Deactivate Formula Scope if Versions = Not Applicable

LipChean_Soh

Hi,

 

In a module blueprint, there is a field called 'Formula Scope'.

 

For modules where Versions = Not Applicable, using 'Formula Scope = Actual Version' or 'Formula Scope = Current Version' will nullify the calculation of any formula in a line item.

 

This is potentially dangerous, because:

1. If there is a formula + Formula Scope = Actual Version/ Current Version; then assuming a value is entered into this line item, this value will be lost if the model builder later realized his mistake and updated Formula Scope to 'All Versions'.

2. This is not easy to debug, because it's a specific setting in a specific module.

 

I'm suggesting that 'Formula Scope' is greyed out if 'Versions = Not Applicable', so that users don't even have the choice to change 'Formula Scope'. 

Thanks,

LipChean

Miran

Status changed to: New

nick_barker

This sounds like a very sensible safeguard to include in the modelling to avoid users losing work unintentionally.

JaredDolich

@LipChean_Soh  this is a good suggestion. 

In three years, I've only used formula scope on two different implementations and we rarely, if ever, changed them.

But your use-case makes absolute sense. This would be a good way to preventing a very difficult-to-audit situation from happening.

Because it only takes one error like that - and everyone would be trying to figure out how data got lost. I don't think i would have ever looked at the formula scope if we changed the versions that were applicable to the module.

One thing that I'm really proud about Anaplan is the data integrity. It's really hard to make a mistake, and even harder to make one that is hard to trace.

Good call out.

LipChean_Soh

Hi @JaredDolich 

 

Thanks, but the credit really goes to @Misbah in his forum post below

https://community.anaplan.com/t5/Anaplan-Platform/Is-it-a-Bug/m-p/60432#M10902

 

Cheers,

LipChean

JaredDolich

@Misbah 

You're brilliant, as usual!

andrewtye

Presumably it would work in the same way as time period/calendar. Great idea both @LipChean_Soh / @Misbah