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General Question on Locking the Actuals
Hi All,
How do you manage the master data changes? As the changes in anaplan are retrospective. Lets say there is a change in the master data and it will impact the actual numbers reported. Is there any native way to lock the numbers? Please don't recommend the snapshotting process as it will not be sustainable for my scenario.
P.s- I use custom version list.
Thanks,
Aish
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How I Built It: Number format converter (thousands and millions)
Hello Anaplanner Community! I’m excited to participate in another ‘How I Built It’ video with a Number Format Converter (thousands and millions) tutorial.
This video walks you through how to dynamically update UX grid number formats on all tables and charts. This enables users to have different number formats enabled for each line item.
Key features:
* Users can choose which line items they would like to see numbers in thousands or millions.
* Allow users to easily see larger values in small Anaplan UX grids.
* You can design for each line item you would like to have this for.
* Check out my idea in the Idea Exchange and upvote: Number scale line item format.
https://play.vidyard.com/dDXJDFqms1HSkfNC2aG7Jc
I have another ‘How I Built It’ tutorial on dynamic month, quarter, and year filters here.
All the 'How I Built It' tutorials can be found here.
…….About the Author: Arjun Gandhi is a Co-Founder and Certified Master Anaplanner at Tekplanit and has been in the Anaplan ecosystem for 8+ years. He has deployed hundreds of applications across 16+ industries for finance, supply chain, and sales use cases.
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April 2024 Community Member Spotlight: Kirill Kuznetsov
This month we are thrilled to feature @KirillKuznetsov as our Community Member Spotlight! Kirill has been active in the Community since 2017, a Certified Master Anaplanner for the last four years, and is currently a Community Boss. You can find Kirill supporting members with answering questions (he has over 570 comments!), as well as contributing new ideas and content over the years. Behind the scenes and within Community, Kirill is frequently sharing incredible feedback and suggestions to help improve our overall Community experience! Learn more about Kirill's Anaplan journey and impressive contributions below.
About Kirill
We asked Kirill about his background and history with Anaplan. Here’s what we learned!
I started my Anaplan journey at DIAGEO as part of the Anaplan Center of Excellence team in the BAU department in 2017. During this time I learned about good corporate culture and honed my proficiency at every level. The first day when I got through my Anaplan 101 course I instantly fell in love with the platform.
Managing over 20 different models, both geo- and process-specific, has provided me a broad perspective of what can be built with Anaplan. With such great examples of use cases and builds, I had the best foundation for growth. By building and supporting live models I gradually developed more experience and knowledge.
Today, I am currently the Leading Anaplan Expert at Planingo. Everyday I learn about a whole variety of industries and their planning processes. I help our clients excel in their potential and performance.
We asked Kirill a few questions to get to know him.
Please share an Anaplan success story you’re proud of.
I recently worked on a project where I helped restore a client's faith in Anaplan as a viable solution. When our company was brought on board to support, the client was losing motivation to use Anaplan due to several issues. Although the dashboards appeared well-designed and the UX was acceptable, the underlying structure was far from ideal. The model was plagued with numerous problems, including:
* Excessive model size, already reaching the workspace limit of 130 GB
* Over 2,000 modules with an average of 20 line items each
* Lack of naming conventions for easy navigation, analysis, and communication
* Overcomplicated list organization
* No clear dataflow
* No ALM
* No documentation
These problems led to slow product development and expansion, as well as numerous bugs, which in turn affected the planning team. My initial goal was to optimize the model according to best practices.
The client planned to copy the model for the next financial year and purchase another 130 GB workspace. I requested an Open Model Analysis, which revealed that the sparsity level could be optimized. Despite being hired to build a new report on top of the existing model, I prioritized addressing these issues first. In addition to completing the report on time, I brought my colleague into the project to manage the technical optimization while I focused on the report. By the time we had to make a model copy for the new financial year cycle, the model size had been reduced to approximately 30 GB, a significant improvement from the original 130 GB.
Please share something you can teach about Anaplan — any tips and tricks you'd like to highlight?
* Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Anaplan can be tricky, not only for newbies but even veterans. Always remember that the Community is a great place to find the answer if you are stuck!
* Build with shorter formulas, but with more line items. This is very helpful for auditing, transparency, performance, and flexibility. You will always have a chance to optimize them later but at least while you create new module or block — don't underestimate this rule.
* Save yourself time in the future by building attribute modules right after you create a new list. You’ll thank yourself later.
* Use hotkeys such as Shift+Ctrl+Space to switch between data and blueprint view and many others.
What do you enjoy about the Anaplan Community?
I appreciate the respect and the openness of the people here. The Community helps members stay sharp by knowledge and experience-sharing through Anapedia, Planual, Forum, and Groups. I love how everyone is involved in shaping the Anaplan platform through Forums, Idea Exchange, User Research Program, etc. All of these sections of Anaplan Community are obviously nothing without people living and interacting with each other. I am so happy to be able to connect with others in the comments and meet at live events when I have a chance.
What is one important skill that you think everyone should have?
Listen to yourself, to be able to hear the people around you. This means understanding yourself and being open to hearing your inner voice. Only by accepting yourself, your desires and fears, can you hear others.
…..We hope you enjoyed learning more about Kirill in this month’s Community Member Spotlight. Thank you, Kirill, for being an outstanding Community contributor and advocate!
Check out Kirill's Community content:
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https://community.anaplan.com/discussion/158068/anapedia-in-nmx-now-and-some-other-cool-updates
*
https://community.anaplan.com/discussion/157237/a-conversation-with-our-community-bosses-journey-anaplan-community-podcast
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.
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Snapshot Challenge with #list
My scenario today,
Integration runs everyday and clear the below numbered list with data. Since the build has been done without the code i'm struggling to create the code with unique combination.
My objective is : I want to copy the current data before the delete process will execute. and compare it against the data that will be newly loaded. IS there any best way you can suggest me? My ideology will be :
1. Create a "Snapshot Code" property in the Master CC list as it will act like a code for comparison.
2. Create a new list called " Masters CC Snapshot" and same properties
3. Import the data with code from Master CC list to Masters CC Snapshot. (Here I'm unable to form a unique code)
4. Write a logic : Mistmatch ? = Master CC.CC <> Master CC Snapshot.CC[lookup:Snapshot code]
5. Delete the snapshot list data if there will be no mimatch boolean checked.
Any ways you can suggest me which you have faced based on your experience?
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Best Possible solution - Master data changes
Hi,
I would like discover best possible solution.
The integration happening from SAP to Anaplan (daily basis). The issue is that whenever there is a change in the master data , it is impacting the final #s of budget / actuals / forecast which is obvious. How do you overcome this scenario? Like budget needs to be locked even if there will be change in the master data ,budget should not be impacted. (While i don't want to take snapshots as there are lots of report). Instead my thought process was we can create notification alert for main key fields if there will be change in the master data in Anaplan and inform to the users regarding the changes. Is it possible to trigger automatic email if there will changes detected without workflow in place and is it possible with workflow? Or any other best suggestions please?
Thanks in Advance.
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Conditional Formatting Help
Hi All,
Checking the possibility of conditional formatting for FY 24 -GAP as shown below. I don't want the BP or Fcst to be formatted.
2. Is it possible to extend the Color formatting to only certain line items label (like net revenue, GM and GM %) needs color formatting
3. Is it possible to have spacing between Forecast and BP? (I understand it is a time period and if i add blanks then it will cause sparsity in the model but would like to check if there is any possibility)
Thanks,
Aish
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Anaplan Model Back Up Automation -[Copy and Archive] process
Considering that the Copy & Archive feature under Manage Models in Anaplan can copy and archive a model without impacting storage size limits. How can I implement an automated daily backup solution for Anaplan model data, given that there is currently no in-built scheduling feature for the Copy & Archive ? My clients frequently request this capability, and while we can use the rollback history or perform Copy & Archive manually, it is not the most efficient solution in several scenarios.
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Current Date Update
Is there any other way that we can update the current date with out using cloud works, Anaplan connect, or any middle ware ETL tools. Through the anaplan system i need to update it not manually and not by uploading the excel file
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How I Built It: Data locking and validation within processes
Author: Noah Jackson is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Principal Data and Insights Architect at Anaplan.
Hello Anaplan Community! I’m excited to share this ‘How I Built It’ video with you.
In this tutorial, I walk you through two types of actions that you can add to your Anaplan processes to improve your data access control and validation:
* A “Lock” action and an “Unlock” action that you can use to easily toggle access between different steps of a process.
* A “Data Check” action that we will set up to intentionally fail and halt the process when further action is needed.
In my sample model I use the “Lock / Unlock” actions to allow a non-Admin end user to import into a table for which they should generally have read only access. I use the “Data Check” action to draw attention to when a new product is added and requires a decision point, which avoids having to re-run imports and reduces the risk of missed steps.
I think these concepts and some of the tips and tricks I cover could be useful in all sorts of contexts; leave a comment if you see something that you think might fit in your models!
https://play.vidyard.com/ycCpnCW4aBTGucaYP8oc6V
Happy planning!
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Anaplan coach’s playbook
Author: Arun Thakar, Certified Master Anaplanner and Vice President in the banking industry.
Seldom has there been a time where a single model builder can solve all an enterprise’s business problems on their own. Anaplan engagements work better with more people than with just the efforts of an individual. That being said, not everyone has the same level of experience with the Connected Planning software. In cases where we find opportunities to upskill the next aspiring architect, here are three coaching plays for your playbook.
* Coach to help your team members to work independently and unlock your organization’s potential. Remember those times when something clicked, and you learned how to write that formula or found the functionality in the settings menu that helped you succeed in delivering something on time. You have the option of explaining all those things to your teammate OR you can show them the tools they need to fit the puzzle pieces together just as you did. It might be a mix of both, but keep in mind successful model builders can solve problems creatively.
* Design features as an architect with model builders in the room to showcase the design process. Design should not happen in a vacuum. In fact, it’s better to have other architects and model builders on some of the more complex features because they can probe design concepts which lead to a higher quality output. Aspiring developers benefit immensely from sitting in on design sessions. They learn best practices and the why behind what they are tasked to do. They also get a window into the role of Solution Architect, which they might be considering as well.
* Host shadowing sessions for experiential learning opportunities. It’s a privilege to teach others. By hosting shadowing sessions, you give your team members an opportunity for them, to see you — the master craftsperson — at work. Calmly narrating your decision-making process as you code and solving for unexpected modeling consideration will give your teammates a better chance of success and may also earn you some kudos.
If the goal of the coach’s playbook is to create more knowledgeable practitioners, the plays themselves are the knowledge sharing interactions we have day in and out. Coaching team members is important for any Center of Excellence, and personally, I’ve always found that my own understanding of a concept is better when I have been able to successfully share it with someone else.
What tips would you add?
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How I Built It: Refreshing current date in an Anaplan model using Cloudworks
Author: Sai Bandaru is a Certified Master Anaplanner with six years of experience architecting Anaplan models.
Hello Anaplanners! In today's fast-paced business environment, having accurate and up-to-date information is crucial for making informed decisions. In this ‘How I Built It’ tutorial, I'll explore a practical and efficient way to refresh the current date in your Anaplan model using Cloudworks.
How to refresh the current date with Cloudworks
Follow along in the video as we walk through the step-by-step process of using Cloudworks to refresh the current date in your Anaplan model. Whether you're a seasoned Anaplan user or just getting started, this tutorial will provide valuable insights into streamlining your workflow and keeping your models dynamically linked to real-time information.
Key benefits
* Real-time decision making: keeping the current date updated ensures that your models reflect the most recent business context, allowing for more accurate and timely decision-making.
* Automation for efficiency: Cloudworks simplifies the process, automating the refresh of the current date, saving you time and reducing manual effort.
* Improved model accuracy: by regularly updating the current date, you can enhance the accuracy of your forecasts, budgets, and plans, leading to more reliable insights.
https://play.vidyard.com/4nJKBPtUY38r3kwVVHKrS3
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the art of refreshing the current date in your Anaplan model with Cloudworks is a valuable skill that can significantly impact the effectiveness of your planning and analysis processes.
Questions? Leave a comment!
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All the 'How I Built It' tutorials can be found here.
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March 2024 Community Member Spotlight: Wendy Wen
March is Women's History Month and we're recognizing some of our outstanding female Community members! Our Journey podcast episode featured Silvia Di Feliciantonio (@SilviaDF) , and now in our Member Spotlight we are excited to introduce Wendy Wen (@Wendy)!
Wendy is a trailblazing Certified Master Anaplanner whose expertise spans over a decade in the Anaplan ecosystem. Learn more about Wendy's inspiring journey, contributions, tips and expertise below!
About Wendy
We asked Wendy about her background and history with Anaplan. Here’s what we learned!
As a Certified Master Anaplanner, I have dedicated over ten years to the Anaplan ecosystem, actively contributing to numerous end-to-end Anaplan implementations by leveraging my extensive finance background. My professional journey has encompassed various roles at Anaplan customers and Partners, enabling me to tackle a broad spectrum of use cases and assist in building Anaplan connected planning roadmaps.
I am inherently a results-oriented problem solver, deriving satisfaction from developing Anaplan connected planning roadmaps and expanding use cases to help businesses with financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, workforce planning, productivity capacity management, territory quota management, incentive compensation management, and other operational tasks. As a seasoned certified PMP, I excel in managing end-to-end implementations using Agile methodologies.
Combining expertise in Anaplan with a strong background in finance and sales operations, this knowledge allows me to effectively navigate complex Anaplan projects and deliver optimal solutions for clients.
We asked Wendy a few questions to get to know her.
Please share an Anaplan success story you’re proud of.
It can be challenging to pinpoint one standout success story amidst numerous end-to-end implementation projects. However, a notable achievement that I take pride in is the successful implementation of Anaplan's Incentive Compensation Management (ICM) model for our sales department. This initiative was prompted by the department's struggle with complex calculations, manual errors, and a lack of visibility into sales representatives' performance metrics.
To tackle these challenges effectively, we integrated the ICM model into our Anaplan Connected Planning roadmap, which resulted in several key benefits:
* Automation of calculations to eradicate manual errors.
* Implementation of flexible modeling to adapt plans in response to changing business goals.
* Provision of real-time visibility to motivate sales representatives with actionable performance insights.
* Utilization of scenario planning to optimize incentive structures.
* Integration with CRM systems (Salesforce) and ERP system (Workday) to ensure data consistency.
* Establishment of CloudWorks setup for daily updates across various models.
* Inclusion of compliance features for enhanced governance and risk minimization.
* Integration of Tableau's native connector with the model to deliver specific summary reports to the C-suite.
The adoption of Anaplan's ICM solution significantly transformed our incentive compensation management processes, resulting in heightened efficiency, improved accuracy, and better alignment with our business objectives. This transformation empowered our sales teams with real-time insights, streamlined our operational workflows, and facilitated enhanced performance tracking, thereby contributing substantially to our business growth and overall profitability.
Please share something you can teach about Anaplan — any tips and tricks you'd like to highlight?
There are always so much to learn about Anaplan. Here are some tips and tricks that I would like to highlight:
* Utilize Anaplan Community: Join the Anaplan Community to access forums, training resources, and best practices shared by Anaplan experts and users. The community is a valuable source of knowledge and can help you learn new tips and tricks to optimize your Anaplan experience.
* Master line item subset: Instead of creating multiple line items for similar calculations, use line item subsets to group related line items together. This improves model organization and reduces complexity, especially when dealing with large and complex models.
* Scheduled data imports: Take advantage of Anaplan's scheduled data import capabilities to automate data updates from external sources. This ensures that your models are always up-to-date without manual intervention.
* Collaboration and comments: Use collaboration features in Anaplan to leave comments, tag users, and discuss specific aspects of your models. This fosters collaboration among team members and facilitates knowledge sharing within your organization.
* Version control: Anaplan provides version control functionality, allowing you to create and manage multiple versions of your models. This is useful for scenario planning, what-if analysis, and tracking changes over time.
* Utilize dynamic cell styles: Anaplan allows you to apply dynamic cell styles based on conditional formatting rules. This can be useful for highlighting important data points, such as thresholds, outliers, or exceptions, making it easier to identify trends or issues in your models.
* Optimize dashboards: When designing dashboards in Anaplan, consider using interactive features such as selectors, drop-down lists, and drill-down functionality to enhance user experience and make data exploration more intuitive.
What is some great advice that a mentor has given you?
“Focus on continuous learning and growth throughout your career.”
This is best advice my mentor has given to me. I was born with natural curiosity. I always enjoy seeking new knowledge and skills, and embracing opportunities for personal and professional development. Continuous learning not only enhances expertise and adaptability but also opens doors to new opportunities and career advancement.
Thinking about women in STEM (science, tech, education and math) — who do you admire and why?
There are many notable women in STEM fields that I admired for their contributions and achievements. Gwynne Shotwell, the President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX, is one of my favorites. She has been with SpaceX since its early days, joining the company in 2002 as Vice President of Business Development and leading its efforts in building a robust commercial launch business.
As President and COO, Gwynne oversees all operational aspects related to space exploration, technology development, and commercial partnerships. Her role is deeply rooted in STEM disciplines, driving innovation and strategic execution within the company's ambitious space missions and engineering projects.
While Elon Musk is the CEO and visionary behind SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell has been instrumental in the company's operational excellence, customer relationships, and expanding its commercial space ventures. Her expertise and dedication have been key factors in SpaceX's achievements, including successful launches, innovative spacecraft development, and contracts with NASA and commercial satellite customers.
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We hope you enjoyed learning more about Wendy in this month’s Community Member Spotlight. Thank you, Wendy, for being an outstanding Community contributor and advocate!
Check out Wendy's Community articles:
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https://community.anaplan.com/discussion/156590/unveiling-the-path-to-success-tips-for-new-certified-master-anaplanners
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https://community.anaplan.com/discussion/151630/case-study-in-workforce-and-talent-acquisition-planning
Interested in learning more about our Community Member Spotlight series? Check out this post. Or 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.
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How do I import only 1 occurrence without errors?
I have a DATA module with a line item named "Scenarios." I need to import this line item into a list also named Scenarios list. The data module is dimensionalized by a different list so I cannot use the isfirstoccurence() formula. What's the best practice when it comes to importing this line item into a list as to not have any errors pop up every time, I run the action? Right now, of the 1000s of line items, there's only about 10 unique values I need to import but I can't figure out how to set up a filter or which formula to use.
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February 2024 Community Member Spotlight: Alessio Pagliano
Join us in celebrating @Alessio_Pagliano as our featured Community Member Spotlight for February! Alessio's inspiring journey in the Anaplan ecosystem spans seven years, marked by notable achievements such as becoming a Certified Master Anaplanner and a Community Boss. Explore Alessio's impressive Anaplan journey and contributions below!
About Alessio
We asked Alessio about his background and history with Anaplan. Here’s what we learned!
As a Certified Master Anaplanner, I’ve immersed myself in the Anaplan ecosystem for seven years, wearing various hats for major multinationals. My journey spans both end user and consulting roles, covering a wide range of use cases. Recently, I embarked on an exciting new chapter as a solution architect at Puig.
With Puig’s hypergrowth and ambitious plans for the near future, we’re about to launch our first Anaplan models and I’m very excited to play a pivotal role in the adoption of the tool throughout the company.
We asked Alessio a few questions to get to know him.
Please share an Anaplan success story you’re proud of.
Over the years, I honed my skills working with similar planning tools like Oracle and IBM. In 2017, seeking a fresh challenge, I applied for a finance role in a project leveraging a cutting-edge technology called Anaplan. Despite lacking formal academic finance knowledge, I dedicated myself to learning, studying part-time alongside my new role.
In less than two years, I achieved an accounting diploma with merit, earned the coveted Master Anaplanner certification (back then I was a Certified Master Anaplanner number 89!), and gained invaluable project experiences. These accomplishments were rewarded with a well-deserved promotion.
My journey took an unexpected turn when I dared to dream beyond borders. Since 2005, the UK had been my home, but I harbored an impossible desire: to live and work in Spain, specifically in Sitges — a picturesque seaside gem near Barcelona. Language barriers and Anaplan’s relative obscurity in the country seemed insurmountable.
Fate intervened. A colleague introduced me to a large spirits multinational with an office in Barcelona, and suddenly, my dream became reality. Four years later, I’ve expanded my competencies, accumulated rich experiences, and — almost imperceptibly — become proficient in Spanish.
I am immensely proud of this journey and deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with exceptional professionals and remarkable individuals.
Please share something you can teach about Anaplan — any tips and tricks you’d like to highlight?
Strive to remain well-informed about the roadmap, ensuring you stay up-to-date.
Explore the appropriate support plans to acquire relevant Anaplan certifications, working your way up to the prestigious Certified Master Anaplanner and progress at your own pace.
Moreover, actively engage with the Community. It serves as the optimal platform for knowledge sharing, learning, and expanding your professional network.
Remember, continuous learning and community involvement are key to your growth!
What do you enjoy about the Anaplan Community?
I highly value the Anaplan community as an exceptional resource for knowledge sharing and learning.
It consistently amazes me how swiftly high-quality solutions to complex problems can be obtained, fostering idea exchange and network building. Allow me to share a recent example and extend credit to two individuals. Approximately two weeks ago, I engaged in a discussion on a Community thread led by a Community Boss. The thread involved intricate and challenging questions related to integration, specifically utilizing Python with APIs. On that very day, both @pyrypeura and a former colleague, @M.Kierepka, generously shared their expertise. Subsequently, the Anaplan Operational Excellence Group (OEG) — renowned for their exceptional skills — directly addressed some of my inquiries, providing valuable insights and action points. Their responsiveness exemplifies the Community’s commitment to excellence.
As mentioned earlier, active participation in such communities contributes significantly to professional growth and development.
What's one thing on your bucket list that you hope to accomplish in the next year?
Throughout my previous professional roles, I played an active role in establishing, developing and expanding internal Anaplan Centers of Excellence (CoEs) with setup aligned to a company’s goals.
These CoEs fostered collaboration, growth, governance, best practices and overall success. I hold a firm belief that any company investing in Anaplan and aiming to maximize their ROI should prioritize CoE investment.
Drawing from my relevant experience, I am eager to be the CoE lead, driving this initiative, attract, nurture, and retain top talent, and witness the remarkable results we can achieve together.
On this topic, keep an eye on the job openings here. Particularly if you love the idea of living the dream in the sun and work together.
We currently have this one role advertised, but there could soon be others!
There are now 25 hours in a day! How do you spend your extra hour?
Undoubtedly, I would allocate the additional hour to my family, friends, and personal well-being. I acknowledge that the Anaplan role demands a relentless pace, especially since my transition into it. The primary challenge remains striking the delicate equilibrium between work commitments and personal life. Therefore, that extra hour is unequivocally reserved for my better half, family, close friends, and my recreational pursuits — be it padel, gym workouts, or even football, provided my knee permits!
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We hope you enjoyed learning more about Alessio in this month’s Community Member Spotlight. Thank you, Alessio, for being an outstanding Community contributor and advocate!
Interested in learning 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.
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2024 Certificate Maintenance for Certified Master Anaplanners
The 2024 Certified Master Anaplanner Program has begun and there's incredible opportunity for 2024 Certified Master Anaplanners (CMAs) to demonstrate their thought leadership, technical expertise, evangelism, and mentorship capabilities across the entire Anaplan Ecosystem!
At their core, a Certified Master Anaplanner is someone who elevates others in the Anaplan ecosystem through the many ways they share their expertise. They do this through their mentorship, sharing their community perspective and technical architecture thought leadership, demonstrating innovative solutions, providing product feature insight, ideating and inspiring others in the Anaplan Community to define the future of the platform, leading COE development, developing innovative roadmaps to scale the platform for business decision-making, and championing for Anaplan in the competitive market.
Engagement Zones
The 2024 Contribution Activities list is attached to this post, accessible for CMAs to download (last updated 4/12/2024):
2024 CMA Contribution Activities.pdf
Each contribution activity is mapped to four engagement zones to understand and communicate how Certified Master Anaplanners are driving impact within the Anaplan ecosystem. As mentors, thought leaders, Connected Planning evangelists, and technical experts, Certified Master Anaplanners are critical to elevating the broad Anaplan ecosystem and driving immense value through the many ways they share their expertise!
Each engagement zone is important to the Certified Master Anaplanner Community, the entire Anaplan Ecosystem, and the Anaplan Community! Our goal in highlighting these zones is to give each of you, as Certified Master Anaplanners, the opportunity to easily align your experience and personality with activities that are best suited for you to make a significant impact in a particular area of the Anaplan ecosystem. To that end, we ask that you select an engagement zone to focus on for your primary contribution activities or choose the unique blend of engagement zone activities you want to be recognized for. Will you aim to be one of the few Certified Master Anaplanners who complete activities in all four engagement zones during 2024?
We will be taking an agile approach towards contributions in 2024; therefore, we will review this list at least quarterly and share new contribution activities throughout the year as we determine a need.
Certification Maintenance Requirements
Certified Master Anaplanners must meet two key requirements during 2024 to renew their certifications for 2024. Unsurprisingly, the 2024 requirements are reflective of similar requirements in place during 2023.
Complete Contribution Activities for 400 points (due December 15th, 2024)
There will be a mid-year check-in requirement for Certified Master Anaplanners to complete half (200 points) of the annual points requirement by June 30th, 2022, or ensure they have activities totaling 200 points lined up and confirmed by that date.
Remain/Renew Certification as a Certified Solutions Architect (due in alignment with Anaplan Academy deadline once released)
Also included again this year is the mid-year check-in requirement. The goal for this requirement is to create greater visibility into where and how Certified Master Anaplanners are contributing, as well as to assist Certified Master Anaplanners in proactively planning how they will attain contributions throughout the year.
If you are a Certified Master Anaplanner who has any questions about the requirements for annual certification maintenance, your status, or how to engage, please email MasterAnaplanners@Anaplan.com.
If you are interested in the Certified Master Anaplanner Program and wish to learn more about how to become a Certified Master Anaplanner, please review the resources here and reach out to Certificate@Anaplan.com with any questions.
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A conversation with Austin van der Linden — Journey | Anaplan Community Podcast
Welcome to our second podcast episode of 2024! Tune in today to hear Dennis Lemoine (@DennisL), Director of Customer Engagement & Experience, chat with Austin van der Linden (@Austinv) — Certified Master Anaplanner, Certified Solution Architect, and Corporate FP&A Technical Lead at Dentsply Sirona.
Austin has been with Dentsply Sirona for a little over a year — they are the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies and empower dental professionals to provide safer and faster dental care. Before that, he spent time working at WeWork, Anaplan, and Peloton Group.
In this episode, Dennis asks Austin to share about his journey in the Anaplan ecosystem, his first Anaplan project, his #1 Anaplan tip, his full circle moment, and more.
“The thing that I liked most about [Anaplan] is that someone like myself, with not that much of a technology background, can essentially figure it out! And not only figure it out but do so much with it. You can go from this giant data set with millions of rows, to something that is meaningful.” – Austin van der Linden
Tune in and let us know what people and topics you would like to see in future episodes.
https://play.vidyard.com/GVwrK9UXY9MKo2a6zwt2pt
View all past podcast episodes here.
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Certified Master Anaplanner Eligibility
Certified Master Anaplanners are Anaplan’s most experienced platform evangelists who share a common technical language and are involved in the structural development of their models. Anaplan's current customers, registered partners, and employees are all eligible to become a Certified Master Anaplanner, given they're willing and able to meet the requirements below.
Qualifications
Candidates must fulfill the below criteria*:* Complete the core Academy trainings by becoming a Certified Solution Architect
* Register for and pass the Certified Master Anaplanner exam
*More courses may be added upon impending releases.Interested in becoming a Certified Master Anaplanner?
Learn about the Certified Master Anaplanner Certification Exam and the steps to get started.
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A conversation with Misbah Ansari — Journey | Anaplan Community Podcast
We’re kicking off our 2024 podcast season with a well-known Community name! Join host Kas Gengadaren (@KasG), Anaplan’s APAC Ecosystem Manager, as she interviews one of top Community members — Misbah Ansari (@Misbah), Certified Master Anaplanner, Anaplan Community Boss, Planual co-admin, and CEO and Founder at Miz Logix.
Misbah’s expertise and helpful demeanor has positioned him as one of the most knowledgeable people in the Anaplan ecosystem. With over 200 discussions started and 2,500+ comments, we are continuously impressed with the time and energy he lends to the Anaplan Community.
A little background on Misbah: he is an experienced information technology operations manager with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer goods/service industry. He is skilled in Anaplan, project management, data analysis, business development, accounting, customer relationship management, and FP&A.
Listen in as Kas and Misbah discuss how Misbah got started with Anaplan, his involvement with the Planual and Community, what it means to be a Community Boss, and his plans for the future.
“To all newcomers, I would say — if you feel that you have questions, please go ahead and post in Community. You will find ten different meaningful responses. And it’s for you to choose which one you will want to go with. And all ten of them will be right. It expands your horizon when you look at one problem with ten different answers.” – Misbah Ansari
Tune in and let us know who you would like to see in future episodes. And a huge shout-out to Misbah — THANK YOU for being an integral part of Anaplan!
https://play.vidyard.com/vmnStvMPZJCRazv9CsFnd5
View all past podcast episodes here.
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How I Built It: Beginners guide to integrating with Anaplan using Python
Author: Matt Budd, Certified Master Anaplanner and CIO at Nightingale College and Solution Architect at Dialed Solutions.
Hello Anaplan Community! In the last year, I've done a lot of work around creating automation and integrations with Anaplan using Python. Several solutions I've built using Python include:
* Creating a Python Anaplan connector
* Managing data integrations directly within Anaplan (no code)
* Kicking off integrations within Anaplan UI
* Managing large data dependencies using a Python orchestrator
With the use of Python, the integration and automation possibilities are endless. In this ‘How I Built It’ video tutorial, I go over a very simple and effective way to use Python to integrate with Anaplan. This method uses a Python connector I created to simplify the integration with Anaplan. This connector manages the more challenging parts of the API with ease (i.e., chunking, certificate-based authentication, status checking, and error handling). Information on the connector with its documentation can be found here.
[How I Built It] Beginners guide to integrating with Anaplan using Python
https://play.vidyard.com/mMMM4jBvLi7eqsFrmAWXXs?
If you have any questions about the content found in this video, leave a comment, and I'll be more than happy to help!
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Community Manager note: In our new “How I Built It” series, we showcase the incredible talent in the Anaplan ecosystem! From technical content to help you navigate common challenges, to insights into creative solutions — these videos will offer a peek into how your peers do their jobs. Check out additional How I Built It tutorials:
* [How I Built It] Dashboard Filter using Line Item Subset
* [How I Built It] Waterfall calculation
* [How I Built It] Popular Word Game
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How do I use a line item formatted by a month for mapping in a column dimensionalized by time
I have a value (in this instance it is the number 13 in January 24) that I need to populate in the line item below it in the month of February 25. The entire module is dimensionalized by time (month). The Feb 25 formula is an add months function that references an input from a different module based on the quarter of the current period. The sum function doesn't work at all and when I try the lookup it's doing the opposite of what I want (In this example it is using the Feb 25 date for mapping and populating the Jan 24 column with the values from Feb 25, I need it to do the opposite.)
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Essential Anaplan topics
The best way to hone your expertise is practical experience. We recommend one or more years of hands-on experience using Anaplan to uncover all you can do with the platform. Training can also help you advance your technical skills and learn best practices for working with Anaplan.In addition to our required training, the following materials can help you get a well-rounded understanding of the platform. Learn how you can grow your knowledge in the areas below:
Center of Excellence Topics
Data Hubs
* Data Hubs: Purpose and Peak Performance
Governance & Structure
* Building a Center of Excellence
* Introduction to Centers of Excellence
* Selecting Center of Excellence Governance Structures
* Center of Excellence Roles and Responsibilities
* Why Do I Need a Center of Excellence?
Data Integration Topics
Importing and Exporting Data
* Data Related Training Classes
* Get Started with Imports
* Export from Anaplan
* Overview of Private and Default Files
* Import Data Sources
Integration Platform and Connectors
* Data Integration
* Anaplan Connect
* Guide to Data Integration using Anaplan REST API
* Anaplan API Guide and Reference
* Tableau Connector for Anaplan
* Excel Add-in Version 4.0
* Third-party Data Integration
* Anaplan Connector Guide for Dell Boomi
* Anaplan HyperConnect Powered by Informatica
Model Building Topics
Model Building Best Practices
* Best Practices for Module Design
* Formula Optimization in Anaplan Knowledge
* Time Range Application
* Reduce Calculations for Better Performance
* PLANS–This Is How We Model Shared Best Practice
* Add Notes
Formulas and Functions
* Calculation Functions
* YEARTODATE Function
* Formula Structure for Performance
* SELECT Function
* RANK Function
Dynamic Cell Access
* Dynamic Cell Access
* Dynamic Cell OR Selective Access
* Dynamic Cell Access Learning App
Selective Access
* Selective Access (Anapedia)
* Selective Access (Academy)
Time Ranges
* Time Ranges
* Introduction to Time Ranges
* Time Ranges–The Basics
Dashboard Filtering
* Filter (Anapedia)
* Filter Best Practice
Application Lifecycle Management (ALM)
* ALM Overview
* Revision Tag Best Practices
* Save Incomplete Changes when Synchronizing in ALM
* Production Lists Overview
* Structural Information Reference
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New Academy badging for Certified Master Anaplanners and Solution Architects!
The Anaplan Academy is thrilled to share some exciting news with you! In response to your valuable feedback and to enhance the recognition of your achievements, the Academy is thrilled to announce the launch of our highly anticipated Anaplan Certification Badge, designed to showcase your expertise in Anaplan and provide you with a distinguished recognition in the industry on July 10, 2023! (Please note: this is separate than the Community badge program!)
At Anaplan, we are committed to recognizing the accomplishments and skills of our valued community members. After rigorous development and testing, we are excited to unveil our Anaplan Certification Program, an industry-leading assessment that validates your proficiency in leveraging the power of Anaplan.
The Anaplan Certification Exam Badge is a digital symbol of excellence that signifies your commitment to mastering Anaplan's platform and delivering outstanding results. By displaying this badge on your professional profiles, such as LinkedIn, resume, or email signature, you can instantly demonstrate your expertise to potential employers, clients, and peers.
Here are a few key details about our new badging system:
* Digital badge: Each certified individual will be awarded a digital badge, a visually appealing emblem that encapsulates your certification achievement. The badge will be easily shareable across various online platforms, such as LinkedIn, email signatures, and personal websites.
* Verified authenticity: The digital badges are securely issued and verified, ensuring the credibility of your certification. Prospective employers, clients, and professional networks will have confidence in your qualifications, as the badges provide a direct link to your verified accomplishments.
* Rich metadata: The badges will contain detailed metadata, showcasing the specific certification you have earned, the skills and knowledge you have demonstrated, and any relevant expiration dates or renewal requirements. This comprehensive information will provide a comprehensive overview of your capabilities to anyone viewing your badge.
* Simplified sharing: Sharing your certification achievements will be effortless with our badging system. You can easily embed your badges on your digital platforms, allowing you to instantly promote your expertise and enhance your professional reputation.
The certification badges are for Certified Solution Architect (CSA) and Certified Master Anaplaner (CMA). To earn the Anaplan Certification Exam Badge, you must successfully pass our rigorous certification exam. The exam covers a wide range of Anaplan concepts, functionalities, and best practices, ensuring you have the skills needed to drive successful planning and decision-making processes using Anaplan.
Please review the following resources for more information on how to become a Certified Master Anaplanner or Solution Architect:
* Solution Architect Certification Eligibility
* Become a Certified Master Anaplanner!
* Badge earner instructions (login provided once badge is earned)
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the upcoming badging system, please don't hesitate to reach out to the certification program at certification@anaplan.com.
We are excited to embark on this journey with you and witness your professional growth as an Anaplan certified expert. Let's celebrate your accomplishments together with the Anaplan Certification Badge!
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How I Built It: Fantasy Football draft
Author: Zach Hird is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Senior Consultant at Peloton Consulting Group.
Hello Anaplanners!
Learn how I used Anaplan to aid my fantasy football draft experience in this fun and different ‘How I Built It’ tutorial. I use live fantasy football data to give myself a competitive advantage while drafting real fantasy football teams. Using Anaplan pages and unique filtering, I am able to understand which players are optimal and suboptimal to draft in each round according to ranking deviations between various FF platforms. Anaplan makes this analysis seamless and efficient so I can crush my 2023 fantasy football drafts and thus leagues.
Let me know if you have questions!
https://play.vidyard.com/TuzS8taaecAAfi9TKiWvrf
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All the 'How I Built It' tutorials can be found here. Check out the most recent ones:
* How I Built It: Dynamic month, quarter, and year filter
* How I Built It: Improving the end user experience
* How I Built It: Data validation
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2024 Recertification Requirement Announcement: Using Workflow in Anaplan!
We're thrilled to announce our 2024 recertification process for Certified Model Builder, Certified Solution Architect, and Certified Master Anaplanner.
Being a Certified Model Builder, Certified Solution Architect, or Certified Master Anaplanner means that you’re a highly qualified and valued part of the Anaplan ecosystem! As stewards of Anaplan, our goal is to ensure your expertise stays relevant, regardless of when you were certified. Staying current with the latest Anaplan product releases and best practices will maintain your certification and enhance your expertise.
This year, the certification maintenance requirements for 2024 details that a course — Using Workflow in Anaplan — is required to be completed prior to January 31, 2024 by all Anaplan Certified Model Builders, Certified Solution Architects, and Certified Master Anaplanners. If you are not certified but still wish to complete the Workflow course, it is available here.
Certified Model Builder and Certified Solution Architect
The requirements to maintain certification are the same for both a Certified Model Builder and a Certified Solution Architect.
2024 Maintenance Requirements (valid through December 31, 2024):
* Complete Using Workflow in Anaplan (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes)
* Completion of the Workflow training course will re-certify you for 2024
Certified Master Anaplanner
The requirements for Certified Master Anaplanners (CMAs) to maintain certification include maintaining your certification as a Certified Solution Architect and completing the CMA contribution activity requirement. CMAs may read more about the contribution maintenance requirements here.
2024 Maintenance Requirements (valid through December 31, 2024):
* Complete Using Workflow in Anaplan (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes)
* Collect the required contribution activity points prior to the end of the year* Need points still? Please email masteranaplanners@anaplan.com
* Completion of both the Workflow training course and your required contribution activity points will recertify you for 2024
* Questions on your status as a CMA should be directed to masteranaplanners@anaplan.com
For general questions, please reach out to academy@anaplan.com, or leave a comment!
Please note: We are excited to announce that the Japanese version of the course will be available soon! 🇯🇵
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How I Built It: Two-step approval process and audit trail
Greetings fellow Anaplanners!
In this episode of ‘How I Built It’, I show you how I build a typical two-step approval process and corresponding audit trail in Anaplan.
This functionality accomplishes the following requirements:
* Analyst users can submit a batch of process data or model results.
* The manager user then can choose whether to approve or reject the submission.
* Anaplan captures data about EACH action in the business process, creating the audit trail.
https://play.vidyard.com/hzp6GZRX8mEZgzukTTcTfD
What other kinds of approval processes have you encountered? What other methods have you seen for this type of functionality? Let me know in the comments!
All the 'How I Built It' tutorials can be found here.
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About the Author: Mitch Aist has been a Master Anaplanner for 6+ years. During that time, he taught Anaplan at the university level and developed solutions across a wide range of industries for FP&A, workforce planning, and sales operations planning use cases.
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A conversation with our Community Bosses — Journey | Anaplan Community Podcast
2023 is rapidly coming to an end, and to wrap up the year we invited a few of our Community Bosses to join Dennis Lemoine, Director of Customer Engagement & Experience, for our nineth episode of Journey, an Anaplan Community podcast. Please welcome:
* Andrew Tye (@andrewtye) , Anaplan Process Developer at Aviva. Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
* Kirill Kuznetsov (@KirillKuznetsov) , Solution Architect at Anaplan partner Planingo. Location: world traveler currently in Kazakhstan
* Timmy Thomas (@TimothyThomas), Finance Manager at Groupon. Location: Eugene, Oregon
Representing the customer and partner perspectives, these three individuals dive into their highlights from this year, what they are looking forward to in 2024, their goals for the new year, and more.
https://play.vidyard.com/JhDdPzwhTL78xo7uWV9z3b
Thank you to everyone who tuned in this year as we launched our podcast. We look forward to sharing more stories, connecting with more of you, and showcasing the amazing talent in the Anaplan ecosystem in 2024!
Check out our past podcast episodes:
* Episode 1: Prince Ayinde, Business Analytics Manager at LinkedIn
* Episode 2: Jared Dolich, partner and founder of Retailitix
* Episode 3: Daanish Soomar, “Guy with the sign” and Founder/CEO of DSI Consulting
* Episode 4: Jon Ferneau and Zack Fennessy from Zenix Consulting
* Episode 5: Stacey Gibbens, Solution Architect at Globe Life
* Episode 6: Clarissa Hassfurder, CEO at Double10 Consulting
* Episode 7: Shrankhla Singh, CoE Lead at NTUC Fairprice
* Episode 8: Avnish Goel, Certified Master Anaplanner at ScriptStory
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How I Built It: Flagging new list items
Author: Chris Allen is a Certified Master Anaplanner and Manager at Allitix.
Hello, and thank you for checking out my ‘How I Built It’ video tutorial on flagging new list items!
The video will walk you through the process of flagging list items as "new." The key step in the process relies on an import to flag all current list members as true before importing in new list members, which will appear as false. The methodology to drop the "new" designation depends on user's preference. We'll cover the two basic methodologies: automatic and manual. Both methodologies can be intertwined into one process and custom rules can be incorporated to fit the user's needs.
The process has been a request by some clients for their own awareness of changes and/or help ensure data integrity. It's an important step to leverage for innovation planning where users have the ability to create innovation SKUs. When master data sets up the actual SKU, which an innovation SKU is a placeholder for, this process serves as a reminder to replace the innovation with the actual SKU; it's unlikely the innovation SKU will have the same code or description as the actual SKU set up by master data.
Check it out and let me know if you have any questions!
https://play.vidyard.com/tthA8AF9Nqd8Bx8kmZ9nDe
All the 'How I Built It' tutorials can be found here.
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November 2023 Community Member Spotlight: Julie Ziemer
This month we are shining the spotlight on @jziemer, who has been part of the Anaplan Community for over six years! A Certified Master Anaplanner since 2016, and a recently appointed Community Boss, Julie has been an incredible Community leader. Read more to learn about Julie's Anaplan journey, deep Anaplan knowledge, and impactful Community contributions.
About Julie
We asked Julie about her background and history with Anaplan. Here’s what we learned!
I have been working in the realm of accounting, finance and planning for over three decades. The last nine years of this journey have been focused on developing Anaplan solutions for my Akili clients. These solutions have spanned FP&A, HR, supply chain, and incentive compensation. Akili is a cutting-edge business management and technology consulting firm and, by far, the best place I have worked. There have been many opportunities for moves to different roles and companies over the past nine years, and I continue to choose Akili and my passion of Anaplan model building. I am a Certified Master Anaplanner, an Anaplan Community Boss, have written Community blogs and have served on several Anaplan Live! panels over the years.
We asked Julie a few questions to get to know her.
Please share an Anaplan success story you’re proud of.
There have been so many over the years that it is hard to highlight one, but I would say that moving companies from ridiculously complex Microsoft Excel workbooks to the Anaplan platform are the most rewarding. With these projects, there is ALWAYS a major improvement in efficiency, accuracy, business data consolidation, and security. I also find that the most rewarding projects are the ones where we can get clients deeply involved in the development and coach them on how to effectively use the platform. This is always a two-way learning process that results in the best solution for the client.
Please share something you can teach about Anaplan — any tips and tricks you’d like to highlight?
* Follow Planual and stay up to date on it! It is the bible on best practices.
* Don’t be afraid to ask the Community for help. There is so much to learn about Anaplan that there is no way to know it all. You may be an expert in a certain area, but like any software, if you don’t have a need to apply a functionality in real life, you can’t expect to be a master. The Community is the best place to leverage other people’s learnings.
* With respect to a precise tip on Anaplan functionality, you may or may not know that in addition to the standard bulk copy function in Versions, you can also bulk copy from any list member to another. I may be a little slow, but it took me a while to realize that bulk copy was not limited to native Versions. I use it on many of my clients with a non-native Versions list. This allows for an efficient monthly/quarterly version locking process while still being able to subset for model size efficiency. Go to Settings/Versions/Bulk Copy and use the drop down to select the list with members you want to copy to/from.
What do you enjoy about the Anaplan Community?
The camaraderie. Members are genuinely interested in helping other people and sharing their expertise. “How I Built It” videos are the most helpful in my mind, but we need a lot more out there! I encourage all Community members to share.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
“Don’t eat the yellow snow.” Just kidding — that was my grandfather speaking! Actually, I am torn between “Don’t take things personally” (Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements), and “You will add more value if you genuinely do not care about getting personal credit for your work.” I got that advice from a mentor over 20 years ago and it has served me well.
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We hope you enjoyed learning more about Julie in this month’s Community Member Spotlight. Thank you, Julie, for being an outstanding Community contributor and advocate!
Check out Julie's Community articles:
*
https://community.anaplan.com/discussion/156854/model-change-best-practices-sept-2023-community-challenge-recap
*
https://community.anaplan.com/discussion/85975/how-i-became-an-anaplan-addict
Interested in learning 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.
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3.3.5.2A Beginning Inventory formula
Hello
I need some help in this formula
* Beginning Inventory: This line item needs to display the value from the Beginning Inventory line item in DAT01 Beginning Inventory module for the first week of the year and the Ending Inventory from the previous week for all other weeks of the year.
i have just created these in my SYS01 time module
Is this is correct as per the stated requirements for system module ?
