Elevate Your SAP IBP Planning Views: A Deep Dive into Effective Formatting

Introduction

In the dynamic world of supply chain management, SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) stands as a powerful tool, enabling businesses to integrate, automate, and optimize their planning processes. One of the critical components of SAP IBP is the planning view, which provides a structured and customizable format to visualize and manage data. This blog delves into the intricacies of formatting SAP IBP planning views, ensuring users can leverage these features to enhance their planning efficiency and accuracy.

Basics of EPMFormattingSheet

What is EPMFormattingSheet?

The EPMFormattingSheet is a hidden yet vital component within SAP IBP templates. This sheet controls the formatting of each planning view, determining how data appears and behaves. To access this sheet, you must unhide it through either a right-click option or by navigating to Edit View -> View Formats.

Structure of EPMFormattingSheet

The EPMFormattingSheet is divided into two primary sections:

• Hierarchy Level Formatting: This section allows you to set global formatting rules applicable to all key figures and attributes unless a specific format is defined elsewhere. ?

• Dimension Member/Property Formatting: Here, you can define specific formats for individual key figures, which will override the global settings established in the Hierarchy Level Formatting section.

Formatting Planning Views

Adding Column Headers

To enhance the readability and organization of your planning views, adding column headers is essential. Follow these steps to add headers:

1. Start from the column closest to the data grid (rightmost column).
2. Enter =SOP_Heading1 in the header cell.
3. Continue filling in the headers, incrementing the number at the end of =SOP_Heading for each new column until you reach the edge of your worksheet.

Changing the Number Format

Altering the number format for better data representation involves several steps:

• Initial Setup: Begin by accessing the EPMFormattingSheet.
• Selection: In the Dimension Member/Property Formatting section, select “Add Member/Property.”

• Member Selection: Choose the key figure you wish to format

• Formatting: Utilize standard Excel formatting functions to change the number format. Double-click on “All” to ensure that only the number format is altered, with other formats like font remaining as per global settings

• Refresh: Go back to the planning view, refresh it, and the key figure will display the new format, typically with two decimals

Adding Top Border to Data and Header

Enhancing the visual separation between headers and data can be achieved by adding borders:

• Select both data and header fields

• Apply a top border using Excel’s standard formatting functions.
• Refresh the planning view to see the changes

Advanced Formatting Techniques

Using the Union Flag for Multiple Key Figures

To streamline formatting across multiple key figures and improve performance, the union flag feature can be used:

• Access the EPMFormattingSheet and select “Add Member/Property” in the Dimension Member/Property Formatting section.
• Add multiple key figures by selecting each and clicking “Add to multiple Selection.

• In the Multiple Selection Overview, activate the union flag checkbox to apply the same formatting to all selected key figures

• Format these key figures together efficiently

Managing Different EPMFormattingSheets in a Single Template

• This is useful if you want to format the same key figure in different planning views in a different way like e.g. key figure “Material OEE [%] Adj.” in planning view “Maintain OEE” and “Capacity Consumption” planning view MPS_Capacity:

Maintain OEE

Capacity Consumption

When dealing with multiple planning views within a single template, it's possible to assign different EPMFormattingSheets to each view or use a single sheet for all:

• Creating Additional Sheets: Copy the existing EPMFormattingSheet and rename it as needed.
• Assignment: Assign the new sheet to the desired planning view by navigating to Template Admin -> EPM Sheet Options… -> Formatting Select Default Formatting Sheet

• This approach allows for differentiated formatting, such as applying distinct formats to the same key figure across various planning views.

Additional Information

Overwriting Key Figure Names

Initial key figure name “Available Hours"

1.??? Go to: Advanced -> EPM Edit Report -> Member Names

2.??? Select Key Figures and search for the key figure name that you want to override

3.??? Type a new name for the member and click on “Override”. The key figure gets added to the area at the bottom.

4.??? Click “OK”

5.??? The key figure shows the new overridden name

Performance Considerations

It is crucial to note that conditional formatting for key figure values can heavily impact planning view performance. Thus, it is advisable to use this feature sparingly and only when absolutely necessary to maintain optimal performance.

Conclusion

Mastering the formatting of SAP IBP planning views empowers users to create efficient, readable, and visually appealing data presentations. By understanding and utilizing the EPMFormattingSheet, adding headers, changing number formats, and leveraging advanced features like the union flag, businesses can significantly enhance their planning processes. While advanced formatting techniques provide greater flexibility and control, always be mindful of performance impacts to ensure a seamless and efficient planning experience.