Introducing SAP Analytics Cloud

Explaining Collaboration

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Collaborate with SAP Analytics Cloud

Build a Calendar Task

Use the calendar to organize your workflows with calendar events. You can create different types of tasks and assign people to work on them and others to review the work. You can use processes to manage multiple events.

You use the calendar to view, create, and manage your processes and tasks. Directly integrated applications in the calendar make it easier for you to accomplish your due tasks and receive an overview of your data.

Watch this video to learn how to create Calendar task for submitting and reviewing planning data..

Comments

Comments can be made on a story page, a widget, or a data point in a table. Comments can be 1,000 characters long.

Data Point Comments

There are two ways to add data point comments:

  • By adding a comment on cells
  • By adding a commenting column

You can save comments on cells from any type of acquired model. When a story is opened, comment mode is on by default.

Note
Comments are not activated by model or dimension.

When commenting on a specific data point (cell), the data context includes the specific filters on dimensions used to create any underlying restricted measure. The comment will display in other tables and stories that apply the same filter combinations to the dimension. For example, if you leave a comment on a restricted measure, based on account values that apply a filter on the region dimension to limit the member to North America, the comment will display in other tables or stories that apply the same filters to limit the region dimension to North America.

When commenting on a data point, the data context is taken into account. Only users who share the data context can view the comment. The data context is composed of the following:

  • All dimensions visible on the table.
  • Page, chart, and story filters.
  • Data access control and role-level security.
Note

You can add comments to data cells sourced from restricted measures in a table, however these measures cannot be based on any underlying restricted or calculated measures.

Another way to manage data point comments is by using a dedicated commenting column in your table. This column can be used to view and add comments.

To add a column for comments, right-click on the column header and choose Add Calculation → Comment → Single(for multiple comment columns, choose Repeating).

The dedicated commenting column is created as a new member of the same dimension and hierarchy level as the member it references. You can change this context by referencing a different column in the commenting formula. Changing the drill state or adding a dimension can impact the context of the referenced cell.

Only the most recent comment in a thread will display in a comment column cell. To view an entire comment thread, double-click in the corresponding cell.

Note
When column-based comments are used, data point comments are not allowed on the table widget.

If you collapse a hierarchy, existing data point comments may no longer be fully visible. Instead, the green wedge in the cell will display as transparent. To access the comment, drill down the hierarchy until a green wedge is displayed.

A data point comment also displays the original value of the cell if the data value has changed.

How to Use the Comment Feature

You need to know how to use the commenting features of SAP Analytics Cloud to collaborate.

In this demonstration, we will perform the following tasks:

  • Create a new story
  • Work with page comments
  • Work with chart comments
  • Work with data point comments
  • Use the comment widget
https://education.hana.ondemand.com/education/pub/mmcp/index.html?show=project!PR_5E82EEA5AB92A5A3:demo

Plan with Comments

Business Example

You need to know how to use the commenting features of SAP Analytics Cloud to improve the collaboration of your planning process.

In this exercise, you will perform the following activities:

  • Create a New Story
  • Create a New Public Version
  • Work with Column Comments
  • Work with Data Point Comments
  • Use the Comment Widget
In this exercise, when a value or object name includes ##, replace ## with the number that your instructor assigned to you.

Task 1: Logon to SAC

Steps

  1. Log on to SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC).

    Username: A## or B##, where ## is your 2-digit group number, and the letter is what your instructor assigned to you.
    Password: Welcome1

    1. From your training remote desktop, launch Google Chrome.

    2. Type the URL (provided by your instructor) for the SAC Tenant you will use in class.

    3. Your instructor has assigned you to a group, either A or B, and also given you a 2-digit group number. Log on to SAC using the provided credentials.

Task 2: Copy the Comment Story

Steps

  1. Access the P00S_Comment_Scenario story in the SAC01_30 content folder.

    1. On the upper left, go to Files.

    2. Go to Public → SAC01_30 → SAC01_Content.

  2. Copy the P00S_Comment_Scenario story as follows:

    FieldValue
    NameU##S_Comment_Scenario
    DescriptionU## Commenting Scenario

    1. Select the P00S_Comment_Scenario story.

    2. Near the top of the page, choose Copy To .

    3. Enter data as shown in the preceding table.

    4. Choose OK.

  3. Open your U##S_Comment_Scenario story and switch to Edit mode.

    1. From My Files click the U##S_Comment_Scenario story to open it.

    2. Switch to Edit mode. If prompted to use optimized view mode, choose No Thanks.

Task 3: Create Your Own Private Version

Steps

  1. Go to the Column Comments page and click on a data cell.

  2. Copy the Actual data to a private version as follows:

    FieldValue
    Version NameU##PrivVers
    CategoryPlanning
    Copy all data 

    1. Click Designer in the upper right to open the Builder pane.

    2. Under More, choose the ... button to access Version Management.

    3. Choose the Copy icon to the right of the Actual version.

    4. Enter the provided data and choose OK.

    5. Close the Version Management dialog.

    Note
    Depending on your resolution, Version Management may appear in the toolbar at the top of the page and not in the More options.

  3. Switch the filter for Version to display only U##PrivVers.

    1. If needed, click in a data cell and use the designer button to access the Builder pane.

    2. In the Builder pane, go to the Filter area.

    3. Switch the filter for Version to display only U##PrivVers.

Task 4: Work with Column Comments

Steps

  1. Add a column for comments for Q1, Jan, Feb, and March.

    1. Right click on Athletic Shorts for Q1.

    2. Choose Add Calculation → Comment → Repeating.

    Result

    Four comment columns are added: Q1, Jan, Feb, and March.

  2. Add the following comment for Q1 | Athletic Shorts | Northeast: Gross sales for 2023Q1 | Shorts | Northeast are expected to rise 3% due to our new marketing strategy.

    1. Double click in the comment cell for Q1 | Athletic Shorts | Northeast.

    2. Enter in the provided comment.

    3. Choose Add Comment.

    4. Close the dialog.

  3. Add the following comment for Jan | Athletic Shorts | Northeast: Gross sales for 2023 Jan | Shorts | Northeast are expected to rise 1% due to our new marketing strategy.

    1. Double click in the comment cell for Jan | Athletic Shorts | Northeast.

    2. Enter in the provided comment.

    3. Choose Add Comment. Keep the Data Point Comment dialog open.

  4. Add another comment for Jan | Athletic Shorts | Northeast: Gross sales for 2023 Jan | Shorts | Northeast are expected to rise 1.5% due to our new marketing strategy.

    1. Enter in the provided comment in the Reply Here input field.

    2. Choose Add Comment.

      Result

      Both comments are visible in the comment dialog.

    3. Close the dialog.

    Result

    Only the latest comment is displayed in the comment column.

  5. Save the story.

Task 5: Work with Cell Based Comments

Steps

  1. Go to Data Point Comments page.

  2. Switch the table filter from version Actual to U##PrivVers.

    1. If needed, click in a data cell.

    2. In the Builder pane, go to the Filter area.

    3. Switch the filter for Version to display only U##PrivVers.

    Result

    A comment indicator appears in the Q1 | Athletic Shorts cell for the Northeast.

  3. Click the comment indicator in the Q1 | Athletic Shorts cell for the Northeast to display the comment.

    Result

    Your comment that was entered in the comment columns page is displayed: Gross sales for 2023Q1 | Shorts | Northeast are expected to rise 3% due to our new marketing strategy.

  4. Add the following comment for Q1 | Athletic Shorts | Southeast: Gross sales for 2023Q1 | Shorts | Southeast are expected to rise 6% due to our new marketing strategy.

    1. Right click the cell for Q1 | Athletic Shorts | Southeast.

    2. Choose Add Data Point Comment.

    3. Enter in the provided comment.

    4. Choose Add Comment.

    5. Close the dialog.

  5. Save the story.

Task 6: Work with the Comment Widget

Steps

  1. Go to the Overview page.

  2. Insert the comment widget below the text: Key Assumptions for Q1 2023.

    1. In the task bar, choose +Add (or use the ...More option in the ribbon).

    2. Select Comment Widget.

    3. Expand the widget.

  3. Set the following filter values for the comment widget:

    DimensionMember
    VersionU##PrivVers
    AccountGross Sales
    DateQ1(2023)
    EntityEnterprise

    1. In the Builder pane on the right, configure the filter values as shown in the table above.

  4. Format the comment widget as follows:

    StyleSetting
    Background ColorMedium Yellow (for example)
    BorderAll Borders
    Corner Radius18px

    1. Switch to the Styling pane.

    2. Input the provided styles.

  5. Add an input control to the right of the comment widget. Set the filter for the Product dimension to Product Group.

    1. In the Insert area of the task bar, choose Input Control .

    2. In the Data Source dialog, choose Dimensions → Product.

    3. Select Product Group and choose OK.

  6. Make the input control the same height as the comment widget.

  7. Expand Product Group, All Products, and Apparel.

  8. Format the input control as follows:

    StyleSetting
    Background ColorMedium Yellow
    BorderAll Borders
    Corner Radius18px

    1. Switch to the Styling pane.

    2. Input the provided styles.

  9. Save the story.

  10. Enter the following comment for Apparel: Gross sales for 2023Q1 | Apparel are expected to rise 4.5% due to our new marketing strategy.

    1. De-select All.

    2. Select Apparel.

    3. Enter the provided comment and choose Add Comment.

  11. Enter the following comment for Athletic Shorts: Gross sales for 2023Q1 | Athletic Shorts are expected to rise 5.5% due to our new marketing strategy.

    1. De-select Apparel.

    2. Select Athletic Shorts.

    3. Enter the provided comment and choose Add Comment.

  12. Display only the Apparel comment by selecting Apparel.

    See the following example for group 10 (all three pages are displayed.)

  13. Save the story.

  14. Return to the Home page.

    Result

    You have completed this exercise.

Save progress to your learning plan by logging in or creating an account

login / register
Continue to next lesson