Concept: Excel Interface for Planning
Excel Interface for Planning
combines the functionality and power of Adaptive Planning
with Excel. Once you install
Excel Interface for Planning
, you can open any Excel spreadsheet and click the Planning
tab to connect to Adaptive Planning
, so you can view, enter and update the data stored within Adaptive Planning
.
Excel Interface for Planning Capabilities
Excel Interface for Planning
CapabilitiesWith
Excel Interface for Planning
you can:- Connect toAdaptive Planningto accessAdaptive Planningsheets in Excel as they appear online with all the data, formulas and formatting loaded.
- Refresh the sheet to load instant updates to cells updated by other users.
- Enter data and formulas, even if you're offline, just as you would for any Excel sheet.
- Submit your updates toAdaptive Planningso other users can review it.
- Connect toOfficeConnectto simultaneously create reports in Word and PowerPoint from your Excel workbooks.
Key Concepts for Adaptive Planning
Adaptive Planning
These basic concepts help you understand how planning works.
Instance and Model
An
instance
is the collection of structural components that define a fully-functional planning entity. Sometimes called an installation
, an instance consists of a single set of accounts, organization structure, versions, dimensions, attributes, sheets, versions, permissions, fiscal years, integrations. Workday allows multiple planning instances. Think of your
instance
as how your business exists within Adaptive Planning
. It includes all your company's actuals and planning versions and all the related data, levels, and so on. The model
of your instance refers to the building blocks, (the accounts, levels, assumptions and formulas). Versions
There are 2 types of versions: actuals and plan versions. Actuals display real
numbers of sales and costs that have already happened. Most instances have 1 root
actuals. Your actuals can have more than 1 sub-version. Sub-versions roll up to the
root actuals.
Plan versions contain forecasted or budgeted data. You can have more than 1 plan
version.
Assumptions
An global value that is accessible to all users when writing formulas in their own plans. Assumptions can vary over time and have different values in different versions, but will have the same value at all levels and in every account.
assumption
is aAssumptions are often associated with user-assigned sheets. These sheets let you see and update data to which you normally do not have access. For example, expenses from the IT department are allocated to all other departments based on the number of computers in each department. The IT manager does not have access to enter data in departments outside of IT. With a user-assigned sheet, the IT manager can enter the number of computers for each departments. The data can be used to calculate the IT allocation.
Levels
Levels
are the organizational structures of your business. For example, levels represent departments, profit centers, cost centers, or geographical regions.Level access is the primary way your admin controls which users can see which data. The levels a user has permission to see dictates the data they can view and update. Levels also help you filter data displayed on sheets.
Sheets
- Data Interface
- Adaptive Planningstores information, such as general ledger actuals, forecasts, personnel information and budgets.Sheetsprovide the interface for you to view, enter and update that data. WithExcel Interface for Planning, you access the online sheets through Excel.
- Values and Calculations
- Values you see in a sheet may be calculated with data that is not displayed on the sheet. Likewise, data you enter or calculate in a sheet can affect values displayed in other sheets.Adaptive Planningformulas can only be entered online. They are either embedded in the sheet's cell by an admin or you can enter the formulas yourself. You can also just enter data without calculations. InExcel Interface for Planning, you can tell that a value is calculated with anAdaptive Planningformula when the text is italicized and you can drill down to see how it was calculated.You can't enterAdaptive Planningformulas withExcel Interface for Planningfor your sheet, but you can use Excel formulas to calculate data. Although the end value is saved the online sheets, the formula you used will not be saved. You can add them to a cell note instead.
- Sheet Access
- Sheets or portions of sheets can be restricted, so you may not have access to all sheets within your organization. Or, you may see a sheet, but you may not see the rows or columns that other users can see on the same sheet. Or you may see the columns and rows and their data, but you cannot edit the cells. For example, a sales-related user may have access to the sheet's expenses, travel, and other sales-related data, but not the data used by the marketing department.If you think you should be able to enter or edit data that appears locked, be sure you are accessing the correct version and the correct level of the sheet. If the problem persists, get clarification with your admin on your user permissions.
Enable Excel Interface for Planning for Your Instance
Excel Interface for Planning
for Your Instance After installing
Excel Interface for Planning
, open a support case in the Workday Customer Center to enable the add-in for your instance. After that you can log in and start using the add-in. If Excel Interface for Planning
is already enabled for your instance, you can log in and access it from the Planning
tab on the Excel ribbon.