HFM - Hyperion Financial Management training interview Questions and Answers
What is Configurable Dimensions?
Configurable Dimension allows the HFM
administrator to set the number of custom dimensions in the application. For
each dimension it is possible to set the size of the dimension and give a short
name and a long name (alias).
What are the benefits of Configurable
Dimensions?
Configurable Dimensions provides HFM the
flexibility lacking in the traditional tools with predefined fixed structures.
HFM applications can be built with the exact number of custom dimensions
needed. If 2 custom dimensions are necessary, then the application can be built
with 2 dimensions. If it needs 4 or 6, the number of custom dimension can be
set accordingly. Customer requirements drive the design and the structure of
the application without constraints or compromises.
What kind of application can be
built in HFM?
HFM is the preferred tool to create
financial reporting applications. Management reporting and legal consolidation
can be handled within the same application. Configurable dimension provides an
expandable framework ideal to handle all the required details, whether it is
operational or legal. For instance some dimensions can be used to analyze
Product and Market information, while other dimensions for type of adjustments
or eliminations. All the information in these configurable dimensions is
automatically available in Web forms, Reports and in Excel using the SmartView
module.
What is the “size” of a
dimension?
The size of a dimension determines the
total number of elements in the dimension. Depending on the size of the dimension,
the system allocates in the database a different number of bytes for the index
.
The size of a dimension can be either:
Large: 2 billions members (4 bytes used
internally)
Medium: 32,000 members (2 bytes used
internally)
Small: 128 members (1 byte used internally)
What is the minimum number of
custom dimensions in an application?
The minimum is 2 custom dimensions.
Technically the system requires these 2 dimensions to store the source and
destination currencies for the exchange rates. The system will automatically
create these 2 dimensions with a Large size.
The number of dimensions is limited by the
total number of bytes used for all the index of these dimensions. This total
must not exceed 40 bytes.
The system will always create the first two
dimensions as Large, which will use 8 bytes. There will be 32 bytes remaining
for additional customs.
When creating an application, can
I mix Large, Medium and Small dimensions in the same application?
Yes. It is possible to create some custom
dimensions as Large and other dimensions as Medium or Small.
What happens when I reach the
maximum number of elements in a dimension?
Although the officially published maximum
number of elements is 128; 32,000; 2 billions for Small, Medium, and Large
dimension, internally the system can accommodate twice this number of elements.
Once the maximum number of elements is reached in a dimension, it is not
possible to create additional elements. The solution is then to create a new
application and set the dimension with a larger size.
Can we delete elements in order
to regain some index number for new elements?
No. The system does not reuse index number
of deleted elements.
After the application has been created in a
Development environment, it is recommended to create a brand new application
for Production containing only the final version of metadata and using
internally only the exact number of index
Does Configurable Dimension have
an impact on performance?
Configurable dimension does not have a
direct impact on performance. In an application where Calculation rules are
correctly written, performance is driven by the amount of data in the
application, not by the number of dimensions or the number of elements in each
dimension.
Does adding dimension to an
existing application have an impact on performance?
Adding dimensions to an existing
application is likely to introduce more detailed reporting and therefore
require additional data and additional calculation rules. These additional data
and rules will have an impact on performance.
What is the optimal number of
custom dimension?
There is no technical optimum number
independent from the business requirements. For a specific application, the
optimal number of dimensions is the smallest number of dimensions necessary to
handle the business requirements.
Is usability better with more
dimensions or fewer dimensions?
Usability is better with fewer dimensions.
It will be easier for the users to view and set the Point of View with fewer
dimensions. There will be less dimensions to use in Journals, Reports, Grids,
Web forms, SmartView.
Should existing applications be
modified following the introduction of configurable dimensions?
The existing applications can be converted
using the migration utility, they can continue to be used as is.
We have an existing application
with 4 custom dimensions where only 3 custom dimensions are used. How can I
remove the 4th unused dimension?
It is not possible to remove a dimension
from an existing application. A new application must be created.
Should existing applications be
redesigned to take advantage of configurable dimensions?
If the business requirements are the same,
then the existing application should remain the same. If the reporting needs
are evolving, then it is possible add new dimensions to the existing
application.
How many custom dimensions should
be used in an application?
The number of custom dimensions depends on
the level of details of the reporting. When the same detailed analysis exist
for multiple accounts, this detail should be created in a custom dimension. For
instance, if Sales, Cost of Good Sold and Gross Margin must all be detailed by
products, then it is advised to create a Product hierarchy in a custom dimension.
When an account must be analyzed by a combination of details, for instance
Sales by Product and also simultaneously by Market, then these details should
be be created in separate dimensions. The more analytical details are required,
the more dimensions are necessary. For instance, if Sales, Cost of goods sold
and Gross margin must be analyzed simultaneously by Product, Market, Channels,
and Packages, then it is advised to use 4 custom dimensions.
Yes. A custom dimension can contain
different type of details, as long as these details are used on different
accounts. For instance if the P&L accounts are detailed by Products and the
Balance Sheet accounts are detailed by Flows, then it is possible to use the
same custom dimension for both details. Products and Flows will be created as
separate hierarchies in the same dimension. When defining the accounts, P&L
accounts will be associated with Product hierarchy and Balance Sheet accounts
will be associated with Flow hiearchy.
Is it better to create more
custom dimensions or fewer custom dimensions?
We believe it is better to create fewer
dimensions because it will be easier for the user to navigate in the product.
When possible we think it is better to use the same dimension for different
type of details, using the top member attributes in accounts to define the
correct intersections.
How does the system associate
custom elements with accounts?
Like in prior version, the valid custom
dimension elements are associated with accounts using metadata attribute
<Dimension Name>TopMember.
Should I create the application
with extra unused dimensions, just in case it will be needed later?
No. The application should be created with
the exact number of dimensions required for the current business requirements.
We will provide a separate utility to add custom dimensions to existing
application. When a new dimension will be added to an existing application, all
historical data will be preserved. The new dimension will contain a [None]
element. The existing data will be set to [None] for the new dimension.
What is the impact of
Configurable Dimensions on the User interface?
Several changes were made in the User
Interface of the product to accommodate a variable number of custom dimensions.
For instance, it is possible to control the dimensions displayed in the Point
of View and also how the Point of View is displayed.
Are all Custom dimensions
required when entering Journal?
Yes. In order to adapt the Journal module
to a possibly large number of custom dimensions, the system can automatically
move common elements from the rows to the page so that the user does not have
to repeat the same element on every row.
How do the Rules work with
Configurable Dimensions?
All existing functions continue to work.
Some new generic functions have been created to handle applications with more
than 4 custom dimensions.
How are custom dimension names
and dimension alias used in the system?
Both custom dimension name and alias can be
referenced in rules, web forms and system reports.
What is the impact of custom
dimensions on the infrastructure platform?
There is no direct impact of custom
dimension on the infrastructure. The infrastructure must be sized based on the
number of concurrent users, the amount of data processed during consolidation,
the amount of data processed in reports or other data retrieval mechanisms, the
intensity of the calculation required. For best performance, 64 bit system
using fast processors and large enough amount of memory is recommended.
How will you calculate minority
interest in hyperion financial management?
ANS: We need to write in rules as
PCon=POwn-PMin, to calculate percentage of minority intrest.
%Minority=%consolidation-%ownership
Why we are using hyperion? We are
having many olap tools in the market. What feature makes
hyperion unique with
other tools?
Hyperion as compared to other tools is
security used in the shared services. There is no IIS for OLAp's but there is a IIS for HFM, If there
is no IIS its time taking process to retrieve the financial data.
Can we have multiple databases in
single applications?
yes.
Can we start and stop an
application individually and how to increase performance using
this?
We can manage our server resources by
starting only applications which receive heavy user traffic. When an
application is started, memory is accompanied by all associated data bases.
Which type of tasks can you
define in a task list?
data forms and data grids
What are the requirements for
creating a dataform?
Created metadata design, users is necessary
to create data forms
Can anyone explain the variable
POV in TaskFlow automation?
the variables are only used to store the
result of other stages as Success or Failure.
You will need to enter the POV for each stage.
What is the limitation of
Scenario dimension? How many number of scenario's we can define in HFM
Applicaiton?
ANS: no limitation
where the value will adjust after
posting journal?
we can see the adjustments in data grid.
After posting the journal the adjustable value comes under entity currency
adjustments.
where the value stores after done
icp eliminations?
the values are store under eliminations in
value dimension.
when we change the value in
dataform, is that value will effect the data grids or not?
no, because we can create the data forms
through data grids only.
what is the importance of
hyperion financial management?
Many finance executives face the daunting
task of consolidating their Companies financial and operating results using
spreadsheets that are difficult to maintain and audit.
What is recurring journal?
some journals we use rapidly. So, for the
purpose, we will create recurring templates, we will create recurring journals.
What is an Auto Reversing
Journal?
If we create a journal as Auto Reversing
Journal, the journal will posted in the next period by reversing the Debit and
Credit.
What is consolidation?
Aggrigating the data from base level member
to the parent level members.
How will you perform
Currency Translations?
First we have to create all the currencies
in the Meta Data Item called currencies. Then we have to perform currency
translations in Explore data module by using custom dimensions and value
dimension.
Which sub routines of Rules will
execute when you run consolidations ?
Calculate, Translation, Consolidation
How do you enable Rules to
customize consolidation ?
Application Settings -> consolidation
Rules -> Y
What is Translation ?
It is Currency translation happens when a
parent entity's default currency is different from a child entity's default currency.
runs when you choose Translate or Consolidate.
What is Adjustment ?
Adjusment is to correct the data. It is
done by Journals at value dimension member Entity currency Adjs and Parent curr
Adjs.
What is the difference between
consolidate, consolidate all and consolidate all with the data ?
consolidate : only entities that require
logic or consolidation are updated by the system.
Consolidate All with Data option is
available for any parent entity regardless of its status.NODATA are skipped.
Consolidate All : any Parent entity
regardless of its status. NODATA are also consolidated.
how can you cancel consolidation
?
HFM Web client -> Administration ->
running Tasks -> click on the Red button
what is ICP ?
The Intercompany Partnership Dimension
provides an efficient way to identify, report, and reconcile intercompany
account differences. With the ability to view detail transaction at any time,
you can reconcile intercompany account differences frequently and thus minimize
their impact on the closing cycle.
You are not able to load ICP
tansactions. what is the Reason ?
Cause: IC Period is not opened.
expand Tasks and select IC Transaction
Tasks Select Manage IC Periods.
From the Scenario drop-down list, select a
scenario for the period.
From the Year drop-down list, select a year
for the period.
select the check box next to each period that
you want to open.
How to extract Intercompany
Transactions ?
In the Browser View, expand Tasks and
select Extract Tasks Select Extract IC Transactions. From the Point of View
bar, select the scenario, year, and period. Enter the names of the Entity and
Partner dimension members, or click Browse to find the Entity and Partner
members. Select to include one or more of the following options in the extract
process: UnMatched, Matched, MisMatched, Posted, UnPosted, Reason Codes.
what is Tolerance amount ?
Tolerance amount is small discrepancies in
the amounts in Intercompany Transactions.
What are the types of consolidation and
methods of consolidation
Types:
1.Legal Consolidation
2.Geographical Consolidation
3.Consolidation by entity
Methods:
1.Consolidate
2.Consolidate all
3.Consolidate all with data
What is the difference between
switch sign for and switch type for and in which dimension it exists
It exists in custom dimension
Switch sign for: It is ticked to change
_ ASSET to LIABILITY
_ LIABILITY to ASSET
_ EXPENSE to REVENUE
_ REVENUE to EXPENSE
_ BALANCE to FLOW
_ FLOW to BALANCE
Switch type for: It is ticked to change
_ ASSET to EXPENSE
_ EXPENSE to ASSET
_ LIABILITY to REVENUE
_ REVENUE to LIABILITY
_ BALANCE to FLOW
_ FLOW to BALANCE
What are the types of journals?
Recurring journal
Reversing journal
Auto
reverse journal.
what are system defined
dimensions?
value dimension, ICP dimension,
How many custom dimensions are
defined in HFM?
There are four custom dimensions defined in
HFM like (Custom1,2,3,4.)
How many rules are defined in
HFM?
There are 8 type of rules.
1)calculation
2)dynamic
3)translation
4)consolidation
5)icp rule
6)input, 7) No input, 8) Allocation
What is the difference between
data form & data grid?
point of view is restricted in data from.
Data form supports for export& import
of XL.
We will add and delete the data forms.
explain the scenario types?
Actual, Budget, Forecast.
what are the types loading data
in HFM?
Merge, Replace, Accumulation, Replace by
security.
Explain percent control and
percent console?
percent control is upper boundary of consolidation
percentage,
Percent console contains the actual
percentage of consolidation.
Explain member list and define
types of member list?
A member where we can use to see the data
and modify the data is called member list. System defined member list User defined
member list static and dynamic member list.
what are the HFM tasks?
collect & load, adjust, calculate,
translate, consolidate, lock data, publish data.
Explain HFM Architecture?
HFM is designed to operate as a mlti tier
system.
Client tier user interface and ability to
communicate with the application.
Middle tierconnections to database
web tier it contains web server and all
functions of the application.
Database tier contains RDBMS and all HFM
data and metadata.
How do you load the data in to
HFM?
HFM directly can’t take the data from ERP
packages. Then loaded into FDM and mapped with HFM.
What is Triangulation?
A mean of converting balances from one
currency to another via a third common currency.
How do you eliminate the
intercompany transactions?
Intercompany transactions are eliminated
through plug account.
What is data lock?
A user
controlled mechanism that prevents changes to data according to specified
criteria, such As period or scenario.
Difference between balanced,
unbalanced and balanced by entity journals?
1) all debits and credits will be balanced
2) all debits and credits will not be balanced.
3) All debits and credits are balanced for
particular entity.
What is Dynamic memberlist?
As
the dimension members are added and deleted, the dynamic member list
automatically
Reflects the changes by replying the user
defined criteria.
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