We finish off our 2 part series blog with 5 more Cognos TM1 tricks:

6.  LEVERAGING CONTROL CUBES FOR SECURITY – Control Cubes can be useful to view attribute or security information.  If migrating from Planning, it may even be possible to use an existing Excel spreadsheet to load security via a TI Process [into the Control Cube].

7.   CONFIRMING PROPER DIMENSION UPDATES -If a dimension, particularly a GL related dimension, is being updated via a TI Process, periodically open the dimension via the dimension editor and click All followed by a Hierarchy Sort.  Condense the top parent.  If the entire dimension doesn’t collapse or there are lone ‘n’ items visible, the dimension may not be updating properly.

8.  DEFINING RULES – Avoid using Aliases in Rules.  Yes, Rent is easier to understand in a rule than [Account] 7552 and TM1 can read an alias however an alias is more apt to be modified.  If Rent because Bldg Rent, the Rule is now broken.  Use comments to explain the purpose of the Rule e.g  #This rule calculates monthly rent (Account # 7552).

9.  USING A TEXT EDITOR LIKE NOTEPAD – The 9th of our TM1 tricks is to always use a text editor to copy Rules.  The TM1 Rule editor cannot read the smart quotes used by Word.

10. FIXING A CORRUPT RULES EDITOR – If your rules editor corrupts, try copying the rules to a text editor, delete the Rules [cube via Architect or Perspective], [re]creating the rules [cube via Architect or Perspectives] and copying the rules back from the text editor.

For more information on Cognos TM1 tricks or just TM1 in general, feel free to contact us a Sales@LodestarSolutions.com and to see part 1 of our Tricks from the field, click HERE.