Translation using foreign currency units per dollar

Question

We are currently using the built-in HFM translation mechanism for most of our accounts, i.e., we enter currency rates in dollars per foreign currency unit for both a balance sheet rates and a P&L rate and allow HFM to translate. Is it possible to use the default translation to translate using inverted rates, i.e., foreign currency units per dollar? This would imply, of course, that the rate would be divided into the entity currency amount instead of multiplied.
I realize that we could do this via translation rules for all of those accounts, but I'd prefer to use the default mechanism, if possible.

Answer 1

Sofia,
I don't recall the reason for having exhange rates use different options in the intercompany transaction module (ICT). I was part of the team which designed this module back in 2004/2005, and I suspect this was simply a request by someone at the time to allow exchange rates used in matching intercompany transaction matching to be entered either as a divide or as a multiply. This feature applies only to IC transactions, and has no effect at all on the core functionality of HFM, which uses only a multiply approach. Once intercompanty transactions are matched within the ICT module, the remaining, umatched balances each period are posted to the relevent HFM accounts. In many ways this is like using line item details for intercompany balances, but better since HFM can match at the "line item" level.
To be very clear:
1) ICT: intercompany transaction module. This is a module within HFM that allows invoice/transaction level records to be loaded into HFM and matched based on a series of flexible criteria. This is covered in detail in Chapter 13 of the HFM Administrator Guide.
2) ICP: intercompany partner. This is a dimension within HFM that leverages the Entity dimension, where period end balances for/from each entity's partner is loaded into HFM. Intercompany eliminations are performed according to either HFM's default rules, if you use Consolidation Rules = "N" or "R", or according to your own rules if Consolidation Rules = "Y" and you have provided your own Sub Consolidate routine.
The ICT module, though feature rich, is not widely used. On the other hand the ICP dimension is used in a majority of HFM applications worldwide.
I hope this helps clarify the questions.
--Chris