Creating Metadata Loop Components

You create a metadata loop component by dragging its icon and dropping it into the flow chart of a custom template. A metadata loop component exists only within the template for which you create it. You cannot share metadata loop components across templates.

To create a metadata loop component:

  1. In System View, right-click a custom template, and then select Open.
  2. In the Template Designer, under New Objects, select the Metadata Loop object, and then drop it into the flow chart.
  3. In the Metadata Loop tab, select one of the following loop types types:

    • Metadata

      If you select Metadata, enter the following information:

      • Index DTP—Select an existing design-time prompt that functions as an index for the metadata loop. The value of the design-time prompt is reset to zero before the start of the metadata loop and increments by one for each loop.

      • Dimension—Select the dimension that contains the parent to use in the metatdata loop.

      • Function—Select a function to specify how to apply the variable to the members of the dimension.

      • Variable—Create a design-time prompt member to use for the variable. This design-time prompt is used in the formula, and Calculation Manager replaces the design-time prompt with each member created by the function specified.

    • Fixed

      If you select Fixed, enter the following information:

      • Index DTP—Select an existing step design-time prompt that functions as an index for the metadata loop. The value of the design-time prompt is reset to zero before the start of the metadata loop and increments by one for each loop.

      • Start Index—Value where the loop begins. Click Select button to select a design-time prompt to be used as the start index.

      • End Index—Value where the loop ends. Click Select button to select a design-time prompt to be used as the end index.

  4. Enter properties for the metadata loop:

    • Select Disabled to exclude the metadata loop component from the template for validation and calculation purposes.

      You may want to disable a component when a business rule does not validate and you need to find the source of the validation error. When you disable a component, it is displayed in gray in the flow chart.

    • Enter a Caption for the metadata loop.

      The caption displays below the metadata loop component's icon in the flow chart.

    • Enter a Description and Comments.

  5. Click Save button.