Retaining and Resolving Invalid Members

To retain and resolve invalid members:

1. In the flex form, add the rows, columns, or both, as you require.
2. Type or copy member names into the new rows, columns, or both.
3. Perform a refresh.

   Any invalid member cells are highlighted and #InvalidMember is displayed in the corresponding data cells.

4. Review the invalid member cells and correct any mistyped or missing members, and then refresh.
5. Repeat the previous step until all invalid members are corrected.

Example of Misspelled Member Name

For example, based on the Vision application form, HR Expenses, you open the form as a flex form. The Service Administrator has enabled the Smart View options, "Enable flex form for rows" and "Show invalid members for flex form."

Figure 9-1 Flex Form Containing No "7690: Meals" Member

You notice that the "7690: Meals" member is not present on the form so you set out to add it. You insert a row on the grid and begin typing, but make a spelling error. After refreshing, Smart View calls out the row for you with the member cells highlighted and the data cells displaying #InvalidMember.

Figure 9-2 Flex Form with Invalid Member Row Highlighted

After fixing the spelling error, perform a refresh and note that the flex form is displayed correctly, with the valid member names and data.

Figure 9-3 Flex Form with Error Corrected and Valid Members Displayed

Example of Missing Member Name on Multi-Dimension Row

#InvalidMember is displayed on the flex form in Smart View when a row or column has multiple members and you miss entering a member on a member cell in that row or column. In the following example, there are two dimensions on the rows. You added two rows after row 14. The members from the Product dimension in Column A, rows 15 and 16, were typed correctly. But you did not type any entries in the same rows in Column B. Those cells are missing the member name from the Entity dimension. This is the result after performing a refresh.

Figure 9-4 Flex Form with Missing Member Names in Column B, Rows 15 and 16

To correct this issue, add the correct members, "ESales East" and "ESales NorthEast". in Column B, rows 15 and 16, and then perform a refresh.

Example of Member Name Entered that is Outside of Form Definition

#Invalidmember is displayed on the flex form in Smart View when you enter a member that is beyond the form definition.

For example, suppose that in the form, the Year dimensions are limited to FY17, FY18, and FY19. But in the application outline, the dimension contains many more members, such as FY20, FY21, FY22, and FY23.

When designing a flex form, if the Service Administrator has selected the "Flex beyond form definition" option for the Year dimension, then you may add members that are outside of the form definition, such as FY20. If the "Flex beyond form definition" option is not selected, then adding a member that is outside of the form definition will result in invalid members, even though the members exist in the outline.

In the following case, the "Flex beyond form definition" option was not selected for the Year dimension on the column. The columns for FY17 and FY18 are hidden. You add four columns and enter FY20 in the first row, and Jan, Feb, Mar, and Q1 in the second row, and then refresh. Note below that columns N through O now contains invalid members.

Figure 9-5 "Flex beyond form definition" Is Not Selected and Member Is Outside of Form Definition

To remedy this, your Service Administrator should select the Flex beyond form definition option for the Year dimension. With this option selected for the form, you may enter the members that are outside of the form definition, perform a refresh, and retain the members on the flex form.

Enabling the Invalid Member Option

Service Administrators: Enabling the new Show invalid members for flex form check box lets users easily see, understand, and correct any error they may have made in entering member names in flex forms.

To retain invalid members on a flex form, a Service Administrator performs these steps from the Cloud EPM web interface:

1. From the Navigator, under Create and Manage, select Forms.
2. Select an existing form to edit or, in the Form and Ad Hoc Grid Management page, click the Actions drop-down menu and select Create Simple form.
3. In the form definition page, under Smart View Options in the Layout tab, select the Enable flex form for rows and Enable flex form for columns check boxes, as you require. You may select one or both of these options.
4. Select the Show invalid members for flex form check box.

   Tip:

   The Show invalid members for flex form check box is enabled only when Enable flex form for rows or Enable flex form for columns, or both, are selected, as described in the previous step.

5. Optional: For individual rows or columns, in Dimension Properties, enable the Flex beyond form definition option, as you require.
6. Save the form.

For more information on setting this option, see:

• Administering FreeForm
  • Designing Flex Forms
  • Setting Smart View Form Options
  • Setting Dimension Properties
• Administering Planning
  • Designing Flex Forms
  • Setting Smart View Form Options
  • Setting Dimension Properties