DP schedules

Detailed planning schedules are spreadsheet-style data-entry screens that provide a way for end users to contribute data to detailed planning models.

In appearance schedules are similar to templates but are more structured: the rows always represent the Detailed Planning Object (DPO); for example, employees.

Schedules are created by administrators.

As a Web Client user, provided you have the necessary permissions, you can open a schedule from Document Explorer and work with it in a Detailed Planning Schedule tab.

The designer of a schedule can choose to link it to up to two review templates. You can open a review template if you want to see the effect of your data changes.

 Example:  The review template could be a department-level report showing data from the finance model associated with the detailed planning model.

Open the schedules panel

  • In Detailed Planning Manager, in the Administration drawer, click Schedules.

     Note:  The Administration drawer is unavailable when the Detailed Planning cube or its linked cube(s) is offline.

Open a schedule

 Note:  Detailed Planning schedules are unavailable when the Detailed Planning cube is offline.

In Detailed Planning Manager

  • Select File > Open.

In Document Explorer

  • Right-click a schedule file and select Data Entry Mode or Design Mode.

Create a schedule

  1. Select File > New.
  2. Link the schedule to a scenario: select from Scenario.
  3. Add Conditions. (They determine which DPOs appear in the schedule.) Click and create the conditions that will filter the DPOs when the schedule runs.
  4. Add attributes, calculations, and calculation parameters as columns. Click and select the type you want to add. Use the Insert Column dialog to add the new column, and optionally to change its display name and/or position.
  5. Make specific columns stay visible when the user scrolls right. Select the column(s) and click .
  6. Change the position of a column. Select the column and click or .

  7. Add a review template(s). Click and select the template file. If you have not created this template, you can do so later in Template Studio, and then come back and attach it.

     Note:  A template cannot be used twice as a reviewing template in the same schedule.

  8. Change the format of column headers for members of Time: click and select an option.
  9. To have the calculations run whenever a user opens the schedule, click .The icon highlighted indicates the option is turned on.
  10. Run the schedule. Click Data Entry. The schedule opens in a new tab, with the DPO data loaded. You can add/edit the data.

 Use Case:  Using a schedule for personnel planning.

FAQ

Where can schedules be used?

They can be used in Detailed Planning Manager and in Workflow tasks.

 Example:  As part of a personnel planning workflow, a schedule could be distributed monthly to department managers, prompting them to review and update employee data.

How are schedules stored?

When you create a schedule, it is saved as a file in Document Explorer.

What goes into the rows in a schedule?

They are always the Detailed Planning Object (DPO). For example, in personnel planning, the rows are employees.

What are the columns in a schedule?

They can be any of the following:

  • Attribute

    Attributes of the DPO. Both editable and non-editable attributes can be displayed in the relevant cells for each object.

  • Calculation

    Results of any calculation can be displayed. The columns can represent any contiguous time periods.

  • Calculation Parameter

    Both adjustable and non-adjustable parameters can be displayed for each DPO.

Can a schedule be filtered?

You select the set of DPOs in a schedule by defining conditions and selecting a scenario.

 Example:  In personnel planning, you could have a schedule that includes only hourly-paid staff.

Are schedules secure?

When an end user runs a schedule, their security settings for the Organization dimension in the detailed planning cube (as well as any conditions that you add) determine what records are loaded to the schedule.

In a workflow, how is schedule data reviewed?

Each schedule can optionally be associated with up to two review templates that are used by reviewers to submit and approve or reject data.

How do I identify inactive DPOs in a schedule?

Inactive DPOs are highlighted in yellow. However, when the schedule opens (if the Calculate on open option is turned on) or when you select Calculate, their calculations are processed just like those of active DPOs.

What can I do with schedules?

You can do the following:

  • Add, edit, or delete detailed planning resources and save your changes to the model.
  • Calculate totals
  • Update the finance model (with some exceptions) if the detailed planning model has one attached
  • Use review templates
  • Use all calculation types
  • Use all attribute types
  • Fill down and fill right
  • Expand/collapse calculation columns
  • Hide/unhide columns
  • Sort on a column
  • Filter on multiple columns
  • Schedule data entry through workflow
  • (In a workflow task) submit the schedule or approve/reject the schedule, and also add/review comments.
  • Use the Object Editor from inside schedules to update attributes.
  • Copy data to the Windows clipboard, for pasting into Excel, Word, and so on.