Report Development Tools 5–1
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Contents
What Is the Logistics Information System (LIS)?................................................5–2
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses .........................................................5–2
Creating a Standard Analysis................................................................................5–9
Getting the Most from LIS Standard Analyses: Tips & Tricks.........................5–22
Review ...................................................................................................................5–24
Where to Learn More............................................................................................5–24 5
In this chapter you will learn
how to:
 Select data for Standard
analyses
 Navigate within an LIS
Standard analyses
 Choose which key figures
to display
 Customize or control how
the data is displayed (for
example, formats)
 Run a statistical analysis
(for example, an ABC
analysis)
 Access document data
from within a Standard
analysis
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses

a configuration step.

Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses
Standard analyses is a presentation tool used to display the contents of LIS information
structures. An online drilldown tool, Standard analyses analyzes data primarily from the
Logistics application components, such as sales, purchasing, inventory, etc. in the R/3
System.
A Standard analysis is based on LIS data contained in special tables called information
structures. With a Standard analysis, you can easily retrieve the business information
available in the information structures.
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

Report Development Tools
5–3
In each Standard analysis, you can specify the range of the data to be analyzed by using
various selection options. You can either predefine the data of the information structure
or choose the data interactively during the analysis.

The R/3 System is delivered with SAP-defined information structures that are automatically
activated during installation. If no further configuration is needed (see TechTalk below), all
you need are some transactions in the system, and you are ready to run a Standard analysis. Although the data dictionary objects called information structures are activated during
installation, it does not mean that the information structures are automatically going to
collect data.


Information structures are special tables but they are different from the document tables.
While the document tables store detailed information about your documents (such as sales
orders and invoices), the information structures store data aggregated by characteristics and
period unit. Example: S001 (in the Sales Information System) is an information structure. It contains
data related to customers (for example, sales orders, deliveries, and invoices).

Characteristic
A characteristic is a dimension of your business for which you collect data (also the
aggregation or subtotal levels).
Examples of characteristics include sales organization, purchasing organization, plant, sold-
to party, vendor, storage location, material group, and material.
Key Figure
A key figure is a measure of the business data you are collecting.
Examples of key figures include, incoming order value (booking value), incoming order
quantity (booking quantity), invoiced sales value, invoiced sales quantity, PO order
quantity, PO order value, goods receipt quantity, valuated stock quantity, and valuated
stock value.
Periodicity (or Period Unit)
The period unit used for aggregating the data stored in the information structure. The
period unit can be daily, weekly, monthly, or by fiscal period (using the fiscal year variant
established by the finance team). Do not confuse this with periodic loads of data. Note: Some information structures do not appear to have periodicity. In such cases,
these information structures are actually built from the data contained in other
information structures. As the source information structure itself contains a periodicity,


(available analyses) Note: You can also access LIS analyses transactions from the General Report Tree. For
more information, refer to chapter 3 in book 1, Fundamentals of Reporting of this
guidebook series.

In the LIS, the application areas noted in the table on page 5-6 contain Standard analyses.
These information systems within the LIS are commonly referred to as the XXX component of
the LIS (where XXX represents the abbreviated or component information system name
shown in the table on the next page). Examples: The SIS component of LIS, or the LIS-
Inventory Controlling Information System (INVCO). Most reports and reporting capabilities within the R/3 system are under a particular
information system. However, the term information system can be a likely source of
confusion. This chapter deals with an information system called the LIS which is
uniquely characterized by the following components:
< Information structures
< Standard analyses
< Flexible analyses
The LIS should not be confused with other information systems in the R/3 System, for
example:
< Human Resources Information System
< Executive Information System
Although there are some similarities between the LIS and the other information systems,
each information system has its own unique features. Beyond the basics, each information
system requires specialized learning.


System (PMIS)
Plant Maintenance Object Class, Manufacturer, Location,
Planner Group, and Damage Analysis
Quality Management
Information System (QMIS)
Quality Management Lots and Notifications by Material,
Vendor, and Customer
Retail Information System (RIS) SAP Retail Perishables, Physical Inventory, and
Rough Workload Estimate
Warehouse Management
Information System (WMIS)
Materials Management-
Warehouse Management
Stock Placement/Removal, Flow of
Quantities, Material Placement
Removal, Material Flows, and
Movement Types
Service Management
Information System
1
(SMIS)
Service Management Object Class, Manufacturer, Planner
Group, Damage Analysis, Object
Statistics, Breakdown Analysis, Cost
Analysis, and Problem Notifications 1
Service Management is an information system for the Service Management application module that uses concepts
which are similar to the Plant Maintenance and Sales Information Systems.

reports of the report can be viewed to slice-and-dice the data in a variety of ways.
Exception Analysis (Early Warning System—EWS)
When running a Standard analysis, (either online, at-will, or in the background on a
periodic basis), the Early Warning System (EWS) permits the output, or a certain action, to
occur according to the user’s instructions. This functionality, for example, can be used to
achieve proactive reporting. While one may find other reporting tools that support some
form of exception reporting, the simplicity and the power behind the LIS EWS in Standard
analyses is unparalleled.
Enhancements
The Standard analyses have SAP-delivered customer exits that may be utilized to enhance
and include customer-specific requirements. Standard analyses offer exceptional method
enhancements, list enhancements, and general customer enhancements. For more
information on enhancements, refer to the R/3 online documentation.
Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Learning the Basics of Standard Analyses

Reporting Made Easy

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Archiving
Output from Standard analyses can be archived. Few other reporting tools in the R/3
System offer a similar level of archiving capabilities.
User Settings
In Standard analyses, it is possible to see a report based on, for example, the vendor, and
then the vendor country. Using User settings you can set the drilldown paths (and default
currency of a report and time period of report, etc.). What sets Standard analyses apart from
other reporting tools is that with Standard analyses you can either set the drilldown path for
all the users at a global level or for a specific user.
What Are the Prerequisites?

built around a sample report (see the graphic below). Take a minute to familiarize yourself
with the scenario and the sample report. Example: Analyze the sales according to customers (sold-to-party) in the Sales
Information System. Create an initial list of the customer analysis showing sales order
and invoice information. Then, use Standard analyses to interactively view the list in
different ways.

The example illustrated in this section uses Release 4.5A. Although there are some minor
differences, the basic concepts and approach is applicable to earlier releases as well.
Shown below is the initial list for our example. In the following pages, you will see how this
initial list was created.

Chapter 5: LIS Standard Analyses
Creating a Standard Analysis

Reporting Made Easy

5–10

Follow these steps to run a Standard analysis:
1. Decide which data you want to see.
2. Determine the Component Information System that is likely to contain the data.
3. Enter the selection criteria for the Standard analysis.
4. Run the Standard analysis.
5. Create an initial list.
6. Slice-and-dice the data as needed.
Slice-and-dice data
as needed


Step 1: Decide Which Data You Want to See
Before you can create a Standard analysis, you must know which data is to be included in your analysis.
The type of data you need depends on the type of analysis you want to perform.
In our example, the data must include customers (sold-to-party), sales orders, and invoice information.
Step 2: Determine the Component Information System
Next, you must determine the application component where the desired data is likely to reside. Use the
table on page 5-6 to help you determine the relevant application.