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Power BI - This is how we use it. Part 3: Use Case - Leveraging Power BI Service.
Now that you know the basics of the Power BI connector and how to set it up, let us move to a real use case; Why using Power BI Service could help you to get the most of the Power BI connector? The blocking nature of exports When a user performs an export, the model is blocked from usage (entering or manipulating data).…
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Power BI - This is how we use it. Part 2: Setup [Updated March 2022]
[Update: March 2022 - Limit increased to 5GB] In Part 2 of our Power BI - This is How We Use It series, we're diving into how to setup the Power BI connector. Need a refresher on the basics of Power BI? See Part 1. Ready? Let's start. Anaplan export setup Anaplan connector for Power BI supports Export actions to extract…
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Managing frequent structural changes during development
Imagine the following scenario: You need to make regular structural changes to a deployed model (for example, weekly changes to the switchover date). You can make these changes by setting revision tags in the development model. However, you also have a development cycle that spans the structural changes. What do you do?…
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Import and Automate Current Date Import to Anaplan Using Python
Connect or Python Summary As a supply chain Anaplan data integration modeler, you might be asked by your business partner to display actuals for elapsed periods and forecasts for unelapsed periods. If you are not using the current period, which must be manually updated by a workspace administer, and you want to automate…
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Balanced vs. unbalanced hierarchies
One of the foundational elements of any Anaplan model is hierarchical lists. When creating hierarchies there are two basic choices: balanced or unbalanced. In this article, we'll look at the differences between balanced and unbalanced hierarchies, areas where they behave differently in Anaplan, and some questions to…
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User list subsets—a workaround
Dealing with the Users list has been pretty straightforward with Anaplan. All the users with access to the model come up in the module when used as a dimension. The Users list is handy when we need to set up end user-specific filters but, unlike general lists, Anaplan does not give us the ability to create a subset of the…
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Organizing list subsets
The ordering of list subsets in Anaplan has always been an enigma to me, like a type of Anaplan acts in mysterious ways adage. I always thought, who am I to question the inner workings of our beloved platform in the cloud? In this article, I'll address the topic of organizing subsets. If you work like me by adding list…
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Modeling Video Series #1: Flexible Time Mapping
Anaplan models have pre-defined time settings that offer flexibility for scenarios such as: when fiscal and calendar timescales are both in the same model, tracking irregular weekly patterns, and rolling weekly forecasts. Watch this video for a detailed demo that walks you through setting up and modeling these various time…
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Modeling Video Series #3: Alternate Hierarchies
Anaplan model hierarchies follow a single structure where a parent rolls up to a single parent. Our flexible modeling structures allow you to map a child into a different hierarchy to meet your organization’s most unique planning and reporting needs. Watch this demo video to learn how our modeling techniques can create…
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Modeling Video Series #2: Signage Convention
With Anaplan, aggregation logic is additive to have a “natural” feel. For example, positive values are added to totals, while negative values are subtracted from said totals. However, there are some instances in which values that display as positive need to actually be subtracted from totals. Check out this demo video to…
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Leverage the dashboard import tool to migrate from Classic to UX
If your organization is currently utilizing a suite of classic dashboards, it is well worth looking to migrate your front end to the Anaplan UX. Not only will the modern, fresh looking presentation of the UX greatly enhance the experience for your end users right now, migrating will also provide you with the base from…
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Understanding Anaplan's UX with analogies, FAQs and best practices
There are a lot of questions being asked about Anaplan's latest UX (formerly NUX) and its usage. Although there are fantastic recordings available on Community and enough material on Anapedia, the goal of this article is to provide valuable detail in the form of FAQs and analogies to support faster ramp-up for Anaplanners…
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Version Settings as Production Data
After the November 14th platform update, Switchover, Edit From, Edit To, and Notes will no longer be updated via an ALM sync. Spoke models will need to be updated individually via an import or the Anaplan UI. The most optimal way to manage version settings going forward is by setting up module imports from a hub model.…
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Integrate Anaplan with Siri and iOS shortcuts
We now live in a connected world, and Anaplan provides us with Connected Planning—but what about extending that connectivity even further? Every day, we carry mobile phones in our pockets that are amazing in the possibilities they offer to our lives. Anaplan has a great mobile app so that you can review your dashboards and…
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Things to consider when building a robust import action
Import actions are foundational elements of an Anaplan model. Import actions can be scheduled via integration or can be called on demand via dashboards within an Anaplan model. Imports could happen from different sources such as lists, modules, saved views, and files (CSV, TXT). Import primarily import data into target…
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Importing With Varied Dimensions
Have you ever faced a scenario where you wanted to import the data from one module to another with a different set of dimensions, and you were not able to successfully achieve it? Usually, such type of data movement can easily be achieved through formulae, but in some cases, writing formula might not be the solution—for…
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Decreasing the length of your formulas
All too often, when analyzing a model, we see very long, convoluted, and complex formulas. These are commonly nested IF THEN ELSE statements and can be in excess of 5,000 characters. Line item subsets (LISS) can be used to shorten the length of the formula while making the solution more dynamic, scalable, maintainable—and…
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ALM explained—Part 3: avoiding data loss
Introduction In part two of the new ALM Explained series, we discussed the best practices for testing and validating changes prior to deploying them to production models. However, we also know that testing protocols are not always followed, especially if the change is an emergency patch, and sometimes, the synchronization…
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OEG Best Practice: HyperModel best practices
HyperModelsTM extend the Hyperblock calculation engine capabilities, allowing users to significantly increase scale to expand with new use cases, manage more historical and external data, forecast further into the future, and model more scenarios. The following HyperModel best practices are designed to ensure you can…
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ALM explained—Part 2: testing
Introduction There are no shortcuts when it comes to testing as part of Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), but the following is a guide for how to test prior to deploying changes to production models, to minimize issues on deployment. As part of the decision to utilize ALM, you should have created the ‘structure for…
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Extracting Data From Anaplan With Qlik
Qlik has two data analytics tools—the older one, QlikView, and the modern one, Qlik Sense. They both share similar scripting and the same data files. Data extracted with QlikView can be used by Qlik Sense and vice versa. Many enterprises still rely on QlikView and the QlikView Publisher to handle data reloads while they…
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Hierarchy Management
There are peculiar scenarios like mergers or acquisitions when the Master Data of the company changes. Name and/or Code gets changed in the source system, and we want to update the hierarchy with these new details in Anaplan without creating new entries —which will increase the model size exponentially. We also want to…
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OEG Best Practice: The importance of building and maintaining a clean model
During a typical implementation, it’s common to have multiple model builders build use cases and accomplish tasks simultaneously. During this critical time in the project, it’s important to plan for a key component that may be overlooked—keeping the model clean and tidy. Keeping a model clean has multiple benefits,…
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Easily Integrate Data From Google BigQuery With Anaplan Connect
Users can leverage Anaplan Connect for bi-directional integrations with Google BigQuery. This free connector makes integrations between Anaplan models and Google BigQuery via Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) drivers that leverage the power of BigQuery's standard SQL. Users can easily pull any data from BigQuery—such as…
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Consuming Anaplan Rest API 2.0 from Java
Java Spring Boot Framework Provides an easy way to interact with the API. It can call any application Base API and process the Response according to our needs. This article explains how we can invoke Anaplan Rest API using Java Spring Boot Framework. To start with, we must install the below software and SDE to run the…
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OEG Best Practice: UX transition: Overview of the U.S.E.R. methodology
Looking at transitioning from Classic to UX? The U.S.E.R. methodology can be your guide in this journey. Follow these four steps to facilitate your adoption of the UX: Understand The goal with understanding is to build a vision for the UX in your company and empathize with users and address their challenges. This is…
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Imports and import data sources as production data
This article explains the different scenarios and the implications of marking imports and import data sources as production data. Before we begin, let's define production data. In the simplest terms, production data is data or artifacts that can be changed directly in a production environment without pushing the change via…
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Creative usage of Office add-Ins
General Information * We have listed below some of the best practices we recommend for the Anaplan product. These are based on our experience and are subject to change as we deliver new functionalities and learn more about how our customers use the product. * If you would like to contribute or comment, please contribute…
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OEG Best Practice: Best practices about Excel add-In
* General information * About this article * Best practices General information * We have listed below some of the best practices we recommend for the Anaplan product. These are based on our experience and are subject to change as we deliver new functionalities and learn more about how our customers use the product. * If…
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OEG Best Practice: Best practices and tips & tricks about PowerPoint add-In
General information * We have listed below some of the best practices we recommend for the Anaplan product. These are based on our experience and are subject to change as we deliver new functionalities and learn more about how our customers use the product. * If you would like to contribute or comment, please contribute…