Pivot tables are one of the most powerful tools in Excel when working with data in IBM Planning Analytics. They allow you to quickly summarize, slice and analyze large amounts of financial information. But sometimes, the default filters can feel a bit clunky — especially when working with time-based data. You can see how to do this in our latest IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks video.

That’s where timelines (time slicers) come in. They give your users a much friendlier and more visual way to select dates. Here’s how you can add one to your Planning Analytics pivot tables:

Step 1: Insert a timeline

Click anywhere inside your pivot table, then go to the PivotTable Analyze tab. In the Filter group, select Insert Timeline.

Step 2: Choose your date field

Excel will automatically look for a field formatted as a date (such as “Period”). Select that field and click OK. A timeline widget will appear on your sheet.

Step 3: Interact with your data

Users can now click on individual months, or drag across a range of dates. The pivot table will update instantly, making analysis quicker and more intuitive.

Step 4: Control multiple pivot tables

If you’re working with more than one pivot table, you don’t need multiple timelines. Instead, click on the widget, go to Report Connections, and connect the same timeline to multiple pivot tables. Now a single time slicer can drive consistent filtering across all of them.

Why this matters for Planning Analytics users

If you’re distributing Planning Analytics reports in Excel, adding a timeline makes your workbooks more interactive, user-friendly, and professional-looking. Your finance team (and executives) will appreciate the ease of selecting periods without digging through dropdown filters.

Next time you build a pivot table on Planning Analytics data, try adding a timeline. It’s a small change that can make a big impact in how people experience and use your reports.

Revelwood is an IBM Gold Business Partner with more than 30 years of experience designing, developing, implementing and maintaining IBM Planning Analytics environments. We focus on solutions for the Office of Finance and have partnered with clients of all sizes across all industries to optimize, enhance and expand their use of Planning Analytics. Revelwood’s Planning Analytics team consists of PA experts with decades of experience, and we have been recognized via awards including  IBM Champion status.

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Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: MDX to Copy a View

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