Boost Your Flexibility with “Member on the Fly” in SAP Analytics Cloud Stories
Welcome back to our quarterly exploration of SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) updates! This release introduces a fantastic new feature that’s all about giving you more control right within your stories: Member on the Fly. If you’ve ever needed to add or tweak dimension members on the spot without jumping to the Modeler, this update is a game-changer. Let’s dive into how this new dialog makes your data modeling faster, easier, and more intuitive.
Introduction / Overview of the Quarterly Update
The new Member on the Fly feature in SAC stories lets you add and edit dimension members directly in a table using a dedicated dialog, complete with a dimension table interface. Gone are the days of switching to the Modeler to create new members or fix errors. Now, you can define member properties, validate inputs, and even create multiple members at once—all within your story. Whether you’re building a financial model or updating a planning dataset, this feature streamlines your workflow and keeps you focused on your analysis.
Member on the Fly (Feature Explained)
This update brings a Modeler-like experience right into your SAC stories. Here’s how it works and why it’s so powerful:
- Dedicated Dimension Table Dialog: When you need to add a new dimension member, simply open the new Member on the Fly dialog from your table by selecting the “Add Member” option. This dialog displays a dimension table where you can input member details, set property values (e.g., ID, description, or hierarchy level), and create multiple members in one go.
- Validation and Error Handling: Just like in the Modeler, the dialog provides real-time validation feedback. If there’s an issue—like a duplicate ID or an invalid property value—SAC highlights it with clear error messages, so you can fix it on the spot.
- Edit Newly Created Members: Made a mistake or need to tweak a new member? No problem. You can open a similar dialog to edit recently added members, adjusting properties or correcting errors without leaving the story.
Why It Matters
- Faster Modeling: Add and edit dimension members directly in your story, saving trips to the Modeler.
- User-Friendly: The intuitive dialog mirrors the Modeler’s familiar interface, making it easy for all users.
- Error-Free Data: Real-time validation ensures your new members are accurate and ready for use.
How to Get Started
Ready to try Member on the Fly? Here’s how to jump in:
- Open a story in SAC and select a table where you want to add dimension members.
- From the a cell in the relevant dimension, right click and choose Add New member to add a new row of data.
3. Once you start typing in your new member, an option will appear to “Create a new member”
4. Now in the dimension table, enter details for your new member(s), such as ID, description, or other properties.
5. Review any validation errors flagged by SAC and correct them in the dialog.
6. Save your changes or open the edit dialog to tweak newly created members as needed. Newly created members will maintain an asterisk and the ability to right click/edit.
Best Practices
- Plan Your Members: Before adding multiple members, sketch out their properties (e.g., IDs and hierarchies) to ensure consistency.
- Use Clear Descriptions: Set meaningful descriptions in the dialog to make members easy to understand in your tables and charts.
- Check Validation Early: Pay attention to SAC’s error messages to catch issues like duplicate IDs before saving.
- Test in Small Batches: If creating multiple members, start with a few to confirm the dialog’s behavior before scaling up.
Why This Update Shines
Member on the Fly brings unparalleled flexibility to SAC stories, letting you shape your data model without breaking your workflow. By embedding a Modeler-like experience into your tables, SAC empowers you to create and refine dimension members on the go, all while keeping data integrity intact. It’s a perfect blend of convenience and control, making your planning and analytics tasks smoother than ever.
What’s Next?
This is just one of the exciting updates in this quarter’s SAC release. Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll unpack more features to supercharge your analytics and planning experience. In the meantime, give Member on the Fly a spin in your stories and let us know in the comments how it’s transforming your workflow!
