IBM PAW

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

May 24, 2022 by Dillon Rossman Leave a Comment

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.

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!

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Defining a Process Within Existing Chores

September 14, 2021 by Revelwood Leave a Comment

There are times when you need to change a process within an existing chore in IBM Planning Analytics. The challenge is to understand what chores will be impacted by a change in a process. You could edit or remove and process and then manually look at each chore to determine if it will be impacted. But who has the time for that?

IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) offers an easier way to check which chores are affected by a specific process.

Watch this IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks video and our FP&A Technology Director, Lee Lazarow, will show you how easy it is to use PAW to see all the chores that can be impacted by a change.

You will learn how to:

Select a process
See an option to show all the chores where the process is used
Determine if you want to edit the chore or remove the process from the chore

Check back soon for new videos in our IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks series. Want to be notified of new videos? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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: PAW Explorations – Row & Column Headers

September 7, 2021 by Lee Lazarow Leave a Comment

Visualizations are used to provide an easy understanding of large data sets. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. However, what happens when you want to see the intricate details of your numbers? This is where IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) explorations come into the picture.

There are many formatting options for your numbers, but what about the headers? Do you want to simply see a set of rows and columns or do you want the ability to expand into the details? Do you want to differentiate values at different levels or do you want to use consistent formatting? Do you want your row headers to be defined differently than your column headers?

PAW makes it easy to create your preferred approach via some simple settings. The settings are found within the Exploration features of the Custom area. Within the area, settings exist for each of the four settings.

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

Here is an example of an exploration that differentiates accounts levels and allows for drilling down to the base level accounts but does not allow for any differentiation or drilling into the time periods.

This flexibility allows you to define both the look and usage of your explorations, thereby enhancing (and hopefully simplifying) the end user experience.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Scatter Chart vs Bubble Chart

July 20, 2021 by Lee Lazarow Leave a Comment

A scatter chart is used to show relationships within your data. This type of chart is great to see patterns and groupings over a large set of values. A bubble chart is also used to show relationships and it also great to see patterns. So what is the difference between the two types of charts?

A scatter chart is used to show the correlation of two data sets that have different ranges of values. The IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) example below shows the correlation of revenue and gross profit.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Scatter vs Bubble

The values associated with gross profit range from approx. 50,000 to 250,000. The values associated with revenue range from approx. 350,000 to 850,000. The scatter chart allows you to put these two different data sets onto the same chart and therefore see patterns. In this case, we see a positive correlation between larger revenue and larger profit … thereby telling us that our indirect costs are somewhat symmetrical to our direct costs.

But what if we also want to know how the number of units impacts these numbers? This cannot be done on a simple two dimensional chart, but it can be done by adjusting the size of the dots within the chart. This adjustment approach is the purpose of a PAW bubble chart.

Here is the same set of data with the inclusion of units:

In both situations you can see the correlation in the data by looking at the patterns. However, the bubble chart also gives you information on the units by adjusting the size of the dots. This gives us another positive correlation between larger unit sales and larger revenue … thereby telling us that we may have the opportunity to introduce regional pricing.

As you can see, the type of chart makes a difference when reviewing your data. So how do you decide which chart to use? The simple answer is to ask yourself how many details do you want to see at once? Are you looking for two correlations or more? As long as your picture answers that question, you can never go wrong!

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) Marker Shape

July 13, 2021 by Lee Lazarow Leave a Comment

A line chart can either be a simple line or it can include markers for each data point. Most people associate a marker as a simple dot, but did you know that IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) allows you to configure the shape of the markers?

This is done by enabling the property called “Show markers’ and then defining a value for the property called “Marker Shape.” Both of these settings are found within the Chart settings of the Visualization area.

IBM Planning Analytics Workspace Marker Space

In addition to a circle, PAW offers a variety of shapes that you can use on your chart.

IBM Planning Analytics Workspace Marker Shape

This flexibility allows you to customize your line charts and enhance your end user experience.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Pie Chart Sizing

June 22, 2021 by Lee Lazarow Leave a Comment

Did you know that IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) allows you to “split” your pie chart widget to define how much of the space is allocated to the legend and how much of the space is allocated to the chart?

While in edit mode, you can view and modify the split by moving your mouse over the widget. You will then see a bar appear that can be used to resize the split.

Here is an example of a chart with a legend:

Pie Chart Sizing in IBM Planning Analytics

Here is the same chart with my mouse hovering in the legend area of the widget:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips: Pie Chart Sizing

And here is the result of dragging the bar up:

IBM Planning Analytics Tricks: Pie Chart Sizing

You can see that the chart is now larger since less area was allocated to the legend.

Interested in learning more about charts and graphs in IBM Planning Analytics Workspace? Watch our webinar, “Best Practices When Using IBM Planning Analytics Workspace Charts.”

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace Tab Icons

June 15, 2021 by Lee Lazarow Leave a Comment

Have you ever created an IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) book and wanted to include images within each tab? PAW version 57 introduced settings that allow you to control details about the tabs. Some of these settings allow you to insert icons into the tab name. This is done via two steps.

The first step is to define the icon you want to use. This setting is found within the Individual Tab Properties and is defined independently for each tab.

An icon can be used in addition to the text or it can be used as a replacement. Here are examples of tabs that show text-only, text-with-icon, and icon-only:

The second setting defines where the icons will be positioned in relation to the text. This setting is found within the Dashboard Properties and is defined once for the entire book.

Here is an example of a tab which uses red text, includes the light bulb icon (called “idea”) and has the icon located above the title:

These new settings give you more control of the tab details within your PAW books and can be used to further optimize your user experience.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Accessing Books

June 8, 2021 by Dillon Rossman Leave a Comment

Did you know that there are now two ways to access books in IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW)?

Previously, you could access books via the “Shared”, “Personal”, and “Users” folders in the bottom section of the home page.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Accessing Books

This option still exists but it looks a little different. As of PAW update 57, these folders are now located within the toolbar on the left of the home page. Simply select the folder you would like to access and a new pane containing its contents will be displayed.

IBM Planning Analytics Tips: Accessing Books

IBM Planning Analytics Tricks: Accessing Books

The new option is via the “Reports and Analysis” tile. Click on the tile and it will launch the new “Reports and Analysis” page. From here you can see any shared or personal books, as well as anything favorited or recently used.

Accessing Books in IBM Planning Analytics Workspace

Learn How To Access Books in IBM Planning Analytics

This new approach gives users multiple ways to quickly access books: via the new toolbar or via “Reports and Analysis” (where more detailed information and options are available).

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Filter in IBM Planning Analytics Workspace

May 4, 2021 by Lee Lazarow Leave a Comment

Have you ever wanted to show the top values within an IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) exploration? This can be done by creating a filter within your view.

Assume we start with a view that shows 2019 operating expenses by department:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Filter in PAW

We can look at the top 5 by right clicking on the column and selecting the option for “Top or bottom filter.”

Once selected, we can define the parameters as Top, 5, and Members.

The resulting filter will show you the 5 departments with the largest operating expense costs.

This can also be reversed to show the lowest values such as profit centers with the smallest amount of revenue.

This approach will help you quickly sort your data to help analyze the information in your model.

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

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Defining a Process Within Existing Chores

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

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Scatter Chart vs Bubble Chart

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) Marker Shape

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Pie Chart Sizing

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Planning Analytics Workspace Tab Icons

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Accessing Books

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Filter in IBM Planning Analytics Workspace

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

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