What are VERSIONs on a Charecteristic info obj

Question

what are the versions on a charecteristic info object. what does ACTIVE, REVISED, CONTENT mean?
I have activated a DSO from BI Content.i loaded data into active table of DSO. then i had to  some changes to a particular Char info object (one of DSO's data fieds)and activated and again took those changes off saved and trying to activate. now i see VERSION - REVISED and OBJECT STATUS - ACTIVE n EXECUTABLE. when i look at couple of other char info obj's the VERSION says ACTIVE. what is this all about/.
should i make sure the object version changes to ACTIVE from REVISED.
help!

Answer 1

Hi,
Following will help you understand it more clearly :-
Object version
BI objects are maintained in versions to enable you to edit, execute and deliver different characteristics for an object in parallel.
In particular, the following versions exist:
Revised: This version only exists for the duration of the dialog. By using the function Save or Activate, the revised version is written as an M(Modified/Revised) or A(Active) version on the database.
The M version is the last revised and saved version of an object. This can never be executed or used, it is only used to separate editing and the use of an object.
The A version is the active version. Only this version can be executed or used by other objects.
The D(CONTENT) version is the version delivered by SAP. With a D version (that in practice has the character of a suggestion or template), SAP can deliver objects independently of the version that is active at the customer site.
Dependencies
The following operations bring about a transfer of versions:
With the function Save, the object currently being revised in the dialog is saved in the M version.
With the function Activate, the saved M version of the object is updated as an A version, meaning as the active version.
With the function Transfer SAP version, the D version delivered by SAP is copied to the M version, from where it can subsequently be made the active version by being activated.
To use any object its status must have ACTIVE version. So you should first make sure the the object version id ACTIVE to use it.
Navesh