Dynamic Planning Analytics Server Names in PAX

The main difficultly when migrating a Planning Analytics for Excel (PAX) report or input template from one Planning Analytics (PA)/TM1 Server to another is making sure it will work across both servers. Every PAX function, like a DBRW or SUBNM, requires the cube name or dimension name be prefixed with the Server name that is…

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Creating Picklists in Planning Analytics

Creating Picklists in Planning Analytics Picklists in Planning Analytics are the best way to help control the inputs users can put into a cell. When users are doing inputs into a cell, the possibility for error can be high. Imagine a rule that takes a value from an input cube and puts it into a…

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How to speed up TM1 ODBC Output

The IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) ODBCOutput function is used in TurboIntegrator (TI) script to execute a SQL Update or Insert query against an open ODBC data source. ODBCOutput is very useful but can be slow if exporting large numbers of records, especially in a cloud environment. A typical TI process that uses ODBCOutput will have…

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Creating Effective Source and Zero-Out Views in Planning Analytics

When writing Data Load – Turbo Integrator Processes in Planning Analytics, it is essential that effective Source and Zero-Out Views are created to ensure a correct transfer of Data. In Planning Analytics, a View is a user-defined collection of data intersections of a specified cube. The data intersections of a view are made up of…

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TM1 Security Refresh – When to use it?

If you have ever had an issue with security before, chances are you have used the ‘Refresh Security’ function on your IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) server. It is usually the first thing someone suggests when they learn your security settings have not updated as expected, and you are not sure why that is. The ‘Refresh…

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Why you need a Process Statistics Cube in Planning Analytics

Have you ever logged into your IBM Planning Analytics environment, seen a number and thought to yourself; I wonder when that was updated? Do you struggle to dig into the log files anytime something odd seems to have happened? Assuming the data changes occurred due to an automated process rather than manual changes, then building…

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Creating a Dynamic SQL Statement in Planning Analytics Turbo Integrator

When using an ODBC data source for a Planning Analytics Turbo Integrator (TI) process, native TI parameters can be utilized within the SQL query.  Planning Analytics users have the power to be more specific and efficient with a query, potentially increasing performance by having less unnecessary data that needs to be read throughout the process,…

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The Joy of Custom Controls in Cognos Reports Version 11.1.X

Here’s how to toggle between hiding and showing parts of a report Custom Controls, a new capability with release eleven, easily enables the report author to add Java Script to the report, thus providing an enhanced user experience when rendering the data in HTML.  As long as the report is running in full interactive mode,…

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Adding a Table of Contents in Cognos Reports Version 11.1.X

Don’t hunt and peck for your piece of the report, use a table of contents! A table of contents, sometimes headed as Contents or abbreviated informally as TOC, is a list usually found on the first page of a report.  It includes section titles or brief descriptions with their corresponding page numbers.  When running a…

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Layout Component References in Cognos Reports Version 11.1.X

How to use a Layout Component Reference, and override components when necessary! One of the main struggles report authors face is the maintenance of production reports.  It’s not enough to just create the report, one must also ensure the report is updated as changes are made to corporate privacy notifications, colors and logos.  This is…

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