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IBM Cognos TM1

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Excel CubeDimensionCountGet Function

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Have you ever written a TurboIntegrator process and needed to know how many dimensions are in a specific cube? Maybe you want to loop through each dimension to create a zero out view. You can do this by using the TABDIM function and searching for the first blank result, or you can simply use the CubeDimensionCountGet function.

The syntax of the function is: 

CubeDimensionCountGet (CubeName)

This function will result in a numeric value that tells the number of dimensions within the cube.

Other uses of this code will allow you to define the number of arguments needed for a CELLPUT command, compare the number of dimensions between multiple cubes, or replicate an existing cube.

This approach will simplify your code by eliminating the need to create a loop.  

Revelwood has worked with IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 for more than 27 years. We’ve partnered with hundreds of companies on the design, development, maintenance and updates of IBM Planning Analytics applications, across every industry. Have a challenge with Planning Analytics / TM1? We can help you!

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Excel OFFSET Function

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAx – Rebuild Book vs Recreate Book

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Updating ODBC Connections for Multiple Processes

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IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Chart Multicolors

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One of the visualizations in Planning Analytics is a column chart. This type of chart is a good way to compare items since all the lines are in proportion to each other.

An easy way to create a column chart is to simply create an exploration and change the visualization into a column chart. Here is an example of a stacked exploration that compares companies by scenarios and the related column chart:

Chart, histogram Description automatically generated

This chart is great since it’s easy to compare the high and low values. However, it’s very hard to differentiate the sub-categories since all columns are the same color. In this case, it’s hard to compare Actuals vs. Final Budget.

You can configure your chart to use multiple colors via the following steps:

  1. While in Edit mode, single click on your chart widget.
  1. Select the option for “Fields” at the top, right corner. Not all visualizations use fields, so this may appear blank if you have not yet converted your widget to a chart.
  1. Move the applicable dimension from the Length category into the Color category. In my example, color is associated with the scenario dimension.
Graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message Description automatically generated

Once moved, the same chart will look like this:

Chart, bar chart Description automatically generated

This approach will allow you to use your color palettes (defined within the properties) to differentiate the dimensions within your stacked column chart and make your analyses easier.

Revelwood has worked with IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 for more than 27 years. We’ve partnered with hundreds of companies on the design, development, maintenance and updates of IBM Planning Analytics applications, across every industry. Have a challenge with Planning Analytics / TM1? We can help you!

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Visualization Value Labels

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Refresh PAW Visualizations Automatically

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Maps

Home » IBM Cognos TM1 » Page 12

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: NumberToStringEx

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IBM Planning Analytics has the ability to export data to flat files with the use of the ASCIIOUTPUT and TEXTOUTPUT functions. However, these two functions will only accept string variables. That means that numeric data will first need to be converted to string before exporting. Most developers know about the NumberToString function, which converts numbers to string, but there’s another function that is more powerful.

NumberToString does not apply any formatting to the numbers. This will work fine if the export is meant to be consumed by another system. However, if your export has an audience, you may want your report to have consistent and pleasing formatting. Here’s where the NumberToStringEx function can come in handy.

The NumberToStringEx function has four parameters: Value, Number Format, Decimal Separator, and Thousands Separator. The number format uses the same structures as the custom formatting in Excel.  Here’s an example of the function with the results:

NumberToStringEx( 1750.34892, ‘$#,0.00’, ‘.’, ‘,’)
$1,750.35

As you can see, the NumberToStringEx function eliminates the need to round your numbers prior to conversion as well as concatenating special characters after conversion.  

NumberToStringEx also allows for dual formatting of positive and negative numbers. Just like in Excel, you will need to separate the two using a semicolon. This eliminates any IF conditions you’ll need to use to format numbers if you had used the NumberToString function.

NumberToStringEx( -1750.34892, ‘$#,0.00;($#,0.00)‘, ‘.’, ‘,’)
($1,750.35)

Revelwood has worked with IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 for more than 27 years. We’ve partnered with hundreds of companies on the design, development, maintenance and updates of IBM Planning Analytics applications, across every industry. Have a challenge with Planning Analytics / TM1? We can help you!

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace Process Editor Function Help

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Excel OFFSET Function

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: The SCAN Function

Home » IBM Cognos TM1 » Page 12

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: WildcardFileSearch

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Depending on your business process, you may need to load similar data from multiple files. One such example is loading headcount from different HR systems. This may be necessary if your company has gone through a merger. Another example is if you have forecast data coming from several managers in operations that don’t have access to IBM Planning Analytics. Instead of manually combining the files, you can use the WildcardFileSearch TurboIntegrator function to easily loop through all of the files.

The WildcardFileSearch function allows TurboIntegrator processes to search for files within a folder.  WildcardFileSearch requires 2 parameters: Path and PriorFileName. The Path can include ‘?’ and ‘*’ as wildcard characters. The ‘?’ is the wildcard for 1 character while ‘*’ is the wildcard for one or more characters. The PriorFileName tells the function were to begin the search. If this parameter is blank, the search begins with the first file in the Path. Below is an example of this function:

WILDCARDFILESEARCH( ‘C:\TM1Server\Files\TM1_*.csv’, ‘TM1_20220301.csv’)

In this example, the function will return the first filename that begins with “TM1_” and ends in “.csv” in the “C:\TM1Server\Files\” folder that occurs after the “TM1_20220301.csv” file.

IBM Planning Analytics, powered by TM1, is full of new features and functionality. Need advice? Our team here at Revelwood can help. Contact us for more information at info@revelwood.com. We post new Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks weekly in our Knowledge Center and in newsletters!

Read More IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Converting an Alias Back to the Element Name in TurboIntegrator

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Updating ODBC Connections for Multiple Processes

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: FILL Function

Home » IBM Cognos TM1 » Page 12

Facing an IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 Talent Shortage?

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There’s plenty of news about “The Great Resignation” or the talent shortage/war. In some cases, the challenge is not in finding someone, but in finding the right skills. This is particularly true for companies searching for people with IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 skills. There is a deep talent pool but tapping that talent can sometimes be expensive and resource intense. It’s a months-long journey.

You might consider choosing to go with a contractor or freelancer. This may initially sound like the quickest and easiest way to solve the problem… until you hit a wall with your procurement department. Often contractors and freelancers do not have the business set up that meets procurement’s requirements. Or, if that is not a problem, you can run into the challenge of having your TM1 contractor/freelancer disappear on you.

Revelwood can help! We have recently launched a Staff Augmentation service. Maybe your TM1 administrator is taking on a new role. Maybe your administrator will be out for a few months on parental leave. This is where you can easily work with one of our Planning Analytics / TM1 experts to fill that hole – however long you may need them.

Here are some recent examples of how and why companies using Planning Analytics / TM1 turned to Revelwood for staff augmentation:

  • A global manufacturing company had their TM1 administrator resign. Revelwood had a team member ready to go the following week. This allowed for a one-week knowledge transfer, followed by a smooth start.
  • A leading consumer product business was starting a major Planning Analytics project and needed significant staff augmentation to both maintain and redesign the system. A Revelwood team of developers was brought in to supplement their in-house team.
  • A Fortune 50 energy company was struggling to hire an internal Planning Analytics / TM1 developer.  They engaged a Revelwood team member who understood both the business needs and the technology needs to help prepare for their budget season.

Whether or not you’ve worked with us in the past, you’ll have access to experienced and proven Planning Analytics / TM1 developers and designers. We have 27 years of experience with TM1 – and will satisfy all of your procurement department’s requirements.

Think of us as the best team you have access to – experts ready to be called up when you need them!

Contact John Pra Sisto to learn more about our Staff Augmentation service.

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IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace Visualization Axis

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Did you know you are able to create custom axis labels for IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) visualizations? Below is a column visualization that shows periods on the x-axis and a net income amount on the y-axis. As you can see, a generic description appears for both titles.

PAW visualization axis

While this generic wording does properly define the axis, you may to change the wording of the titles to something more user friendly. 

While in “Edit” mode for your PAW book, click on your visualization then click “Properties” in the top right corner.

Within the “Properties” menu, click on the “Visualization” tab then expand the “Axis” section.

Scroll down until you see “Item axis title” and “Value axis title”.

The “Item axis title” corresponds with the x-axis, and the “Value axis title” corresponds with the y-axis. This may change based on the visualization selected. We can use this approach to create a more user friendly description on each axis such as to “Month” and “Net Income $”.

We now have custom axis labels. You are also able to customize the font, color, and orientation of these labels.

IBM Planning Analytics, powered by TM1, is full of new features and functionality. Need advice? Our team here at Revelwood can help. Contact us for more information at info@revelwood.com. We post new Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks weekly in our Knowledge Center and in newsletters!

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Refresh PAW Visualizations Automatically

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Visualization Value Labels

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Modeling Books

Home » IBM Cognos TM1 » Page 12

Introducing DataMaestro, the Data Orchestration Platform for IBM Planning Analytics / TM1

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We’ve just released a new product designed to make the lives of IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 systems administrators’ easier. DataMaestro is a solution for managing and moving data that saves Planning Analytics / TM1 users significant time and money by making it easier to manage data processing tasks with just a few simple steps. It reduces the need to create TurboIntegrator processes, which require developer-level scripting skills.

Previously DataMaestro was available only to Revelwood clients. We’re now offering it to any Planning Analytics / TM1 user. DataMaestro has earned many rave reviews from our clients.

“I have been an IBM Planning Analytics/TM1 user for many years and I wish DataMaesto was available years ago!” said Collin Duncan, senior director of FP&A, Extra Space Storage. “Moving data across all cubes is so efficient and makes my life so much easier. On a scale from 1-10, I give DataMaestro a 10.”

“DataMaestro has a great layout and is so intuitive,” added Theresa Alexopoulos, director of budgeting, Berkeley College. “It gives me a birds-eye view of what data movements need to be done. The Package History is easy to find, and I can see a complete list of processes – when they were run, how often and in what order. The email notification feature for scheduling Packages is one of my favorite features. I know immediately whether a Package ran successfully. Best of all, you can manage your data movements with just a few clicks. No more need for TI processes.”

Watch this short demo to see how DataMaestro enables you to:

  • Create a task (similar to a TurboIntegrator process)
  • Process data within a single cube or multiple cubes simultaneously via a single task
  • Make decisions about each dimension of cube data to process
  • Run tasks on the fly
  • Save tasks to reuse later, and more.

“For 27 years we have been offering best-in-class products and services for IBM Planning Analytics / TM1,” said Ken Wolf, CEO, Revelwood. “The original vision behind TM1 was to make the lives of financial analysts better and more enjoyable. Our vision for DataMaestro is to do the same for system administrators – reducing the time, cost and complexity involved in managing their Planning Analytics environments.”

DataMaestro is available for IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 in the cloud and on-premises.

Interested in learning more about DataMaestro? Join us for a 20-minute webinar on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at 1pm ET. Register here: https://bit.ly/3FWMQgJ

Read the DataMaestro press release.

Home » IBM Cognos TM1 » Page 12

Optimize your Business Processes for Planning, Reporting and Analysis

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When was the last time you examined – and optimized – your planning processes? Have you made adjustments over the last few years to accommodate changing office habits, work from home environments and mergers and acquisitions?

If your business is like most, it handled the disruptions of the last several years on the fly, making small tweaks to your CFO tech stack and just getting the work done. Now is the time to take a step back, think about what can work better, and develop a wish list of what you’d like your planning environment to do for you.

Revelwood is here to help you! We have a new Customer Care offering. It’s similar to our Performance Tune-Up, but instead of focusing on the technology (your IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 environment),  we examine, assess and make recommendations on your business processes for planning, analysis and reporting.

Our team of experts will work with you and look into:

  • Recent changes in your planning approach
  • Different departments or companies that may have different processes and how to align them
  • The level of complexity
    • Does your budget/forecast take too long?
    • Do you have the right amount of detail in your budget/forecast?
  • Items and topics for your wish list, such as new models and tasks you “never got around to.”

As a team, we’ll also examine any recent changes in your business and how your processes need to evolve with those changes. This might include:

  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Changes to your ERP or Chart of Accounts (COA)
  • Management changes
  • Changes in your work environment – remove vs in the office
  • Changes to your revenue planning approach
    • Growth percent vs. driver based
    • Fixed time period vs. rolling time

Our new service helps you to focus on the “big picture” for your IBM Planning Analytics / TM1 environment, while also fixing the aspects that have been ignored.

Interested in learning more? Drop John Pra Sisto an email and he’ll give you more details.

Home » IBM Cognos TM1 » Page 12

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Mekko Chart

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IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) offers many visualization options to allow you to show and analyze your data in creative ways. This includes standard chart types such as bar, line and pie. But it also includes some reports that are not always understood. One of these report types is a Mekko chart. 

A Mekko chart (also sometimes called a Marimekko chart) is used to extend a stacked column chart by using the width of each column to show the overall importance of that section.

The following stacked bar chart shows Units by State by Item:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Mekko Chart

It’s easy to see that the total amount of units sold in NY is very large when compared to the total amount of units in ME. But what if we wanted to also visualize how much larger the total of NY is compared to the other columns? This is where a Mekko chart can help. 

Here is the same set of data via a Mekko chart:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Mekko Chart

The Mekko chart still shows the breakdown of units by kit and it still shows the values for each column, but it adds a new metric by expanding the width of each column proportional to the overall percentage. In essence, this report is merging the concepts of a stacked column chart with the concepts of a pie chart.

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!

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