Using SpotlightXL-Design View Subtask

Overview

The Design View subtask allows you to perform multiple actions, including creating a new view on a selected model, adjusting view properties, property values, and cell formatting, as well as configuring user security settings. To access the Design View subtask, simply select the Analyze Task followed by the Design View subtask.

Actions

The ribbon provides a range of actions available under the Design View subtask. You can also use the secondary click menu to access frequently used commands. For more information, click here. 

Refresh

This action updates data within the spreadsheet following selections. For instance, upon choosing a scenario from the drop-down menu in the worksheet displayed below, clicking Refresh will exhibit the most up-to-date data. Similarly, if you manually input members into the spreadsheet to alter the analysis layout, clicking Refresh will display the latest data.

Save/ Save As

When Save As is selected from the Design View page, the default selections for View Properties are applied, except for the created and modified properties. Adjust the View Properties accordingly and set group access for the new view. The system updates the Created On and Created By fields based on the user executing the Save As operation. Modified On and Modified By fields remain empty until modifications are made to the view.

Similarly, when selecting Save As from the Design View Properties page, all View Properties mirror those of the source view, except for group access, created, and modified properties. Define group access for the new view, while the Created On and Created By fields are automatically updated by the system according to the user initiating the Save As action. Modified On and Modified By fields remain blank until the view undergoes modifications.

How to Use Save As for a View with Default Selections?

1. In SpotlightXL, select the Analyze task and the Design View subtask.
2. Select Save, Save As.
3. Enter a name for the view and select Save.

How to Use Save As for a View with Source Selections?

1. In SpotlightXL, select the Analyze task and the Design View subtask.
2. Click Properties.
3. Select Save, Save As.
4. Enter a name for the view and select Save.

How to Create a View and Specify View Properties?

1. In SpotlightXL, go to Analyze > Data.
   Note:

   In this instance, Detailed Revenue is selected as the model, with Default as the View.
2. You can use various actions to manipulate the view such as zooming in or out, removing, or keeping only specific elements as required.
3. Next, select the Design View subtask.
4. Click Save.
5. Provide a name for the view and click Save.
6. The model layout is automatically saved with default properties.
7. To modify the associated properties of the view, click Properties.
8. Click Save.

Description of Spreadsheet Fields Available on the Properties

Description: Optionally enter a brief description of this view.

• Dimension Based Number Format: Select the dimension from the Dimension based Number Format field to apply number formatting as per the Model Dimension page. For instance, define Qty as Numeric, Amount as Percent, and Calculated Revenue as Currency. Dimension-based Number Formats defined at the View level are applicable on the page, row, or column axis.
• Decimal: Specifies the number of decimal places following the whole number. For example, 56.435 equals 3 decimal places. The default is 0. The maximum number of decimal places is 4.
• Show Hidden Members: Ability to display members with a Member Type of Hidden (as defined in dimension setup) in the View. When set to 'No', these members will be excluded. No is the default. For example, in the image below, the DW Golf Europe Corp member will be hidden from the view for the KJCDYMOD model and the Company dimension unless you select Yes.
• Enable Comments: Yes allows users to enter cell-level comments and No prevents users from entering comments.
• Enable Save: Yes allows users (members of the group with access) to save changes to the data in the model. This save will write back data to the model in Dynamic Planning. No prevents users in the group from saving changes to the model. 'No' is the default. This setting affects the availability of the 'Save Data' and 'Breakback' buttons on the ribbon.
• Calculation on Save: Includes a calculation to execute when clicking Save. Select the calculation to run from the drop-down. This property is dependent on the Enable Save property. Unless Enable Save is set to Yes, this calculation will not execute.

By default, calculations run in the background, requiring users to wait until completion before continuing to use the view. Power users can set an application-wide option to run calculations in the background for all views and reports that trigger calculations. These calculations must have been created with the option Run in Background set to Yes. Once processing is complete, an email is automatically sent to the user who initiated it. Our recommendation is for Power users to set this option to Yes.

1. In SpotlightXL, go to Manage > Application Administration > Application Settings. 
2. Scroll to the Calculation Property section, make changes, and click Save. Log off and log in again to see the changes.
   
   
   
3. Go to Model > Calculation to ensure Run in Background is set to Yes.
   
   
   
4. To view all calculations and their background settings, select Model > Setup, select the model and go to the Calculations section.
   
   
   
5. Select the calculation to run when clicking Save in the view or report.
   
   
6. Upon clicking Save in the view or report, users will see a specific message.
   

• Created On: Indicates the date and time the view was created. This cell is auto-populated by the system.
• Created By: Displays the username of the user who created the view. This cell is populated by the system.
• Modified On: Represents the date and time of the last view modification. This cell is populated by the system.
• Modified By: Shows the username of the user who last modified the view. This cell is populated by the system.
• Group: Optional field specifying the user group(s) that can access the view. Multiple group access can be assigned. If no group is specified, only the creator can view it:
  • You can assign group access only to groups of which you are a member. For example, if you belong to "Finance" but not "Operations," assigning "Finance" will work, but assigning "Operations" will trigger a validation error.
  • Available groups are those you have access to within the related model for which you are saving the view.
• Attribute Property and Attribute Property Value: Allows selection of attribute properties for the selected view:
  • Attributes with Dimension: Shows the attribute and its associated dimension.
  • Attributes without Dimension: Displays only the attribute.

Select the required attributes for the view using the 'Select Attribute 1' and 'Select Attribute 2' fields.

• Variable Name and Dimension: Enter the substitution variable and the respective dimension for applying the variable.

Enabling Menu Items in Views and Reports: Save Data and Breakback

Both Views and Reports possess Property settings that control the saving of data and execution of calculations. These settings determine whether the Save Data and Breakback buttons are available on the menu ribbon.

When Enable Save is Yes, and when Calculation on Save and Calculation Model have valid values, both Save Data and Breakback are enabled on the ribbon.

Breakback is dependent on the Save Data property. If Save Data is Yes, Breakback is available.

Save Data is dependent on the Calculation on Save property in Views and the Calculation Model property in Reports. Save Data in reports is always on if Enable Save is set to All Models.

Description of How Save Data and Breakback are Affected by View and Property Settings

The following sections show how the Save Data and Breakback menu items are affected by the view and property settings.