Trick to view BEx Variable Properties without going in edit mode

[swati_gawade]

Hi Folks,

This is my first blog post in SDN :smile: and I want to share a simple Bex trick with you. Some of you might already know it.

Background:

while creating a BEx query, we often want to use the variables that are already available and ready for use. It is always recommened to re-use the objects instead of creating new ones. These re-usable objects may or may not be created by you or your collegues and you may want to confirm there behavior before you use them in your query. Sometimes its tricky to find which variable suits your requirements best, as you wouldn't know the purpose of all variables available for a certain characteristic. Here, you must note that for all the standard variables, SAP has mentioned their properties in description itself. However, if that not how your custom variable's description is mainatined as per given naming convetion then one needs to look at the properties of the variable to determine its behaviour.

The general way to check the Re-usability of a variable is to check the property of the variable and mostly its done by getting the required characteristic in the filter area, right click -> Restrict -> Variables. when the list of all variables on that characteristic is displayed then we select it and click on option 'Edit Variable' to see the properties.

Problem Definition:

Here, theres a chance of altering the Variable values unknowningly, which will lead to change the behaviour of the variable across all queries.

Sometimes, we might not even have the authorization to go in the Edit variable mode. Finding out the variable properties becoms difficult in this case.

Solution:

so simpler way to check the variable properties without going in change mode is as follows.

in the infoprovider pane, expand on dimensions to the characteristic that you need.

Expand the characteristic further and you will see below 3 options, which can be further expanded.

1. Attributes

2. Characteristic Value variables

3. Characteristic values

Expand node 'Characteristic Value variables' and you will be able to see list of all the variables for that characteristic.

click on any variable and you will be able to see it's properties in the properties pane on the right had side of your Bex Query designer.

Here, you will be able to see all the properties of your desired Variable with ease and also they not in edit mode.

One more ease is in terms of checking out multiple variables.

Hope this helps you. :smile:

-Swati Gawade.