4.3 Planning Book, Macros and Interactive Planning 51

4.3.2 Macros

Macro functionality supports the data processing from a simple addition of

rows to more complex calculations using a set of standard functions. Even

own coding can be applied in user function macros. The macros are de-

fined specifically for each data view in the macro builder. The macro

builder is accessed via the macro workbench with the transaction

/SAPAPO/ADVM. To avoid the tedious search for one’s own data views,

we recommend to assign a group to the data vies and set a filter for this

group as shown in figure 4.17.

Create and Assign Group

(Ctrl + F6)

Set Filter

Apply Filter

Fig. 4.17.Macro Workbench

The macro builder is called for the data view by double-click onto the row

of the according data view, figure 4.18.

52 4 Demand Planning

Activate all Macros in Data View

Activate Macro

Check Macro

Deactivate Macro or Step

Fig. 4.18.Macro Builder

To create a macro the according elements (starting with the ‘macro’ ele-

ment) are picked from the ‘element’-window on the top left by drag and

drop. After the macro is defined, it has to be activated before it can be

used. By default a macro is directly executable, unless it is inhibited within

the macro definition. If the macro shall be executed at start of the interac-

tive planning, when the level changes or after exit, the macro has to be as-

signed to the according events in the top right window by drag & drop.

Note that frequent execution of macros affects the performance, therefore

the assignment as default macro (i.e. the macro is executed after each ‘en-

ter’) should not be generous.

Since the macro syntax is a bit tricky in some cases, the use of the

‘check’ function is helpful. Especially for the search of errors the deactiva-

tion of macro steps is another useful feature.

•Macro Syntax

A macro consists of one or more steps with one ore more operations each.

The processing area (total, future, past or freely defined) is selected on step

level. The basic syntax – row 1 equals row 2 operator row 3 – is shown in

figure 4.19. In this example the forecast is calculated as an average be-

tween sales forecast and statistical forecast.

4.3 Planning Book, Macros and Interactive Planning 53

Fig. 4.19.Macro – Basic Syntax

An IF-statement requires a control statement and a condition, figure 4.20.

The only difficulty is to place the objects into the right level.

Fig. 4.20.Macro – Syntax for IF-Statement

Another peculiarity is the use of brackets for the functions, figure 4.21.

Make sure there is always a space between the expressions.

Fig. 4.21.Macro – Syntax for Functions

The available macro functions are described in the SAP standard help and

in the notes 403072, 438766, 433166 and others. There is also a collective

consulting note for macro functionality, note 539797.

For intermediate calculation steps an auxiliary key figure can be used

(as row, element or column). There is only one auxiliary key figure avail-

able which is used by all macros. In the macro it is specified whether this

auxiliary key figure is cleared before start.

• Format Macros

Macros help not only to calculate values but can also be used to change the

property of cells like their colour, the displayed symbols, their ability for

input or display only and other. To change these properties the change

scope of the according rows has to be switched to ‘attributes’ (this option

is selected by double clicking on the row in the macro builder).

Macros can be carried out depending whether rows or columns in inter-

active planning are marked, e.g. using the function ROW_MARKED ( row

54 4 Demand Planning

number ). The corresponding function to find out the row number is

MARKED_ROW.

• User Function Macros

With user function macros it is possible to include own routines and tables

into the macro application. User function macros are defined in the menu

path ‘Edit User Function’ within the macro builder. The naming conven-

tion for the user function macros is Z_[MACRONAME]. The interface pa-

rameters VALUE_TAB (TABLE, LIKE /SAPAPO/VALUE_TAB),

F_ARGUMENT (CHANGING, TYPE /SAPAPO/MXVAL) and

F_CALC_ERROR (CHANGING, TYPE C) are set by default. Additional in-

terface parameters can be selected – mainly regarding the format of the

planning book – when creating the user function in the macro builder. The

parameter VALUE_TAB is used to transfer numbers and strings from the

planning book to the function, whereas the parameter F_ARGUMENT is

used to transfer the result of the user function back to the planning book.

The user function with the according interface definitions has still to be

created with the transaction SE37.

• User Exit Macros

User exit macros allow to process a whole grid – in contrast to user func-

tion macro.

• Effects of Changes in the Data View

If a change in the sequence of the key figures in the data view occurs, the

logic of the macros is not affected. Before APO 4.1 the selected rows in

the macro were related to their position in the data view and not to the

name of the key figure. Therefore a change in the sequence of the key fig-

ures – e.g. the insertion of a new key figure – had led to a disturbance of

the macro semantic.

• Copy Macros

There are two ways to copy macros. To copy a macro within a data view,

select the macro and use right mouse Copy to Clipboard, then select any

macro and use right mouse Insert From Clipboard. The other way is to

import the macros from another data view via the menu path ‘Edit Import

Macro’.

•Macro Execution

Macros are used in interactive planning by manual request from the plan-

ning book or triggered by events like the start of the interactive planning,