Selection in data load from infoprovider

Question

Hi Guys,
In BPC NW 7.5 we have to load data from infoprovider allowing users to select data (like for dimension TIME) by BPC prompt.  We found two solutions solving partially our problem. In fact, users have to modify manually the selections.
SOLUTION 1:
To load data we want use the process chain /CPMB/INFOPROVIDER, but we know that it is not possible insert selections in the /CPMB/INFOPROVIDER prompt (as describe in this post Re: Package LOAD INFOPROVIDER, Select input ENTITY).
To select data we can use an intermediate infocube as a BW workaround (as describe in this post Re: BPC 7.5: Delta Load when loading from BI InfoProvider ) to have a source with only the selected data.This could be done by a selection in the DTP between the source infocube and the intermediate infocube. This solution is not dynamic, in fact, in this case users have to modify manually the DTP selection.
How can we allow users to insert this selection in the DTP by a BPC prompt?
SOLUTION 2:
To select data we can use a transformation file inserting a selection like
SELECTION = <Dimension1_techname>,<Dimension1_value>.
It is not dynamic, in fact, also in this case users have to modify manually the file selection.
Do you know how to allow these selection by a BPC prompt to avoid these manual changes?
Do you know other solutions?
Thank you for your support.

Answer 1

Hi D-Mark,
This is definitely a place where it would be nice to see some additional functionality added to BPC. Variable replacement in the transformation file based on the data manager prompt would probably be the best thing to have in the software.
In any case, getting back to your question, manually modifying the transformation file selection is the most common practice on BPC projects. The blog linked by Naresh is a fairly elegant way to do this, though it doesn't completely get around the fact that it's easy to forget to do and easy to get confused about what is going on in the transformation file.
A third option that no one has mentioned is to do a SELECTION statement in the transformation file based on navigational attributes in the source InfoProvider. This approach can make the selection statement dynamic based on the contents of BW InfoObjects. Still not very user-friendly, but if you can put an automatic process in place to update the BW navigational attributes this might meet your need without having to set up an extra BW staging InfoProvider.
The SELECTION syntax is documented here, though it doesn't mention that you can select on navigational attributes: [http://help.sap.com/saphelp_bpc75_nw/helpdata/en/5d/9a3fba600e4de29e2d165644d67bd1/frameset.htm]
With navigational attributes (the profit center attribute of cost center, for example) it would be something like:
SELECTION=0COST_CENTER___0PROFIT_CENTER,PC01
Ethan