Best Of
Sync App Graph Legend
PROBLEM
When I create a dynamic graph in the Anaplan App the elements sync just fine based upon user selection and list synchronization.
However the legend does not sync the same as the actual graph elements.
SOLUTION PROPOSAL
It would be great if elements identified in the graph legend synced the same as the actual items in the graph
PICTURE CONTEXT
In this pic the graph is only showing the items that the user selected. However you can see that the legend shows every dimensional element contained in the list. It would be great if the legend elements and the list items were the same.
Combo Grid with nested Line Items
The new Combo Grid feature in the Anaplan UX is fantastic and a long awaited enhancement, really want to thank the team for it massive effort! I've already redesigned all my dashboards to incorporate it, and the improvement in layout and flexibility and user experience has been substantial.
Current Limitation
One limitation I've encountered is the inability to configure line items along rows as a dimension (list). This restricts the use of combo grids in scenarios where line items need to be nested with a list, for example in my first module I have an Employee Input List and the line items nested in my rows to capture user inputs such as position title, if casual [tick] and person (optional), in my second module I have Employee Input List and the line items nested in my rows to capture user inputs such as IO level (award), work hours, person (optional) (blocked from input) to capture this data by Month.
In the current setup, combo grids do not support this configuration, which prevents me from using them in modules where line items are nested in rows. See screenshot below:
Impact
- Frequency: This limitation affects users by preventing a single seamless UX grid.
- Affected Roles: Business/end users
Proposed Solution
To address this, I suggest an enhanced configuration interface, perhaps a pop-up screen, that allows model builders (page builders) to map line items from one module to another similar to the list mappings. This would enable line items to behave like dimensions in rows, unlocking greater flexibility in combo grid design and with the button to display the second modules line items or not.
Value Added
- Enable more complex and user friendly dashboard layouts
- Reduce the need for synchronized scroll
- Improve the overall experience for business users and decision makers
Jonnyf
Data integration best practices — Event recording available!
Last month, we hosted a Community Challenge inviting members to share their best practices on data integrations. We provided both beginner and advanced prompts to encourage members to discuss how they move data in and out of Anaplan, share tips for smooth integrations, and inspire others in the Community.
Yesterday, we hosted an event to highlight the responses we received from the Community Challenge. Jon Ferneau (@JonFerneau), Data Integration Principal, shared his expert insights, recognized participants for their contributions, and presented key takeaways for practitioners along with call-to-action items for our Community to consider.
During the event, Jon gave a shout out to our Community Challenge participants, including @andrewtye @matthewreed @SunnyNafraz @Prajjwal88!
Watch the recording
Timestamps:
- Welcome — 0:00
- Guest host introductions and overview — 1:40
- Community Challenge recap presentation — 3:47
- Q&A — 23:35
- Closing — 42:54
A PDF of the presentation is available here:
Resources for Data Integration Best Practices
- OEG Best Practice: Data Integration Decision App
- OEG Best Practice: Data Hubs: Purpose and Peak Performance
- Getting Started with Anaplan APIs: What you need to know
- [Start Here] Anaplan APIs in a Nutshell
- Understanding Errors and Rejected Lines When Importing Data Via APIs
Questions? Leave a comment!
Combination Grid Enhancement - allow linkage of subsetted modules
Problem: Not able to combo modules within a Grid where you start with a module with a full list, then try to combo with a subsetted module of that same list.
Example: When creating a Combo Grid with a Properties module (full list dimension) and a Calculation module (subset of the same list dimension), you are unable to link those modules in a grid.
Currently, you can only combo them by starting with the subsetted module and linking the full-list dimensioned module, but the problem lies where you want specific properties in specific sections of the grid.
Existing solution: There are 2 solutions and neither benefit the performance of the model. I can either create a whole new Properties module by the subset. This option could nearly double the size I originally needed for a specific Properties module. Or I could move my Calculation module to the full list dimension, which again could negatively impact space and performance.
Enhancements Requested:
- Allow the ability to combo full-list modules with subsetted modules
- Allow the user to reorganize the Sections in which the modules show in the Combo Grid
October 2025 Spotlight: Community Boss Employees
This month, we’re highlighting the newest Community Boss Employees (CBEs) who joined the program in 2025! The Community Boss Employees program brings together top internal Anaplan experts who actively share their knowledge, support members, and elevate conversations across the Community.
Our CBEs bring fresh perspectives and deep expertise to the Community. They actively answer questions in forums, create valuable content, help shape Community Challenges, and present at events on specialized topics — strengthening collaboration and advancing collective knowledge across the Anaplan ecosystem
To help the Community get to know our new CBEs better, we asked each of them to choose one Community article they believe every member should read and share why it’s particularly impactful. Here is what they had to say!
Allison Slaught (@allison_slaught), Anaplan Intelligence Director – OEG
Why everyone should know this article: Combined grids is a transformative feature that improves the Anaplan user experience. Whether you’re building a new app or maintaining an existing one, this should be on your radar. As the name implies, it allows you to consolidate views from multiple modules into a single, unified grid.
Why I find it valuable: This feature delivers a powerful one-two punch: a more intuitive front-end and simplified back-end. I was able to experiment with it in early access, and the maintenance benefits alone were significant: fewer user filters to build and manage; less need for synchronized scrolling; redundant pages were consolidated or eliminated; and simplified training for new users due to intuitive design. It’s a worthwhile investment to incorporate into your roadmap to enhance existing applications and will quickly pay dividends in both user satisfaction and development time.
Elizabeth Schera (@ElizabethS), Director of Product Utilization & Adoption
End user triggering of workflow processes
Why everyone should know this article: I chose this article because it shows how you can connect Anaplan's modeling capabilities with the real-world business processes (workflow) they support. Even more than the math, workflows ARE the planning process. And, nearly every organization has processes — like launching new initiatives or approving headcount requests — that start with the planner and require structured approvals before being committed. This article demonstrates how to empower your end-users to initiate these actions directly within Anaplan, streamlining operations and ensuring governance is built right into the process.
Why it's valuable for you to read: Getting started on building your first Workflow can feel intimidating, but this guide provides a detailed, practical example covering both the model build and the workflow configuration from start to finish. This gives Workspace Administrators a concrete blueprint they can learn from and adapt to their own unique use cases. It’s the perfect starting point for anyone looking to demystify workflow and unlock its powerful capabilities to automate and control key business activities.
Etienne Waniart (@EtienneW), Principal Platform Adoption Specialist
Streamline hierarchy management with Polaris's new ITEMLEVEL and HIERARCHYLEVEL functions
Why everyone should know this article: Do you work with complex or irregular hierarchies in Anaplan? Then this article is a must-read! It introduces the new ITEMLEVEL and HIERARCHYLEVEL functions in the Polaris engine, which greatly simplifies hierarchy logic, especially helpful when working with ragged hierarchies without needing complicated workarounds.
Why it’s valuable for you to read: These functions make models cleaner, easier to maintain, and significantly more performant. If you design or manage hierarchical structures in Anaplan, this will save you time and help you streamline your logic while making your models more sustainable in the long term. No more need for workarounds using ratio summary methods!
Jan Sypkens (@jan_sypkens), Principal Platform Adoption Specialist
Jan recommended multiple Polaris articles.
Why everyone should read these articles and why it's valuable for you to check out: I recently rebuilt an airport capacity model in Polaris — a Classic model I originally developed in 2017. This was a personal challenge I set for myself to deepen my understanding of Polaris and ADO. In the process, I also discovered the added benefit of leveraging AI to generate artificial datasets that enhance the modeling construct.
Throughout the rebuild, several Anaplan Community articles proved particularly valuable to me, including:
- Anaplan Polaris – Understanding Blueprint Insights and Optimizing for Populated Space
- Anaplan Polaris – Blueprint Insights
- Anaplan Polaris – Populated Space
- Anaplan Polaris – Natural Dimensionality
- Unlocking the power of Polaris: A guide to efficient model building
- Iterative Development in Polaris (ALM)
- Moving a model from Classic to Polaris
Jon Ferneau (@JonFerneau), Data Integration Principal
OEG Best Practice: Imports and exports and their effects on model performance
Why everyone should know this article: Data integration is an integral part of all Anaplan modeling. Ensuring that you have the proper integrations setup can greatly improve your planning experience and build trust in the underlying data that drives your decision making. This best practice article highlights the most important concepts to consider when designing your integration strategy and is a must-read for all Anaplan model builders and IT teams alike.
Why it's valuable for you to read: If you focus on implementing these basic structures and ideas, you will have implemented efficient processes that limit model downtime for end users. Following data integration best practices also make it much easier for your organization to manage and troubleshoot potential data issues, while also making it quicker to build net new integration pipelines into your planning models to support use case growth.
Julien Froment (@julien_froment), Principal Platform Adoption Specialist
Guiding users through the UX best practices — Event recording available!
Why everyone should watch this recording: In the past, we’ve already shared best practices around UX. However, this event recording takes it further — it showcases excellent examples that can truly inspire UX design. To me, UX is not just about technical functionalities — it’s where process, storytelling, and features come together.
This video captures that perfectly, offering strong examples we can learn from and build upon. As Page Builders or end users, it’s worth taking the time to explore this video and see how you can leverage the full potential of the UX.
Why it's valuable for you to check out: It’s valuable because it brings UX to life — showing how thoughtful design can transform user experience. It’s a great source of inspiration for anyone looking to make their pages more intuitive and impactful. Thanks, @ElizabethS and @seb_mcmillan — this event recap is brilliant.
Seb McMillan (@seb_mcmillan), Principal Platform Adoption Specialist
Anaplan Polaris: A deeper dive into the Polaris Engine and model building techniques
Why everyone should know this article: No one should even think about building in Polaris without reading this first — the information here will help you save hours of work.
Why it’s valuable for you to read: Polaris has a number of key differences in implementation approach to Classic and you shouldn't just jump in and hope for the best. Best practice is evolving but this reflects our real world experience in working with the hundreds of models our customer have built.
Theresa Reid (@TheresaR), Architecture & Performance Director
Iterative Development in Polaris
Why everyone should read this article and why it's valuable for you to check out: If I had to choose one I would shamelessly plug my own article, Iterative Development in Polaris. I think this article is important for all Polaris model builders, as it outlines the different approach that should be used when building in Polaris and why. This approach doesn’t feel “natural” for Classic model builders but following it allows for better learning, quick and efficient model building as well as guidance on when and how to do optimization.
…..
We hope you enjoyed getting to know our CBEs and checking out their recommended articles and recordings in this month’s Community Member Spotlight! Share your thoughts in the comments below, and feel free to share your favorite Community articles!
Want to learn more about our Community Member Spotlight series? Check out this post.
Do you know someone in the Community who you think should be featured in a Community Member Spotlight? We want to hear about it — please nominate them here.
becky.leung
Ability to save views with Zeros Suppressed in Polaris
In as much detail as possible, describe the problem or experience related to your idea. Please provide the context of what you were trying to do and include specific examples or workarounds:
Within Polaris there is the ability to suppress cells with zeros values within the module or grid of the UX but currently there is a limitation where these setting cannot be saved. This necessitates usage of filters to limit the number of cells within saved views whereas the ability to save this suppression would natively address many use cases.
How often is this impacting your users?
Within the UX, users must enable suppression on each card and there is not currently a means for the builder to easily curate an experience where zeros are automatically suppressed from view.
This also impacts model builders when they are working with module to module import actions where the cell count of the view exceeds the allowable limit. This introduces the need for filtering which can have performance implications and increases the collateral needed to support the processes. An ability to save the view with suppression enabled would eliminate the increase speed of development and ideally be more performative.
Who is this impacting? (ex. model builders, solution architects, partners, admins, integration experts, business/end users, executive-level business users)
Model Builders and End Users
What would your ideal solution be? How would it add value to your current experience?
Similar to the export functionality (omit empty rows), I would like the ability to omit empty rows/suppress zero values on saved views. This may be an additional option in the Save As dialogue or merely saving the parameters as applied within the module which is consistent with how saving a view works for any parameter other than the suppress zero.
Additionally within the UX, I would like the ability to suppress zeros as part of the View configuration. This would allow for the default view presented to users to exclude zero values without requiring intervention on their part. Ideally users are then able to "un-suppress" or "show" blank rows if they would like to view all intersections (the inverse of the current suppress behavior).
Please include any images to help illustrate your experience.
Nex UX - Compare more than one data series in a Scatter Graph
Currently I can only compare one set of data in the Scatter Plot graphs. However, it would be useful to compare different data series, as that would allow me to plot different trendlines and compare the expected performance of different scenarios. Otherwise the functionality of the new tool could be very limited.
rodolfo_hr
Management Reporting - Undo/Redo buttons
Raising for @EmmaPF
In management reporting can we get an undo button? Allows you to undo accidents made during editing
ClaireL
New Module Experience - Modules Search Bar
In as much detail as possible, describe the problem or experience related to your idea. Please provide the context of what you were trying to do and include specific examples or workarounds:
It is not possible to search for modules in the new modules (Beta) experience. This is something that exists in the current one.
How often is this impacting your users?
When model builders wish to search for modules or filter down in the new Modules experience.
Who is this impacting? (ex. model builders, solution architects, partners, admins, integration experts, business/end users, executive-level business users)
Model builders and SAs.
What would your ideal solution be? How would it add value to your current experience?
A search bar at the top to filter by module name or any criteria which is in the columns.
Please include any images to help illustrate your experience.
Accessible by design: Our new accommodations for certification exams
Taking a proctored exam can be intimidating, even for the most seasoned professionals. While certification validates a learner’s skills and expertise, the exam environment itself can sometimes pose unnecessary barriers.
Our goal is to test your ability, not your endurance. That’s why we’ve made significant updates to make our exam experience more inclusive and less stressful. You can now utilize a range of accommodations, including extended time, assistive technology, comfort items, and access to resources like Anapedia, to create an environment that helps you perform your best.
The goal of the recent modifications we championed was simple but meaningful: to ensure that Anaplan certification exams focus on measuring skills and knowledge, not how well someone navigates a test under pressure. By introducing thoughtful accommodations into the standard exam experience, we’re creating a more inclusive, equitable, and learner-centered certification journey.
Why these modifications matter
We know that a proctored environment can create discomfort, distractions, and stress. Our vision is to make sure that every learner, regardless of their personal circumstances or needs, can approach the exam with confidence and focus on demonstrating what they know.
The changes are designed to minimize avoidable friction during the exam process, support accessibility, and ensure that we uphold the integrity of the certification while honoring diverse learning and testing needs.
What’s now part of the standard certification exam experience
The following accommodations are now available to all learners taking an Anaplan certification exam:
- Access to specific Anaplan learning resources like Anaplan Planual, Anaplan Community, and Anaplan Anapedia.
- Physical whiteboard usage is allowed with clear security protocols: no pen and paper, and the board must be shown erased before ending the session.
- IMPORTANT: Please note that pens and paper are not allowed during exam taking to prevent any questions from leaking and to protect the integrity of the exam.
- Extended exam times for those who need more processing time
- Use of medical devices, ensuring health needs don’t become barriers
- Music or ambient sounds in the background to help ease anxiety
- Leniency with eye-tracking requirements, recognizing natural movements and accessibility needs
- Breaks as needed
- Comfort items (will be coordinated with the proctor during exam taking)
- Comfort or service animals to support learners with disabilities
- Drinks and water, so staying hydrated isn’t a privilege
- Permission to move around/stretch, reducing physical strain during long sessions
- Screen reader or text-to-speech support for those who benefit from auditory processing
- Assistive technology such as magnifiers, dictation tools, or alternative input devices
Putting learners first while protecting exam integrity
Each accommodation was carefully considered to balance accessibility and security. This ensures that candidates have the flexibility they need without compromising the credibility of their certification.
This change isn’t just operational; it’s cultural. It reflects our commitment to meeting learners where they are, fostering trust in the certification process, and empowering every candidate to succeed based on merit.
Looking ahead
These modifications are just the beginning. As we continue to evolve the certification program, we’ll keep listening to feedback, removing barriers, and driving improvements that make the experience fair, inclusive, and supportive for all.
Certification should reflect what someone knows, not how well they adapt to discomfort. And now, we’re one step closer to making that a reality.
RanaC