September 24th, 2020 

Input Data

Inputting data into Planning Analytics Workspace is like other PA components.  First and foremost, the cell or cells you want to input in must be writable.  This means there can be no rules in the cell or any other barriers to entry.  Once set to input data, you can input in each cell or input in the rollup to breakback equally across all the cells below.  See the example screen shots below.  I simply entered 1000 in the total year cell and the input info is blue.  Once I hit enter you will see the number turn black and spread equally across the months.  Once you hit enter that data has been committed to the cube and you can move on to your next input.

Spread Data

Now that we have talked about data input, let’s talk about spreading data.  As stated above, you can enter in the parent level and it will auto spread equally across the children.  However, this may or may not make sense in your input.  PA offers several different spread options that include:

• Proportional - The Proportional spread method distributes a specified value among cells proportional to existing cell values.
• Equal Spread - The Equal Spread method distributes a specified value equally across the cells in a view.
• Repeat - The Repeat method repeats a specified value across cells in a view.
• Clear - The Clear method clears values from cells in a view.
• Percent Change - The Percent Change method multiplies the current cell values by a specified percentage.
• Repeat Leaves - The Repeat Leaves method copies a specified value to the leaves (children) of a consolidation.
• Equal Leaves - The Equal Leaves spreading method distributes a specified value equally across all leaves of a consolidated cell.
• Straight-Line - The Straight-Line data spreading method populates cube cells by linear interpolation between two specified endpoints.
• Growth Percent - The Growth Percent method takes an initial value as a starting point and sequentially increments all values in a selected range of cells by the specified percentage.
• Relative Proportional - Use the Relative Proportional spread method to spread values to the leaves of a consolidation cell proportional to the leaves of a reference cell.
• Relative Percent Adjustment - The Relative Percent Adjustment method spreads values to the leaves of a consolidation by applying a percentage adjustment to the leaves of a reference cell.

The result is a spread of 8,000 units based on the 3G, 32GB phone in the line above.  The system spread the 8,000 units based on the spread of the 10,258 units. 

Other Tips for Data Entry

Since we have covered input and spread data in Planning Analytics Workspace, it is time to provide some additional tips and info on data entry. 

Hold Cell – to hold a value in a cell that you do not want changed, you simply right click on choose hold.  There may be times where you do not want a particular month to change but want the rest of the months adjusted by a percent or dollar value.  Simply hold the cell and make your changes.  To release the hold, right click and choose release hold.

Show Cell Values as – Right click and select, show cell values as, to change the view of the exploration.  You have several different options as shown below in the screenshot.  This is an easy way to change the analysis and gain more insights into your budget or data.

Trace Cell – Want to know where that number comes from?  Simply right click and choose trace cell and have your answers.

Comments – From time to time you may have a need to put a comment on a cell, like in Excel.  Right click and choose comment and add in your information that you want others to see.  Others have the option to read and add their own comments based on your comment.

Planning Analytics Video Series

Recently, Lodestar created a Planning Analytics video series that goes through Planning Analytics Workspace and Planning Analytics for Excel.  It includes overviews, modeling tips, input and spread options, sandboxes, virtual hierarchies, an admin overview and a how to on how to promote from development to production.  Stay tuned to our blog for new info and links each week.

Summary