SAP Excel4apps Wands SAP 20.4.0 Release Notes
SAP
Excel4apps Wands SAP 20.4.0
Release Notes
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 Upgrading from Version 4 ........................................................................................................ 5
2 Version 20.4.0 ................................................................................................................................. 6
2.1 Reports Wand ........................................................................................................................... 6
3 Version 20.3.3 ................................................................................................................................. 6
3.1 Reports Wand ........................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................... 6
4 Version 20.3.1 ................................................................................................................................. 6
4.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Reports Wand ........................................................................................................................... 7
4.3 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................... 7
5 Version 20.3.0 ................................................................................................................................. 7
5.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 7
5.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................... 7
5.3 Reports Wand ........................................................................................................................... 8
5.4 Planning Wand ......................................................................................................................... 8
6 Version 20.2.3 ................................................................................................................................. 8
6.1 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................... 8
7 Version 20.2.1 ................................................................................................................................. 8
7.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 8
7.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................... 8
8 Version 20.2.0 ................................................................................................................................. 9
8.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 9
8.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................... 9
9 Version 20.1.1 ................................................................................................................................. 9
9.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 9
10 Version 20.1.0 ................................................................................................................................. 9
10.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 9
10.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 10
10.3 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 10
11 Version 5.6.1 ................................................................................................................................. 10
11.1 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 10
12 Version 5.6.0 ................................................................................................................................. 11
12.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 11
12.2 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 11
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12.3 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 11
13 Version 5.5.1 ................................................................................................................................. 12
13.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 12
13.2 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 12
14 Version 5.5.0 ................................................................................................................................. 12
14.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 12
14.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 12
14.3 Reports Wand ......................................................................................................................... 13
15 Version 5.4.2 ................................................................................................................................. 13
15.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 13
15.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 13
15.3 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 13
16 Version 5.4.1 ................................................................................................................................. 14
16.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 14
16.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 14
17 Version 5.4.0 ................................................................................................................................. 14
17.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 14
17.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 14
17.3 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 15
18 Version 5.3.2 ................................................................................................................................. 15
18.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 15
18.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 15
18.3 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 15
19 Version 5.3.0 ................................................................................................................................. 16
19.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 16
19.2 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 16
19.3 Reports Wand ......................................................................................................................... 16
19.4 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 17
20 Version 5.2.2 ................................................................................................................................. 17
20.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 17
21 Version 5.2.1 ................................................................................................................................. 17
21.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 17
21.2 RDM ........................................................................................................................................ 18
21.3 GL Wand ................................................................................................................................. 18
21.4 Planning Wand ....................................................................................................................... 19
21.5 Reports Wand ......................................................................................................................... 20
22 Known Issues ................................................................................................................................. 20
22.1 Office 365 Calculates on workbook open ............................................................................... 20
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22.2 Slow performance with large volumes (Excel calculation) ..................................................... 21
22.3 Citrix compatibility ................................................................................................................. 21
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1 Introduction
Set out below is a summary of the enhancements and bug fixes in this release of the Excel4apps Wands for SAP.
Please note, while we endeavor to perform as much testing as possible on all new releases, we strongly recommend that you always test a new release in a development environment before deploying to production. Specific attention should be placed on testing larger and more complex reports. This version has been tested on ECC6 EHP8 and S/4 HANA 1610.
1.1 Upgrading from Version 4
There is no upgrade process from version 4 as the new architecture is completely different from the previous version. Version 20 can be installed independently of version 4 and both can co-exist on an SAP server during the transition to version 20.
Workbooks created in version 4 will need to be converted.
Version 20 will require its own license key. The version 4 key will not work.
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2 Version 20.4.0
2.1 Reports Wand
3 Version 20.3.3
3.1 Reports Wand
3.2 GL Wand
4 Version 20.3.1
4.1 General
Feature Description Benefit Content Purchase Order and Billing document content
added Enhancement
Server Server check to ensure relevant server transport available
Enhancement
Server Error handler for server specific reporting added Enhancement
Content Undefined calculation and drilldown class check Enhancement
Content Advanced criteria removed for TCode reports Bug fix
List of Values Lists of values work interactively with user input Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit List of Values Check put in place for OFC conversion exit and for
quote in a value Bug fix
Calculation NetWeaver 7 calculation error for multiple tables corrected
Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Controlling Check for company code not linked to controlling
area Bug fix
Expand Hierarchy Descriptions for expanding projects corrected Bug fix
Authorizations Check for disabled business area and document type authorization objects
Enhancement
COPA Asynchronous object description Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Special characters Ability to set encoding for parameters with special
characters Enhancement
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4.2 Reports Wand
4.3 GL Wand
5 Version 20.3.0
5.1 General
5.2 GL Wand
Exchange Rate Exchange rate conversion output routine type handling
Bug fix
Admin Options Use union administrator option not remembering setting
Bug fix
Admin Options Use NetWeaver 7 for Reports Wand option added Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit Drilldown Custom content for multiple tables column
ordering Bug fix
Calculation Custom content calculation Bug fix
Namespace Templates for reports created in a namespace not showing in the template lists
Bug fix
Filters Increased number of allowed filters Enhancement
Parameters List of Values and conversion routine for custom content
Bug fix
NetWeaver 7 NetWeaver 7 version released for older versions of SAP
Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit New GL Group currency for non-leading ledger null pointer
exception Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit SAP Java Connector Upgraded to 3.1.2 Enhancement
Options Invalid options stream fixed when inserting key on new install
Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Volume Counter Volume counter added to various balance
functions Bug fix
Project Project reporting now using the interactive list of values
Enhancement
Internal Order Internal Order reporting now using the interactive list of values
Enhancement
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5.3 Reports Wand
5.4 Planning Wand
6 Version 20.2.3
6.1 GL Wand
7 Version 20.2.1
7.1 General
7.2 GL Wand
Product Product list of values now using the interactive list of values
Enhancement
Universal Journal Insert drill criteria sheet with custom fields Bug fix
Expand Hierarchy Check for account group type when searching for an FSV item
Bug fix
COPA Multiple product selections Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Parameters Required parameters preventing execution Bug fix
Z Reports Framework provided for adding Z reports Enhancement
Custom Content Custom content reports provided Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit New GL Segment field added to Load New GL function Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit Universal Journal Numeric planning categories balances and detail
balance drilldown correction Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit SSO Generate SSO Ticket option correction Enables SSO access
Feature Description Benefit Cost Element Descriptions Cost element descriptions not populating
corrected Bug fix
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8 Version 20.2.0
8.1 General
8.2 GL Wand
9 Version 20.1.1
9.1 General
10 Version 20.1.0
10.1 General
Discover GL Accounts Use the chart of accounts list for discover Enhancement
Expand FSV Set Expand FSV set one level corrected Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit EULA Updated EULA Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit Projects/Internal Order balances
Validation to ensure the user option is selected when retrieving these types of balances
Enhancement
Currency Drilldown for currencies requiring decimal shifts corrected
Bug fix
Overall Plan Company code default value Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit Stop calculations An update to Microsoft’s asynchronous function
handles resulted in Excel becoming unresponsive if Wands calculations where stopped
Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Community Remove obsolete community icons Enhancement
Launch Option to enable launch directly from the desktop added
Enhancement
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10.2 GL Wand
10.3 Planning Wand
11 Version 5.6.1
11.1 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit Universal Journal Drilldown to plan values in ACDOCP added Enhancement
CCA balance Exclude button greyed out as it is not a valid option Enhancement
COPA and SPL description Value label for parameter corrected Bug fix
SPL SPL custom fields added to the create list of values dialog
Enhancement
Universal Journal 20 configurable fields added to the Universal Journal function
Enhancement
Logging Improved server logging for daily balance functions Enhancement
Universal Journal Criteria sheet parameter name corrected Bug fix
Financial Statement Hierarchies
Financial statement hierarchies have now been added back
Enhancement
Report Wizard The cost center header parameter defaults a value so that the report does not error
Enhancement
Cost Elements Include old cost elements for reporting purposes Enhancement
Overall Plan New balance function to retrieve overall plan values for internal orders and WBS elements
Enhancement
Daily Drilldown When using the open at key date functionality and the from and to dates are blank, the drilldown results in an error
Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Cost Plan Internal order, WBS, functional area and variable
plan value parameters added Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit New GL drilldown Numeric segments failing drilldown Bug fix
Daily GL Multiple GL account selection for parked documents
Bug fix
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12 Version 5.6.0
12.1 General
12.2 Planning Wand
12.3 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit License Non GLW user assignment logon exception Bug fix
User List Launch configuration option added to limit the SAP user list
Ease of use
Launch New launch transaction created Enhancement
Logging Improved logging Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit S4 financial New S4 financial planning function added Enhancement
Activity planning Parameters added to enable variable planning Enhancement
Authorization Updated authorization check introduced in EHP8 Enhancement
Feature Description Benefit COPA Master data caching for large lists removed Faster launch time
New GL drilldown Correction for New GL balance sheet YTD line item drill down
Bug fix
COPA Null field check Bug fix
Expired CO objects Cost and profit center lists to include expired objects
Reporting on old objects
CCA/Order Balance Records with debit type 1 and 2 included in debit only balances
Bug fix
Attributes Master data attributes added Enhancement
Master Data Functionality to cache master data Enhancement
GL Accounts Option to discover company code specific accounts Enhancement
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13 Version 5.5.1
13.1 General
13.2 Planning Wand
14 Version 5.5.0
14.1 General
14.2 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit SAP connector Support for message server settings Enable message server
connection
SAP connector Support for SAP router setting Enable SAP router connection
Launch Remove use of batch files Avoid anti-virus blocking
Launch Compression parameter enabled Bug fix
Process Release unused excel4apps.exe process Bug fix
Maintenance Ability to remove users from the maintenance transaction
Ease of use
Feature Description Benefit Load plan Values greater than 9,999,999 allowed Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit SSO Environment variable values with spaces corrected Bug fix
License Key Manual license key dialog showing twice Bug fix
Launch process Provided exe to install the launcher and client file before launching
Faster launch time
Login Add the SAP login dialog to the windows task bar Launch visibility
Copyright Added copyright info Notification
Launch Updated splash screen Updated product information
Feature Description Benefit Universal Journal S/4 HANA balance, criteria and drilldown function New balance function
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14.3 Reports Wand
15 Version 5.4.2
15.1 General
15.2 GL Wand
15.3 Planning Wand
PCA balance Added the object class parameter to the PCA balance, criteria and drilldown functionality
Additional filter option
Expand User option to ignore GL accounts blocked for posting in the chart of accounts when expanding
Exclude unused GL accounts
LOV Filter for the create list of values does not clear Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Pivot Tables Allow the use of pivot tables Bug fix
Layouts Disable the sort by and group by Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit Launch process Launch files retrieved from a network share Faster launch time
Feature Description Benefit Cost center master data caching
Improved cost center master data caching Shorter log on time
Account sets Account sets not resolving child values Bug fix
Financial Statement Version hierarchies
Financial statement version hierarchies removed. Workaround is to copy it to an account group with KE5B
Account groups expanding
GL document drill down Selecting vendor or customer field in document drill down layout causes an exception
Bug fix
Parked document Drilling on a vendor or customer parked document results in exception
Bug fix
Feature Description Benefit S/4 HANA New GL planning Replace option enabled for New GL planning on
S/4 HANA systems Replace option available
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16 Version 5.4.1
16.1 General
16.2 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit New GL drill down New GL drill down on S/4 HANA systems enables
new transaction types Avoid drill down errors
FICO object list Customer and Vendor added to the FICO object drop down list to enable Discover and Show
Report building for Customer and Vendor
Performance Performance improvement for the CCA, IO, SKF, PCA, Projects and New GL balance functions
Improved performance
17 Version 5.4.0
17.1 General
Feature Description Benefit EXCEL4APPS authorization object
EXCEL4APPS authorization object Authorization object available in role
Improve Launch Transaction Option to change the launch download folder and to download the client application directly
Easier application launch
JDK 11 launcher The new JDK 11 launcher does not require SAML ID provider selection
Successful launch
SSO selection memory Remember the selected setting for SSO Setting memory
User selection process Only users tagged with the EXCEL4APPS authorization object are shown in the list of SAP users to manage
Improved user selection process
17.2 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit Create List of Values dialog filter
Search for the list of values you want to create instead of scrolling through a long list
Easily find the correct list of values
Report Wizard Check to ensure at least one row filter is added Bug Fix
Sub Menus for Criteria Sheet
Menu separators make it clearer to differentiate between criteria sheet types
Improved menu structure
FBL5N drill down A new drill criteria sheet provided to be able to perform actions similar to transaction code FBL5N
The ability to report on customer values
Feature Description Benefit Excel process Excel orphan process clean up Orphan process clean up
Launch transaction Required authorization checks performed Highlights missing authorizations
Launch Ability to configure a port for the SAP Java connector to use
Flexible configuration
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Feature Description Benefit New function to report on Vendor values
A new drill criteria sheet provided to be able to perform actions similar to transaction code FBL1N
The ability to report on Vendor values
Apply the SPL table group configuration
Read and apply the selected configuration for each SPL table group
Enables a configurable SPL function
SPL table group configuration
Provide a configuration transaction to enable choosing the custom fields to be used for an SPL table group
Provides simple configuration of the SPL function
Add group objects to the SPL balance function
Create SPL balance functions for group objects Easier balance creation
SPL balance Provides a new balance function in GL Wand to enable balance and drill down reporting on the special purpose ledger
Enables SPL reporting in GL Wand
Daily Customer Function Enables reporting on customer balances at a daily level
Ability to report on Customer balances
Daily Vendor Balance
A new balance function to report on vendor balances at a daily level
Enables vendor balance reporting
17.3 Planning Wand
Feature Description Benefit Prevent PW posting locks
Prevent locking of PW postings Prevents locking of PW postings
18 Version 5.3.2
18.1 General
Feature Description Benefit Java 11 Launcher Java 11 Launcher Zero client install
18.2 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit Insert COPA function Company code sets bug fix Bug fix
Ledgers S4CORE tables missing on HANA database Bug fix
18.3 Planning Wand
Feature Description Benefit Load New GL Missing field in HANA 1610 Bug fix
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19 Version 5.3.0
19.1 General
Feature Description Benefit Java Connector update Java Connector update Remain up to date with the
SAP Java connector
19.2 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit Logon performance improvement
Logon performance improvement Improved logon time
Logging class name truncated
Logging class name truncated Improved logging
Company Code Sets A company code set can now be selected instead of having to list out many company codes in a function
Ease of use
Report Wizard The report wizard feature allows the quick creation of a report with the formulas already referenced to the input parameters
Ease of report creation
Indirect Exchange Rates Ability to return the indirect exchange rate Retrieve indirect exchange rates
Expand hierarchy up A hierarchy can be expanded upward, with the group totals at the bottom of the list of individual values
Ease of report creation
Fewer pop ups during launch
The pop up to choose whether to open or save the file after clicking launch has been removed
Quicker launch
Retrieve Automated Attachments
Retrieve automated attachments Attachment retrieval
Expand hierarchy to individual values
When performing an expand hierarchy, if a group contains a range of values, the range is expanded into the individual values
Ease of report creation
FBL3N in GL Wand The daily GL balance function has been enhanced to be able to use options similar to the FBL3N transaction code
Execute drill down criteria sheets in a similar fashion to the FBL3N transaction code
Return blank for * value in get object description
A blank is returned for a * value in the object description function instead of an error
Removes an unnecessary error
19.3 Reports Wand
Feature Description Benefit Featured Views Documentation
The featured views documentation URLs were updated
Updated documentation
Output with pivot table The ability to automatically create a linked pivot table when the Reports Wand report is created
Ease of report creation
Tool tip for limit criteria Tool tip for limit criteria Assistance on field use
Clear individual filters from parameter list
Ability to clear individual filters in the parameter list
Ease of report creation
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Feature Description Benefit Remove open report button The button to open a report was removed due to
redundancy with standard Windows open file functionality
Cleaner toolbar
Rename parameter list buttons
Rename parameter list buttons Clearer meaning
Data preview resets columns
Data preview bug fix Bug fix
Field categorization in the layout editor
The fields in the layout editor have been categorized
Ease of report creation
Minimum fields in report layout
The initially selected fields in the report layout was reduced to the minimum
Ease of report creation
19.4 Planning Wand
Feature Description Benefit Load Activity Input Plan New Planning Wand function to enable uploading
activity input values. New feature
Exclude Planning Wand Functions on Snapshot
Exclude Planning Wand Functions on Snapshot Planning Wand functions can still be refreshed
20 Version 5.2.2
20.1 General
Feature Description Benefit
Backward Compatibility Minor changes made to support older ECC6 systems in line with the system requirements.
Bug fix
Attachments Improved attachment retrieval support Enhancement
21 Version 5.2.1
21.1 General
Feature Description Benefit
Reports Wand documentation links
Reports Wand documentation links corrected Bug fix
RDM Workbook naming Introduced the "Add Parameter(s) To Worksheet" option to optionally add the RDM parameters value to the worksheet names of the RDM output Workbook. Selecting "Yes" adds the parameter value to the resulting output worksheet name to easy identify the parameters used in calculating the sheet.
Allows the user to control the naming of the worksheets contained in the RDM output file by optionally appending the parameters used when executing the sheet.
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Feature Description Benefit
Licensed product security in Shared Templates
When viewing the shared template drive, the only products that will show up in the dialog will be those that are enabled for access unless being viewed by an admin or this security feature is turned off.
This change helps to restrict access to locations that were already restricted from the logged in user account.
Expand causes Excel to stop responding
An issue was identified that would under certain circumstances and with a very specific combination of options, cause Excel to stop responding when executing the Expand function.
Bug Fix.
JWS Do not close warning
When launching from a JWS screen, an applet opens with the excel4apps logo. There is small text stating to not close the window. Now there is text added to the logo telling stating "Do not close this window".
This helps to clarify that the applet window needs to remain open while using an Excel4apps product.
Select Single Sheet for RDM processing
RDM now provides the ability to distribute only selected worksheets from a source report.
Provides user with greater distribution flexibility.
Logging Framework Improvements
The application logging framework will now log toolbar actions when logging level is set to FINE.
Improved application diagnostics.
Shared Templates - Update workbook with current
When you create a new Shared Templates file, the browser dialog opened to the user home folder. Then the user had to navigate to the file they wanted. We are now opening the browser dialog to the current location of the active workbook.
The user will now have a quicker and easy way of creating new template files for Shared Templates.
SysAdmin Options: User Permissions: infinity symbol not displaying correctly
When you upgrade to a later java version, the infinity symbol does not always display correctly. We have changed the symbol from an inline symbol to a UTF-8 char code symbol, so it displays correctly every time.
With this fix, the user will no longer see a broken image in the system admin dialog.
Add-in name change
The Java add-in name was changed to avoid conflict with the version 4.xx add-in name
Improved version interoperability
21.2 RDM
Feature Description Benefit
RW Integration Allows for distribution or RW reports Distribution of Reports
Wand reports
21.3 GL Wand
Feature Description Benefit
Get Daily GL Balance Retrieves Line Item level (BSIS/BSAS) information from General Ledger and sums to balance
Report and drill down on Daily balances.
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Feature Description Benefit
Get SKF Balance (CCA) Retrieve SKF balances by Cost Center Report and drill down on SKF CCA balances.
Get SKF Balance (PCA) Retrieve SKF balances by Profit Center Report and drill down on SKF PCA balances.
Get SKF Balance (IO) Retrieve SKF balances by Internal Order Report and drill down on SKF IO balances.
Get Activity Type Balance Retrieve Activity Type balances Report and drill down on Activity Type balances.
Get Exchange Rate Retrieve Exchange rates Report on exchange rates
Get Offsetting Account Retrieve Offsetting Account Value and Type Get offsetting account information
Get Attachments Retrieve attached file Get attachments
SAP Subtotal Drilldown does not reflect the actual total
When you perform a drilldown that includes a subtotal on the balance column, the overall total shown at the bottom is a combination of the subtotals balance and the overall balance.
With this fix, the overall balance when performing a drilldown with a subtotal on the balance is displayed correctly.
Daily GL balance date format on criteria sheet
Date formatting error on criteria sheet corrected
Usability
SAP Subtotal Drilldown does not reflect the actual total
When you perform a drilldown that includes a subtotal on the balance column, the overall total shown at the bottom is a combination of the subtotals balance and the overall balance.
With this fix, the overall balance when performing a drilldown with a subtotal on the balance is displayed correctly.
Statistical Key Figure (PCA) versions missing
Statistical Key Figure (PCA) balance wizard missing the version list
Version selection
Statistical Key Figure list of values
Support for pre 4.0 statistical key figures added
Additional values available
Statistical Key Figure groups listed in wizard
Statistical Key Figure groups were listed incorrectly in the balance wizard
Correct values displayed
Statistical Key Figure attributes
Attributes of Statistical Key Figures added Attribute reporting
Data preview on GL Wand template
Data preview button removed from GL Wand templates
Avoid confusion
21.4 Planning Wand
Feature Description Benefit
Load Activity Output A Planning Wand function for uploading plan values to the New GL. Loads plan prices and quantities to Activity Types and Cost Centers
Load plan values for Activity Output.
Load SKF Plan A Planning Wand function for uploading plan
values statistical key figures. Load plan values for
statistical key figures.
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21.5 Reports Wand
Feature Description Benefit
Create Report - filter by Module
Filters visible Views by Module Easier to find the views
you want.
Create Report - filter by Featured
Filters visible Views by Featured Easier to find the views
you want.
Create Report -search/sort by Similar T-
Code Metadata populated by Excel4apps
Easier to find the views you want.
Create Report -search/sort by Sub-
Module Filters visible Views by sub-module
Easier to find the views you want.
Create Report -search/sort by Sub-Module Description
Sub-Module description is taken from the final Sub-Module in the sequence
Easier to find the views you want.
Create Report - CDS View Documentation
Provides hyperlink for Views documented by SAP
Easily get additional documentation for a view
Create Report – Back button
Allows user to return to Create Report dialog without cancelling and re-opening
Easier navigation of views
Create Report - Data Preview
Displays first 5 rows of data to assist with field selection
Sample data to assist with view discovery
CO views included in Finance filter
CO CDS views included in Finance filter Finance related views displayed for filter
Featured CDS views Additional views added to the featured list Additional featured views
Suppress Reports Wand admin column
Unused column in the product selection dialog suppressed
Avoid confusion
Snapshot of Reports Wand formulas
Reports Wand formulas included in snapshot process
Snapshot of Reports Wand formulas
22 Known Issues
22.1 Office 365 Calculates on workbook open
By design the Excel4apps custom Excel functions will not recalculate when a workbook is opened. We use standard Excel features to achieve this. Excel’s standard behavior is that when a workbook is opened the last calculated result will be displayed in the cells and no calculation is triggered. In the background we restore the last function results for all Excel4apps custom functions so that they are available in the session. Those results will be used until a recalculation is performed using one of the “Refresh” buttons on the Excel4apps toolbar.
An issue has been noted in Office 365 (latest build but could occur in previous releases as well) where Excel triggers a recalculation when a workbook is opened. This will occur specifically for workbooks that have not been saved on the local PC e.g. items opened from a network drive or email. The calculation is triggered before our application has an opportunity to restore the last function results and therefore an Excel4apps calculation begins in order to resolve the functions which currently have no result in the session. This behavior does not occur on other Excel releases, only Office 365. It is unclear why Excel is functioning in this manner. The problem is likely an Excel bug.
What you can do to work around the issue:
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• Set the Excel calculation mode to manual before opening the workbook and then set it back to automatic once the workbook is opened. This ensures that our application has an opportunity to restore the last function results before the calculation is triggered.
• Alternatively, set the Excel4apps calculation mode to “Off” before opening the workbook. Again, this ensures that our application has an opportunity to restore the last function results. The functions will initially resolve to “pending”. You can then return the Excel4apps calculation mode to “On” and trigger an Excel refresh using Ctrl-Alt-F9 which will then resolve the functions using the last results.
22.2 Slow performance with large volumes (Excel calculation)
When processing workbooks containing a large calculation volume, typically around 100 000 or more, the process of returning the final answers to Excel can take a significant amount of time. During this process the Excel status bar shows a calculation percentage which slowly increments.
We have conducted extensive testing around this issue and have concluded that there is nothing we can change in our application to improve the performance. This is an Excel process that is running and we cannot influence it in any way.
This problem is compounded by the fact that during Excel4apps calculations (triggered by using one of the refresh buttons on the toolbar) we switch the Excel calculation to a single processor (single threaded process). This is required to prevent the occurrence of an Excel bug which manifests as a “Out of resources” error or Excel crashing with certain workbook configurations.
What you can do in the short term:
• Lower volumes calculate exponentially faster, for example in our benchmarking, a workbook with 50 000 calculations completed almost 9 times faster than a workbook with 100 000 calculations. Therefore try and keep workbooks to smaller sizes where possible or calculate in sections to keep the volume being processed lower.
• Workbooks with complex dependent formulas tend to perform the worst. So limit this where possible.
• The Excel bug mentioned above does not affect all workbooks. You can therefore try disabling the option that restricts the calculation to using a single processor. If the calculations complete without error, you can leave this setting disabled and this should improve the performance of the Excel calculation. The option can be found under the GL Wand options.
What we are doing:
We are investigating alternative options to stream our calculation results back to Excel. The option we are currently using is the technology that Microsoft recommends for our requirement but clearly cannot handle the required volumes and also has a number of bugs which Microsoft does not seem to be addressing.
This investigation of alternatives will unfortunately take some time to complete and the development of a new solution is likely to be a significant project. But please be assured that we are working as quickly as we can to find a solution to process large calculation volumes efficiently.
22.3 Citrix compatibility
The Excel4apps Wands application is supported on a Citrix Desktop. However, deploying Excel via Citrix Application Streaming, as a standalone application, is not supported. Our recommendation
www.insightsoftware.com/wands
© Excel4apps Pty Ltd 2020 | Page 22 of 22
though, seeing as there is no longer a client installation, is to run our product from the PC rather than from Citrix.