Written by Mike Bernaiche, July 28th 2022
It is that time again! Providing you everything new in planning analytics workspace version 77 and 78. As most of you know, IBM releases a new version of planning analytics workspace about once a month. Workspace version 77 was released in June and version 78 was just released on July 13. I will break down everything new in planning analytics workspace version 77 and 78 below.
Version 77
Enable Feature to Use New Experience for Explorations – a toggle switch to try out the new explorations experience is in version 77 in the administration area. This feature will be standard in version 78 and you can find more details further down this page.
Update Text Properties for Explorations – you can now change the text properties for columns, rows, and data cells. Each area has their own properties so you can set individual text properties for each. More information can be found here: Changes to text properties for explorations - IBM Documentation.
Select the Sets that Display in Dimension Drop Down – using the new experience you can limit the number of sets that appear in a drop down. You are able to select up to 20 sets.
Upload Files to Planning Analytics Database with Action Button - You can now upload a file through an action button to use in a process. This can be helpful if you want to, for example, import data from a specific file into a view you are using.
File Manager – a new tool has been added to your Planning Analytics toolbox called file manager. File manager is only available in the workbench. To access the file manager, click on the database in workbench and find the file manager option. You can do the following with file manager:
- Upload a file, or multiple files at once
- Delete a file, or multiple files at once
- Create folders
- Organize uploaded files into folders
- Delete folders
- Download files
- Refresh files
Expand and Collapse Regions in the Process and Rules Editor –
View the TM1 Database Version – Admins only can view the TM1 database version in the admin area. Simply click on the database in the admin area and go to configuration and look towards the bottom of the screen.
Auto Complete in the Search Pane – First, if you aren’t using the learning area you are missing out. Prior to version 77 you could type in what you are looking for and PA would return tons of helpful information. Now, with auto complete, the learn pane helps you find what you are looking for. Have you ever googled something and noticed google is being helpful trying to auto complete what you are searching for? Well, IBM has added that similar feature. Simply start typing something and let IBM help you finish it.
There are a number of other items new in version 77. Please see this link for a complete list.
2.0.77 - What's new, June 2, 2022 - IBM Documentation
Version 78
Rules Must be Created and Maintained in Modeling Workbench – Starting with Planning Analytics Workspace version 78, all rules must be created and maintained in the modeling workbench.
New Experience View now available on Modeling Workbench – This will now apply to all existing views and new ones. The new experience provides a more efficient and easier way to navigate experience when working with explorations and the set editor. There is a lot to unpack with the new experience and everything can be found here: New experience view now on modeling workbench - IBM Documentation.
Approvals and Rejections in Plans plus Improved Email Notifications – Approvals and rejections are now (finally) available in the planning process. In addition, improvements to email notifications and the overall submission process make it easier to work with plans. When you create a plan, you can now add approvers for each contribution. These approvers can approve or reject the submissions.
Event triggered emails are now sent to relevant users in a plan when any of the following occur.
You also have a new area to track submission and rejections with a logging screen.
Updated Menus for rows, columns, and data cells - There is no change in how the menu options function, but the new design includes usability improvements. Several menu options were renamed:
- Create calculations is now Calculation options
- Format values is now Format
- Conditional format is now Conditional rules
Several menu options are now grouped so you can easily see all related options together. For example:
- All sorting options are now under Sort
- Word wrapping options are under Text format
- Show totals options are under Show totals
Adjust Page Size in Books – You can now adjust the sizes of explorations in books with the new zoom feature.
Update to Planning Analytics Local Install on Windows Server 2016 - In Planning Analytics Workspace Local version 2.0.78 and later, the Docker service file is no longer bundled with the installation kit. In previous versions, Docker is a prerequisite for installing Planning Analytics Workspace Local on Windows Server 2016.
When you now install Planning Analytics Workspace Local on Windows Server 2016, the installation script looks for Docker and if an existing version is not found, displays an error. To resolve the error and continue the installation process, you need to download Mirantis Container Runtime.
Before Planning Analytics Workspace Local 2.0.78, the installation script used the Docker file that was bundled with Planning Analytics Workspace to continue installation if Docker was not found on your system.
Enable Email Notifications in Planning Analytics Local - Planning Analytics Workspace Local now supports both SMTP and SendGrid email services. For instructions on how to set up, please see: Enable email notifications in Planning Analytics Workspace Local - IBM Documentation.
Depreciation Notice for Classic Experience – In August Planning Analytics Workspace 79 will be released and the classic experience will no longer be available.
For all items in release 78 please check out 2.0.78 - What's new, July 13, 2022 - IBM Documentation.
Summary
As you can see Planning Analytics Workspace version 77 and 78 has brought many enhancements and improvements. IBM continues to improve this excellent product. I will be writing a blog in the coming weeks on everything coming to applications and plans and trust me, you will want to read it! We are here to help you with your upgrades. Please reach out to us at services@lodestarsolutions.com. Also we have upgrade bundles that can save you lots of money. For more information check out this blog from Lodestar Solutions, Solving the IBM Cognos Upgrade Challenge - Lodestar Solutions.
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