Non-Numeric Fields

Dynamic Planning supports non-numeric fields such as text and categorical data. This powerful enhancement allows you to augment planning models with qualitative inputs like Comments, Notes, and Variance Analysis. It enables better collaboration across teams, more detailed reporting, and streamlined workflows without the need to export to Excel.

Whether you're working in Views, Reports, or Excel Reports, non-numeric measures are fully supported for a seamless planning experience.

Notes:

• To access non-numeric measures, contact Planful Support to enable it.

• After Planful Support enables it, you must turn on the Enable System Measure flag in the Model Set up screen to set up a non-numeric measure at artifact level and to view it.

Key Features

Planful Dynamic Planning now supports non-numeric fields with the following capabilities:

• Add non-numeric measures such as comments or notes to planning models.

• Use non-numeric fields in both new and existing models.

• Include non-numeric fields in Reports, Views, Excel Reports in SpotlightXL.

• Integrate non-numeric fields with import/export models for full data portability.

How to Setup Non-Numeric Fields in Models

To define non-numeric fields:

1. In SpotlightXL, navigate to Model > Setup.

2. From the Enable System Measure drop-down, select Yes to support non-numeric Measure.

3. Click Save.
   

4. Choose Non-Numeric as the field type.

5. Select from predefined types:

   • Comments (by default)

   • Notes (user defined)

   • Variance Analysis (user defined)

6. Define whether the field is text or date.
   Note: Enter Date field type, if you enter date.

7. Click Save.
   

Notes:

• You can add multiple non-numeric fields within a single model.

• Fields are validated to ensure compatibility across supported workflows.

• Mapping is not supported for non-numeric measures.

• Model Clear and Generate is not required. Simply saving the model is sufficient to apply the changes.

How to View Non-Numeric Fields

To include non-numeric measures in Views:

1. In SpotlightXL, navigate to Analyze > Design View.

2. Click Properties.

3. From the Enable System Measures drop-down, select Yes to enable non-numeric measure in the view.

4. Click Save.
   

5. Click Data to open the view you created (existing or new).

6. A new Value pane will appear.

7. Pivot non-numeric fields (e.g., Comments) into the column.

8. Refresh the view to load associated data.
   

Notes:

• You can only pivot non-numeric measures to columns.

• In Data Mode, comments can be added or updated.

• Leaving a comment blank will delete it from the intersection (on save-enabled Views).

• Comments are not supported for non-numeric measures.

• Data history is not supported for non-numeric fields.

Non-Numeric Fields in Design Manager

In Reports

1. In SpotlightXL, navigate to Report > Design.

2. Click Design Manager to add non-numeric measures to report layout.

3. Select Member-Dimension to select non-numeric measure.

4. Select Data Interface to define the data intersection.

5. Click Update.

6. Click Save.
   

Notes:

• You can configure fields like Comments or Variance Analysis during report creation and edits.

• To maintain consistency, ensure these fields are applied across all relevant new and existing reports.

In Excel Reports

1. In SpotlightXL, open an Excel Report.

2. Click Design Manager to add non-numeric measures to report layout

3. To select non-numeric measures, select Member-Dimension.

4. To define the data intersection, select Data Interface.

5. Click Update.

6. Click Save.

   

Note:

• When exported, Excel Reports will correctly display non-numeric data across rows and columns.

• Save Data is currently not supported on Excel Reports having Non Numeric Measures.

Manage Non-Numeric Measures in the Model Data Task

• Users can add or update non-numeric measures within the data subtask under the model task.

• Updates do not impact numeric measures.

• Value is mandatory when updating non-numeric fields in the data screen.

• Only leaf-level data is editable for these fields.

  Limitation

• Data history for non-numeric measures is not viewable through the web interface and SpotlightXL.