Breakback Types

Breakback provides three spread methods, along with the ability to hold (or exclude) some members from changing.

• Current : This method uses existing values to create new values proportionally. For example, you can allocate updated sales targets out to regions. The Current method is limited to 500,000 leaf combinations per Breakback operation from views and reports.

• Even : This method distributes a value evenly. Use this method when you have no historical values and nothing similar. For even distributions, you can allocate only a value, you cannot use a percentage increase or decrease. For example, your company is expanding to a new product line and you have no other products to base the values on. Or you have a new department and want to allocate some funds to the department. Use the Even method sparingly as it is limited to 1500 leaf combinations per Breakback operation.

• Reference : This method distributes a value based on one or more referenced dimension members. Use this method when you have no exact history but you have a dimension member that is similar or that provides a good starting point for portioning the data. When using this method, the referenced member must be visible in the view or report.

  Referenced members should have same levels and leaf members similar to the member that you are running breakback on. For example, if you want to reference 2016 Plan for running the breakback on 2017 Forecast, 2016 fiscal year should have same levels and exact count of leaf members as 2017 fiscal year.

  Examples of Reference Breakbacks:

  • View last year’s budget and then create a current year forecast based on those historical values.

  • Base the budgeted equipment expense on the FTE count in the departments.

  • Breakback from a new product based on the distribution of an existing product.

The Reference method is limited to 500,000 leaf combinations per Breakback operation from views and reports.

• Hold : prevents the values in some cells from being changed by the Breakback operation. For example, increase sales in all regions but Hold the East region steady. Hold is available within all 3 spread methods.