Best Practices for Loading Data

Loading data to Planful sequentially. For e.g., if you load Oct-16 after loading Dec-16 data, then you need to load through Dec-16 to calculate the MTD/QTD/YTD correctly in Reporting.

Use a single Data Load Rule when loading data for a fiscal year / scenario. Loading data for the same GL combinations using multiple DLRs will result in incorrect results in Reporting.

Make sure that appropriate segments are enabled as part of Clear Data Segment combination fields.

After the data is loaded and validated in the application, access the Lock Data screen under Maintenance > Reports > Lock Data. Lock the periods so that data for those periods is not manipulated by any further loads to those periods.

The Verify Data report will show the numbers loaded based on the Data Input Type property set for an account in the application and you may have to use a Dynamic Report to view MTD or QTD or YTD amounts for an account.

When loading exchange rates via Data Load Rules, the best practice is to the load FX rates only for those periods and currencies which have a change in rate(s). Loading the rates with option “Apply Currency Conversion” enabled in the data load rule would delete the existing data set which is currency converted and recalculate the numbers afresh, and It is advised that the rates are loaded in a chronological period order. After the rates are loaded, numbers validated and the period(s) are closed from accounting perspective, the recommendation is to lock the historical periods using the Lock Data screen (if it is the Actual scenario) to avoid accidental data deletion.