Using SpotlightXL-Model Dimensions Subtask

Overview

With this task, you can enter dimension data for the dimensions defined on the Model > Setup page. Dimensions entered on the Setup page are populated in the Dimension list box as shown below. You can also add dimension members to a generated model without clearing and regenerating the model. For example, if you have a Revenue Forecast model and you want to add a new sales representative or product, you can do so without clearing or regenerating your model.

Access the Dimension by selecting the Model > Dimension.

Actions Available Described

A description of the actions available for the Dimension subtask is provided below.

Refresh - After a selection is made, click Refresh to view updated data.

Save - Save defined dimension data.

Spreadsheet Fields Described

The spreadsheet fields on the Dimension page are described below.

Model - Select the model you want to define dimension data for.

Status - Indicates whether the model is generated or not. See the Model Setup subtask for more information.

Dimension - Select the dimension you want to provide member details for. New models will have no dimension members defined.

Action

• Select View to see the current dimension members and hierarchy. This option is available for unlocked models.
• Select Update to change the Rollup Operator and Member Type for the dimension members. This option is available for locked models only. See Defining Dimension Members for a Model.
• Select Delete to remove members and their associated data from a dimension. This option is available for locked models only and does not require you to clear and regenerate the model. After you delete members, you need to run calculations to ensure that rollup data is correct. You also must update any views, reports, or calculations that refer to the now-deleted member. See Deleting a Dimension Member from a Generated and Locked Model.
• Select Append to add a dimension member to a generated model. Once you select Append, a blank table is displayed. Enter new dimension members in the table. Click Save to add new dimension member(s) to the model. To view the new dimension member(s) select View from the Action drop-down. See Adding a Dimension Member to a Generated Model.

See Also:

How to Define Multiple Number Formats for Dimension Members in Views

Creating Attributes within Dynamic Planning

Member Code - A unique identifier for the dimension member. You cannot have duplicate member codes.

Member Parent - Represents the name of the parent member in the dimension hierarchy that the member will roll up to. For example, Time might be the dimension, 2020 might be the parent member, and Q12020 a member that rolls up to the 2020 parent member.

Rollup Operator - Based on aggregation and reporting needs. For example, Q12014 rolls up to the 2014 parent member. Select a Rollup Operator for each dimension member.

• The value of the member is not aggregated.
• The value of the member is added to the aggregate value of the preceding sibling member(s).
• The value of the member is subtracted from the value of the preceding sibling member(s).
• The value does not include the child member value in the consolidation to its parent and it does not roll up to any dimensions.

Member Type - Hidden - hides the dimension member from display on the Analyze, Data page. Hidden members will not be removed from the model but they will be removed from the display based on view settings.

Customizing the Display Label

Now you are ready to use the Analyze and Report features to set up views and reports for your users.

Setting a Display Label

You can customize the way that members appear in views and reports using Display Labels. In Structured Planning, Consolidation, and Reporting applications, data is described with a Code and a Name. In Dynamic Planning, the Code becomes the member name by default.

When designing the view or report, using the Properties option, you can use a Display Label instead. By default, Display Label uses the Structured Planning, Consolidation, and Reporting applications definition of Code – Name.

Here is the result:

Model > Dimension

If you want to create a custom label for any member:

1. In SpotlightXL, go to Model > Dimension, and select the dimension you want to customize.
   
   
   
2. Under Action, select Set Display Label.
   
   
   
3. Then look for the member(s) that you want to change.
   
   
   
4. Click Save.

When you next open your View (Analyze > Data), the custom Display Label appears.

How to Customize the Display Label in SpotlightXL?

1. In SpotlightXL, access the Model >Dimension.
2. Select the dimension you want to have a customized display label.
3. In the Action list box, select the Set Display Label option as shown below.
   
   
   
4. The Member Display Label column is enabled. Select the dimension member you want to customize.
5. Enter the new dimension member label/name and click Save. Now, set display settings to Display Label for reports and views.

If you clear the model, the customized display labels are preserved. If you copy a view or report from an existing view or report, the target view or report will inherit the display property of the source view or report.

Display Labels in POV, Drill Through, and Search Functionality

Search functionality supports Display Labels as does drill through and Point of View (POV). In the example below, the report has the Display Label feature enabled, so the POV dropdown contains the display labels.

Display Labels and Lookups

Models sourced from Structured Planning, Consolidation, or Reporting applications with lookups do not need to use the Display Label feature. It is best to use one or the other and not both. If both features are used simultaneously, the default display name will have a lookup in place of the code. For example, let’s assume a dimension member has code “code”, name “name”, and lookup “lookup”. The default display label will be “lookup – name” instead of “code – name”.

Notes about Restructuring

Whenever you modify a hierarchy, including adding, deleting, or moving members or sub-hierarchies, Dynamic Planning performs a restructuring operation. Depending on the model size and configuration, the operation can be a lengthy process (4 or more hours). We have optimized the restructuring process to be significantly faster when modifying the hierarchy of large dimensions and models. It is optimized to be completed in less than 4 hours.

There are no changes to how you update the hierarchy. If the model is generated and you want to update the hierarchy, then simply lock the model and update the hierarchy as you normally would. Performance improvements are applied by default and there is no additional configuration needed.