Chapter :8 Report Painter/Report Writer 8

In this chapter you will learn:

Chapter :9 Contents The basics of Report
Painter/Report Writer
How the Report
Overview................................................................................................................. 82 Painter/Report Writer tools
are organized
Where is Report Painter/Report Writer Used?....................................................83
Answers to some of the most
How to Access Report Painter/Report Writer?....................................................84 frequently asked questions
How Is Report Painter/Report Writer Organized?...............................................85 about the tool

How Does Report Painter Differ from Other Reporting Tools?..........................85

Output and Format of Report Painter/Report Writer...........................................86
Frequently Asked Questions................................................................................87
Where to Learn More........................................................................................... 810

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Overview

Report Painter and Report Writer can be

used to easily create currency- or ABAP
quantity-type reports in R/3. Examples of Q u e ry

these reports include financial statements,

sales reports, and inventory reports. Since

Rep ort Wri

both tools work with the same reporting

Ana exible

Rep
s

ort
lyse
control tables, you can use either tool to

Fl

Pain er
create reports on the configured tables.

LIS
R /3 R e p o r t

ter
t
D e v e lo p m e n t
T o o ls

LI
S n
An Stan ow g
aly da
se rd r illd rtin
s D po
Re

With the Report Painter you can report on data from multiple applications. It uses a
graphical report structure which forms the basis for report definition. When defining the
report, you work with a structure that corresponds to the final structure of the report. With
Report Painters intuitive WYSIWYG approach to report design, you define a report on a
form that displays the rows and columns as they will appear in the report output.

What Is the Difference Between Report Painter and Report Writer?

Earlier releases of the R/3 System were delivered only with Report Writer. Later, the user
interface of Report Writer was enhanced and offered to users as Report Painter. As shown in
the graphic below, Report Painter adds an easy-to-use graphical interface to the core
functionality of Report Writer.

Report Writer
+ Graphical
Graphical
Interface
Interface = Report Painter

What Is Report Painter?

With Report Painter you can report on data from multiple applications. It uses a graphical
report structure which forms the basis for report definition. When defining a report, you
work with a structure that corresponds to the final structure of the report. With Report

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Painters intuitive WYSIWYG approach to report design, you define a report on a form that
displays the rows and columns as they will appear in the report output.
What Is Report Writer?
Just like Report Painter, Report Writer lets you report on data from multiple applications.
Using elements such as sets, variables, formulas, cells, and key figures, you can create
complex reports that meet specific reporting requirements.

Note: Report Writer has been available since the early (Release 2.x and earlier) releases
of the R/3 System. Users could access Report Painter via a transaction code in Release
2.2. However, Report Painter was formally made available in Release 3.x.

Where Is Report Painter/Report Writer Used?

Initially, both tools were only available to the FI/CO modules. Later, with the introduction
of the Logistics Information System and Flexible Analyses in Release 3.x, the functionality of
these tools was further expanded. It still is not widely known that the Report Painter/Writer
can be used for reporting against structures other than those delivered in FI and CO (see
TechTalk on page 8-4).
A common misconception in the user community is that Report Painter/Report Writer can
only be used to report against a single table. However, some reporting structures do report
against multiple tables. For example, CCSS (for Cost Center Accounting) refers to tables
COSP, COSS and more, depending on the key figure configuration. Similarly, FI-SL (Special
Purpose Ledger) reporting structures include summary and line-item tables (the key figure
set determines where the data comes from).
To configure other table joins, views may be created joining the necessary tables, and views
can be added to the control tables, via Flexible Analyses in LIS. Report Painter/Report
Writer can be used in almost any application area in R/3 to report on currencies and
quantities.

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Data tables supported

Both Report Painter and Report Writer can be used to report on the following tables and
tables types:
Evaluation structures set up in the Logistics Information System (LIS). These
structures normally begin with an S or ZF. Several different tables and views
within the R/3 System can be added as evaluation structures.
Note: You cannot add cluster tables, such as BSEG.
CCSS is used for Cost Center Accounting (CO-CCA), Internal Orders (CO-OPA),
Activity Based Costing (CO-ABC) and for cost element reports in Project Systems
(PS).
GLFUNCT is used for functional area reporting in cost-of-sales accounting.
GLPCT and GLPCOP are used for Profit Center Accounting (CO-PCA/EC-PCA).
FILC is used for Legal Consolidations (FI-LC).
COFIT is used for the Controlling Reconciliation Ledger (CO-CEL).
ZZ tables are created for the Special Purpose Ledger (FI-SL).
FIMC is used for consolidations in the Enterprise Controlling module (EC-LC).
GLT0 is used for Financial Accounting (General Ledger) reports by account, company,
and business area (FI-GL).
KKBC, KKBE, and KKBU are used for the Controlling Product Costing module (CO-
Costing).
New in Release 4.0A: RWCOOM is used for CO-CCA, CO-OPA, and CO-ABC.
RWCOOM is used for special standard reports like internal order budget reports, cost
center budget reports and cost component reports.
Note: RPPS was used for Project Systems (PS). However, it is obsolete and will no longer
be supported in Release 4.0. In Release 3.x there were only two special reports (6P70 and
6P71) using RPPS. These reports cannot be called directly, but via ABAP reports
RKOPLAN0 and RKOPLAN1.

How to Access Report Painter/Report Writer?

To access the Report Painter you may use either of the following two methods:
Transaction FGRP
From the SAP main menu, choose Information systems Ad hoc reports Report
painter.
Report Writer functions can be accessed from within the Report Painter. To access Report
Writer, choose the following menu path from the SAP main menu:
Information systems Ad hoc reports Report painter Report Writer.

4 Reporting Made Easy

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How Is Report Painter/Report Writer Organized?

Report Painter/Report Writer has four main components:

Sets: Sets are logical groupings of characteristic values. For example, a cash line on a
balance sheet is made up of a set of cash accounts or an energy product line on an
inventory report is made up of a set of energy products. Variables can also be created
which are placeholders for sets, or values within sets.
Libraries: Libraries control which characteristics and key figures from a table are
available for reporting.
Reports: Reports hold a definition of the rows, columns, and overall data selection.
They also include the header and footer texts and layout settings.
Report Groups: Report groups can contain one or more reports. The report group is
what you executenot the actual report. A report group is generated to create a set of
ABAP programs that produce the reports.

How Does Report Painter Differ from Other Reporting Tools?

With the exception of row titles which have text fields, Report Painter/Report Writer
reports display numerical fields only (for example, dollar and quantity fields). This is
not a requirement for ABAP Query and typical line item reporting tools, which can
display arbitrary text columns.
While printed Report Painter/Report Writer reports appear much the same way on
paper as they do on screen, the Drilldown reporting tool produces a different output
format. Drilldown reporting is an online analytical tool which can be used to drill down
to different levels of detail, but it is infrequently used for printing.
Report Painter/Report Writer reports are hierarchical and take advantage of
configured hierarchies (for example, with cost center hierarchies). You can also execute
Report Painter/Report Writer reports from each level within a hierarchy.
Report Painter/Report Writer reports can handle multiple currency/quantity units
within a single column.
Report Painter/Report Writer is well suited to handle reports that require mass
production. For example, Report Painter/Report Writer is a particularly effective tool for
creating month-end reports.

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Output and Format of Report Painter/Report Writer

Report Painter/Report Writer reports can be:

Displayed on the screen and then printed
Executed in the background and displayed or printed from the print queue
Saved as extract files and viewed at a later time
Displayed on the screen using SAP Graphics
Downloaded to a spreadsheet (for example, Microsoft Excel) or a flat file
The sample report shown below was created using an evaluation structure created in the
Logistics Information System (LIS). The evaluation structure uses a view from the data
dictionary that combines tables VBRP (a billing line item table) and MARA (a material
master record table).
You may sort the output on any column in the report by using the sort buttons.
There is also threshold capability to show certain values in different colors.
Report Call (sometimes referred to as the drilldown function) is also available and
can be set up to call the billing document display transaction or a standard SAP report or
many others.
The report may be saved as an extract and viewed online later. These reports do not lose any
of their online capabilities when saved as extracts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

To help you better understand this tool, in this section we include some of the most frequently asked
questions.

Desktop Integration

Q: What sort of integration with spreadsheet applications (for example, Microsoft Excel or Lotus
123) does this tool provide?
A: The integration with Microsoft Excel includes a download in a special file format (*.RPW), which
requires the desktop component Report Writer: MS Excel Link. It provides an Excel add-in for
navigation and drilldown.
Report Painter/Writer reports can be downloaded/exported in the ASCII format.
Q: What integration is supported for Extended Export of Lists (XXL)?

A: None.

Q: Is an external system or special interface required to use this report development tool?

A: No.

Speed and Performance

Q: Does this reporting tool create reports that offer real-time processing of data?

A: The reports are real-time so long as the data is real-time. Most data used by Report
Painter/Report Writer is real-time. Extract management establishes a kind of cache to the
database (offline selection).
Q: How does the speed of report execution change as the data load increases? That is, do reports
created with this tool get very slow as system data increases?
A: No, Report Writer/Report Painter is designed for mass production of reports and is especially
well suited for batch processing.
Q: Are there any methods (for example, OSS notes, configuration, or others) which users can
employ to optimize or enhance report execution speed?
A: Performance depends on a number of factors. Fine tuning performance often requires a sound
understanding of Report Painter/Report Writer and the databases.

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Integration with Standard R/3 System

Q: How is R/3 data integrated for use by this tool?

A: Report Writer/Report Painter primarily supports Financial accounting and Controlling modules
(financial controlling, treasury, controlling, investment management, enterprise controlling, and
some industry solutions). However, refer to book 2, Report Development Tools for more
information on how to integrate LIS data with Report Painter/Report Writer.
Q: What is the availability of reports created with this tool as delivered with standard R/3?

A: Largely, the availability of standard reports created with this tool depends on the application
area. For example, there are standard reports for CO-OM but there are no standard FI-SL reports
that were delivered with the Report Painter/Writer.

Knowledge Level Required for Report Development

Q: Is it difficult to learn how to develop reports with this tool?

A: Defining a report with the Report Writer requires a longer time to learn, whereas the Report
Painter is much easier to use. However, the Report Painter only covers approximately 80-90% of
Report Writers functionality.
Report Painter/Report Writer also offer flexibility in designing title page and header lines with
text variables (including customer-defined ones).
Q: Is there an adequate number of characteristics (key figures) and drilldown levels available for
programming with this tool?
A: In general, the technical limitations for this tool are:
100 characteristics
100 levels/characteristics
1000 sections
500 columns/section
However, it is possible to add (virtual) characteristics/key figures.
Q: If meta data is used by the reports developed with this tool, is it difficult to integrate or
program new data structures for use with this tool? (Note: Meta data refers to information
about the data)
A: There is no special meta data programmed. In configuration, you can determine which data are
read, including meta data (such as LIS info structures).
Q: How flexible is this tool for modifying reports (developed with this tool)?

A: Extremely flexible. However, reporting structures should be properly configured before going
live (perhaps most important with General Ledger (G/L) and Profit Center Accounting).

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User Friendliness

Does the Tool Offer

Drag and drop capability? NO

Sorting? YES
Summations? YES
Selection screen variants? YES
Saved results (cached query)? YES
Adhoc queries? YES
Column or row sizing? YES

Q: Is there a common look and feel among reports developed with this tool?

A: Yes.

Q: Is there an easy learning curve for users to use this tool?

A: Yes.

Execution Management

Q: Is authorization control programmable with this tool?

A: Yes, an authority check is done for:

Report (definition)
Selection criteria (sets)
Selected data (and a user exit is possible here)
Q: Does this tool provide an alert and monitoring capability? (For example, to let users know
when output is out of a certain range.)
A: No.

Q: Does this tool offer batch job processing and background report execution?

A: Yes.

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Where to Learn More

Chapter 3, Report Painter/Report Writer in book 2, Report Developments Tools, in the
Reporting Made Easy guidebook series.
The R/3 online documentation for Report Painter and Report Writer: In the R/3
Library for Release 4.0B, go to: AC-Financials FI Financial Accounting FI Special
Purpose Ledger, then follow the links for Report Writer.
SAP training courses offered by SAP Education and Training:
CA705 for Report Painter
CA710 for Report Writer

10 Reporting Made Easy