Symptom
This document describes the syntax and how to enter the variable values in Analysis Office using the input-string notation.
Environment
SAP Analysis for Microsoft Office
Resolution
Consider the following syntax rules and examples when entering variable values in AO prompts dialog using input-string notation:
Single Member: |
ABC123 |
Interval (lower bound - upper bound): | ABC123 - XYZ789 |
Range (comparison operated and member): | >ABC123 >=DEF-234 <GHI-345 <=KLM456 |
Hierarchy Node (+node name(node type name)): | +ABC123(XYZ) |
Multiple Components (separated by ;): | ABC123; EFG456; MNO-789 |
Excluding (prefixing with !): | !ABC123 |
In order for the InputString to be properly interpreted, there are a number of characters that have a special meaning (so-called reserved characters):
Reserved characters | Description |
Space | |
( | Opening bracket |
) | Closing bracket |
! | Exclamation mark |
* | Asterix |
[ |
Opening square bracket |
] |
Closing square bracket |
+ |
Plus sign |
; | Semicolon |
\ | Backslash |
= | Equal sign |
< |
Less than sign |
> | Greater than sign |
If any of these characters are part of the (display) key, then they need to be escaped by prefixing them with a backslash \
Examples:
Element to be selected | InputString to be entered | Remarks |
ABC DEF | ABC\ DEF | Spaces as part of the key need to be escaped |
MNO - UVW | MNO\ -\ UVW | Spaces as part of the key need to be escaped. Dashes do not need to be escaped. |
GHI(KLM) | GHI\(KLM\) | Brackets as part of the key need to be escaped |
XYZ( | XYZ\( | Brackets need to be escaped even if they are not matching |
ABC123! | ABC123\! | Exclamation marks as part of the key need to be escaped |
*EFG456 | \*EFG456 | Asterixis as part of the key need to be escaped |
ABC-DEF[4567] | ABC-DEF\[4567\] | Square brackets as part of the key need to be escaped |
123XYZ] | 123XYZ\] | Square brackets as part of the key need to be escaped even if they are not matching |
XYZ+000 | XYZ\+000 | Plus signs as part of the key need to be escaped |
ABC;DEF | ABC\;DEF | Semicolons as part of the key need to be escaped |
MNO\678 | MNO\\678 | Backslashes as part of the key need to be escaped |
432=987 | 432\=987 | Equal signs as part of the key need to be escaped |
<XYZ> | \<XYZ\> | Less and greater signs as part of the key need to be escaped |
ABCDEFG | \ ABCDEFG\ | Leading or trailing spaces need to be escaped. It not recommended to use leading or trailing spaces in the key at all! |
Note: Escaping characters that do not need to be escaped should not cause any problems (e.g. AB\C will be interpreted as ABC)
See Also
- Chapter Syntax for Entering Values in User Guide
- Chapter To define prompt values in User Guide
Keywords
variable screen, variables, prompts, var, dialog, rules, syntax, slash, display, variable, input, changing, adding, wildcard, pattern, CP, contains pattern , KBA , BI-RA-AO-XLA , Excel Addin , Problem