New Action Menu Option: Enable for Ad Hoc

Service Administrators can now create global ad hoc menus by enabling a new action menu option called Enable for Ad Hoc.

Applies to:  Enterprise Profitability and Cost Management, Financial Consolidation and Close, FreeForm, Planning, Tax Reporting

Previously, Action Menus (or right-click menus or context menus) could only be associated with individual forms. With the new Enable for Ad Hoc option, administrators can create a global action menu, called an ad hoc menu, that is enabled for ad hoc grids. An ad hoc menu works within the context of one or more cubes. When the Enable for Ad Hoc option is selected and associated with one or more cubes, then the menu can be viewed in all ad hoc grids that use those cubes. For example, you can define an ad hoc menu that launches a business rule. When you right-click a data cell (you can select a dimension, or select an option for where the menu item displays: Point of View, Page, Row, Column, Members Only, Cell Only) in any ad hoc grid that uses the selected cube, the business rule menu option displays, and you can then run the rule. You can also designate an existing action menu as a global ad hoc menu.

To create an ad hoc menu:

  1. From the Home page, click the Navigator menu, then under Create and Manage, click Action Menus.
  2. Click Create Menu, name the menu, and select Enable for Ad Hoc.
  3. Perform an action:
  • To create a new ad hoc menu:
  1. Click Actions, then Create Menu, and then enter the Menu Name.
  2. Select Enable for Ad Hoc, and then either keep the default All cubes, or select one or more cubes for the ad hoc menu. Ad hoc menus will only work within the context of the defined cubes.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Add and define action menu items such as URL, Form, Business Rule, Manage Approvals, Dashboard, and Menu Header, and Save.
  • To make an existing menu an ad hoc menu or to save an existing menu as an ad hoc menu:
  1. Select a menu, click Actions, and then click Edit Menu.
  2. Select Enabled for Ad Hoc, and then either keep the default (whereby all cubes are enabled for ad hoc menus), or click Select Cube to select one or more cubes for the ad hoc menu. Ad hoc menus will only work within the context of the defined cubes.
  3. Click Save to update the current selection. Click Save As to save the current selections under a new menu name.
  4. Add and define action menu items such as URL, Form, Business Rule, Manage Approvals, Dashboard, and Menu Header, and Save.

To view an ad hoc menu in an ad hoc grid:

  1. Open an ad hoc grid in the application or in Smart View.
  2. Right-click on a cell in the grid. You can select a dimension, or select an option for where the menu item displays: Point of View, Page, Row, Column, Members Only, Cell Only
  3. Select the menu item to perform the action.

Business Benefit: Creating global action menus for ad hoc grids enables every user to see the same action menus, which provides a consistent user experience.

Key Resources