Working with Custom Aggregates

This chapter covers the following topics:

About Custom Aggregates

A custom aggregate is a single dimension value that combines multiple values for a dimension. When you work as a Demand Planner or Demand Plan Manager, you can create custom aggregates and use them in worksheets, reports, and graphs. For example, you might define a custom aggregate that combines the values for five products into a single value. You might also define a custom aggregate that adds the values of four products and subtracts the value of a fifth product. This might be useful if you were creating a what-if simulation and wanted to see the effect that phasing out one of the products would have on your key value drivers. Note: Custom aggregates are independent of any hierarchy. If you are selecting values from a specific hierarchy, then custom aggregates will not be available.

Defining Custom Aggregates

You define a custom aggregate by naming the aggregate and selecting its member values. You can also specify how a specific member will be processed within the aggregate.

To define a custom aggregate:

  1. Access Oracle Demand Planning as a Demand Planner or Demand Plan Manager.

  2. On the Navigation toolbar, choose the New button.

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  3. Choose New Custom Aggregate from the popup menu.

    Alternatively, you can click the right mouse button on the Custom Aggregates folder in the Navigation list, or the Custom Aggregates folder for a specific dimension. Then choose New Custom Aggregate from the popup menu.

    Result: If you use the right-click technique on the Custom Aggregates folder, the Custom Aggregates dialog box opens, displaying a default dimension.

    If you use the right-click technique on a specific Custom Aggregates folder, the Custom Aggregates dialog box opens, displaying the selected dimension.

  4. If you have not already done so, in the Dimension box, select the dimension for the custom aggregate.

  5. In the name boxes, enter a short name and a long name for the custom aggregate.

    The short name can be up to 16 characters long. The long name can be up to 70 characters long.

  6. Choose the Selector button to access the Select Data dialog box and select the values that will comprise the custom aggregate.

    You can choose values from a list. You can also use the buttons on the Data Selection toolbar to choose values by specific criteria. For more information about selecting values, see Selector Undo Redo.

  7. If this is a Time aggregate, you can define derived aggregates for prior time periods. You can choose one or both of the following:

    • Year Ago — Creates a custom aggregate for the same time period in the previous year. For example, if you define a custom aggregate whose members are two months (November and December) of the current year, choosing Year Ago will also create a custom aggregate for November and December of the previous year. The name of the year ago aggregate will be Mytime Year Ago, where Mytime is the name that you entered for the custom aggregate.

    • Prior Period — Creates a custom aggregate for the previous time segment. For example, if you define a custom aggregate whose members are two months (November and December) of the current year, choosing Prior Period will also define a custom aggregate for September and October of the current year. The name of the prior period aggregate will be Mytime Previous Period, where Mytime is the name that you entered for the custom aggregate.

      Note: Year Ago and Prior Period custom aggregates will be displayed in the Selector when you select dimension values. However, objects for these derived aggregates will not appear in the Navigation list.

  8. When your selections are complete, choose OK.

    Result: You are returned to the New Custom Aggregate dialog box. The Values list displays the values that you chose. A plus sign (+) next to a value indicates that the value is additive.

  9. To subtract a value from the aggregate, click the plus sign next to that value.

    Result: A minus sign (-) appears next to the value, indicating that it is subtractive.

    Note: Time aggregates for Year Ago and Prior Period require positive member values. If you try to include a subtractive value in the aggregate definition, the system will create the custom aggregate, but will not create Year Ago and Prior Period aggregates.

  10. Choose OK to save the custom aggregate.

    Result: The custom aggregate object appears in the Custom Aggregates folder for the dimension in the navigation list.

Note: If you are working with a data slice, you cannot base your custom aggregate on "all organizations" or other qualifying dimension values at the highest levels unless your planning assignment includes "all organizations". Otherwise, your custom aggregate will appear as "invalid".

Example: Custom aggregate definition

You can create a custom aggregate for High End Products, that includes three values in the Product dimension. The plus sign (+) indicates that the values will be added.

Applying Custom Aggregates to Open Documents

You can apply a custom aggregate directly to an open report, graph, or worksheet. Applying a custom aggregate adds the aggregate value to the current values for the dimension in the document.

Methods for applying custom aggregates to ad hoc reports, ad hoc graphs, and worksheets

You can use the following methods to apply a custom aggregate to an ad hoc report, ad hoc graph, or worksheet:

To apply a saved custom aggregate to an open ad hoc report, ad hoc graph, or worksheet:

  1. In the Navigation list, identify the custom aggregate that you want to use.

    Note: To search for a custom aggregate in the navigation list, click the right mouse button on the Custom Aggregates folder, choose Find Custom Aggregates, and enter a name or name fragment. Alternatively, you can choose the Find button on the Navigation toolbar.

  2. Ensure that the open document includes the dimension to which the custom aggregate refers.

  3. Click the right mouse button the custom aggregate object and choose Apply to Open Report, Apply to Open Graph, or Apply to Open Worksheet.

    Result: The document displays the custom aggregate as the last selection for the specified dimension.

To apply a new or modified custom aggregate definition to an open ad hoc report, ad hoc graph, or worksheet:

As you define or modify the custom aggregate, choose Apply to Open Report, Apply to Open Graph, or Apply to Open Worksheet in the New Custom Aggregate or Edit Custom Aggregate dialog box. When you choose OK, Oracle Demand Planning will add the custom aggregate to the specified document.

Example: Applying a new custom aggregate definition to an open document

For example, when an ad hoc report is open in the workspace, you can apply a new custom aggregate definition to the report.

Editing Custom Aggregates

You can change the name or definition of a custom aggregate.

To modify a custom aggregate:

  1. Access Oracle Demand Planning as a Demand Planner or Demand Plan Manager.

  2. In the Navigation list, identify the custom aggregate that you want to modify.

    Note: To search for a custom aggregate in the navigation list, click the right mouse button on the Custom Aggregates folder or the Custom Aggregates folder for a specific dimension, choose Find Custom Aggregates, and enter a name or name fragment. Alternatively, you can choose the Find button on the navigation toolbar.

  3. Double-click the custom aggregate object.

    Alternatively, you can click the right mouse button on the custom aggregate object and choose Edit from the popup menu.

    Result: A dialog box opens, showing the object's name and definition.

  4. You can change the object's name and make new dimension selections.

  5. Choose OK to save your changes.

Renaming Custom Aggregates

You can give a new name to a saved custom aggregate.

Note: Renaming a Time aggregate that has derived aggregates for Year Ago or Prior Period also renames the derived aggregates.

To rename a custom aggregate:

  1. Access Oracle Demand Planning as a Demand Planner or Demand Plan Manager.

  2. In the Navigation list, identify the custom aggregate that you want to rename.

    Note: To search for a custom aggregate in the navigation list, click the right mouse button on the Custom Aggregates folder or the Custom Aggregates folder for a specific dimension, choose Find Custom Aggregates, and enter a name or name fragment. Alternatively, you can choose the Find button on the navigation toolbar.

  3. Click the right mouse button the custom aggregate object and choose Rename from the popup menu.

  4. Enter the new name.

Viewing Custom Aggregate Properties

You can view the following properties of a custom aggregate:

To view the properties of a custom aggregate:

  1. Access Oracle Demand Planning as a Demand Planner or Demand Plan Manager.

  2. In the Navigation list, identify the custom aggregate whose properties you want to view.

    Note: To search for a custom aggregate, click the right mouse button on the Custom Aggregates folder or the custom aggregates folder for the dimension in the navigation list and choose Find from the popup menu. Then enter a name or name fragment. Alternatively, you can choose the Find button on the navigation toolbar.

  3. Click the right mouse button the custom aggregate object and choose Properties from the popup menu.

Deleting Custom Aggregates

When you no longer need a custom aggregate, you can delete it. Deleting a custom aggregate permanently removes it from the navigation list and the selection list of dimension values.

You can delete an individual custom aggregate. You can also delete multiple custom aggregates in the same dimension. Deleting a custom time aggregate that has derived aggregates for year ago or prior period also deletes the derived aggregates.

Note: Before you delete a custom aggregate, ensure that there are no saved objects that reference it. Failure to do so can cause warning and errors to occur when you work with ad hoc reports, ad hoc graphs, worksheets, or alerts that contain the deleted custom aggregate.

To delete a custom aggregate:

  1. Access Oracle Demand Planning as a Demand Planner or Demand Plan Manager.

  2. In the navigation list, identify the custom aggregate that you want to delete.

  3. Select the custom aggregate object and choose the Delete button on the Navigation toolbar.

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  4. Alternatively, you can click the right mouse button on the custom aggregate object and choose Delete from the popup menu.

    Result: You will be prompted to confirm the deletion.

To delete multiple custom aggregates:

  1. Access Oracle Demand Planning as a Demand Planner or Demand Plan Manager.

  2. In the Navigation list, open the folder that contains the custom aggregates that you want to delete.

    Note: You can only delete custom aggregates that are in the same dimension folder.

  3. Scroll to an object, press the CTRL key and simultaneously click the object.

    Result: The object is highlighted.

  4. Repeat the previous step for each custom aggregate that you want to delete.

  5. After you make your final selection, click the right mouse button and choose Delete from the popup menu.

    Result: You are prompted to confirm the deletion.