How to Create a Model by Copying an Existing Model in Spotlight Web?
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How to Create a Model by Copying an Existing Model in Spotlight Web?

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Article summary

Power and Contributor users can create a model from the Grid or List layouts. Reviewer users cannot create a model.

A model is a repository of analytic information about your organization. Data in the model is described by its dimensions and dimension members. A model requires a minimum of the following:

  • Model name
  • Model type
  • At least two dimensions, one of type Key and one of type Value

Many models have dimensions that are common or similar to a dimension you want to create. You can copy dimensions from existing models to make it faster to create the new model.

  1. In Spotlight Web, navigate to the Dynamic Planning > Model.

  2. Click the + Circle icon.


    The Create New Model panel appears.

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  3. Type the model name.

  4. Select the model type: Analytic or Master. An Analytic model will get all of its data from users. A Master model is populated with data from another data source, such as Structured Planning, Consolidation, and Reporting applications.

  5. Specify if you want to turn on Change Data Tracking. By default, it is Off. This option optimizes running full Aggregations. We recommend to turn it on when your model is ready to be populated with data.

    See How to Use Change Data Tracking for details.

  6. Optionally enter a description for the model.

    Now you will add the dimensions. You may want to enter some of the simpler ones by clicking Add Dimension while others come from other existing models.

    Note:
    Do not click Save for your model until you are done creating the dimensions. The option to Copy from Existing is only available from the Create New Model panel. Once you click Save, you cannot return to this panel.
  7. Click Copy from Existing. This opens the Copy from Existing Browser. The models you can copy from are along the left side, and you can drag and drop dimensions to the work area on the right side.


  8. Hover the mouse over the dimension you want to copy. Then click and drag it to the work area.


    Note:
    You cannot copy Attributes from existing models.
  9. Optionally select the dimension type. Select Key or Value from the drop-down. Models must have at least one Key and one Value dimension. Key corresponds to dimensions that will most likely change over time, whereas Value corresponds to dimensions that do not change often.

  10. In the work area, click the Account dimension. The work area expands to show the dimension hierarchy and members for the Account dimension that you have copied.

    Now you will choose members or hierarchies under Edit Members, and move them to the Selected Members panel. You can copy a single member using Select Fixed Member or a whole hierarchy with Select Member & Below.


  11. Click in the dimension hierarchy, expanding and collapsing as you go, or by entering the member name under Search to find the parent or member that you want to copy.


  12. Select the member or parent then click Select Fixed Member or Select Member & Below to move the member to the Selected Members panel. Once the member appears in the Selected Members panel, it is saved as part of the dimension definition.

    Note:
    If you make a mistake, click the X to remove the member from the Selected Members area. Do not click the Discard button unless you want to start over.
  13. When your work area correctly reflects the dimensions you want in your model, click Continue.
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  14. When you are done, scroll down to the Cancel or Save buttons. Click Save. A notification appears on screen if it was successful and you are returned to Grid or List layout.

  15. Click the Grid or List layouts icons to refresh the screen.

    You see the new model listed with an incomplete circle icon, indicating that the model is ungenerated. The model's only artifacts, so far, are its dimensions.

    Now you can fine tune the members and hierarchies in the dimensions, add attributes, and so on. See Using the Dimension Browser and Using the Dimension Attribute Browser.


    Once a model has been saved, you can edit the model's description or Change Data Tracking option by clicking on the creation date to open the Model Properties Browser. You cannot enable Direct Access to PCR after the model has already been saved; this option is available only when you are first creating the model.


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