• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Revelwood Logo

Revelwood

Your SUPER-powered WP Engine Site

  • Who We Are
    • About Us
      • Our Company
      • Our Team
      • Partners
    • Careers
      • Join Our Team
  • What We Do
    • Solutions
      • Workday Adaptive Planning
      • IBM Planning Analytics
      • BlackLine
    • Services
      • Implementation Services
      • Customer Care
        • Help Desk
        • System Administration as a Service
      • Training
        • Workday Adaptive Planning Training
        • IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 Training
    • Products
      • DataMaestro
      • LightSpeed
      • IBM Planning Analytics Utilities
  • How We Help
    • Use Cases
    • Client Success Stories
  • How We Think
    • Knowledge Center
    • Events
    • News
  • Contact Us

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Stacked Columns Dimension Order

 

October 19, 2021

By Lee Lazarow

Column charts are one of the most common types of data visualizations and stacked columns are simply an expansion of the columns. The stacking allows you to compare two sets of data within the same chart. But have you ever thought about how the order of the stacking will impact your chart?

IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) creates a stacked column report as follows:

  • Define the columns based on the outside dimension
  • Then define the columnar breakdown based on the inside dimension

This order of operations will help you determine which dimension should be on the outside of your exploration and which dimension should be on the inside. Here is an example of the same set of data using two different stacking approaches:

As you can see, the stacking order makes a difference when generating the chart. 

So how do you stack your dimensions? The proper approach is to first determine the goal of the chart by defining “what question am I trying to answer?” As long as your picture answers that question, you can never go wrong!

IBM Planning Analytics, which TM1 is the engine for, is full of new features and functionality. Not sure where to start? Our team here at Revelwood can help. Contact us for more information at info@revelwood.com. And stay tuned for more Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks weekly in our Knowledge Center and in upcoming newsletters!

Get more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Explorations – Row & Column Headers

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Columns and Sections of Stacked Columns

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Lines vs Area for Multiple Elements

Author

  • Lee Lazarow

    View all posts
    • Categories

      • Accounting and Accounts Receivable
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Data Analytics in Finance
      • Financial Close & Consolidation
      • FP&A Done Right
      • IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks
      • News & Events
      • Success Stories
      • Tech Bulletins
      • Workday Adaptive Planning Insights
      • Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks

    Popular Posts

    Authors

    Adam Riskin
    Adam Riskin
    Brian Colucci
    Brian Colucci
    Brian Combs
    Brian Combs
    Cameron Burke
    Cameron Burke
    Dave Miersch
    Dave Miersch
    Ivan Cepero
    Ivan Cepero
    John Pra Sisto
    John Pra Sisto
    Jonathan Dunn
    Jonathan Dunn
    Ken Wolf
    Ken Wolf
    Lee Lazarow
    Lee Lazarow
    Lisa Minneci
    Lisa Minneci
    Luke Griffie
    Luke Griffie
    Marc Assenza
    Marc Assenza
    Mary Luchs
    Mary Luchs
    Michael Mari
    Michael Mari
    Michelle Song
    Michelle Song
    Revelwood
    Revelwood
    Robert Nordhagen
    Robert Nordhagen
    Simon Foley
    Simon Foley
    Thomas McDade
    Thomas McDade

    Sign up for our newsletter

    Connect

Footer

Revelwood Overview

Revelwood helps finance organizations close, consolidate, plan, monitor and analyze business performance. As experts in solutions for the Office of Finance, we partner with best-in-breed software companies by applying best practices guidance and our pre-configured applications to help businesses achieve their full potential.

EXPERTISE

  • Workday Adaptive Planning
  • IBM Planning Analytics
  • BlackLine

ABOUT

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • How We Help
  • How We Think
  • Privacy

CONNECT

World Headquarters

Florham Park, NJ | 201 984 3030

European Headquarters

London & Edinburgh | +44 (0)131 240 3866

Latin America Office

Miami, FL | 201 987 4198

Email
info@revelwood.com

Copyright © 2025 · Revelwood Inc. All rights reserved. Revelwood® and the Revelwood logo are registered marks of Revelwood Inc.