt report. All done in seconds and without a line of code.

The configuration is built of the following steps:

Select the T-code of the desired Report
Set the a selection Variant from the T-code existing Variants
Add the requested selection fields you would like to populate in runtime and map them onto the needed data (report fields, constants, variables, or system variables)

The configuration supports the following field-Types:

A – Attribute – The default Selection Variant
S – Selection Screen Parameter
D – Dynamic Selection Field

If the attribute VIA_SEL (Start Via sel. screen) is set to ‘Y’, the user will navigate through the Selection Screen allowing her to change yet other values.

Parameter Transaction –

Parameter transactions allow you to pre assign values to fields on the initial screen of a transaction. When the values are set, the corresponding content is being displayed.

In some cases, Navigation to Parameter-transaction is needed.

The configuration is built of the following steps:

Select the T-code of the desired Parameter Transaction
Add the requested parameters you would like to populate in real time and map them onto the needed data (report fields, constants, variables, or system variables)

Filter by kind of column

Click on the Col. kind icon .
The following window will open:

This unique filter enables the filtration of the columns by their kind type.

By default, the “Standard” and Comments are not showed.

Choosing the “Standard” enables the user to set navigation data to one of the reports original columns.

Grouping

Insight Creator enables to transform standard ALV reports into complex ALV Tree format.

This section will explain how to use a Grouped Insight Creator Variant.

The following screenshot displays an Insight Creator Variant with groups defined.

Select a Group/s from the Tree node and the relevant data records will be displayed. You can select multiple groups at once by preserving selection (Shift or Alt) and clicking on a Group.

At the Group Tree Node The following values are available:

Column	Description
Group	The group in an hierarchical tree format
Number of Records	The total number of available records at a group level
Number DRs	The total number of displayed records at a group level (in the above screenshot a filter on the Vendor column was set)
Description	First KPI Description
Val.	The aggregated value of the field selected to the first KPI value records selected at the group.
Description	Second KPI Description
Val.	The aggregated value of the field selected to the second KPI value records selected at the group.

The following toolbar is available at the group tree node.

Column	Description
Expend Sub-tree	Expend all sub-tree folders in a selected node
Collapse Sub-tree	Collapse all sub-tree folders in a selected node
Find	Search a to find a group
Print view	Print or Print Preview the group view/hierarchy
Layout	Standard SAP options to manage the group area columns layout
Intersection/Union	Intersection controls whether to display intersection or union of record during selection of multiple groups.
Display Table	Allows you to display the groups and hierarchy in a separated full screen report with all standard SAP ALV options
Close	Hides the panel. You can add the Tree panel again by checking it again using the Views (F6) button.

Create Grouping

This action will create a tree-like navigation panel

Click on the ‘Groups’ button (Ctrl+F9) .

The following window will open:

Click on the ‘Insert Row’ button .

A new row will be added:

Group ID – A unique ID number is generated automatically for each group row.
Group Description – Enter a short description. This explanation will appear in the tree view.
Parent Id. – Enter group ID if there is a hierarchy between fields.
Seq. – Enter a sequence number if there are several fields under the same parent Id.
Grouping Type – Standard, Others, and List:
- Standard create only one group by formula.
- Others create a group that stands in parent criteria and not included in any of its sons.
- List creates groups by a chosen field. A separate node for each value is set, whose node description is value text. ‘Description Format’ allow to control on the output of node description: Value, Value text or Value + Value text.
Criteria – Available only in case of standard grouping type is chosen. Enter criteria for the group.
Grouping Field – Available only in case of list grouping type is chosen. Chose a field from data.
Description Format – Select the desired description in the group panel
Expand/collapse – Expand, Collapse and Auto
- Expand – The brunch in the group tree panel is set to expand by default
- Collapse – The brunch in the group tree panel is set to collapse by default
- Auto – The brunch in the group tree panel is set to expand or collapse automatically
Group Style – Define the color of the group.
- Natural – no color
- Positive – Green
- Negative – Red
- Critical – Yellow.
Icon – Select a display icon for the group in the tree.
KPI ID 1 – (Detailed explanation in a separated KPI paragraph)
KPI ID 2 – (Detailed explanation in a separated KPI paragraph)
Active – enable/disable the group.

Enter group description, grouping type, grouping field, and other properties to define a group.
Creator Monitor Grouping Overview Screen

3. Click on the ‘OK’ button .

A group tree display will be added on the side of the main screen.

KPI

KPI (Key Performance Indicator) valueד can be defined in Insight Creator.

A KPI is an aggregated value of a report column calculated at groups level.

You can define up to two KPIs per group hierarchy.

The Insight Creator KPIs are available both in SAP GUI grouping tree and in the SAPUI5 app.

In the following screenshot two KPIs were set

You may review the grouped tree with the KPI results as a report by pressing the Display Table toolbar button.

A report will be displayed:

Create KPIs

You can create up to two KPIs at each group level

To create a KPI open the Groups dialog first by pressing the button.

At the Grouping dialog press the button.

The following screen will appear:

Press the Create button.

The following screen will appear:

Select one of the Insight Creator variant report fields

Choose one of the Aggregations options.

Press button.

You can create many KPIs.

At the grouping screen you may add a KPI to a each Group ID by choosing it at the “KPI ID 1” and “KPI ID 2” cells.

Graphics

This action is used to define graphs. The graph will present data defined by the properties, grouping and participating fields.

Click on the ‘Graphics’ button (Ctrl+Shift+F2) .
The following window will open:
Creator Monitor Graphics Overview Screen
Click on the ‘Create’ button .
The following window will open:
Creator Monitor Graphics Add Graphics

Enter properties, Values, Output Options, and Attributes to define the graphics you wish to present.

Properties

Graph Types – Choose the desired graph type from the pulldown list.
Creator Monitor Graphics Types
Dimension – Choose a 2D or 3D graph.
Title – The title of the Graph
Active – If deactivate the graph is hidden but not deleted.

Values

Axis X – Select from the search help (F4) in order to choose the graph field assigned to the Axis X.
Subgroup – Select from the search help (F4) a field to group by the graph.
Axis Y – Select from the search help (F4) in order to choose the graph field assigned to the Axis Y.
Aggregate Choose from the pulldown field one of the options to aggregate the data to of the graph.
Creator Monitor Aggregation Types
Percent – Display value data as percentage of total.
Display initial values – Draw graph values even if initial (as defined per each data type)
Value Label – Display the actual values of each field

Output Options

Short Text – The name of the graph file when attaching (exporting) it to an email.

Attributes

Attachable – Choose to enable attaching the graph an email (see above the “With Outlook” option)

Translation to other languages can be defined by pressing the “Translate” button (F5) .
Press the “OK” Button (F8) .
A new ‘Bar’ icon will appear in the report according to the setting:

Important Note:

More than one graph can be defined to one Insight Creator variant report
There are two options to view graphs:

On the side of the main screen (by checking “Graphs” at the views button).
By clicking the “Graphs” button on the report bar.

Graphs Panel options

(Graphs view has been checked).

Graphs pull down – a list to select of available graphs.
Configuration – Choose the grid size and graphic size.
Selection Active – If checked all the graphs will be based upon data in the selected cells of the report.
Close – Close the Graph panel.

Authorization

This action will give the option to define special row level authorization.
Click on the ‘Auth.’ Button (Shift+F11) .
The following window will open:

Click on the ‘Create’ button .

The following window will open:
Creator Monitor Authorization Add Auth Check

A unique ID number is generated automatically for each authorization.

Enter the SAP Authorization Object that you would like to use (F4 is available) and hit the “Enter” key.
Map the authorization fields by selecting field source “C” for constant value or “F” for a field, “V” for Insight Creator Variable and “D” for dummy. Press The F4 search help to display the corresponding (C or F) available values.
Press the “OK” Button (F8) .

Functions

In addition to built-in Insight Creator functionality, it is possible to extend variant with (custom) Toolbar Functions. Toolbar Functions are manifested as push buttons at the Insight Creator toolbar.

Adding Toolbar Functions, turn a simple report into an Operative one, e.g. adding Update delivery date at Purchase Orders Report.

Functions are built of two parts:

Function definition (Insight Creator level)
Function usage (Variant level).

Function Definition

Function definition is a technical part in which the function logic is implemented.

The step is under the responsibility of a developer and developed in DEV system. Implementation is transferred to other system with standard workbench transport request.

After being implemented once, this function can be consumed in many different Insight Creator variants.

The function definition is done in /DPS/RAINBOW_IMG -> Define Toolbar Functions.

It consists of several steps:

Function attributes: Function name, UI attributes (text, icon, etc.), Refresh indicator. Refresh indicator determines that report data should be re-fetched after (successful) execution of function. In such case, data loss prompt is displayed before function is executed (In case input data has been updated).

Function interface: List of fields: Field name and data element. This will be later used during assignment of functions for mapping of Insight Creator columns to function fields. By setting fields list, the same function can be-used by different Insight Creator variants (since each Insight Creator variant may contain different column names). This step is optional. In case fields list is empty, the whole data table will be transferred to code. A short text can also be filled to override standard label of data element.

BAdI implementation: The logic of the function is implemented in ABAP by implementing BAdI definition /DPS/RET_FUNCTION_BADI, one implementation per function. A wizard for automatic creation of BAdI imp. is available by pressing the BAdI Implementation button. The code should implement only the required business logic, while all other steps are handled by the Insight Creator framework itself. Example class /DPS/CL_BADI_RET_FUNCTION_EXAM can be used as reference.

The method receives two parameters:
- IT_DATA – Dynamic table of all report data with listed fields (If no fields were set, the whole table will be delivered). In order to allow simpler coding and avoid of dynamic variables assignment, it is advised to cast (move) table to structured one.
- IO_SELECTION – Assistance class for retrieval of selected cells/columns/rows.

Messages can be written to standard Insight Creator log by utilizing IO_LOG Messages will be added under step Function. When messages are set, a popup dialog will be displayed at the end of function execution.

In case of error, Exceptions of parent class /DPS/CX_RET_FUNC_EXEC should be raised:
- /DPS/CX_RET_FUNC_EXEC_NOT_DONE – Action cancelled.
- /DPS/CX_RET_FUNC_EXEC_SEL – No data selected.

Exception handling supports handling of PREVIOUS (used for setting of preceding exception).

Functions Usage

Function usage is done by simple assignment function to Insight Creator variant.

The assignment consist of two parts:

Setting of function name and its UI attributes. Attributes can be adapted from function definition or set manually.
Mapping of function fields (if set).

This button enables the option to use a function with a custom code in a special Insight Creator BADI named /DPS/RET_FUNCTION_BADI. Within the custom code, all the Insight Creator variant data is available.

In Insight Creator each BADI implementation name is a “Function” and adds a button to the Toolbar.

To create a button in the Insight Creator variant report follow these steps:

Click on the ‘Functions’ Button (Ctrl+F7) .
The following window will open:
Creator Monitor Toolbar Function Screen

Click on the ‘Create’ button .
The following window will open:
Creator Monitor Toolbar Add Function

A unique ID number is generated automatically for each function.

Enter the “Function” button properties.
Enter the Function name (the implementation name in BADI named /DPS/RET_FUNCTION_BADI)
Map the fields.
In case needed, mark field as Input so users will get a popup screen in which these fields’ values could be modified on the fly.
Translation to other languages can be defined by pressing the “Translate” button (F5) .

Press the “OK” Button (F8) .

Execution of function be can restricted with authorizations (Authorization object /DPS/RETF, Field /DPS/RET_F=).

Variables

This action will give the option to define Variables in a Insight Creator variant.

When wishing to run simulations within the reports and to assess the impact of a change of any variable within the reports.

Click on the ‘Variables’ Button (Ctrl+F11) .
The following window will open:

Click on the ‘Create’ button .

The following window will open:
Creator Monitor Variables Add

A unique ID number is generated automatically for each variable.

Enter the data element you want to assign to the variant.
Display option – Variables can be defined as input, allowing the end-user to change the contents of the variable (and reflect all changes immediately)
Variable values can be based on formula calculation.
Press the “OK” Button (F8) .

Important note:

In case of Insight Creator variant with input/output variables, the variables view should be visible by default (This can be manually changed later by saving a default ALV layout).

Creator Monitor Variables Display Options

Send

This action will give the option to send the Insight Creator variant report via SAP internal mail transaction.

Click on the ‘Send’ Button (Shift+F2) .
The Standard SAP mail transaction will open:

Fill the relevant field.

Press the “Send” Button (Shit+F8) .

6. Additional Actions

Refrsh all/Internal Refresh

This option enables to refresh all the report data or to refresh only the internal Insight Creator variant.

Click on ‘Refresh’ button .

The following list will open:

The following options are available:

‘Refresh All: Refetch Report Data (F8)’ – Use this option to reload the report (select again the records from the database).
Internal Refresh: No Refetch – Use this option to reload the Insight Creator variant values only (This option reduces the process time since the original report is not executed again.

Define an auto refresh

This option enables/disables an automatic timer to refresh the report data.

Click on ‘Auto Refresh’ button .

The following list will open:

Select the ‘Set Auto Refresh’ option .

The following window will open:

Enter refresh time (in minutes).
Click on the ‘Continue’ button (Enter) .

Important Note:

This option is not available whenever ‘Input’ columns exist.

Log

In case of errors/warnings, log button is displayed in Insight Creator toolbar

This functionality is widely being used all around Insight Creator such in Columns, Graphs, Groupings etc.

The log is important – Don’t ignore it!

Insight Creator variant shouldn’t contain any unhandled errors and thus, one must review the errors and fix them.

The log lists all the problems in an executed Insight Creator variant.

Error can either in:

Design time – When the object itself is invalid (e.g. for conditional formatting rule, formula is syntactically incorrect).
Runtime – Evaluation of specific record/cell is invalid (e.g. When division is used in rule and in specific records a division by zero is set).

In case of error in record level, you may locate the erroneous record by checking Data record number or Record key (concatenation of all key fields).

Right click menu (context menu)

Color Analyze

In some cases, you may not be sure what is the reason that a specific value is colored in a specific way. This option displays the reason for the color in the field/line.

Right-click the selected field which you want to analyze.
The following menu list will open:
Select the ‘Color Analyze’ option .
The following window will open showing the reason for the colors:

Copy Color From One Field to Another

Right-click on a colored field and select Color subfolder.

Select the ‘Copy’ option .
Right-click on the field which you want to paste the color into.
Select the Color-> Paste Color option. You may choose if the color will be set as Public or Private.

Table Lookup - Display Snap ID & Time

Select from the context-menu Column → Snapshot to display the timestamp of the snapshot.

Columns options

The context-menu of column includes a sub menu Columns which contains list of functions relevant for column: Overview, Create and Display, Change, Copy when a single column is selected.

Function Create Reference Column enables the quick creation of columns (Aggregation, Text, Comment, Input info) based on the selected column.

Relevant values will be passed.

Aggregate Data Info

This option let the users click and highlight data of column/area to see the Total, Min, Max, and Average of column’s/areas content.

Column Aggregation

Click on the relevant column header.
Click on icon’s right side (for list count click on the left side).
The following list will open:

Click on the ‘With Aggregation’ menu .
The following window will open:

Aggregation Mode

This powerful action will create a new baseline based on aggregation of the original report data.

The aggregation is made according to the Insight Creator variant key.

This means that the key of the report variant doesn’t have to be unique and it will be used as aggregator. The content of the various columns is defined according to the display variant of the original report.

Alternatively, one may define the content of the aggregated record from within the Insight Creator variant. Marking a column and specifying an aggregation method (e.g. sort, count etc.) will update the selected row for the report variant.

Example:

An order line report could be turned into order report merely by defining the order number as a key. This way, if the delivery date column will be sorted descending in the display variant, the latest delivery date will be presented at the order level.

Check in variant screen.

Click on the ‘OK’ button and run the variant report.

The following window will open:

Mark relevant line and click on the ‘Expand Aggregated Data’ button to display all the aggregated records. You can also add the “field Number of Data Records” from the ALV layout and use it’s hotspot to display expanded non-aggregated data.
At the aggregation screen you manage layouts according to a set of filters and sorting.

Area Aggregate

Highlight & right click the area.
The following list will open:
hoover above the ‘Aggregate’ option:
choose one of the sub-menu options.
The following window will open:

Conditional Formatting

This section will describe how to create and edit the Conditional Formatting rules.

Just like in Excel, Conditional formatting is a tool that allows one to apply formats to a cell or range of cells, and have that formatting change depending on the value of the cell or the value of a formula.

In Conditional Formatting context, the formula must return result of type Color.

Use the Color-picker to set up a color (a combination of font and background color).

The most common Formatting uses the pattern if(condition, true color, false color).

Use constant of value ‘’ (empty string) to avoid coloring. I.e., existing color will not be overridden.

Rule can be applied in row-level or in cell/field level (when influenced area is specified).

Colors in cell level have higher priority than colors in row level.

In case you wish the rule to override colors in cell level, you must define it in cell level by specifying explicitly all columns in influenced area.

Do check the Priority legend button for further information.

You may deactivate/activate specific rules in order to isolate a rule and review the results of a specific rule.

Please follow these steps:

At the bottom of the screen:
Click on the ‘Create rule’ button to create a new rule.
The following window will open:

Fill in the following fields:

Field	Description	Type
Description	The name of the rule	Obligatory
Explanation	Short internal documentation	Optional
Priority	The priority of a rule over other rules where 1 is the highest priority	Obligatory
Influenced Area	The rule may affect a specific field, set of fields or the entire row	Optional
Private (Check Box)	Check if the Insight Creator variant is personal. Sharing is prohibited	Optional
Active (Check Box)	Enables the user to deactivate the rule without deleting it (for future use)	Optional

Click on the ‘OK’ button .
A new line will is added to the bottom of the window:
Mark the relevant rule and click on the formula button .
The following SAP Formula Builder window will open:

The Formula Builder is being used in Insight Creator whenever calculated values or conditions is needed. The Formula Builder is based on SAP standard tool.

Formula builder is available in two modes: Standard mode and Expert mode.
Expert mode is powerful yet, like its name, it requires some extra expertise as everything is written manually. For example, position of parentheses and commas must be set manually and technical name of field (rather than fields’ description) is being used. It should mostly be used in cases of copy/paste from one formula to another is required.

Use Check button to validate the formula syntax.

Functions:

Many formula functions are available out-of-the-box (most of them were developed for Insight Creator): Date/time, string, conversion, etc..
Additional (customer) functions can also be easily added. More on this will be discussed in the next unit.
Use F1 on function name to display its documentation.
You may use ‘Insert with input help’ button to display (Excel-like) wizard dialog for input of function parameters.

Pay attention: The syntax of AND/OR is different from Excel:

AND/OR operators are used as connectors of two condition statements and not as functions. e.g. “FIELD1=1 AND FIELD2=2”.
Each condition statement (to the left and to the right of the operator) must be valid boolean statement.
AND/OR Cannot be used for comparison of multiple values. e.g. “FIELD1=AND(1,2)” is invalid.

7. Create the rule and click on the ‘Save’ button .

Important Note:

Users can define user-specific rules.
It is possible to customize the formula screen by choosing which fields (system fields etc.) and functions (Math, Date & Time, Statistical, String, etc.) to list.
For further information and assistance on the formula, screen click on .
It is possible to inactivate a rule without deleting it by clicking removing the check mark on the ‘Active’ button in the edit window.
In a situation were no color should be applied (like in an IF command) the color “None” should be selected.

Send Report options

This section will explain the different options to send a report with Insight Creator.

Open the relevant report
Mark the rows you would like to send or click on the button for the entire data.
To send via Outlook click on the ‘With Outlook’ button . The supported report formats are XLSX, XLS, and HTML attachment if enabled you can attach Graphs.
Creator Monitor Send Via Outlook
To send the report with SAP click on the ‘Send’ button . SAP will send the report as an attachment.

Important Note:

To share a working environment, you can provide your co-workers with the new transaction name of the report.

7. Run Insight Creator in Your Browser using UI5

Each Insight Creator variant is available to in UI5 and can be viewed from any browser on every device (PC, Mobile, Tablet etc.).

Insight Creator is using the FES – Fiori Front-End Server to enable this feature.

Important Note:

In case the SAPUI5 is disabled the FES is not available. Please contact your system administrator .

Insight Creator Variant in SAP GUI vs UI5

Following is an example of a SAP GUI Insight Creator variant report and how it looks like when executing it from a browser in SAPUI5.

And this is how the same report looks like in UI5:

The UI5 Insight Creator Variant Structure

Every Insight Creator variant has the same UI5 Structure.

Here is a map of the design Structure:

URL and URL Parameters Area

Make sure the Insight Creator installation has been set in the SAP Gateway server.

The link to each report should be as followed (please consult you SAP Basis team with you company’s settings)

An Insight Creator variant can be executed in two ways:

By Insight Creator Transaction (defined in Insight Creator as New Transaction Code):

https://:/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/dps/ret_rainbow/index.html?sap-ui-language=?var_type=tcode/#/

For example

Let’s say you want to run a Insight Creator New Transaction Code ZVENDOR_LINES.

the company’s gateway (FES address) is companygtw.com

The SAP client (MANDT) is 100

Open a web browser and enter the address in the following logic:

www.companygtw.com:8001/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/dps/ret_rainbow/index.html?sap-client=100?var_type=tcode/#/ZVENDOR_LINES

By Insight Creator variant Number:

https://:/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/dps/ret_rainbow/index.html?sap-ui-language=/#/

For example

Let’s say you want to run a Insight Creator variant no. 64.

the company’s gateway (FES address) is companygtw.com

The SAP client (MANDT) is 100

Open a web browser and enter the address in the following logic:

www.companygtw.com:8001/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/dps/ret_rainbow/index.html?sap-client=100/#/64

The following additional URL parameters are available:

?sap-ui-language= – force an override of the default language (i.e. EN or DE etc.)
?rainbow-color=false – this parameter disables all the Insight Creator Variant colors (either by rules or by specific selection selection)
?rainbow-link=false – this parameters disables the drill down to the selected object.
?rainbow-unit=false – For amount/quantity columns with reference currency/unit of measure, the values are displayed with the reference currency/unit (e.g. 30.00 USD).

Variant Description Area

The name (Description) of the Insight Creator Variant will appear in this area.

Grouping Area

The Insight Creator variant’s groups will appear on this area.

The top bar allows the user to search for a group and sort the groups.

By clicking on a group the Data displayed at the data area will change according to the group selected.

In case there is a hierarchy of a specific groups each selection will change the data area and show the lower groups available at this area.

In case there are KPI assigned to a group it will be displayed.

Display Options Area

At this Area there are three buttons:

Share – open a new email with the Insight Creator variant direct link in it’s body.
Full Screen – Hide the left panel (hide the Grouping and Description areas).
Close – Close the Right Panel (hide the Graph and data areas).

Graphs Area

The selected graph is displayed.

At the top of this area the following options are available:

Pull down menu – it allows the user to switch between all the graphs that are available (if more then one graph has been customized in the Insight Creator variant).
Data Label button – display/hide the graph values.
Legend – display the color legends.
Zoom In – Zoom in the graph.
Zoom Out – Zoom out the graph.
Open Full Screen – Open the graph in full screen mode.

By clicking on a value at the legend panel the graph will emphasize the relevant values.

Data Area

The Data Area display all the relevant data – filtered according to the group selected.

All the Insight Creator variant features are displayed such as Rules, cell colors, custom columns, comments etc.

If a drill down has been set to a column, it’s values will be linked to a SAP WebGui and will open the object as it has been defined. In the above screen shot example clicking on a vendor’s column value will open the FK03 transaction to display the selected vendor.

The following buttons are available at the top of the data area:

Setting – this button opens a dialog with the following tabs:
- Columns – choose columns to display/hide.
- Sort – choose how to sort the displayed data.
- Filter – Choose filters to apply on the data.
Export to Spreadsheet – by clicking it all the data will be downloaded in excel format (XLSX).
Record – this field on the left displays the number of record of the entire data selected (in the displayed screenshot 39 records are displayed out of 47 records since a filter was applied).

8. Run Insight Creator in Your Browser using ITS

transaction code /DPS/RAINBOWALV_CALL may be used for direct execution of single Insight Creator variant (w/o new Insight Creator transaction code).

It can be used for execution of variant via ITS.

In case variant selection is enabled (Via selection screen, user-specific variant or Variants for Sel. Are set), it’s also possible to transfer selection screen values via parameter P_PARAMS.

Example call via ITS:

http://<server_name>:<port>/sap/bc/gui/sap/its/webgui? ~transaction=*%2Fdps%2Frainbowalv_call P_VAR_ID=<var_id>;P_PARAMS=<param_name>%3D<param_value>

Advanced Development

This sections contains additional programs and features that can be used by SAP Programmers.

Call an Insight Creator Variant from another report using Parameters

During integration of Insight Creator variants from external reports/tools, it might be required to call (new) Insight Creator transaction with additional parameters: e.g. with/without selection screen (in case ‘Via selection screen isn’t explicitly set).

In order to do so use the Method /DPS/CL_RET_RAINBOW_API->CALL_TRANSACTION.

You may use the following parameters

IV_FILTER – apply a filter to the Insight Creator variant.

The expected format is:
<ALV_FIELDNAME1>=<VALUE1>$<VALUE2>;<ALV_FIELDNAME2>…
(e.g. LIFNR=1000$2000) (It supports only list of EQ values)

IT_ROWKEY – filter by record key.

Direct Execution of Detailed List (Non- Aggregated)

For Insight Creator variants with aggregation mode, an option to directly execute the report in Detailed (non-aggregated) view.
This option is available both in Insight Publisher and in API call (method /DPS/CL_RET_RAINBOW_API->CALL_TRANSACTION).

Utility Report to Fix Inconsistencies

This utility report /DPS/RET_DB_CONSISTENCY_CHECK is used for analysis and fix of inconsistencies in Insight Creator DB tables (due to old/existing bugs).

In such cases this report should be executed using transaction SA38 .

9. Running Log

This section will show how to run the Insight Creator log.

Login to SAP
Go to the Insight Creator transaction in ‘/DPS/RAINBOW_LOG’ (T-code). You might want to save this transaction in your favorites.
The following window will open:

Enter selection parameters and Click on ‘Execute’ button .

The following window will open:

Tags:

Insight Creator

Insight Creator Guides

Insight Publisher

Insight Publisher Guides

IDoc Montior+

IDoc Montior+ Guides

Changer (Change Log Viewer)

Changer​ Guides

FAQs

Release Notes

Older Versions

Version 5.1

Version 5.2

Version 5.3

Insight Creator V5.3 – User Guide

1. Overview

2. Define and Maintain a Insight Creator Variant

Version Management

3. Creating a New Insight Creator Variant

4. View and Maintain a Insight Creator Variant

Main Menu Bar

Views

Pivot Tables

Paint

Comment

Create a New Comment

Add/Change Text to a Comment

Display Values Texts

Advanced Filter

Outlook Message

5. More Options and Hide

Set Key

Additional Columns

Create a Column

Aggregation Column

Formula Column

Error Log

Input Column

Cell Lock Mechanism

Display Mode for Input Columns

DB Lookup Column

Table Lookup

Long Text Column

Change a Column

Define a “Drill Down” Navigation of a Column

Filter by kind of column

Grouping

Create Grouping

KPI

Create KPIs

Graphics

Graphs Panel options

Authorization

Functions

Function Definition

Functions Usage

Variables

Send

6. Additional Actions

Refrsh all/Internal Refresh

Define an auto refresh

Log

Right click menu (context menu)

Color Analyze

Copy Color From One Field to Another

Table Lookup - Display Snap ID & Time

Columns options

Aggregate Data Info

Column Aggregation

Aggregation Mode

Area Aggregate

Conditional Formatting

Send Report options

7. Run Insight Creator in Your Browser using UI5

Insight Creator Variant in SAP GUI vs UI5

The UI5 Insight Creator Variant Structure

URL and URL Parameters Area

Variant Description Area

Grouping Area

Display Options Area

Changer Guides