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Adaptive Planning
Last Updated: 2026-03-13
Reference: Data Exploration: Suggested Questions

Reference: Data Exploration: Suggested Questions

This feature is only available to Planning Agent customers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Singapore. For more information about the Planning Agent, contact your Account Executive.
These tables describe the most commonly suggested question formats. Use these specifications to get clear results or to modify open-ended questions.

Summaries

Summaries provide a broad narrative and visual analysis of the data in your report.
Specification
Description
of the data
Example:
  • Summary of the data
Provides a general overview of available data currently visible on the report page.
of [account] for [time period]
Example:
  • Summary of Revenue for FY 2024
  • Summary of Expenses for last year
Summarizes a specific account across a defined time period.
of [level] [account] for [time period]
Example:
  • Summary of Sales - Berlin Travel & Entertainment for current quarter
  • Summary of Marketing Headcount Expenses for Q1 2025
Summarizes an account for a specific organizational level across a time period.
of [custom calculation] for [level]
Example:
  • Summary of Revenue per Headcount for Sales North
Summarizes a calculated ratio.

Anomalies

Anomalies identify unexpected patterns, outliers, or irregularities in your dataset.
Specification
Description
in the data
Example:
  • Detect anomalies in the data
Identifies unexpected patterns or outliers across the entire visible data set.
in [account] for [time period]
Example:
  • Detect anomalies in Revenue for Q1 2025
  • Detect anomalies in Gross Margin Percentage for current quarter
Flags irregularities in a specific account (revenue, expenses) over a defined time period.
in [level] [account] for [time period]
Example:
  • Detect anomalies in Sales - North Expenses for last year
Detects outliers in a specific account for a particular organizational level over a defined time.
in [account] by [dimension] for [time period]
Example:
  • Detect anomalies in Revenue by Region for next year
Finds anomalies in an account when broken down by a specific dimension over time.

Trends

Trends track directional changes (increases, decreases, or stability) over time, usually visualized as line charts.
Specification
Description
in [account] for [time period]
Example:
  • Trend in Revenue for last quarter
  • Trend in Operating Expenses for Q4 2024
Analyzes patterns in a specific account over a defined time period.
in [account] by [dimension] for [time period]
Example:
  • Trend in Cash Flow by Region for Q1 2024
Tracks changes in an account broken down by a specific dimension over time.
in [account] for [level] by [granularity]
Example:
  • Trend in 6100 Payroll for EMEA by Month over the last 2 years
Tracks changes in an account broken down by a specific dimension and time granularity.

Variances

Variances calculate the numerical or percentage difference between two data sets.
Specification
Description
in [account] between [version 1] and [version 2] for [time period]
Example:
  • Variance in Operating Expenses between Actuals and Forecast for Q3 2024
Determines differences in a specific account between two versions over a defined time period.
in [account] between [time period 1] and [time period 2]
Example:
  • Variance in Revenue between Q2 2025 and Q2 2024
Compares account performance between two time periods.
Identify top variances in [Report]
Example:
  • Identify top variances in the Income Statement
Automatically identifies and highlights the top 5 variance cells based on the report current view.

Comparisons

Comparisons show differences and similarities by placing data sets side-by-side.
Specification
Description
[Account 1] and [Account 2] for [Time Period]
Example:
  • Compare Product Revenue and Services Revenue for FY 2024
Evaluates two different accounts side-by-side.
[Dimension Value 1] and [Dimension Value 2] for [Account]
Example:
  • Compare North America and EMEA for Total Expenses
Compares two different levels or regions.
sub accounts under [parent account] for [time period]
Example:
  • Compare sub accounts under Operating Expenses for FY 2024
  • Compare sub accounts under Revenue for last quarter
Compares the performance of sub-accounts under a specified parent account across a defined time period.

Breakdowns

Breakdowns decompose a value to show its underlying drivers.
Specification
Description
[parent account] by sub accounts for [time period]
Example:
  • Break down Operating Expenses by sub accounts for FY 2024
  • Break down Revenue by sub accounts for April 2025
Decomposes a parent account into its sub-accounts to analyze performance at a more granular level.
[Account] by [Dimension] for [Time Period]
Example:
  • Break down Operating Expenses by Department
Provides a breakdown of an account by a specific dimension.
[Account] by leaf level
Example:
  • Break down 6100 Payroll by leaf level
Drills down to the most granular organizational level available in the hierarchy for a specific account.