Report Writer: Excel download Interview Questions and Answers

FAQ Report Writer: Excel download

RPW format in Release 4.6

As of Release 4. 6, Office Integration is available to replace the previous Excel export in RPW format. For more information, see
Release information 4.6A:
   -- >FI Financial Accounting
   -- >FI-SL Special Ledgers
   -- >FI-SL-IS Information System
   -- >Report Writer: Office integration

No RPW format as of Release 4.6c

The export in RPW format (export to Excel) is replaced by the Office Integration which can be activated in a user-specific way on the selection screen or in report output. The Excel export in RPW format is no longer supported.
(Release information 4.6C: -->FI Financial Accounting -->FI-SL Special Ledgers -->FI-SL-IS Information System -->New features in Report Writer)

RPW format and Excel 2000

Note 168218 describes that for Excel 2000 and later versions, there is only restricted support for the RPW format.

Only one variation range exported to Excel.

 For technical reasons, only one report can be exported to Excel during the export of a report in RPW format. Therefore, the system exports only the currently displayed report of the variation hierarchy.
To export all reports of the variation hierarchy, we recommend that you use the HTML format (*.HTM) or the spreadsheet format (*.DAT). You must start the export on the report selection screen under -> Output parameters -> File -> ... -> Export format: HTML (or spreadsheet format). Then, run the report with these output parameters.
In this process, all reports of the variation hierarchy are connected in one file. However, this procedure does not provide the same functionality as the export in the RPW format.

Only one variation report is exported to Excel

 When defining background jobs for export, you must keep in mind the following restrictions:

• • Output medium: File
    A background export to a file is possible only for the "Application Server" output medium.
    You cannot use the "Presentation Server" output medium in the background, because during background processing it is not possible to access the PC of the user who started the job.

• • Output medium: Microsoft Excel
    When you use the "Microsoft Excel" output medium, the system exports an Excel file to the PC of the user and calls the file immediately. This function is not possible in a background job.

Comments in each cell of the Excel worksheet

The RPW files contain a technical comment in each cell (for example, '@TB1R3C2'). The comments are identified by an 'indicator', a small red triangle in the upper right corner of a cell.
The system should not display these comments.
You can define in Excel whether or not these comments are to be be displayed. In Excel, please choose:
> 'Tools'
   > 'Options'
   > 'View'
     > 'Comments' --> 'None'
 

RPW file is write-protected

If an RPW file is imported into Excel, the import filter automatically sets the 'Read-only' indicator.
After a change in Excel, it is not possible to save the file in RPW format.
In Excel, please choose:

-> 'File'
   - > 'Save as'

to save the RPW file under another name in Excel format.
The RPW format is a format defined by SAP that can be written only when exporting Report Writer reports. Using the Excel import filter, this format can be read by excel. However, it is not possible, to write or save this format from Excel.

Plus/minus sign reversal

The layout setting 'Change of sign (+/-)' reverses the +/- sign of the number values in the executed report. However, the number values are not changed here. To download this report in RPW format, the same behavior is mapped in Excel. The number values remain unchanged. Due to the assignment of a user-defined number format in Excel, the +/- signs are also displayed in reverse for the relevant lines or columns in Excel. This means that the user-defined number format displays positive numbers in Excel with a minus sign and displays negative numbers without minus signs.
In contrast to this, when you export in table format (*.DAT), text format or in HTML format, the +/- sign is exported in the same way as it is displayed in the report. The reason for this is that it is not possible for these formats to enter a user-defined number format in the export file.
In Release 4.5 and 4.6, the sign reversal is ignored in the table format due to a program error. Notes 172227 and 178972 correct this error.
As of Release 4.6C, the notes no longer apply since the program contains a checkbox "Format numbers" on screen "Export to presentation server" or on screen "Export to application server". (On the selection screen of transaction GR55 in the 'Output parameters' or 'Execute report' -> 'Report' -> 'Export').

Is it possible to export to a MAC computer?

The Report Writer - MS Excel download supports only the operating systems Windows 95/98 and Windows NT. The operating system MAC-OS is not supported.

File already exists - Replace - Enhance (before Release 4.5)

If a file with the same name already exists, the system generates a dialog box where you can choose between 'Replace', 'Add to' or 'Cancel'. If you choose 'Add to', the system replaces the existing file and does not add the new data.
For technical reasons, you cannot add data in case of an Excel export, you can only replace an existing file. Therefore, the dialog box is not correct in this form.
However, as it is not possible to change a dialog box by implementing a source code correction in a delivered release, no solution is available for this problem.

'Headers', 'footers' / 'text for export'

The system does not export header row texts, footer texts, the title page or the last page from the report to Excel. It exports only the 'text for export' to Excel.
In certain releases, the title page has been used as 'text for export' if no 'text for export' was defined. This function is no longer supported.
It is simple to copy the 'header text' into the 'text for export'. (-> Text for export -> Text -> Template -> Text type: H -> ENTER).

Section names and 'text for export'

The system does not take into account the general text variable for the section names for 'text for export'. For technical reasons, 'text for export' can only take into account text variables that are valid for the entire report.
The section name is taken from the report definition and exported to the tab of the relevant worksheet during office integration and exported as centered heading of the relevant section during export in HTML format.

Colors in the exported report

The colors of the lead column are hard-coded (bright yellow, dark yellow, gray-green) and cannot be changed. The colors of the data column depend on the color chosen in the report.

Summation levels: Asterisks and indentations

The asterisks and indentations for summation levels are not exported to Excel. Instead, a grouping is created in Excel which makes it possible to expand or collapse the different summation levels in Excel. The totals hierarchy is displayed using colored bars before the lead column.

Position of lead column

In the Report Writer, it is possible to enter the position of the lead column (text column) in a report. The lead column is always displayed as the first column on exporting.

As of Release 4. 6, Office Integration is available to replace the previous Excel export in RPW format. For more information, see
Release information 4.6A:

-- >FI Financial Accounting
-- >FI-SL Special Ledgers
-- >FI-SL-IS Information System
-- >Report Writer: Office integration

No RPW format as of Release 4.6c

The export in RPW format (export to Excel) is replaced by the Office Integration which can be activated in a user-specific way on the selection screen or in report output. The Excel export in RPW format is no longer supported.
(Release information 4.6C: -->FI Financial Accounting -->FI-SL Special Ledgers -->FI-SL-IS Information System -->New features in Report Writer)

RPW format and Excel 2000

Note 168218 describes that for Excel 2000 and later versions, there is only restricted support for the RPW format.

Only one variation range exported to Excel.

 For technical reasons, only one report can be exported to Excel during the export of a report in RPW format. Therefore, the system exports only the currently displayed report of the variation hierarchy.
To export all reports of the variation hierarchy, we recommend that you use the HTML format (*.HTM) or the spreadsheet format (*.DAT). You must start the export on the report selection screen under -> Output parameters -> File -> ... -> Export format: HTML (or spreadsheet format). Then, run the report with these output parameters.
In this process, all reports of the variation hierarchy are connected in one file. However, this procedure does not provide the same functionality as the export in the RPW format.

Only one variation report is exported to Excel

When defining background jobs for export, you must keep in mind the following restrictions:

• • Output medium: File
    A background export to a file is possible only for the "Application Server" output medium.
    You cannot use the "Presentation Server" output medium in the background, because during background processing it is not possible to access the PC of the user who started the job.

• • Output medium: Microsoft Excel
    When you use the "Microsoft Excel" output medium, the system exports an Excel file to the PC of the user and calls the file immediately. This function is not possible in a background job.

Comments in each cell of the Excel worksheet

The RPW files contain a technical comment in each cell (for example, '@TB1R3C2'). The comments are identified by an 'indicator', a small red triangle in the upper right corner of a cell.
The system should not display these comments.
You can define in Excel whether or not these comments are to be be displayed. In Excel, please choose:
> 'Tools'
   > 'Options'
   > 'View'
     > 'Comments' --> 'None'
 

RPW file is write-protected

If an RPW file is imported into Excel, the import filter automatically sets the 'Read-only' indicator.
After a change in Excel, it is not possible to save the file in RPW format.
In Excel, please choose:

-> 'File'
   - > 'Save as'

to save the RPW file under another name in Excel format.
The RPW format is a format defined by SAP that can be written only when exporting Report Writer reports. Using the Excel import filter, this format can be read by excel. However, it is not possible, to write or save this format from Excel.

Plus/minus sign reversal

The layout setting 'Change of sign (+/-)' reverses the +/- sign of the number values in the executed report. However, the number values are not changed here. To download this report in RPW format, the same behavior is mapped in Excel. The number values remain unchanged. Due to the assignment of a user-defined number format in Excel, the +/- signs are also displayed in reverse for the relevant lines or columns in Excel. This means that the user-defined number format displays positive numbers in Excel with a minus sign and displays negative numbers without minus signs.
In contrast to this, when you export in table format (*.DAT), text format or in HTML format, the +/- sign is exported in the same way as it is displayed in the report. The reason for this is that it is not possible for these formats to enter a user-defined number format in the export file.
In Release 4.5 and 4.6, the sign reversal is ignored in the table format due to a program error. Notes 172227 and 178972 correct this error.
As of Release 4.6C, the notes no longer apply since the program contains a checkbox "Format numbers" on screen "Export to presentation server" or on screen "Export to application server". (On the selection screen of transaction GR55 in the 'Output parameters' or 'Execute report' -> 'Report' -> 'Export').

Is it possible to export to a MAC computer?

The Report Writer - MS Excel download supports only the operating systems Windows 95/98 and Windows NT. The operating system MAC-OS is not supported.

File already exists - Replace - Enhance (before Release 4.5)

 If a file with the same name already exists, the system generates a dialog box where you can choose between 'Replace', 'Add to' or 'Cancel'. If you choose 'Add to', the system replaces the existing file and does not add the new data.
For technical reasons, you cannot add data in case of an Excel export, you can only replace an existing file. Therefore, the dialog box is not correct in this form.
However, as it is not possible to change a dialog box by implementing a source code correction in a delivered release, no solution is available for this problem.

'Headers', 'footers' / 'text for export'

The system does not export header row texts, footer texts, the title page or the last page from the report to Excel. It exports only the 'text for export' to Excel.
In certain releases, the title page has been used as 'text for export' if no 'text for export' was defined. This function is no longer supported.
It is simple to copy the 'header text' into the 'text for export'. (-> Text for export -> Text -> Template -> Text type: H -> ENTER).

Section names and 'text for export'

The system does not take into account the general text variable for the section names for 'text for export'. For technical reasons, 'text for export' can only take into account text variables that are valid for the entire report.
The section name is taken from the report definition and exported to the tab of the relevant worksheet during office integration and exported as centered heading of the relevant section during export in HTML format.

Colors in the exported report

The colors of the lead column are hard-coded (bright yellow, dark yellow, gray-green) and cannot be changed. The colors of the data column depend on the color chosen in the report.

Summation levels: Asterisks and indentations

The asterisks and indentations for summation levels are not exported to Excel. Instead, a grouping is created in Excel which makes it possible to expand or collapse the different summation levels in Excel. The totals hierarchy is displayed using colored bars before the lead column.

Position of lead column

In the Report Writer, it is possible to enter the position of the lead column (text column) in a report. The lead column is always displayed as the first column on exporting.