Creating a Plan from a Data Source

You can create plans from data in Analytics. This can be useful when you want to use existing data to create new plans. For example, you might want to use this year's actuals to create next year's budget.

Extended Planning and Analysis uses input data sources to establish a link between the plan and the Analytics dataset. Before creating the plan, you must create and configure the data source for the dataset that you want to use to create the plan.

Note:

To create a plan with data from Analytics, you must:

  • Be assigned the CRM Analytics Platform User permission set.
  • Have access to the Analytics dataset that you want to use to create the plan.

To create a plan from a data source:

  1. From the Plans tab, click New. The New Plan wizard displays.
  2. Select Data Source.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Enter a unique name for the plan.
  5. [Optional] Enter a description for the plan.
  6. Search for and select the data source that is linked to the Analytics dataset that you want to use to create your plan.
  7. Click Next. The Configure Plan Filters page of the wizard displays. This page enables you to define the filters applied to the dataset when retrieving data from Analytics.

  8. [Optional] Define the dataset filters. To do this:

    1. Select the filter logic you want to use to filter the data from a data source. For more information about the available options, see Data Source Filter Reference.
    2. Search for and select the dimension whose values you want to filter.
    3. Select the operator used when applying the filter. For more information about the available options, see Operators.

    4. Depending on the operator that you selected, do one of the following:

      • If you selected "Equals" or "Not Equals", search for and select the values.
      • If you selected "Contains", "Not Contains", or "Start With", enter the value that you want to use.
      • If you selected "Is Null" or "Is Not Null", proceed to the next step.
    5. To add more filters, click Add Condition and then repeat steps a-d.

  9. Click Next. The Build a Plan page of the wizard displays. This page enables you to set up the structure of your plan. After you add a dimension and a measure, a preview of the plan structure displays.

    Note:

    Only the dimensions and measures that are mapped to the data source are available.

  10. Define the plan table view. This determines whether the plan table displays as a tree or a grid. For more information about the available views, see Plan Table Views.

    Do one of the following:

    • To display the plan in grid view, under Table View, select Grid.
    • To display the plan in tree view, leave Tree selected.

  11. Define column-level dimensions. For more information, see Column and Row Dimensions. To define column-level dimensions:

    1. From the Dimensions panel, drag the dimension that you want to use as the top-level column group, for example, Year, and drop it into the Columns section.

      Tip:

      Instead of dragging and dropping, you can click Show Menu next to the dimension name and then click Send to Dimension Columns.

    2. Repeat the previous step to add more column-level dimensions, for example, Quarter, Period, and so on.
    3. If required, drag the dimensions to your required position within the Columns section to reorder them.

  12. Define row-level dimensions. For more information, see Column and Row Dimensions. To define row-level dimensions:

    1. From the Dimensions panel, drag the dimension that you want to use as the first-level row dimension, for example, Company, and drop it into the Rows section.

      Tip:

      Instead of dragging and dropping, you can click Show Menu next to the dimension name and then click Send to Dimension Rows.

    2. Repeat the previous step to add more row-level dimensions, for example, Trial Balance 1, GLA, and so on.
    3. If required, drag the dimensions to your required position within the Rows section to reorder them.

  13. Define measures. To do this:

    1. Click the Measures tab to display the Measures panel.

    2. If you configured the plan to display as a grid, under Measures Position, do one of the following:

      • Leave Columns selected to display measures as columns.
      • Select Rows to display measures as rows.

      For more information, see Measures Position.

    3. From the Measures panel, drag the first measure that you want to use, for example, Dual, and drop it into the Measures section. A preview of the plan now displays.

      Tip:

      Instead of dragging and dropping, you can click Show Menu next to the measure name and then click Send to Measures.

    4. Repeat the previous step to add more measures, for example, Home and so on.
  14. Click Next. The Configure Dimension Value Mapping page of the wizard displays. This page enables you to define the dimension value transformations that are applied while retrieving data from Analytics. For example, you might want to use the current year's actuals to create next year's budget. In that case, you might want to transform 2024 to 2025 in the Financial Year dimension.

  15. [Optional] Define the dimension value transformations. To do this:

    1. Search for and select the dimension whose value you want to transform. For example, select "Financial Year".
    2. Enter the value stored in the Analytics dataset that you want to transform. For example, enter 2024.
    3. Enter the new value that you want to use in your plan. For example, enter 2025.
    4. To add more transformations, click Insert Row and then repeat steps a-c.

  16. After you have defined the structure of your plan, click Save.

    Warning:

    This step cannot be undone. When a plan is created, its structure cannot be changed.

The plan is now created. For the next steps, see Plan Table Overview.