Using Y-T-D values in Business Rules

Question

Hi All,
I am using Hyperion Planning 11.1.1.1.0.
I have enabled Y-T-D dynamic time series in the application.
I need to calculate YTD variance% , the formula to be used is :
(Y-T-D(Oct)Budget - Y-T-D(Oct) Actual) / Y-T-D(Oct)Budget * 100.
I have a business rule(created in EAS) that does the other variance % calculations which are pretty simple like Budget-Actual/Budget*100.
The formuls for the normal variance Percentage works but i get an error when writing a formula for :
"Variance%(YTDActual&YTDBudget)"
("Variance%(YTDActual&YTDBudget)"="Y-T-D(&CurrentMonth)"->Budget - "Y-T-D(&CurrentMonth)"->Actual / "Y-T-D(&CurrentMonth)"->Budget *100;)
The error that comes up is as follows:
Detail:Cannot calculate. Analytic Server Error(1200497): Error compiling formula for [Variance%(YTDActual&YTDBudget)] (line 2): unknown member name ["Y-T-D(&CurrentMonth)"] in function [operator @X]
Can somebody please advice as how to use Y-T-D values in the formulas?
Kind Regards.
Mirka

Answer 1

Here are a couple of tips that may help:
1) You cannot directly reference dynamic-time-series members in a business rule or a member formula. These are "virtual" members. This is a common misconception.
2) Even if you could reference these members in a formula, you couldn't store a value in them anyway, as they are dynamic.
3) It usually doesn't make a lot of sense to calculate variances like these in a business rule. I would recommend making them dynamic, two-pass member formulas (not business rules) in your Scenario dimension. They don't need to be "Two pass" in the typical sense (eg. recalculating a ratio at the quarters), but they need to fire last, so set them as two pass. (otherwise you will end up with order of calculation issues where other calculations fire after the variance and you get incorrect results).
In looking at your requirement, you don't really need a variance that calls out dynamic time series members. Simply create a variance scenario with a formula like @VARPER("Budget", "Actual");. If you have "Y-T-D(Oct)" selected as your time period in your form or spreadsheet, and "Bud vs Act %" (this is your new variance scenario) selected, it will calculate the YTD variance for October, or whatever time period you have selected.
Just to recap:
1) Create a new scenario called "Bud vs Act %". Make it dynamic and two-pass. Give it a formula of @VARPER("Budget", "Actual");
2) Scrap your business rule. Add other variance scenarios as needed.
3) Add your YTD member and your variance scenario to a form, and test.
Hope this helps,
- Jake