Currency Conversion

Currency Conversion in BI 7.
Applies to:
SAP Business Intelligence 7.0. For more information, visit the Business Intelligence homepage.
Summary
The objective of this Document is to explain different ways of performing currency translation in BI.
Author: Ramakrishna Gattikoppula
Company: Infosys Technologies Limited.
Created on: 8 October 2009
Author Bio
Ramakrishna Gattikoppula is a Software Engineer at Infosys Technologies Limited. He has

been involved in SAP BW Implementation Projects.
SAP COMMUNITY NETWORK SDN - sdn.sap.com | BPX - bpx.sap.com | BOC - boc.sap.com

© 2009 SAP AG 1
Currency Conversion in BI 7.0
Table of Contents
CURRENCY CONVERSION IN BI 7.0 .......................................................................................................................... 3
1. Currency Translation Type ............................................................................................................................. 4
1.1 Creating Currency Translation Type ......................................................................................................... 4
2. Defining Target Currencies Using InfoObjects ............................................................................................... 9
2.1 Determine Target Currency for currency conversion from InfoObject ...................................................... 9
3. Currency Translation in Business Explorer .................................................................................................. 12
3.1 Currency translation in query definition................................................................................................... 12
3.1.1 Currency translation in query definition (Fixed Target Currency) ...................................................................... 12
3.1.2 Currency translation in query definition (Target Currency determined through selection variable) ................... 13
3.1.2.1 Variable in the currency translation type ........................................................................................................ 13
3.1.2.2 Variable in properties of the keyfigure in BEx ................................................................................................ 15
3.2 Currency translation in the executed query ............................................................................................ 17
4. Currency Translation during Transformation ................................................................................................ 18
5. Variable Time References in Currency Conversions ................................................................................... 19
6. References ................................................................................................................................................... 20
Copyright............................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

© 2009 SAP AG 2

Currency translation is used to translate the key figures with currency fields that exist in the source
system in different currencies into a standard currency in the BI system. Currency translation can be done at
different levels depending on requirements and based on translation type.
Below Figure gives an overview about where currency translation comes into picture in BI.
Currency translation is based on currency translation types. A combination of source and target currency,
exchange rate type, time reference for conversion is used to determine exchange rate which in turn is used
for performing the currency translation.

© 2009 SAP AG 3
1. Currency Translation Type

A translation type is a combination of Exchange rate, source and target currency and time
reference for conversion which are used for currency translation.
Different parameters that determine the exchange rate for currency conversion are Exchange
Rate Type, Source and Target Currencies and Time reference for the translation.
Image below gives different ways in which a value in source currency can be translated to a value in target
currency after determining the exchange rate from different parameters
To define currency translation type you have to define the exchange rate type, currency (Source and Target)
and time reference.
Exchange rate type: Exchange rate type is the key under which you define exchange rates in the system.
Source currency: The currency that you wish to convert into a different one.
Target currency: The currency that is available after currency translation.
Time reference: Time reference for the currency translation can be either fixed or variable.
If the time reference is fixed, the time at which the exchange rate is determined is independent of the date.
If the time reference is variable, the time at which the exchange rate is determined is decided by a time
characteristic value.
1.1 Creating Currency Translation Type

Transaction Code for Creating Currency Translation Type in BI 7.0 is RSCUR.
Enter the Technical name for the translation type and click on the create button (F5).
Enter the Description for the Currency translation type. Properties, Exchange Rate, Currency and Time
Reference are the tabs that are present in the currency translation type screen.
Following is the step by step procedure to create a currency translation type.

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Step-1: Select Exchange Rate.

Exchange Rate for currency translation is determined based on the option selected in Exchange Rate tab of
the currency translation type.
Exchange Rate Type: Generally we use M (Standard translation at average rate).
Ex. Rate Type from Var.: This option is used to determine the exchange rate type dynamically at the time of
query execution. In order to enable this option you need to specify the name of a variable built on InfoObject
0RTYPE.
Exchange Rate from InfoObject: Specification of the InfoObject (key figure) that contains the exchange
rate. This setting can be used in the WHM during data loading. The exchange rate is then taken from the
associated key figure and not calculated using the data stored in Customizing at runtime.
Inverse Ex. Rate: In this case, the required translation from one currency to another is performed using the
reverse exchange rate. Translation with the inverse rate is useful, for example, when the values have already
been translated and you want to display the original values.
Step-2: Select Source and Target Currency.

Source Currency:
Determined using the data record: Source currency is determined from the data record of key figure at
runtime of the query.
Fixed Source Currency: Fixed source currency that is to be used for currency translation.
InfoObject for determining the source currency: Specification of an InfoObject (Characteristic) in which a
currency attribute is stored in InfoObject maintenance. At runtime, the associated currency attribute is
determined using the characteristic value and this is interpreted as source currency.
Target Currency:
Target Currency Selection with Translation: This option can be used to determine the target currency
through a selection variable at the time of query execution, in order to use this option a variable should be
defined in the conversion tab of the amount key figure in the query designer. A fixed target currency can also
be specified in the Query Designer (as a property of a key figure of type Amount)

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Fixed Target Currency: Source currency is converted into the fixed target currency defined here.
Target Currency from Variable: This option can be used to determine the target currency through a
selection variable at the time of query execution, in order to use this option a variable should be defined in
this field and name of this currency translation type should be used in conversion tab of properties for
amount key figure in the query designer.
InfoObject for determining the target currency: Specification of an InfoObject (Characteristic) in which a
currency attribute is stored in InfoObject maintenance. At runtime, the associated currency attribute is
determined using the characteristic value and this is interpreted as target currency.
If the indicator 'Only Use in Transformation' is set for the InfoObject to Determine the Target Currency,
InfoObjects can also be entered here in which there no currency attribute is defined in the InfoObject
maintenance. The InfoObject that is specified here then has to exist in the data source and must also contain
a currency in the characteristic attribute

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Step-3: Select Time Reference.

Fixed Time Ref:
Current Date: Select this option when you need the target currency based on the current date‟s exchange
rate.
Key Date: Select this option when you want the report to calculate target currency based on exchange rate
of the date specified in this field.
Time Reference from Variable: Specification of a variable that was created for InfoObject 0DATE. This
option is used to calculate the target currency based on the exchange rate for the date specified in the query
designer.
Use Query Key Date: Use this when you want the system to use query key date while converting amounts
to target currency.
Variable Time Ref.: You can select different time references based on your requirement. Following are the
various time references available
 Fiscal year closing
 Start of fiscal year
 End of period
 Beginning of period
 End of calendar year
 Start of calendar year
 Start of Calendar Year/ Quarter
 End of Calendar Year/ Quarter
 End month
 Start month
 End of week
 To the exact day
Standard info object: System tries to assign the time characteristic to the object based on the value
selected in Variable time reference field.
The following InfoObjects are available:
 Start/end fiscal year (0FISCYEAR)
 Start/end period (0FISCPER)
 Start/end calendar year (0CALYEAR)
 Start/end calendar year/quarter (0CALQUARTER)
 Start/end month (0CALMONTH)
 End of week (0CALWEEK)
 Exact days (0CALDAY)
Special Info object: If this option is selected we can specify info object other than standard time
characteristics info objects.
The InfoObjects available for selection here depend on which entry you made under Variable Time
Reference.
If you specified Exact Days there, the following InfoObjects can be selected:
 Key figures of type Date

 InfoObjects with reference characteristic 0DATE
 InfoObjects with basic characteristic 0CALDAY

© 2009 SAP AG 7
For all other entries under Variable Time Reference, the following
InfoObjects may be selected:
 InfoObjects with the associated basic characteristic
Infoset: This setting has the same functionality as Standard InfoObject or

Special InfoObject. If the InfoObject, from which the time reference is to be determined is unique in
the Infoset, which means it exists only once in the entire Infoset, it is sufficient to enter the InfoObject
in Standard InfoObject or Special InfoObject.
An entry in Variable Time Reference Using Infoset is only necessary when the time reference is to
be determined using an InfoObject and this InfoObject occurs multiple times in the Infoset.
Once all exchange rate, currency and time references are selected save currency translation type.
Time Shift: The time shift (regardless of whether it is fixed or variable) always refers to the InfoObject
specified under Variable Time Reference.
For Example, if the variable time reference is 'To the Day', 0CALDAY, and the time shift is -3. Instead of
07.11.2008, 04.11.2008 would be used for the conversion after the shift.

© 2009 SAP AG 8
Following are the different ways in which currency conversion can be performed in BI 7.0:
2. Defining Target Currencies Using InfoObjects

2.1 Determine Target Currency for currency conversion from InfoObject
Step-1: Create a Master Data InfoObject (YCOUNTRY) with a characteristic (0CURRENCY) as its attribute.
This InfoObject will be used to determine the target currency of currency translation.
Step-2: In the Business Explorer tab of the InfoObject Maintenance, set the currency attribute
(0CURRENCY) for the InfoObject which is used to determine the Target Currency.
Step-3: Define the Currency Translation type and choose “InfoObject for Determining Target Currency”
option in the currency tab.
For this go to Transaction Code RSCUR (Currency Translation Type), enter the desired Currency
Translation Type name (YHROBJCUR) and press Create Button.

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In „Exchange Rate‟ Tab of currency Translation type specify the exchange rate type which you want to use
for Currency Translation (The exchange rate type used here is “Standard Translation at average Rate” M)).
In „Currency‟ Tab Mark the radio button “InfoObject for Determining Target Currency”, include the name of
InfoObject which you have created and save the Currency Translation Type.
Step-4: Use this Currency Translation Type in the Query Definition.

 Create a query on the cube with a key figure (YAMOUNT01) of type amount and include the
previously defined InfoObject which will determine the target currency in the rows section (Refer the
following Screenshot).
 In the properties for the key figure (YAMOUNT01), go to the conversion tab and select the earlier
defined conversion type (YHROBJCUR) and save and execute the query.

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Following are the snapshots of the Master data and data before and after currency conversion.
Master Data YCOUNTRY used to determine the target currency of each country:
Data in the Cube:
Output Data after executing the query:

© 2009 SAP AG 11
From the above two screenshots you can see that the amount in USD is converted into the target currency
depending on the Country.
3. Currency Translation in Business Explorer

For the Currency translation to take place in the Business Explorer you must have already
created a currency translation type.
Currency Translation in Business explorer can be done in two ways:
 Currency translation in query definition.
 Currency translation in the executed query.
3.1 Currency translation in query definition

Currency translation in the query definition is done for individual key figures or structure
elements by specifying the currency translation type for each key figure or structure element.
Target currency for currency translation can either be a fixed one or can be determined from a selection
variable depending on the definition of target currency setting in currency translation type.
3.1.1 Currency translation in query definition (Fixed Target Currency)

If you want the currency translation to happen always to a single fixed target currency then you
can use the following setting in the BEx.
Step-1: Define the currency translation type (you can also use an existing currency translation type).
Currency translation type used for this example is “0HRFIXXUR” (Fixed Target Currency, Current Date).
Step-2: Start the query designer and select the keyfigure on which you want to perform the currency
conversion, in the properties for that keyfigure select the desired currency conversion type in the
„Conversions‟ tab.
In this type, the target currency will always be the same. You can use a variable for selecting the target
currency if you want to choose different target currencies every time you execute the query.
Following is the step by step procedure for using a selection variable for target currency.

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3.1.2 Currency translation in query definition (Target Currency determined through selection
variable)
We can use a variable for determining the Target currency in two ways.
1. Variable in the currency translation type.
2. Variable in properties of the keyfigure in BEx.
3.1.2.1 Variable in the currency translation type

This option is used to determine the target currency through a selection variable at the time of query
execution, in order to use this option a variable should be defined in this field and name of this currency
translation type should be used in conversion tab of the amount key figure in the query designer.
Step-1: Create a variable for InfoObject „0CURRENCY‟ (Currency Key).
 Start the variable wizard in order to create a variable for 0CURRENCY.
 Create a Characteristic variable with the specifications as mentioned in the following screenshots.
- Processing By: Manual Input/Default Value.
- Reference Characteristic (0CURRENCY) Currency.
- Variable Represents: Single Value.
- Ready for input: checked

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Step-2: Create a currency translation type which uses this variable to determine the Target currency.
 Go to Transaction Code RSCUR and create a new currency translation type.
 In the Exchange Rate tab select the desired exchange rate type.
 Mark the radio button “Target Currency from Variable” and enter the technical name of the variable
created on 0CURRENCY.
 Save the Currency translation type and exit.

Step-3: Start the Query designer and create a query with the key figure that uses this currency translation
type.

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Save and execute the query, you will be asked for a target currency in a selection variable pop-up.
3.1.2.2 Variable in properties of the keyfigure in BEx

The second way to determine the target currency from a variable input is through the variable in
the properties of keyfigure in BEx.
Step-1: Create a currency translation type by marking the radio button “Target Currency selection with
Translation” in the Target currency section of currency tab.
Mark the necessary entries on the Exchange rate and Time ref. tab and save the currency conversion type.
Step-2: Start the query designer and create a query with a key figure that uses the newly created currency
translation type.

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Step-3: under the Target Currency field select variable entry screen and create a new variable with
specifications same as in section 3.1.2.1 and save it (You can also use an existing variable).
You will see the newly created variable in the Target currency field.
Execute the query. You will be asked for a target currency in a selection variable pop-up.

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3.2 Currency translation in the executed query
Currency Translation can be performed in the BEx Analyzer by selecting the Query Properties in the context
menu for the key figure.
In Query properties select the currency conversion tab.
 On selecting Display Original Currency all the currency conversions will be disabled.
 Convert to Currency: Select this option to translate results into a specific currency. In the
dropdown box, select the currency into which the results are to be translated.
 Use Currency Translation: after you have selected the target currency for the results, select the
type of translation to be used for the conversion from this dropdown box.
 First Apply Currency Translation from Query Definition: select this checkbox to first convert into
the currency defined in the query, and then into the currency as customized in the above settings.

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4. Currency Translation during Transformation

Currency translation during transformation enables to convert data records from source currency into
a currency of the target of the transformation.
To perform the currency translation in transformations we must have defined the currency translation type.
Following is the step by step procedure for currency translation during transformations:
Step 1: Create a currency translation type. We can also use the existing translation type.
Step 2: In transformations click on the rule details of the key figure for which the currency is to be translated.
Step 3: In the Currency field select “From Conversion” and enter the previously defined currency translation
type under conversion type as shown in the following screenshots. Save and activate the transformation.
Step 4: Load data into the InfoCube. The Data present in the cube will have the target currency mention in
the Currency Translation Type.

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Following are the snapshots of the data in PSA and in the InfoCube.
Data in PSA:
Data in the InfoCube:
5. Variable Time References in Currency Conversions

Variable Time References in Currency Conversion can be used to analyze the effect of
exchange rates.
Variable time references in currency conversion can be used in various situations where
 We want to compare values with both current exchange rates and historical exchange rates. This
way we can analyze the effect of exchange rates
 We want to compare the actual exchange rates with those valid on the posting date. This way we
can analyze the effect of changes in the exchange rates between the posting date and the current
date.
 We want to analyze the effect of exchange rate changes on your plan and actual data.
There is a How to… document in SDN (See References for direct link) which gives the implementation
sequence to achieve currency conversion for dynamic time references in BW 3.X. We can use the same
document to develop a solution in BI 7.0.

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Related Content
SAP Community Network
SAP Help Portal
How to Use Variable Time References In Currency Conversions
http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/index?rid=/library/uuid/287bab90-0201-0010-f48e-cc55b0cd13d0
http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/weblogs;jsessionid=(J2EE3417500)ID0697461850DB1173754685485640409
2End?blog=/pub/wlg/6413
For more information, visit the Business Intelligence homepage.

© 2009 SAP AG 20
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Currency Conversion in BI 7.

Ramakrishna Gattikoppula is a Software Engineer at Infosys Technologies Limited. He has

SAP COMMUNITY NETWORK SDN - sdn.sap.com | BPX - bpx.sap.com | BOC - boc.sap.com

SAP COMMUNITY NETWORK SDN - sdn.sap.com | BPX - bpx.sap.com | BOC - boc.sap.com