IBM Cognos TM1

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

September 26, 2023 by Lee Lazarow

Do you know how to use IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) to access error logs from your TurboIntegrator (TI) processes? It’s as simple as a single click!

To access your logs, right-click on the Processes node in the workbench and select the option for Error logs.

Once selected, a popup window will appear with a list of the existing logs. This window allows you to sort the list by process name or by date created.

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, 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 & Tricks: Adding Images to Charts

September 12, 2023 by Ivan Cepero

Charts are an excellent way to use visuals to convey information. Did you know that you can increase the effect of charts in Excel by adding custom images?

Consider this plain pie chart.

Chart, pie chart

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We can insert a corporate logo to give the chart a greater visual appeal and branding.

1 – Click on the chart to select it

2 – Right click and select “Format Chart Area”

3 – Select “Picture or texture fill”

A screenshot of a phone

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4 – Select “Insert” to insert an image from your computer or “Clipboard” to insert a previously copied image

When clicking “Insert” you will see a pop up letting you pick various image sources.

Text

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5 – You can further refine the options by having the image tile, offset or scale.

Here is the updated chart with the Revelwood logo applied, tiled and set with transparency level 80%:

You can also apply custom images to a specific data point (e.g. a pie slice in this example) by initially selecting the data point instead of the entire chart, then following the steps outlined above.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Counting Hidden Rows in Excel

August 22, 2023 by Ivan Cepero

With a clever combination of formulas, you can have Excel calculate the number of hidden rows in a data set. This trick will work on both manually hidden rows and autotfilter hidden rows.

There are two ways to count hidden rows, depending on how your data is structured. Both methods use the AGGREGATE function.

The syntax of AGGREGATE is:

=AGGREGATE(function_num,options,array)

Where

Function_num is one of the following:

Function_num	Function
1	AVERAGE
2	COUNT
3	COUNTA
4	MAX
5	MIN
6	PRODUCT
7	STDEV.S
8	STDEV.P
9	SUM
10	VAR.S
11	VAR.P
12	MEDIAN
13	MODE.SNGL
14	LARGE
15	SMALL
16	PERCENTILE.INC
17	QUARTILE.INC
18	PERCENTILE.EXC
19	QUARTILE.EXC

And options are one of the following:

Option	Behavior
Default	Ignore nested SUBTOTAL and AGGREGATE functions
1	Ignore hidden rows, nested SUBTOTAL and AGGREGATE functions
2	Ignore error values, nested SUBTOTAL and AGGREGATE functions
3	Ignore hidden rows, error values, nested SUBTOTAL and AGGREGATE functions
4	Ignore nothing
5	Ignore hidden rows
6	Ignore error values
7	Ignore hidden rows and error values

We will be leveraging option 5: Ignore hidden rows

Consider the example data set:

Application, table, Excel

Description automatically generated

Blank cells merit special treatment and will determine which method you use.

No Blanks in Data

If your data will have no blank (zeros are ok) like column D in the sample data set, you can use this formula to count the hidden rows:

=AGGREGATE(2,4,Table1[Feb])-AGGREGATE(2,5,Table1[Feb])

Blanks in Data

Table

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If there are blanks in the data (as in column C), you will need to add a helper column in Excel. The helper column will use AGGREGATE for the cell in the same row and this converts a blank into a 0. Use the same formula as the first method but use the helper column instead of the original data.

=AGGREGATE(2,4,G3:G7)-AGGREGATE(2,5,G3:G7)

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Popular Video Tips, Part 2

August 15, 2023 by Revelwood

We’re continuing to highlight some of our most popular video tips & tricks for IBM Planning Analytics.

Creating Buttons for TI Scripts

In this video, Revelwood’s FP&A Technology Director, Lee Lazarow, demonstrates how to create a button in Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) for a TurboIntegrator (TI) script. Creating buttons like this will simplify tasks for your end users and create a much better end user experience.

You’ll learn how to go into properties, determine the button target, make that into a process, and then select and choose that process. The features in PAW allow you to select if you want prompts to appear and what controls you have over those prompts.

Formatting Views in PAW

Watch this video to see Lee demonstrate how to format views in Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW). You’ll learn how to manipulate your views by:

Making columns wider
Changing row heights
Changing fonts and text styles
Adding shading, and more

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Performance Monitoring

August 8, 2023 by Revelwood

IBM Planning Analytics contains a series of Performance Monitoring Control Cubes that let you record performance statistics for various aspects of your environment.

In Perspectives, this feature was enabled by right-clicking on the name of the server. But did you know that you can also control this in Planning Analytics Workspace via the tm1s.cfg control settings?

To enable the monitoring, go to the Administration area and then select the option for Databases. Once you have selected your database, click on “configuration.”

The performance monitor settings are found within the Administration settings and the Default sub area.

Once enabled (be aware that there may be an impact on performance when you use this), you will be able to use the results to help analyze your server performance.

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

July 25, 2023 by Marc Assenza

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.

Here is an example of a simple view that shows Actual Finance expenses by Company.

By default, an expansion of the Finance department would show an expansion for all three companies.

A new icon has been added that will allow you to determine how you want to expand and collapse the elements within your view.

When clicked, you will have two options: Symmetrical and Asymmetrical.

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If we change the approach to Asymmetrical and then expand the departments within company 2, only a subset of the full view is expanded.

This approach will allow you to tighten your analysis and let your users focus on a subsection of your view while still easily having the ability to see the big picture.

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: Excel’s Camera Tool

July 11, 2023 by Ivan Cepero

The Linked Picture tool (aka Camera tool) is a little-known feature in Excel that you can use to give your dashboards and reports greater flexibility. In summary, the linked image is an image that is connected to the source data and updates automatically. You can resize and move the image without affecting the underlying source data.

To create a linked picture:

1 – Select the source area

2 – Copy the area

3 – Select another empty cell (this will be where you will paste the image)

4 – Select Paste Special > Linked Picture

Graphical user interface, application

Description automatically generated

Excel will paste a picture that is linked to the original source area. You can verify the linkage by selecting the linked picture and looking at the formula bar, it will have the addresses of the source range.

Any changes applied to the source data will be reflected in the linked picture. This includes data updates, formatting changes, conditional formatting updates, objects (e.g., icons, charts, etc.) placed in the data source.

The linked image can be resized and moved into a report/dashboard for placement irrespective of column width or row height limitations.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Headcount Analysis

June 27, 2023 by Revelwood

Did you miss our recent webinar on headcount analysis? Here’s a high-level recap of what we covered. In short, IBM Planning Analytics is a powerful, flexible tool for headcount analysis.

Headcount analysis is a critical component of any organization’s workforce planning and management strategy. Headcount analysis helps organizations understand their staffing requirements, analyze performance metrics, and identify areas of inefficiency that can be addressed through better HR practices. IBM Planning Analytics provides powerful capabilities for headcount analysis. In this blog post, we will explore headcount analysis with IBM Planning Analytics and discuss key features and benefits of this solution.

Watch the webinar here!

IBM Planning Analytics enables organizations to create sophisticated headcount models that can track a wide range of metrics related to employee performance, retention rate, demographics, compensation, and benefits. With Planning Analytics, organizations can analyze trends in headcounts, understand factors driving variations in headcounts, and identify opportunities to optimize their workforce. For example, you can use Planning Analytics to compare headcounts across different geographies or business units and to identify trends in staffing changes over time.

The solution provides a flexible and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for HR teams and other stakeholders to analyze headcount data. They do not need to be Planning Analytics power users. Planning Analytics includes a variety of pre-built dashboards, reports, and visualizations that enable users to explore and collaborate on data. Users can drill down into specific data points, filter data based on different criteria, and customize their views to suit their needs. The solution also includes a built-in report writer that enables users to create customized reports with ease.

IBM Planning Analytics integrates seamlessly with a variety of data sources, such as ERP and HR systems, to provide a holistic view of headcount data. This means that organizations can extract data from multiple sources and integrate it into a single model for analysis, without having to rely on complex data transformations or manual data entry. This integration capability also ensures that headcount data is accurate and up to date, which is essential for effective decision-making.

Additionally, IBM Planning Analytics provides advanced analytics features such as predictive analytics, what-if scenarios, and trend analysis that enable organizations to forecast future headcount requirements, costs, and risks. Predictive analytics models can use historical data and machine learning algorithms to predict future staffing demands and highlight areas of staffing volatility. What-if scenarios enable organizations to simulate the impact of different staffing strategies, such as hiring freezes or increased retention efforts. And trend analysis enables organizations to understand the impact of different factors on headcount, such as seasonality, economic trends, and business cycles.

The solution also provides robust collaboration and workflow capabilities that enable HR teams to work together effectively and efficiently. The solution includes a variety of collaboration features such as commenting, task assignment, and alerts that enable teams to share information and coordinate efforts. The solution also includes powerful workflow features that enable teams to automate routine tasks and streamline processes, such as approvals and reviews.

Finally, IBM Planning Analytics provides security features that ensure the confidentiality and privacy of headcount data. The solution includes granular access controls, data encryption, and other security measures that enable organizations to protect their sensitive data. The solution is also compliant with a variety of security and privacy regulations, such as GDPR and HIPAA.

In conclusion, headcount analysis is a critical component of any organization’s workforce planning and management strategy. IBM Planning Analytics is an advanced analytics solution that provides powerful capabilities for headcount analysis. The solution enables organizations to create sophisticated headcount models, analyze trends in headcounts, and forecast future headcount requirements, costs, and risks. The solution also provides a user-friendly interface, integrates seamlessly with a variety of data sources, provides advanced analytics features, enables robust collaboration and workflow, and includes security features that ensure the confidentiality and privacy of headcount data. If you’re looking to optimize your workforce and improve your HR practices, IBM Planning Analytics is a solution worth exploring. Interested in learning how to leverage your investment in Planning Analytics by adding headcount analysis into your environment? Let us know – we can help!

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: Adding Images to Charts

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Counting Hidden Rows in Excel

No Blanks in Data

Blanks in Data

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Popular Video Tips, Part 2

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Performance Monitoring

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

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

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:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Excel’s Camera Tool

To create a linked picture:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Headcount Analysis

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

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IBM Cognos TM1

There are two ways to view a log file:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

No Blanks in Data

Blanks in Data

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

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:

To create a linked picture:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

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