Writeback mode

In writeback mode, authorized users can input and modify data directly in the reporting grid.

By default, writeback mode is disabled for all users. The administrator can enable and disable writeback mode for specific users, groups of users, or all users. The administrator can also define whether writeback is enabled with or without splashing by defining a custom setting for Ad-hoc Report in EPM Administration. The custom setting must be named WritebackBehaviorAdhocReport and, in the Value column, the administrator specifies one of these values:

  • 0

    Writeback is disabled for all users.

  • 1

    Writeback is enabled without splashing for all users.

  • 2

    Writeback is enabled with splashing for all users.

  • A value in the JSON format

    Used for specific users, user groups, or application roles. For example:

    {
       "D": "0",
       "Permissions":[
          {
             "ugo":["ReportDesigner","administrator","someone@somecompany.com"],
             "v":"2"
          },
          {
             "ugo":["ReportPlanner","guest"],
             "v":"1"
          }
       ]
    }

    The JSON string contains these elements:

    • D: Defines the default behavior of writeback mode. If it contains 0, writeback is disabled for all non-specified users.
    • ugo: Contains an array of specific users, user groups, or application roles. If a user has a different permission level than a role that is assigned to that user, then user permissions prevail. If a user has multiple roles, the writeback option for the role with the highest rank prevails.
    • v: Defines a writeback permission level for the specified users.

    The default behavior of writeback mode for all non-specified users (D) and a writeback permission level for specified users (v) is defined with one of these values:

    • 0: Writeback is disabled.
    • 1: Writeback is enabled without splashing. Writeback works on base cells. Aggregated cells are written back only if writeback rules are present. If they are not present on a rule-calculated cell or aggregated cell, writeback does not take place and a cell's original value is reverted back.
    • 2: Writeback is enabled with splashing.

    If "D" or "v" contain any other value than 0, 1, or 2, then writeback is disabled.

    The custom setting name and the value in JSON format are not case sensitive.

If more than one custom setting is defined with the WritebackBehaviorAdhocReport name, the name is incremented as WritebackBehavior1, WritebackBehavior2, etc. for each setting instance. The settings with the incremented names are not used by the system even if they contain valid JSON strings or simple value 0, 1, or 2. The system uses only the setting with the non-incremented name (WritebackBehaviorAdhocReport) and a valid JSON string or simple value 0, 1, or 2.

If no WritebackBehaviorAdhocReport custom setting is defined or if it contains no value or an invalid value, then writeback and splashing are disabled.

The WritebackBehaviorAdhocReport custom setting is used only for the client. If you have no permission to perform writeback on the server, then writeback is not performed on the server. This happens if, for example, you have only view permission for the OLAP Data Role.

Splashing

You can also use writeback commands to specify different distribution methods. With splashing, you can specify how values that are written back to base elements affect their consolidated elements. You can select cells and change their values in the database. You might, for example, create a forecast for a year by increasing the values in the previous year by a particular percentage.

Immediate writeback

When you specify a new value for a cell, that value is taken and the writeback is performed immediately. You can modify the value of only one single cell simultaneously.