Best Of
Re: Can someone help explain what is the difference between a fake version list and native lists?
It is just another list that you create under General Lists, but happens to be called Scenarios or Version List or whatever you want to call it. The members ste likely Actual, Budget, Plan, and/or Forecast.
Re: Meet Certified Master Anaplanner Jose Maya
@josemaya Impressive CMA account. Congratulations - and, thanks for sharing your story. Hope we see some of those statistical methods you mentioned! Be well.
Re: Allow model builders to differentiate models by changing the color of the "Anaplan" blue header bar
Passed your L2 exam? Now what?!
Author: Hillary Sich is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Consultant Manager at Allitix.
P.L.A.N.S. is the underlying guide to building a good model — and following these model building best practices will insure you're building the best model!
If you've passed your L2 test and are diving into work, here are some additional hints I've learned to keep your Solution Architect happy.
Use notes!
- Lists: Describe what the list is used for
- Modules: Describe what the module does, relationship to other modules, and unique functionality
- Actions: Add more details than in the Action title
- Functionality
- If temporary, when to remove from the model
- Run frequency
- Functionality
- Line items
- Use in development to copy formulas to as a temporary holding spot when troubleshooting
- Line item specific functionality
- Development notes
- Use in development to copy formulas to as a temporary holding spot when troubleshooting
Adding line items
- Format before function — Always set the line item format before adding a formula.
- Set the summary method to NONE as a best practice, then update as necessary for model function. Keeps cell count optimal by only using sum method when needed.
Clean up after yourself!
(The model is not your childhood bedroom!)
- Remove unused line items
- Check to see if the line item is referenced by any other line item in the model
- If not, check to see if the line item is used as a filter in a dashboard
- A little tedious, but worth the effort depending on the number of cells in the line item
- If not, check to see if the line item is used as a filter in a dashboard
- Check to see if the line item is referenced by any other line item in the model
- Organize actions immediately — you will forget what the action is for by tomorrow!
- Use consistent naming conventions
- i.e. – Update list from DH view (this tells the next model builder what the action is used for)
- i.e. – Update list from DH view (this tells the next model builder what the action is used for)
- Organize ALL actions into a process
- Use a numbering system to indicate which actions belong to which process
- Process: 1 Update from Data Hub
- Actions: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 with descriptions
- Process: 1 Update from Data Hub
- Use a numbering system to indicate which actions belong to which process
- Delete any unused actions
- Saved views
- Delete unused saved views as you go
- If unsure if a saved view is used in the model, do not delete!
- Name saved views used in testing with “test” in the name to easily identify the view for later clean up
- Delete unused saved views as you go
- Use consistent naming conventions
Did you get the result you expected?
(Troubleshoot along the way.)
- Dashboard early and often — this is the best way to see results from the eyes of the end user
- Drill down is your friend
- Sometimes the best way to see the error in a formula is by looking at the underlying data, not the formula
- Sometimes the best way to see the error in a formula is by looking at the underlying data, not the formula
- It is all about the dimensions (when it is not about the data)
- Triple check the dimensions referenced in a module/line item to insure all dimensions have a match or a Lookup
Those pesky zeros
Zeros in source data do not overwrite corresponding values in Anaplan.
- Consider a clear import action before importing new data
- Always use line items formatted as “No Data” for clear actions. These lines do not take up any space in the model and accomplish the goal of erasing all existing values in the target module.
Conclusion
In conclusion, don’t get discouraged when you stub your toe in development. Anaplan is a powerful tool with functionality that extends well beyond what is taught in L1 and L2 model building training. Keep learning more each day. The best advice is to reach out for help rather than spinning on a formula. Use the Anaplan Community, Partner resources, and resources within your company to keep moving your knowledge forward!
Any tips you would add? Happy building!
Re: Import Shipping Expenses into OTH01 Module
If you get to the point where you took your first screenshot and switch to the OTH01 .... Line Items mapping tab have you checked to see whether all of the columns are mapped? To avoid errors, if you are leaving a column unmapped, it needs to be set to "Ignored"
Re: 3.3.5.3 Check Your Work - issue with beginning inventory numbers - can anyone please help!
How does your "not first week of calendar" values look like. I assume that's problem in your module that your if else clause never hit's the point where it should take beginning inventory from DAT01 module
Re: Boolean Filter for Salary Rank function
Great use case!! Adding to @VIGNESH.M point, I did something similar, where I only wanted the top department for each category. Here's how it looked.
This is the final chart. I only want to see the top group in each category.
Here's the module that powers the grid: Note I use rank but at the category level, so each category gets its own ranking of groups. Then I just use the Booleans, as you suggested.
Re: Action/Process Run History
I just posted a "How To" article which describes one way to capture Action activity: Community perspective: Monitor activity in your mo... - Anaplan Community