How to create a Cash Flow Statement?

Question

Dear all:
I am trying to create a Cash Flow Statement, and my approach is to use Dimension formula to calculate on the fly. Is my approach the best practice, or should I use script logic instead?
Based on my understanding, if I use Dimension formula, I won't need to create new set Dim members to store the calculated values (such as Increase (Decrease) in A/R = A/R this month - A/R last month). However, I am having problem constructing the formula in FORMULAH1 column.
Given above A/R example, I tried to use [NetAR] - ([NetAR],[Time].[PRIOR]) to get the difference in value between this month and last month, but I received error message saying that "The hierarchy '[PRIOR]' was not found in the cube when the string, [TIME].[PRIOR], was parsed". Is there anyway to retrieve Next or Prior months data in MDX?
If my approach is not correct, please advise correct way.
P.S. I have searched the forum and someone mentioned using Account Transformation logic. I looked up Administration Help file but didn't grasp the concept of Account Transformation logic. Can someone explain in detail for me?
Thank you for your help!
Brian

Answer 1

Try not to use DIMENSION LOGIC, unless it is really simple.
This is a set of ideas from the BPC 5 demo that I often use for Cash Flow Statements.  This may be modified for your use, but the idea is consistent. Just remember to prep the customer to understand that 1 time charges and 1 off changes to CF statements are more often added and managed manually since it they would always impact a CF report.
Logic from version 5 BPC Demo- Finance App
*INCLUDE SYSTEM_CONSTANTS.LGL
*SYSLIB CONSOLIDATION_LIBRARY.LGL
// MOVE INCOME STATEMENT ITEMS TO CASH FLOW STATEMENT
RUNSUMMARIZE(ThisApp,CF_SUMM,%CATEGORY_SET%,%LC_RPT_CURR%)
//CALCULATE BALANCE SHEET MOVEMENTS AND POST TO CASH FLOW STATEMENT
*SELECT(%FROM_ACCOUNT%, "[ID]", "ACCOUNT", "[CF_TO_ACCT] <> ''")
*XDIM_MEMBERSET ACCOUNT = %FROM_ACCOUNT%
*XDIM_ADDMEMBERSET TIME = PRIOR
*XDIM_MEMBERSET RPTCURRENCY=%LC_RPT_CURR%
*WHEN TIME
      *IS %TIME_SET%
            *REC(ACCOUNT=ACCOUNT.CF_TO_ACCT)
      *IS PRIOR
            *REC(FACTOR=-1,ACCOUNT=ACCOUNT.CF_TO_ACCT,TIME=NEXT)
*ENDWHEN
*COMMIT
Changes to above:
Dependencies (libraries, properties, etc.)
- SYSTEM_CONSTANTS.LGL
- CONSOLIDATION_LIBRARY.LGL u2013 to run the Business Rules section
- The following dimensions, members and properties are assumed
          Account
               CF_TO_ACCT property which is on all base level accounts which are part of the cash flow statement. The value should be the cash flow account that they map to. The dimension values are the IDs so they are all assumed as names
               CF_SUMM property used to move the income statement items to the cash flow statement. Contains the formulas on the destination cash flow accounts that map the Income statement accounts.
          Time u2013 just the dimension name
          RptCurrency
          CURRENCY_TYPE property with a value of  L or R
What does it do?
Step 1 - MOVE INCOME STATEMENT ITEMS TO CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Use the formulas in the CF_SUMM accounts to move income statement values to the cash flow statement for all currencies based on the Currency_Type property
Step 2 - CALCULATE BALANCE SHEET MOVEMENTS AND POST TO CASH FLOW STATEMENT
·        Select all accounts that have values in the CF_TO_ACCT property
·        Add the Prior time period to the time memberset
·        Run this process for all currencies based on the Currency_Type property
·        Take the value in the current period and the negative value of the prior period to calculate the periodic cash flow amount and write to the account designated in the CF_TO_ACCT property
IMPORTANT NOTE: this step does have an issue that will be corrected in future versions of the sales demo. The issue is that if you run this logic for 2007.MAR, the negative balance for 2007.MAR will be written to 2007.APR as well as 2007.FEB being written to 2007.MAR. The logic needs to be changed as follows to work
First create two members in the DataSrc dimension that both consolidate to PreAdj member of the DataSrc dimension named CF_Current and CF_Prior
Add the following statement after the *XDIM_MEMBERSET RPTCURRENCY=%LC_RPT_CURR%
*XDIM_MEMBERSET DATASRC=
Change the REC statements as follows
*REC(ACCOUNT=ACCOUNT.CF_TO_ACCT,DATASRC=u201CCF_Currentu201D)
*REC(FACTOR=-1,ACCOUNT=ACCOUNT.CF_TO_ACCT,TIME=NEXT,DATASRC=u201CCF_Prioru201D)
Hope this helps somewhat.  It is really hard to send this detailed stuff usingthe FORUM.
Edited by: Petar Daniel on Dec 11, 2008 8:39 PM