Budgeting Planning & Forecasting

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Greenbar

April 16, 2024 by Lee Lazarow

Have you ever generated an IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) exploration and struggled to read the values in the grid? For example, how easy is it to define the travel cost for department 55 in the screenshot below?

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A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about solving this in Excel by using formulas to shade every other row. This approach is built into PAW via an option called “Zebra strips.” You can enable this option within the Custom properties of an exploration:

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Once enabled, PAW will lightly shade every other row to allow you to quickly navigate through your exploration. Using the example from earlier, it is now much easier to define the travel cost for department 55.

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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!

IBM Planning Analytics Tips and Tricks: Excel’s ARRAYTOTEXT Function

April 2, 2024 by Ivan Cepero

Have you ever needed to export Excel data in a format that can be read by other systems? Although csv files are widely accepted, many legacy systems expect data in an array format. This can be done using the ARRAYTOTEXT formula in Excel.

The syntax of the ARRAYTOTEXT formula is:

=ARRAYTOTEXT(array, format)

Array: the text to convert to an array
Format: the format to apply on conversion
- The only valid values for this parameter are 0 and 1

A standard array format uses a set structure:

The array enclosed by curly braces.
All items in the same row are separated by commas
The end of a row is indicated by a semicolon

For example, this data set …

… would appear like this in array notation:

{“Row1Col1″,”Row1Col2″;”Row2Col1″,”Row2Col2”}

However, the function does not force you to use the standard array format. Using the following table as an example:

Format = 0 (also called the concise format) will join all the data into a single comma delimited list, similar to the TEXTJOIN formula.

Format 1 (also called strict format) will convert the data into an array format. Every item on the same row is separated by a comma and the end of a row is indicated by a semicolon.

As an added feature, the ARRAYTOTEXT formula detects data types and does not convert the numbers to text (numbers are not enclosed by quotation marks).

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Generated Statements

February 6, 2024 by Lee Lazarow

One of the great things about IBM Planning Analytics Perspective’s process editor is that the wizard can be used to create code within your scripts. The results of the wizard based statements are inserted within areas called “Generated Statements.”

However, there may be times when you want to change the code within the generated areas. Maybe you want to temporarily disable some lines from running or maybe you want to add a debugging line within the existing section. Perspectives does not allow you to perform this type of task, but Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) does!

A user preference is built into PAW’s modeling workbench that allows you to either lock or unlock generated statements. You can access this setting by clicking on the preferences icon on a workbench.

From there, you can toggle the Lock Generated Statements option within the Process editor area.

When unlocking, you will need to refresh the script before the system will allow you to make changes within the previously locked area. The following window will appear as a warning:

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This approach will allow you to quickly modify your generated statements while also providing the ability to easily reenable them for future development.

Top Three IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks Posts – 2023

December 19, 2023 by Revelwood

What were your favorite IBM Planning Analytics Tips and Tricks blog posts this year? We took a look at our website analytics and found the top three posts of 2023 are (drumroll, please!) …

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: DefineCalc

IBM Planning Analytics for Excel (PAfE) version 80 introduced a new function called “DefineCalc.” This function allows a user to create a custom calculation using TM1/Planning Analytics data via the use of MDX.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Expanding Sections of Stacked Dimensions

Have you ever been in a situation where you have stacked dimensions in your view and only want to expand one section of it? In legacy Perspectives, an expansion of one area equates to an expansion of all areas. IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW), version 87, introduced functionality that allows you to expand just one piece at a time.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks PAW Users and Groups

Do you know how to manage your users and groups in IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW)? As of version 84, PAW now allows you to edit this information via a single click.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) Region Expansion

November 28, 2023 by Lee Lazarow

A while back I wrote a blog about regions within regions in IBM Planning Analytics. This approach allows you to make your rules easier to navigate and read when scrolling through many lines of code.

As you create regions, you can expand and contract lines of code by clicking the arrow next to the applicable lines. Here is an example of a contracted region (line 1) and an expanded region (line 6):

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But did you know that Planning Analytics Workspace allows you to expand or contract all regions at the same time? The workbench ribbon contains icons to expand (called “unfold”) and contract (called “Fold”) all regions with a single click.The left icon below is used for expansion and the right icon below is used for contraction.

Here is an example of 15 lines of code with the use of regions.

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This approach will allow you to reduce your screen footprint and make it even easier to quickly navigate through your code.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: How to Determine when Users Logged in to Planning Analytics Workspace

November 14, 2023 by Revelwood

Have you ever wanted to learn when a user last logged in to IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW)? Or to generate a list of dates and times when users logged in?

IBM Planning Analytics version 87 includes a feature to easily figure out the last login time of your PAW users.

Watch this short video from Lee Lazarow, Revelwood’s Planning Analytics practice lead. You’ll see Lee demonstrate how to:

Find ‘Users and Groups’, which contains the date and time of logins.
Download that information into a CSV file you can save
Learn the roles, dates and times of logins

This approach gives us the ability to quickly create a list of all of our users and for each one of our users, a date and time associated with the last login.

There are two ways to view a log file:

Click on the box to the left of the process name
Click on the three vertical dots to the right of the date

Both methods will then let you view the log file or download the file.

This feature, when combined with PAW’s development tools, will allow you to fully develop and debug TurboIntegrator scripts using the PAW interface.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Creating Charts in Planning Analytics Workspace

July 18, 2023 by Revelwood

Charts can be an incredibly powerful tool for communicating complex data in an accessible and visually appealing way. In the world of enterprise planning, IBM Planning Analytics provides users with the ability to create detailed and informative charts through its workspace interface, Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW).

This blog post is based on a recent webinar on creating PAW charts in the New Experience. We explore some of the key features and techniques for creating charts in PAW and how they can help your organization make more informed decisions.

Getting Started: The Basics of PAW

Before getting into creating charts, it’s worth taking a quick look at the basics of PAW and how it works. PAW is a web-based interface that allows users to easily access and analyze data stored within IBM Planning Analytics. It includes a range of features and tools for exploration, analysis, and reporting, with the ability to create custom dashboards, reports, and visualizations.

PAW offers two different versions, Classic and the New Experience. While the Classic version is still available, the New Experience offers a more modern and intuitive user interface, with added applications and plans, Watson-related components, and changes to administration and charting functions.

Types of Visualizations

Once you have a basic understanding of PAW, it’s time to start exploring the different types of visualizations that can be created. PAW offers a variety of chart types that can help you visualize your data, including comparison, composition, and trend charts.

Comparison charts are useful when you want to compare two or more data series side-by-side, such as comparing actual versus forecasted revenue. Composition charts, on the other hand, are used to show the composition of a single data series, such as the breakdown of sales by product category. Trend charts are ideal for highlighting trends and patterns over time, such as changes in website traffic or sales revenue.

Creating a Chart: The Three Approaches

When it comes to creating a chart in PAW, there are three main approaches you can take. The first is to convert an existing Exploration to a chart, which can be done using drag-and-drop functionality and a subset editor. This approach is great when you already have an Exploration with the data you want to visualize.

The second approach is to duplicate an existing chart and make tweaks to it as needed. This is useful when you want to create multiple similar charts quickly without having to start from scratch each time.

Finally, the third approach is to manually create a visualization from scratch in a book. This approach allows for the most customization, as you can define the axes, filters, and formatting of the chart yourself.

Once you’ve chosen your approach, it’s time to start customizing your chart. PAW provides a range of options for bars, length, start, target, repeat, and filters, allowing you to fine-tune your visualization to best suit your needs. You can also add value labels to the chart to provide additional context and make it easier for viewers to understand the data being presented.

Tips for Effective Chart Design

While creating a chart in PAW is relatively straightforward, there are some best practices to keep in mind to ensure your chart is as effective as possible. Here are a few tips to consider:

Consider your audience: Who will be viewing your chart? Make sure the design and content are appropriate for your intended audience.
Keep it simple: Don’t try to cram too much information onto one chart. Focus on the key data points and keep the design clean and uncluttered.
Use the right chart type: Make sure you choose the chart type that best suits the data you are presenting and the story you want to tell.
Label everything: Be sure to label all axes, data points, and categories to ensure your chart is clear and easy to understand.
Use color wisely: Colors can be a great way to highlight important data points, but be sure to use them sparingly and consistently across all your charts.

Conclusion

Creating charts in PAW can be a powerful way to communicate complex data in a clear and accessible way. With a range of chart types and customization options, PAW provides users with the tools they need to create informative and visually appealing visualizations. Keep these tips in mind as you start experimenting with creating charts in PAW, and you’ll be on your way to creating clear, compelling reports that drive informed decision-making.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Greenbar

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips and Tricks: Excel’s ARRAYTOTEXT Function

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Excel Switch Function

Read more about visualizations in IBM Planning Analytics:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Generated Statements

Read more about visualizations in IBM Planning Analytics:

Top Three IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks Posts – 2023

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) Region Expansion

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: How to Determine when Users Logged in to Planning Analytics Workspace

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) Process Error Logs

There are two ways to view a log file:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Creating Charts in Planning Analytics Workspace

Getting Started: The Basics of PAW

Types of Visualizations

Creating a Chart: The Three Approaches

Tips for Effective Chart Design

Conclusion

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

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There are two ways to view a log file:

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Getting Started: The Basics of PAW

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Tips for Effective Chart Design

Conclusion

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