Clear the Target for a Module Import
Hello everyone:
Anaplan provides a lot of flexibility in regards to clearing data prior to imports. You can read about all the available options here. In particular, I am referring to:
I have always used the default settings such as Clear target prior to import and I am wondering if any of you had put the different clearing option to the test in a real use case. If you did, then I'd like to hear from you about how did you utilize it and what was the reason you used it.
Thank you
Answers
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Yes, I’ve tested different clearing options in real use cases, and they can be quite useful depending on the scenario. Here are a few instances where I leveraged them:
- Clearing the Target for Time
Use Case: Monthly Forecast Updates
In a financial planning model, we imported forecast data every month.
Since we only wanted to update the new month’s data while keeping historical periods intact, we used "Clear target prior to import: Only for the time period in the import file."
This ensured that past forecasts remained unchanged while replacing only the current period’s data.
2. Clearing the Target for Dimensions Other than Time
Use Case: Dynamic SKU-Level Sales UpdatesIn a sales planning model, we received weekly data at an SKU level.
The source file only contained SKUs with changes, and we didn’t want to delete existing records for SKUs that weren’t in the new file.
Instead of using the default "Clear target prior to import," we selected "Clear target prior to import: Only for dimensions in the file."
This ensured only SKUs present in the import were updated, while all others remained untouched.
3. Full Data Clearance
Use Case: End-of-Quarter Data RefreshIn a workforce planning model, we needed a complete refresh of data each quarter.
We used the standard "Clear target prior to import" option to wipe the entire dataset and replace it with the latest information.
4. Selective Data Clearance for Specific Scenarios
Use Case: Category-Level Price UpdatesA merchandising model required price adjustments only for certain product categories.
We used "Clear target prior to import: Only for dimensions in the file." to avoid erasing data for other categories.1 - Clearing the Target for Time