Introduction to Modules

After building the model’s lists, it’s time to build its modules.

Modules are the workhorse of a model. As you learned in The Building Blocks of Anaplan, the Engine contains modules that hold the data and calculations that you need to do your planning, and they reference the dimensions (time, versions, and lists) created in the Central Library of the model. Modules also provide the outputs that will later be used to create customized dashboards for end users.

Modules are powerful and flexible. Each module is built to use only the dimensions that are relevant for its data and purposes. A model can have as many or as few modules as needed, and data from one module can be used in another via a reference formula, eliminating the need to enter the same data in multiple modules.

While lists contain members, modules contain line items. Line items:

• belong to the module in which they were created.
• can contain data or a formula (the formula applies to all cells within that line item, unlike Excel which applies formulae to individual cells).
• represent how your data is measured or expressed (a number, a date, a Boolean value, a calculation, a value assigned from a list, or text).

The lessons in the Engine section are devoted to building the modules that organize the data and perform the calculations that will meet the needs expressed in the user stories.

The steps for creating modules are included on the Basic Steps to Building a Model resource; if you haven't already done so, download it now (see attachement below), so you can refer to it later if needed.

 

Ready to move on?