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Working With Schedules

A schedule is the concept of one or more extra dimensions, designed to store additional information on a particular cell in the Longview database.

Understanding schedules

In the following illustration, the large cube in the center represents the database with its basic dimensions. Each of the smaller areas represents a schedule for a particular intersection in the database. Some schedules contain only one additional dimension; others contain two or more.

You may want to create schedules to provide extra detail for a wide variety of items, including:

  • intercompany transactions
  • taxes
  • inventory
  • property, plant, and equipment information
  • meals and entertainment expenses

For example, you may have a symbol in your database for Accounts Receivable. That cell stores a total value, but you may want to store additional information on the values that combine to produce that total, i.e., days outstanding, client or customer. To store that additional information, you define one or more extra dimensions in a schedule.

Preparing schedule definitions

A schedule definition is the criteria, defined in the Longview database, used to identify extra dimensions for a particular cell in the Longview database.

Creating a schedule definition

To create a schedule definition, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. Choose File > New > Schedule. The New Schedule dialog opens.

  3. Complete these fields:
    Field Description

    Name

    Type a name for the schedule definition. The name can contain a maximum of 31 characters.

    Description

    Type a description for the schedule definition. The description can contain a maximum of 255 characters.

    Note: To add descriptions in languages other than the default language, click the icon adjacent to the Description field, causing the Descriptions dialog to display. For more information, see Adding an alternate language description.

    Schedule Type

    Select the type of schedule definition:

    • Standard — All other schedule definitions.
    • Intercompany — Schedule definitions related to intercompany eliminations.
    • Static — Permits data or text input to parent symbol intersections. Data does not rollup.

    Rollup Dimensions

    Select the base dimensions in which you want the data to rollup.
  4. To add extra dimensions to the schedule, click Add. The Schedule Dimension dialog appears.

  5. Complete the following fields:
    Field Description

    Name

    Type a name for the Schedule Dimension. The name can contain a maximum of 31 characters.

    Description

    Type a description for the Schedule Dimension. The description can contain a maximum of 31 characters.

    Note: For information on adding descriptions in languages other than the default language, see Adding an alternate language description.

    Dimension Type

    Select the type of schedule dimension:

    • Mirror — In this type of schedule dimension, you can select a base dimension that you want your schedule dimension to mirror. The schedule dimension will contain a symbol for each of the symbols in the base dimension. When you subsequently create a new symbol in the base dimension, it will also exist in this schedule dimension.
    • Numeric — Use this dimension type to specify symbols that you want to appear in the schedule for the schedule dimension.
    • Custom — Use this dimension type to create your own set of schedule symbols.

    Sort Symbols By

    Select one of the options (Name, Description, or Unsorted). The default setting is Unsorted.

    Offset Dimension

    For Intercompany schedules only. Select to use an Offset dimension.

    Fixed Symbol

    For Intercompany schedules only. Type the Fixed dimension symbol. This option is unavailable if Offset Dimension is selected.

    Note: To finish creating your schedule definition, complete the settings for the dimension(s) you have selected as described in Settings for dimension type Mirror, Settings for dimension type Numeric, and Settings for dimension type Custom (Simple Symbol).

Settings for dimension type Mirror

To specify settings for dimension type Mirror, follow these steps:

  1. Select a dimension from the Category list. The symbols for your selection populate the field to the right.
  2. Select the root symbol for your dimension. You can click the plus ( + ) signs to expand the hierarchy or click the Search icon to locate a symbol in a complex hierarchy.

  3. Set the following settings:
    Settings Description

    Select entire dimension

    Select this option if you want to include the whole dimension, rather than just a root symbol.

    Include leaf symbols only

    Select this option if you do not want parent symbols to be included in the dimension for the purposes of the schedule.

    Filter by symbol attribute

    Select this option if you want to limit symbol selection to a particular value in a particular attribute.

    Symbol attribute name

    If you select Filter by symbol attribute, you must use this list to choose an attribute.

    Symbol attribute value

    If you select Filter by symbol attribute, you can use this field to supply a value for the attribute used for the purposes of matching.
  4. Click OK. Your dimension is added to the schedule.

Settings for dimension type Numeric

To specify settings for dimension type Numeric, follow these steps:

  1. Use the From and To fields to set the range of symbols included.

  2. Select Pad Symbols if you want zeros to be prefixed to numbers as ranges rise by a magnitude of ten (that is, "9" becomes "09" when the range extends to 10, to "009" then it extends to 100, and so on).
  3. When you are finished, click OK. Your dimension is added to the schedule.

Settings for dimension type Custom (Simple Symbol)

To specify settings for dimension type Custom, follow these steps:

  1. In the Settings area, click in the Name field.

  2. Type a name for the schedule symbol in the default system language. Names must begin with a letter.

    Note: The Description is populated automatically using the Schedule Dimension name and the name you just typed.

  3. When you have finished adding schedule symbols, click OK. Your dimension is added to the schedule.

    Note: The maximum number of symbols that can be added is 23.

  4. When you have finished setting up your schedule, click OK. Your settings are saved, and your new schedule appears in the Contents window.

Adding an alternate language description

Schedules and their dimensions have optional definitions. The first definition you can enter is in the default language for your instance of the application. You can also add a default language description in an alternate language where you find the alternate language description icon.

To add an alternative language description, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. In the Server Explorer pane, select Schedules. A list of the schedules currently existing in the server appears in the Contents window.
  3. Right-click the schedule for which you want to add the alternate language description and choose Properties. The Properties dialog opens for the selected schedule.

  4. Click the alternate language description icon adjacent to the Description field of a schedule or open a schedule dimension dialog by selecting a dimension from the list and clicking Edit, if available.
  5. Click in the Language field to use the drop-down list to select your alternate language. The list displays the two-letter international abbreviations for world languages.
  6. Enter the new description in the appropriate language.
  7. Click OK.

Editing a schedule

Existing schedules can be modified to extend their usefulness, or to change aspects of their setup.

To edit a schedule, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. In the Server Explorer pane, select Schedules. A list of the schedules currently existing in the server appears in the Contents window.
  3. Right-click the schedule you want to change and choose Properties. The Properties dialog opens for the selected schedule.

  4. Edit the schedule as required. For more information on settings, see Creating a schedule definition.

    Note: Some out-of-the-box schedules cannot be modified.

  5. When you have finished editing the schedule, click OK. Your changes are saved.

Deleting a schedule

To delete a schedule definition, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. In the Server Explorer pane, select Schedules. A list of the schedules currently existing in the server appears in the Contents window.
  3. Right-click the schedule you want to delete and select Delete. A confirmation dialog opens.

    Caution: If you delete a schedule, it cannot be recovered. To restore a deleted schedule to the system, it must be recreated. Use this function with caution.

  4. Click Yes. The schedule is deleted.
Published:

Working With Schedules

A schedule is the concept of one or more extra dimensions, designed to store additional information on a particular cell in the Longview database.

Understanding schedules

In the following illustration, the large cube in the center represents the database with its basic dimensions. Each of the smaller areas represents a schedule for a particular intersection in the database. Some schedules contain only one additional dimension; others contain two or more.

You may want to create schedules to provide extra detail for a wide variety of items, including:

  • intercompany transactions
  • taxes
  • inventory
  • property, plant, and equipment information
  • meals and entertainment expenses

For example, you may have a symbol in your database for Accounts Receivable. That cell stores a total value, but you may want to store additional information on the values that combine to produce that total, i.e., days outstanding, client or customer. To store that additional information, you define one or more extra dimensions in a schedule.

Preparing schedule definitions

A schedule definition is the criteria, defined in the Longview database, used to identify extra dimensions for a particular cell in the Longview database.

Creating a schedule definition

To create a schedule definition, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. Choose File > New > Schedule. The New Schedule dialog opens.

  3. Complete these fields:
    Field Description

    Name

    Type a name for the schedule definition. The name can contain a maximum of 31 characters.

    Description

    Type a description for the schedule definition. The description can contain a maximum of 255 characters.

    Note: To add descriptions in languages other than the default language, click the icon adjacent to the Description field, causing the Descriptions dialog to display. For more information, see Adding an alternate language description.

    Schedule Type

    Select the type of schedule definition:

    • Standard — All other schedule definitions.
    • Intercompany — Schedule definitions related to intercompany eliminations.
    • Static — Permits data or text input to parent symbol intersections. Data does not rollup.

    Rollup Dimensions

    Select the base dimensions in which you want the data to rollup.
  4. To add extra dimensions to the schedule, click Add. The Schedule Dimension dialog appears.

  5. Complete the following fields:
    Field Description

    Name

    Type a name for the Schedule Dimension. The name can contain a maximum of 31 characters.

    Description

    Type a description for the Schedule Dimension. The description can contain a maximum of 31 characters.

    Note: For information on adding descriptions in languages other than the default language, see Adding an alternate language description.

    Dimension Type

    Select the type of schedule dimension:

    • Mirror — In this type of schedule dimension, you can select a base dimension that you want your schedule dimension to mirror. The schedule dimension will contain a symbol for each of the symbols in the base dimension. When you subsequently create a new symbol in the base dimension, it will also exist in this schedule dimension.
    • Numeric — Use this dimension type to specify symbols that you want to appear in the schedule for the schedule dimension.
    • Custom — Use this dimension type to create your own set of schedule symbols.

    Sort Symbols By

    Select one of the options (Name, Description, or Unsorted). The default setting is Unsorted.

    Offset Dimension

    For Intercompany schedules only. Select to use an Offset dimension.

    Fixed Symbol

    For Intercompany schedules only. Type the Fixed dimension symbol. This option is unavailable if Offset Dimension is selected.

    Note: To finish creating your schedule definition, complete the settings for the dimension(s) you have selected as described in Settings for dimension type Mirror, Settings for dimension type Numeric, and Settings for dimension type Custom (Simple Symbol).

Settings for dimension type Mirror

To specify settings for dimension type Mirror, follow these steps:

  1. Select a dimension from the Category list. The symbols for your selection populate the field to the right.
  2. Select the root symbol for your dimension. You can click the plus ( + ) signs to expand the hierarchy or click the Search icon to locate a symbol in a complex hierarchy.

  3. Set the following settings:
    Settings Description

    Select entire dimension

    Select this option if you want to include the whole dimension, rather than just a root symbol.

    Include leaf symbols only

    Select this option if you do not want parent symbols to be included in the dimension for the purposes of the schedule.

    Filter by symbol attribute

    Select this option if you want to limit symbol selection to a particular value in a particular attribute.

    Symbol attribute name

    If you select Filter by symbol attribute, you must use this list to choose an attribute.

    Symbol attribute value

    If you select Filter by symbol attribute, you can use this field to supply a value for the attribute used for the purposes of matching.
  4. Click OK. Your dimension is added to the schedule.

Settings for dimension type Numeric

To specify settings for dimension type Numeric, follow these steps:

  1. Use the From and To fields to set the range of symbols included.

  2. Select Pad Symbols if you want zeros to be prefixed to numbers as ranges rise by a magnitude of ten (that is, "9" becomes "09" when the range extends to 10, to "009" then it extends to 100, and so on).
  3. When you are finished, click OK. Your dimension is added to the schedule.

Settings for dimension type Custom (Simple Symbol)

To specify settings for dimension type Custom, follow these steps:

  1. In the Settings area, click in the Name field.

  2. Type a name for the schedule symbol in the default system language. Names must begin with a letter.

    Note: The Description is populated automatically using the Schedule Dimension name and the name you just typed.

  3. When you have finished adding schedule symbols, click OK. Your dimension is added to the schedule.

    Note: The maximum number of symbols that can be added is 23.

  4. When you have finished setting up your schedule, click OK. Your settings are saved, and your new schedule appears in the Contents window.

Adding an alternate language description

Schedules and their dimensions have optional definitions. The first definition you can enter is in the default language for your instance of the application. You can also add a default language description in an alternate language where you find the alternate language description icon.

To add an alternative language description, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. In the Server Explorer pane, select Schedules. A list of the schedules currently existing in the server appears in the Contents window.
  3. Right-click the schedule for which you want to add the alternate language description and choose Properties. The Properties dialog opens for the selected schedule.

  4. Click the alternate language description icon adjacent to the Description field of a schedule or open a schedule dimension dialog by selecting a dimension from the list and clicking Edit, if available.
  5. Click in the Language field to use the drop-down list to select your alternate language. The list displays the two-letter international abbreviations for world languages.
  6. Enter the new description in the appropriate language.
  7. Click OK.

Editing a schedule

Existing schedules can be modified to extend their usefulness, or to change aspects of their setup.

To edit a schedule, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. In the Server Explorer pane, select Schedules. A list of the schedules currently existing in the server appears in the Contents window.
  3. Right-click the schedule you want to change and choose Properties. The Properties dialog opens for the selected schedule.

  4. Edit the schedule as required. For more information on settings, see Creating a schedule definition.

    Note: Some out-of-the-box schedules cannot be modified.

  5. When you have finished editing the schedule, click OK. Your changes are saved.

Deleting a schedule

To delete a schedule definition, follow these steps:

  1. Open Longview Application Administrator.
  2. In the Server Explorer pane, select Schedules. A list of the schedules currently existing in the server appears in the Contents window.
  3. Right-click the schedule you want to delete and select Delete. A confirmation dialog opens.

    Caution: If you delete a schedule, it cannot be recovered. To restore a deleted schedule to the system, it must be recreated. Use this function with caution.

  4. Click Yes. The schedule is deleted.
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