Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

CHAPTER 4: USING DIMENSIONS

Objectives
The objectives are

Learn how dimensions are used in Management Reporter

Explore how to create a side by side report using dimension filters

Discover how to use dimension values sets when designing reports

Explore dimension sets

Introduction
As mentioned in Chapter 1 of this training, Management Reporter allows users
define a combination of these dimensions along with accounts to create flexible
and unique financial reports.
Dimensions can be used in any of the building blocks. When used in the column
definition, they are used as a dimension filter. Dimensions values can be grouped
together into dimension value sets to keep report maintenance low. Dimensions
can be grouped into dimension sets to limit the number of dimensions visible
when designing reports.
During this portion of the training, students update an existing row definition to
use dimension value sets and create a new column definition using dimension
filters.

Dimension Sets
Dimension sets limit the number of dimensions seen in the Dimensions window.
This is helpful during report design since you can reduce the dimensions used
during report design.
In Figure 4.1, the Dimensions window is set to use MainAccount and
Department.

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Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

FIGURE 4.1 DIMENSION SETS

Dimension Filters
A dimension filter is used to restrict a Financial Dimension (FD) column
to specific dimension values.
The filter can include a single dimension, a range of dimensions, or a
group of dimensions. The filter can also include dimension value sets.
Because dimension values can vary, a dimension-based system does not
have to adhere to an exact length. The filter is applied, regardless of
whether the report includes a reporting tree.
Dimension filters follow these basic guidelines:

A wildcard character (? or *) can be used in any position.

When you specify multiple accounts, place a comma between

accounts, as in the following example:
+Account=[1200], +Account=[1100], Department=[01?]

To receive all departments for a specific account, you can exclude

the Department dimension in the dimension filter. For example,
+Account=[1100],Department
is treated the same as:
+Account=[1100]

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You can also use any combination of alphanumeric characters for

exact matching, and you can define partial dimensions. For

Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

example, Location = [10*] includes all location dimension values
that begin with 10.

Apply a dimension filter for a column in a report

1. In Report Designer, open the column definition to modify.
2. Double-click the Dimension Filter cell for an FD column.
3. In the Dimensions dialog box, enter the filter(s) to apply.
4. Click OK.

Dimension Value Sets

A dimension value set is a named group of dimension values. A dimension
value set can contain values in a single dimension only, but you can use a
dimension value set in multiple row definitions, column definitions,
reporting tree definitions, and report definitions. You can also combine
dimension values sets in a report definition.
When a change to your financial data requires that you change the
dimension value set, you can update the dimension value set definition,
and that update applies to all areas that use the dimension value set. For
example, if you frequently indicate a range of values to link to your
financial data, such as the values from 5100 through 5600, you might
assign this range to an account set titled Sales.
After you create a set of dimension values, you can select that set as your
financial data link.

Creating a dimension value set

1. In Report Designer, open the row, column or tree definition to
modify.
2. On the Edit menu, click Manage Dimension Value Sets.
3. In the Manage Dimension Value Sets dialog box, select the type of
dimension value set to create in the Dimension field, and then
click New.
4. In the New dialog box, type the name and description for the set.
5. In the From column, double-click inside a cell to open the
Account dialog box. Select the account name from the list, or
search for the entry in the Search field. Click OK.

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Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

6. Repeat step 5 in the To column to design a formula for that
operator.
7. When the formula is completed, click OK.
8. In the Manage Dimension Sets dialog box, click Close.

Create a side-by-side departmental income statement

Students use existing building blocks to update the Summary Income Statement
to include side-by-side departmental dimension filters and dimension value sets.

Creating a Row Definition with dimension value sets

1. Open the Summary Income Statement row definition that was
created previously.
2. Click File and then click Save As. Save the row as Side by Side
Income Statement.
3. Click Edit and then click Manage Dimension Value Sets.
4. In the Dimension list, select MainAccount.
5. Click New.
6. In the From column, type 401100. In the To column, type
402600.
7. In the Name field, type Sales.
8. Click OK to save the dimension value set.
9. On Row Code 160, delete the accounts in the Link to Financial
Dimensions.
10. Double click on the Link to Financial Dimensions and then
double click in the MainAccount column.
11. In the MainAccount window, select Dimension Value Set.
12. Click the ellipsis at the end of the Name field.
13. Select the Sales dimension value set.
14. Click OK to close all windows.
15. Repeat Steps 3-8 using main accounts 602100 through 603100.
Name the Dimension Value Set Personnel Expenses. Add the
Personnel Dimension Value Set to row code 580.
16. Save the Side by Side Income Statement row definition.
The completed Side by Side Income Statement row definition should match
figure 4.2.

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Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

FIGURE 4.2 SIDE BY SIDE INCOME STATEMENT

Creating a Column Definition with dimension filters

1. Create a new column definition by clicking File, then New, and
then Column Definition.
2. In Column A, select DESC for the column type.
3. In Column B, select FD for the column type.
4. Double click in the Dimension Filter field.
5. In the Dimension window, double click in the Department
column. In the Individual or range section of the dialog, click
the ellipsis for the From field to display a list of departments.
6. Select department 022, Sales & Marketing. Click OK.
7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 for Departments 23-25.
8. On the Header 2 row for each FD column, type the following
department descriptions:
a. Column B Sales and Marketing
b. Column C Operations
c. Column D Finance
d. Column E - IT
9. Save the column definition as Side by Side Departments.
The complete Side by Side Departments column definition should match
figure 4.3.
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Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

FIGURE 4.3 SIDE BY SIDE DEPARTMENTS

Creating a Report Definition

1. Create a new report by clicking File, New and then Report Definition.
2. Select Side by Side Income Statement for the Row and Side by Side
Departments for the Column.
3. In the Default base period, type C+27.
4. Save the report definition as Side by Side Dept Income Statement.
5. Generate the report.

Reviewing the Side by Side Departmental Income Statement

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Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

FIGURE 4.3 GENERATED SIDE BY SIDE INCOME STATEMENT

Summary
This portion of the training introduced students to using dimension value sets in
row definitions and dimension filters in column definitions. In addition, the
dimension sets were discussed.
Students created a side by side departmental income statement using both
dimension value sets and dimension filters.

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Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

Quick Interaction: Lessons Learned

Take a moment and write down three key points you have learned from this
chapter
1.

2.

3.

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Chapter 4: Using Dimensions

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