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Exploring the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Hierarchies
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How do I create a new company?
To create a new company or add a new
Creating a new company is the same as adding a new member to the Company dimension in the Finance Hierarchy. On the Hierarchy Management page, select Finance Hierarchies as Type and Company as Dimension. In the Company dimension, add a new member. Click here to learn more about adding a new member to a hierarchy.
How does an admin unlock the hierarchy in edit mode?
When an admin or any user with access to Hierarchy Management opens the hierarchy in edit mode (via Edit Hierarchy), the page becomes locked for all other users. Only one user can edit at a time. To unlock it, the user currently editing must exit edit mode or close the page. Once they do, others will be able to access it in edit mode.
How do I give users access to only certain companies (or any specific dimension members) in the hierarchy?
To control which companies (or any specific dimension members) a user can access in Structured Planning, you can configure access through the Approval Role Setup for Budget Entity Hierarchies. Once your hierarchies are created, follow the steps below to manage user access:
Navigate to Maintenance > Administration > User & Role Management.
Select the user you want to configure.
Click the Security icon and choose Approval Role Setup.
On the Approval Role Setup page:
Assign the appropriate Budget Entities — each representing a combination of dimension members (e.g., Company, Department). This determines which companies the user can see.
Assign the Approval Role, which defines the planning templates available to the user.
Click Save to apply the changes.
This setup ensures the user can only access the companies (or specific dimension members) to which they are granted access in the Planning Control Panel.
I can't find new accounts in the hierarchy management to map
If you don’t see new accounts in Hierarchy Management, check if the new accounts have been added to the source system and imported into Planful. If the accounts are not yet imported, they won't appear in Hierarchy Management for mapping. Also, ensure you're viewing the correct version and dimension where the accounts should be mapped.
I do not see the user-defined attribute in attribute settings
If you do not see the user-defined attribute in Attribute Settings, here are the possible reasons:
The attribute was not saved properly after creation. Make sure the attribute creation process was completed and saved.
You are viewing a different dimension. Attributes are dimension-specific. Verify that you are in the Attribute Settings for the correct dimension (e.g., Account, Entity, etc.).
Can I use "Iif - String" as a name for an attribute or dimension in Planful?
No, "Iif” sting" cannot be used as a name for an attribute or dimension because "Iif" is part of the disallowed strings in Planful. To learn more about the disallowed strings for Attributes and Dimensions, click here.
How to update Segment Properties?
To update segment properties, do the following:
Navigate to Maintenance > Hierarchy > Hierarchy Management.
Select the hierarchy Type, Dimension, and Hierarchy
Click Apply Selection.
In the hierarchy tree, select the immediate parent member of the desired rollup member.
In the middle pane, select the rollup or leaf level member. If the properties panel is not visible, click More, and then click Show/Hide Properties.
Edit the segment properties as needed and click OK.
Click Save.
To learn more about segment properties, click here
Why can't I edit the Dimension member (for ex: Division)?
The Dimension member cannot be edited when the Hierarchy Management page is opened in Read Mode. To edit a dimension member (e.g., Division), ensure that Hierarchy Management is opened in Edit Mode.
Do we need to update both the Financial and Entity Hierarchies if there is a reorganization, but no new Business Unit is created?
Not necessarily. If the reorganization affects only reporting (e.g., department roll-ups), update the Financial Hierarchy. If it impacts planning activities like template access or approvals, update the Entity Hierarchy. Update both only if the reorganization affects both reporting and planning structures.
If I move a Business Unit from one roll-up to another, do I need to update both the Financial and Entity Hierarchies?
It depends on where the change impacts:
If the move affects only reporting, update the Financial Hierarchy.
If the move affects planning (e.g., template access, approvals, or workflow), update the Entity Hierarchy.
If both reporting and planning are impacted, then update both hierarchies.
So in your case — if you're only changing how the Business Unit appears in reporting roll-ups, updating just the Financial Hierarchy is enough.
How can I show the Business Unit and a User-Defined Attribute on the same row in a report?
To display both on the same row in a Dynamic Report, follow these steps:
Create a Dynamic Report.
Add a base dimension to the Rows (e.g., Department or Employee).
From the Pick List, add both the Business Unit and the desired User-Defined Attribute to the row section.
Run the report — both fields will appear as separate columns in the same row.
Make sure the attributes are enabled in the reporting cube to be available in the report.
When I want to create a new roll-up in the hierarchy, do I need to do it in both the Financial and Entity Hierarchies?
Not always. It depends on how the new roll-up will be used:
If the roll-up is for reporting purposes only, create or update it in the Financial Hierarchy.
If the roll-up is needed for planning activities (e.g., template assignment, workflow, approvals), update the Entity Hierarchy.
If it impacts both reporting and planning, then you should update both hierarchies.
The Financial Hierarchy supports reporting, while the Entity Hierarchy controls planning access and structure.
This section consists of the FAQs of the following hierarchies:
Exploring the Frequently Asked Questions for Alternate Hierarchies
The following are the frequently asked questions for Alternate Hierarchies.
Q. Do Elimination companies in the main company hierarchy require a new code for the alternate hierarchies?
A. Yes
Q. Are the Elimination companies in the alternate hierarchies non-Elimination companies in the main hierarchy?
A. Yes. The Elimination companies of the alternate hierarchies are in addition to the Elimination companies in the main hierarchy.
Q. What is the main advantage and differences between Main and Alternate hierarchies; as it relates to Elimination companies?
A. As alternate hierarchies are used for reporting based on a different grouping, the intercompany Elimination company will be different than the main hierarchy. For example, using the image below, the main hierarchy is based on a legal entity and the Alternate hierarchy is based on divisions. The main hierarchy intercompany Eliminations for Company1 and Company2 are done in the Elim 1&2 Elimination company. Whereas, in the Alternate hierarchy, the intercompany Eliminations for Company2 and Company3 are done in the Elim 2&3 Elimination company.
For Sibling hierarchies, different types of financial statements for the same company hierarchy are required and the same Elimination companies are used.
Q. Will Elimination companies in an Alternate hierarchy (which rolls up differently than the main company hierarchy) post different amounts based on the rollup structure
A. Yes
Q. Do journal entries post the same amounts in an Alternate hierarchy?
A. Transactions are not posted in an Alternate hierarchy. There can be no input to the Alternate hierarchy and the data that is posted to the main hierarchy is just reported differently using the Alternate hierarchy.
Q. Can journal entries be different in Sibling hierarchies?
A. Yes, this is possible as there are different leaf members under the main hierarchy and data posting is allowed under a different company. In addition to the data flowing from the source hierarchy, additional adjustments can be made directly to the Sibling hierarchy.
Q. How do Eliminations in Sibling hierarchies work?
A. Eliminations in Sibling hierarchies will be independent of the source hierarchy. You can post adjustments to sibling hierarchies using journals and then rerun Eliminations.
merge accounts
Q. Can I merge leaf accounts/Can I merge accounts?
A. While you can’t directly merge leaf accounts, you can easily consolidate their data for reporting purposes.
To do this, create a new roll-up member and place the relevant leaf accounts under it. This method allows you to group related accounts, enabling seamless aggregation and analysis without modifying your original account setup.
Example: If you have separate leaf accounts like Marketing_Events, Marketing_Ads, and Marketing_Content, you can create a roll-up account called Marketing_Total, move these accounts under it, and instantly gain consolidated visibility in your reports.
This flexible structure supports clean hierarchy management while giving you complete control over how you view and analyze your financial data.
Exploring the Frequently Asked Questions for Dated Hierarchies
The following are the frequently asked questions for Dated Hierarchies.
Q. Does ownership or parent change require changes in Data Entry settings?
A. No. Data Entry is done to the same company, and the calculations appear under new parents.
Q. How do I generate data for the company for all periods without having to select newly created companies?
A. Select the company, and in reporting section deselect the Org By Period member.