Example: Create Variance Reports Using Report Templates
This example illustrates how to use a report template to create a variance report that displays the difference between different versions (actuals, budget, and forecast) for an account. For a use case related to this topic, see Use Case: Build Variance Reports Using an Excel Report Template in the Use Case Library.
You want to provide these details to your manager for the QA organization for the current year:
- Actual rent for January through March.
- Budget rent for the month of August.
- Forecast rent for the month of November.
- The difference between the budget and forecast rent from the actual rent.
You create a matrix report using the Rent account, required time periods, and versions. You also attach an Excel report template that includes a variance calculation across the different versions.
- The actuals version and the budget and forecast plan versions exist in Modeling.
- Security:
- Access Reportspermission
- Create Personal Reportspermission
- Create Shared Reportspermission
- SelectReportsfrom the main navigation menu.
- Click .
- In the report columns, add segments for actuals, budget, and forecast:
- From theDESIGN ELEMENTSsection, drag a segment to the report columns.
- Add 2 more segments to the report columns.
- Populate the first segment to display actual data from January to March of FY 2025:
- Expand the Versions element and then drag theActualsversion to the first segment.
- Add time elements from the quarters of the current year.
- Drag theJan-Marmonthly time elements to the first segment and then drop them below the actuals version.
- Populate the second segment to display budget data for August of the current year:
- Drag the budget plan version to the second segment.
- Drag theAugmonthly time element to the second segment and then drop it below the budget plan version.
- Populate the third segment to display forecast data for November of the current year:
- Drag the forecast plan version to the third segment.
- Drag theNovmonthly time element to the third segment and then drop it below the forecast plan version.
- Expand the Accounts, GL Accounts element and then locate and drag theRentaccount to the rows.To locate the Rent account, expand GL Accounts, PL Expense, and then Operational Expenses.
- Expand Levels and then drag theQAlevel to each of the 3 segments in the columns. Drop it above the version elements.
- Save and run the report.
- Attach a template to the HTML report:
- Go to the reports overview page.From theActionsmenu of the report you just created, selectAttach Template.
- SelectBlank Templateand clickOK.Refresh the page. The report output changes to Template.
- Run the report to download it as a template in Excel file format.
- Edit the report template in Excel:
- Open the Excel file that you downloaded. The report includes theseReport DataandReport Infotabs.
- Open a new tab. Copy the data from theReport Datatab into the new tab.
- To avoid conflicts, rename the new tab toVariance Analysis Reportsomething else besidesReport.
- In the new tab, add a report column named Variance.
- In the Variance column, add an Excel calculation that subtracts the actual data from the budget and forecast data.Variance = actuals - (budget + forecast).
- Save the Excel file.
- Navigate back to the report overview page.
- Upload the updated report template:
- From theActionsmenu of the HTML report, selectModify Template.
- SelectChoose Fileand browse to and select the Excel file that you updated with the variance calculation.
- ClickOK.
- Run the report with the modified Excel template attached.The report downloads to Excel from where you can open it and view the variance column.