SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

2985596 - Error message "Specify a value for variable..." when using F4 help in Variables of Planning Sequence with Select All option

Symptom

A Planning Sequence is being used in Analysis Office.

When opening the F4 Help in a hierarchy variable under "Variables of Planning Sequence", if the option "Select All" is selected, the variable value remains empty and the following error occurs after clicking "OK":

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Specify a value for variable <NAME OF VARIABLE> (BRAIN-629, <SID>):

Diagnosis
The variable cannot be empty. You must make an entry in the variable maintenance for variable <NAME OF VARIABLE>.
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Error.png

Environment

SAP BusinessObjects Analysis, edition for Microsoft Office

Reproducing the Issue

    The steps are numbered as per narrows presented in the screen shots.
  1. Open Analysis Office and go to "Analysis Design" tab;
  2. Click on "Display" options;
  3. Choose "Display Design Panel";

    1.png 

  4. When "Design Panel" opens, select tab "Components";
  5. Go to the blank part, as per screen shot below, give a right click and select option "Use Planning Sequence";

    2.png

  6. Insert your "Planning Sequence" name;
  7. Select the required "Planning Sequence";
  8. Click on "Ok";

    3.png

  9. Your "Planning Sequence" will come up in your "Design Panel" and you might have to click on "Components" tab again;
  10. Use F4 Help for one of your members under "Variables of Planning Sequence";
  11. Tick option "Select All" in the prompt screen;
  12. Click on "Ok";

    4.png


    There will be an error message on the left side of your screen and when clicking on it, you can see the following error messages related to the variables you have in your "Design Panel":

    Error.png

Cause

The error occurs because selecting all members means no filter for the variable (empty == Select All), and in case of a mandatory variable, the design of the planning sequence requires a filter in the variable.

Resolution

  1. Go to menu File
  2. Click on Analysis
  3. Click on Customize Analysis
  4. Select Technical Configuration
  5. Search for option DoSelectorHierarchyExplicitSelection
  6. Tick this option (it might be unticked)
  7. Close Analysis Office and open again.

6.png

Once you have restarted your Analysis Office, please take the same steps one more time and now the errors should be gone and you should have results from F4 help. Otherwise, in case the issue remains the same or in case this option DoSelectorHierarchyExplicitSelection was already ticked, please contact SAP Support for further guidance.

See Also

Keywords

Planning Sequence, Variables, Specify a value for variable, error message, F4, help, DoSelectorHierarchyExplicitSelection, Select All , KBA , BI-RA-AO-XLA , Excel Addin , Problem

Product

SAP Analysis for Microsoft Office all versions