Adding calculation methods

In Model Manager, to define how each account's value is created you specify its calculation method.

The default method for all accounts is Input, which allows users to enter or import data to the account.

The procedures below describe how to specify a calculation method other than the default.

Use Aggregate Children

To calculate an account's value by adding, subtracting, or ignoring the values of its direct child accounts, use the Aggregate Children calculation method:

To use the Aggregate Children method

  1. In Model Manager, select the Account dimension and select the account member.
  2. Open the Calculation Definition drawer.
  3. Optionally, if you want to define different calculations for different rule sets, select Calculation definition varies by rule set.

  4. From Calculation method, select Aggregate Children.

    All the selected account's children appear in the drawer.

    By default, all the child account values are summed into the parent account.

  5. To specify the operation applied to a child account, highlight the account and click the appropriate method:
    • Add account value to the parent account
    • Subtract account value from parent account
    • Ignore the account value in the parent account calculation

Define formulas

You can add calculation formulas to the following:

  • an Account member
  • an Account member's Time conversion property
  • a Version member
  • a Time Perspective member

When you set the Calculation method or Time conversion property to Formula, the Formula box appears and you can use it (or open the Formula Editor) to define a custom formula:

Define calc definition formula

To define a Calculation definition formula:

  1. In Model Manager, select the dimension and member.
  2. Open the Calculation Definition panel.
  3. Optionally, if you want to define different calculations for different rule sets, turn on Calculation definition varies by rule set.
  4. From Calculation method, select Formula.
  5. Select a Formula type.
  6. To open the Formula Editor, click .
  7. Do one of the following:
    • To create a formula in basic mode (the defaut):
      • Type the formula.
      • To add a dimension member at the cursor's current location in the formula, do one of the following:
        • Double-click the member.
        • Select the member and click .
    • To create a formula in advanced mode, turn on Define using advanced formulas and do any of the following:
      • To add a dimension member or property at the cursor's current location in the formula, do one of the following:
        • Double-click the member or property.
        • Select the member or property and click .
      • To add a member or property from a different dimension, first select that dimension from the drop-down at upper-left.
  8. Click OK.

Define Time conversion formula

To define a Time conversion formula:

  1. Select the Account dimension and member.
  2. In Member Properties, from Time conversion select Formula.
  3. To open the Formula Editor, click .
  4. Create the formula as described in the previous procedure.
  5. Click OK.

Use Get Data

You can define an account to pull data from another model. To do this, you set the account in the current model to use the Get Data method.

Prerequisites

 Note:  Dimensions shared between two models must have identical names; if the dimension names are different, data will not be retrieved for the All member of that dimension.

 Example:  If the Organization dimension is shared, and is named "Organization" in the first model and "Org" in the second model, data retrieval will not function as expected.

To use the Get Data method

  1. In Model Manager, select the Account dimension and select the account member.
  2. In the Calculation Definition drawer, from Calculation method, select Get Data.
  3. From Source Model, select the model that contains the account you want to retrieve data from.

  4. Under Source Model Members, to select a member for a dimension, click . Selector opens.

     Note:
    • For dimensions that are shared, the default selection is Current member.
    • For dimensions that are not shared, the default selection is Not defined.

Formula Editor modes

Formula Editor provides two modes: Basic and Advanced.

Basic mode (default)

  • The editor provides no assistance; you add and complete the functions yourself.
  • The formula can use only simple math operators ( + - / * () ).
  • The formula cannot reference members belonging to other dimensions.

Advanced mode

  • The editor provides enhanced formula editing, and the following additional features appear:
    • The ability to switch to other dimension hierarchies for use with the formula.
    • A list of standard functions to select from.
    • A member Properties node in the hierarchy

To enter/exit advanced mode, turn on/off Define using advanced formulas:

Enhanced formula editing

When inputting formulas (in advanced mode) for the functions in the Pro Calc Library, the editor now provides formula syntax prompts and auto-completion,: