Building the Planning Model

This chapter provides an overview the planning model and discusses how to:

• Define the planning model.

• Stage scenarios and activities in a planning model.

• Use Model Manager and Scenario Manager.

• Update the scenarios and activities in a planning model.

Understanding the Planning Model

This section provides an overview of the planning model and discusses common elements used in this chapter.

A planning model is your framework to develop plans and budgets. It includes the time periods and activities used during your budget cycle, sources of data available to users, rules (including methods and formulas) that apply to line-item budgets, and other budget options and control parameters. The planning model synthesizes all earlier defined budget parameters and establishes the beginning and end of the overall planning and budgeting cycle. Creating a model involves collecting the necessary parts by business unit.

Define and stage a planning model for activities and scenarios using the coordinator role. When you define the model, you specify data requirements such as position, asset, and line item activity data. You select data sources and the source to seed the base budgets. Finally, you stage the data and release the activities and scenarios in the model to distribute the plans and budgets to budget users.

See Also

Setting Up Spread Types

Common Elements Used in This Chapter

Defining the Planning Model

This section provides overviews of how to set up the planning model, including its activities and scenarios, and discusses how to:

• Define planning model defaults.

• Copy existing planning models.

• Manage activities and scenarios in the planning model.

• Send email to users.

• Define dimension levels for planning centers and other dimensions for preparing activity scenarios.

• Define data sources for asset activities.

• Define data sources for line-item activities.

• Associate spread types for the AMTPER method.

• Access planning target options.

• Specify planning targets.

• Define data sources for position activities.

• Associate spread types and defaults for the POSBUD method.

• Using enforce budget and zero-base budget options.

• Viewing planning method groups assigned to line item activities.

• Assign planning method defaults to line-item activities.

• Define the general properties of a flexible formula.

• Define the expression of the flexible formula.

• Use built-in functions.

• Create the flexible formula source.

• Select dimension members for the flexible formula source.

• Review the flexible formula.

• Assign the flexible formula.

• Define public views.

• Specify user view details.

• Specify row display filters.

• Specify row display options.

• Specify column display options.

• Assign or create security groups.

• Assign email templates.

• Define currency options.

• Enter notes for the planning model.

Understanding How to Set Up the Planning Model

Define the framework for the budget by performing the following:

1. Define the planning model.

2. Assign an activity group to the planning model.

3. Assign an scenario group to the planning model.

4. Activity scenario combinations are created based on the groups associated with the planning model, for these combinations define the following:

   - Dimension levels or summarization for planning center and other dimensions.

   - Data sources for activities.

   - Comparison scenarios and target scenarios for line item activities.

   - Defaults for line item activity types, including account category, enforce budget and zero base budget options, method defaults and public views.

   - Assign a security group to each activity scenario.

   - Assign email templates.

5. Define currency options for a multiple currency planning model.

6. Enter any notes about the planning model.

Understanding Activity-Scenario Combinations

You can use activity-scenarios to organize the timing of different plans or budgets at similar or varying times throughout your organization's budget cycle. Each activity-scenario combination is like its own independent data repository. Activity-scenario combinations are auto-created in your planning model when you choose an activity group and scenario group definition in your model. You can leverage some of the same setup data defined by the model, with the scenario's main attribute using the time related data and the activities main attribute using the dimension related data. The intersection of the two (activity-scenario) provides multiple plans and budgets that can be related or independent. The unique activity-scenario combinations control the information that you can view and modify under the umbrella of a planning model, which is defined for a business unit. You can have one or many activity-scenario combinations within each planning model that you create. Each activity-scenario you define is staged, released to end users, or placed on hold at any time you define.

For example, detailed revenue and expense budgets are prepared at the greatest level of detail data is prepared, and is the way the data is sent back to the general ledger system for storing and tracking. Prior to the mid-year kick-off of the following year's budget, a higher level strategic plan may be developed first, covering anywhere from one to five years. As a business process, this information is prepared and reviewed prior to creating a more detailed budget for the following year. Using the example below, the first two columns indicate the activity-scenario combinations. There are three line item activities, and two scenarios. Because the Strategic Two-Year Plan is associated with a different scenario (2007–2008 Plan), it may use a different element of time, such as using an annual calendar. This preparation of this strategic plan is well before any detail plans are created, having a start date and end date of April 1 to April, respectively. I will be completed before the revenue and expense detail plans are prepared. Using the start and end dates with activity-scenario allows you to open up preparation of the data based on your organization's requirement for the information, or the phase or stage of the budgeting cycle you are in. You may overlap or stagger the preparation of activity-scenarios, there are no restrictions with the start and end dates. The 2007 Budget Scenario has the two activities, revenue and expense. The start and end dates of these two activity-scenarios is not the same, but is overlapping. The following table illustrates the use of start and end dates for activity-scenario combinations in your planning model:

Use the Activity-Scenario page in your planning model to define rules and indicate the start and end dates in which activity-scenarios are prepared by users.

See Defining Your Planning and Budgeting Parameters.

See Also

Establishing Activities and Activity Groups

Pages Used to Define the Planning Model

Defining Planning Model Defaults

Access the Model page.

Copy Model	Click to copy the model to a new planning model or business unit
Status	Select the desired status. Values are: Active (default) or Inactive. Note. You can only change the status to Inactive if no activity scenario in the model has a status of “Released”.
Activity Group	Select the desired activity group. Click the link next to the drop-down list box to access the Activity Group page and edit or view the selected activity group. See Defining the Planning Model. Note. This drop-down list box is unavailable when at least one of the activities or scenarios is staged.
Scenario Group	Select the desired scenario group. Click the link next to the drop-down list box to access the Scenario Group page and edit or view the selected scenario group. See Defining the Planning Model. Note. This drop-down list box is unavailable when at least one of the activities or scenarios is staged.
Create Activity Group	Click to create a new activity group. See Defining the Planning Model.
Create Scenario Group	Click to create a new scenario group. See Defining the Planning Model.
Multi-Currency	Select to enable setup of currency options for the model, which displays the Currency Options tab. Whether selected or not, the business unit base currency is the default currency for the model. Note. If you clear the Multi-Currency check box, the system removes any definition that you create using the Currency Options page.

Copying Existing Planning Models

Access the Copy Model page.

Copy an existing planning model to use as a starting point for a new planning model, open the new planning model, and then modify the new model's parameters as needed.

Managing Activities and Scenarios in the Planning Model

Access the Activity Scenario page.

Show	Select which activity scenario combinations you want to display. Values are: All Activity Scenario: Displays all valid activity and scenario combination for the planning model. Selected Activity Scenario: Displays only the selected activity scenario combinations.
Budgeting Activity Group	Click to access the Activity Group page and edit or view the selected activity group.
Edit/View Scenario Group	Click to access the Scenario Group page and edit or view the selected scenario group.
View Scenario Manager	Click to access the Scenario Manager page and manage, update, change status, or review process results of the activity scenarios defined.
Email	Click to access the Compose Mail page and send emails to planning and budgeting users. See Sending Email to Users.

Details

Based on the selected activity group and scenario group, the following table depicts all the permitted combinations of activity scenarios allowed. The combinations allowed is driven by the Budgeting Type of the scenario group, each of the Scenario Types in the group, and the activity types allowed with each:

Line Item Details

Security and Email

Sending Email to Users

Access the Compose Mail page.

Users marked as planning and budgeting user and have email addresses appear on this page. Enter email subject and text information in the Email Details section.

Defining Dimension Levels for Planning Centers and Preparing Activities and Scenarios

Access the Dimension Level Summarization page.

The system displays all dimensions selected for the activity as well as the trees defined on the Activity Group Hierarchy page.

Note. Any activities associated with the planning model require dimensions for account and the planning center dimension.

If you have staged the activity scenario, you should not change the fields on this page.

Defining Data Sources for Asset Activities

Access the Data Source page.

Use Source Data	Select this check box to stage data from your source asset management system when you integrate data for assets and depreciation. When the check box is selected, there is data located in the source tables BD_ASSET and BD_ASSET_DEPR, and the stage process will retrieve any related data. You do not need to select the check box when you do not bring data from your source system for assets and depreciation.
Asset Book Name	Enter the book name for the asset information you wish to retrieve for the business unit.
Default Depreciation Account	Enter to populate the depreciation account for assets that do not have matching depreciation rows. The valid depreciation accounts are taken from those defined using the Depreciation Accounts page.

Defining Data Sources for Line-Item Activities

Access the Data Source page.

Select Spreads

Click to access the Spread Definition page and enter a spread ID for an activity. See Associating Spread Types with Line Item Activities.

Source

Comparison Scenarios

Target Scenario

Assigning Planning Target Scenarios and Controls

Access the Planning Targets page.

Account	The system automatically selects this dimension and validates the account node at the planning center level. Note. Account is a required dimension with planning targets.
(planning center)	The system automatically selects the dimension that you use to define the planning center. Since the dimension that you use as your planning center is required, the displayed dimension may be different. For example, if Department is your planning center, the system validates planning targets for the detail or roll-up Department dimension and the account roll-up. Dimensions available as the planning center depend on your source financial system and can include the following: Department, Fund, Operating Unit, Product, Program, Class, Project, E1 Business Unit, ChartField 1, ChartField 2, and ChartField 3. Note. You can select one additional dimension (other than fiscal year) to validate at the planning center level. If you select an additional dimension, the system validates planning targets for this dimension at the defined account roll-up, planning center level, and the other dimension level.
Fiscal Year	Select to indicate that targets are validated by each year (if you defined a multi-year budget or forecast). If you do not select this check box, the system uses the sum of all years as the planning target.
View Target Details	Click to view target values for all valid rows associated with the line item activity scenario. The system displays the complete planning center tree and the parent and child relationship. It only displays detail for actual rows in the planning target ledger and for the summary levels displayed at the rollup for a total of the planning target amounts.
Select(allow target override)	Select to enable users to submit their budgets when the activity scenario falls outside the defined planning target tolerance range.

Associating Spread Types with Line Item Activities

Access the Spread Definition page.

For the proposed line item activity scenario, you can associate spread IDs to be used in conjunction with the amount per period (AMTPER) methods for budget preparation. When the scenario for the line item activity is a Forecast scenario type, the page is still available to allow for the AMTPER definitions.

Defining Data Sources for Position Activities

Access the Data Source page.

Use Source Data	Select when you integrate data for position and employee jobs and wish to stage the data from your source human resource system. The flag enabled indicates there is data located in the source tables (BP_JOB_F00, BP_COMP_F00, and BP_POSITION_D00) and the stage process will retrieve any corresponding data. You do not need to select the check box when you do not bring data from your source system for existing position and employee job data.
Position Source Scenario	Select a scenario ID in which you have position and employee job data stored. Note. If you are using PeopleSoft Human Resources, this field should be left blank, because data brought from that source system does not have or use the Scenario ID field. Typically, the scenario ID field is populated if you previously exported the data from another position activity scenario within the application. For example, you are preparing a second scenario for the same activity and wish to modify the data stored in the first scenario to create and generate a second optional scenario. Basically, you will use this as you base budget or seed data for the second scenario.
Select Spreads	Click to access the Spread Definition page and define spreads. See Associating Spread Types with Line Item Activities.
Include Tax Calculation	Select to have the system perform tax-related calculations while loading the position data. The process uses the tax information from Positions Data Defaults page.
Use Defaults for Employee Data	Select this option to also assign the same compensation defaults to populate data at the employee level. This check box is optional. It is particularly useful when you are not using PeopleSoft Human Resources payroll or total compensation and want to pre-populate compensation components at the employee level. If you select this option, the system uses job code and position data defaults to populate missing employee compensation components. These compensation components (benefit and earning types) are populated with position defaults when there are no other rows associated with the employee for that compensation type are available. For example, if the employee has existing benefit data, but no earnings data, only earnings data will be picked up from the position defaults for earnings when defined, and benefit data will not since something already exists. If you do not want employee data rows populated with position defaults, do not select this option.
Create New Positions	Select to have the system create positions within PeopleSoft Budgeting for employees that do not have assigned positions. The system automatically generates a position number for the employee.
Exclude Temporary Employees	Select this check box if you want the system to include those employees who are designated as temporary on the BP_INTRFC_JOB table when creating positions. Note. This check box is available when you select Create New Positions.
Include Employee Contribution	Select to include the employer-paid portion of the employee’s benefit retirement contribution.

Associating Spread Types with Position Activities

Access the Spread Definition page.

For the proposed position activity scenario, you can associate spread IDs to be used in conjunction with the position budgeting (POSBUD) method for budget preparation. When the scenario for the position activity is a Forecast scenario type, the page is unavailable. This is because position budgeting activities are not allowed with Forecast Scenario Types.

The Position Budgeting Spread group box sets the global default for the POSBUD method. This group box is available when there is:

• A position activity associated with a bottom up scenario type.

  It does not include forecast scenario types because forecasts do not allow for the position budget method POSBUD.

• The associated scenario is not using an annual calendar.

• A standard or control budget type.

  Project type budgets do not allow position budgeting.

Assigning Planning Method Defaults to Line-Item Activities

Access the Assign Planning Method Defaults page.

To review and edit any of the planning method group defaults that are available for the line item activity, you may click on the Method Group ID link (Method Group ID assigned in the Activity Group) in the Method Group column on the Line Items Defaults tab.

The Method Defaults link on the Line Item Defaults tab is used to assign any exceptions by account in the line item activity. Without a method default for an account, the system automatically assigns the BASBUD (base budget amount) method to every line item in a base budget and allows override for each row. Use the Assign Planning Method Defaults page to define exceptions by account, including override restrictions on methods.

Assign Methods

Override Controls

Select or clear the following check boxes to specify which method and related defaults that you assign to each account row in the line item activity that preparers can override using the data entry pages. Insert rows to identify exceptions to the base budget default method.

Note. If you do not change the system defaults for methods and method override controls assigned to a line item in the base budget, the system allows override of all method details.

See Also

Building Flexible Formulas for Your Model

Defining Public Views

Access the Define View page.

Views defined here become public and are available options when using a line-item activity. Users can select these views from the line item entry page while working on the activity. .

Specifying User View Details

Access the User View Details page.

Specifying Row Display Filters

Access the Row Display Filter page.

Row Display Help

Click to access the Row Display Help page and review information about each page element.

Dimensions

Filter Dimension Members

Specifying Row Display Options

Access the Row Display Options page.

Row Summary	Select to display only the node-level summary values for the dimension that you define as the first dimension level using the Row Display Filter page.
Row Detail	Select to display editable, detailed cells for all row dimensions.
Hide Zero Total Amounts for Proposed Budget/Forecast	Select to hide rows in the line item activity total amounts that equal zero. This selection applies only to the Line Item Details page; the analysis and reporting options do not recognize it.
Method Amount	Select to display the amount based on the method assigned to a line-item row. If selected, users can access method details in the line-item activity. For example, if you enable override capability of the BASBUD method at the coordinator level, budget users can access the method details and modify the method to AMTPER, which enables them to manually enter a budget value for the line-item.
Adjustment Amount	Select to display any incremental or mass adjustment amounts associated with the line-item row. If you enable adjustments for line-item activity, budget users can apply adjustments to a line-item budget row.
Allocation Amount	Select to display any amount defined by the allocations activity. Users cannot edit this value.
Total Amount	Select to display the total budget amount for a line-item row, which is comprised of the method, adjustment, and allocation amounts. Users cannot edit this value.
Display Entry Currency	Select to display all entry currency values during line-item preparation.
Display Statistic Rows	Select to have the system add the statistics code to the view definition and display statistical amounts by account during line-item preparation. Budget users cannot view both statistical accounts and target currency amounts.
Display Target Currency	Select to display one target currency or all target currencies in line-item activity defined in the model.
One	Select to view a specific target currency in the line-item activity defined for the model, and then use the Row Display Filter page to select the currency code that you want to view as the single target currency value for the model
All	Select to view all target currencies in line-item defined for the model. If you define target currency values for the view, then you cannot display statistic rows during line-item preparation.

Note. If the model is not defined as a multi-currency model, the currency options are unavailable.

The system does not add statistical amounts to totals or display statistical amounts at the summary level of a node. If you select Display Entry Currency, the system does not summarize statistical amounts. To summarize statistical amounts at the node level, select a specific dimension value for statistics code. The following table shows the data that you view during line-item preparation based on the filter dimension values and currency options that you specify for statistical codes:

When you use statistical accounts, if you select Display Statistic Rows, the system displays statistical accounts, but these accounts are not rolled up or summarized with currency data. If you leave the dimension value blank, when displaying currency or statistics, the system displays all values.

Use the Row Display Options page to set currency and statistics options.

Specifying Column Display Options

Access the Column Display Options page.

Column Display Help	Click to access the Column Display Help page and review information about each check box.
Period Summary	Select to display only summary nodes for the period dimension, such as annual total and quarterly subtotals for a monthly budget. To summarize the period, the system uses the time hierarchy defined and associated with the scenario group used by the planning model.
Period Detail	Select to display only detailed, editable cells for the period dimension.
Prior Year Actuals	Select to display in line-item defined actual expenditures or revenues received for the last completed year.
Year to Date Actuals	Select to display in line-items defined actual expenditures or revenues received form the beginning of the year to the present.
Current Year Budget	Select to display defined budget plans approved for the current year in line-item budget.
Current Year Forecast	Select to display previously defined forecast projections for the current year.

Note. The system displays ledger data associated with the analysis base that you define using the Data Source page for the line item activity scenario.

The coordinator defines analysis bases that determine historical periods included in the view. The historical information appears as annual totals in the columns.

Assigning Email Templates

Access the Assign Email Templates page.

Use Email	Select to send a predefined email when the associated action occurs.
Template ID	Select the predefined email template that you want the system to use when the associated action occurs. You create the predefined email text using the Email Template Definitions page. Values are: Model Stage: After the activity, scenario, and planning model is successfully staged, the system sends the specified email to all users that you select using the Email Template Definitions page. Budget Reject: After a budget is rejected, the system sends the specified email to those users who submitted the rejected budget and to any users that you select using the Email Template Definitions page. Budget Submit: After a budget is submitted, the system sends the specified email to users who are assigned at the next level of the planning center (approval hierarchy) as determined by the tree definition for the planning center and to users that you select using the Email Template Definitions page for the template. Planning Target: After a budget is submitted that includes data outside the planning target tolerance definitions and if the planning target is defined as passive control, the system sends the specified email to users who are assigned at the next level of the planning center hierarchy as determined by the tree definition for the planning center and to users that you select using the Email Template Definitions page. You use the Planning Target Tolerance and Planning Target Control pages to set up planning target definitions.
Email Templates (button)	Click to access the Email Template Definitions page that you defined when you set up planning and budgeting parameters.

See Also

Setting Up Planning Target Rules

Using Planning and Budgeting Email Templates

Defining Currency Options

Access the Currency Options page.

Note. The Currency Options tab is available when you select Multi-Currency on the Model page.

See Staging Data for Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model.

If you are working with a multi-currency planning model, the Currency Options grid displays the one or more rows you define, and the three available check boxes, in which the base business unit currency definition is the default. After one activity scenario has been staged, you cannot delete any rows or change any check boxes.

Note. Once you stage a model, you cannot change the values on the Currency Options page. To add or delete currencies, you cannot have a single activity or scenario staged in the planning model.

Staging Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model

This section provides overviews of:

• The steps to stage activities and scenarios in a planning model.

• The data staging process.

• Model Validator rules.

• Data staging options.

• How to view dimension exceptions during processing.

This section also lists prerequisites and discusses how to:

• Stage data for activities and scenarios in a planning model.

• Run the Model Validator.

• Select the data staging options.

• Verify dimension data exceptions from the data staging process.

• Verify dimension values from the data staging process.

• Creating the worklist for the scenarios and activities in a planning model.

Understanding the Steps to Stage Activities and Scenarios in a Planning Model

Complete the following steps to stage an activity scenario in a planning model:

1. Run the model validation process to locate and correct any errors made during model setup of activities and scenarios.

2. Determine the dimension member list for all the dimensions used.

3. Map dimension values to target values as defined by the ‘Ledger Data Mapping’ rule.

   Mapping occurs for both seed and historical data.

4. Generate the base version for the budgeting activity.

   Determine the appropriate combinations of dimensions members for the scenario/activity detail.

   Report invalid chartfield values.

   Report chartfield values found in the source ledger and are not included in the plan model.

   Seed the scenario/activity detail with amounts from the source ledger aggregating the source amounts to match the level at which the budget activity is being performed.

   Reverses the sign associated with the account type amounts as defined on the Account Type Options rule.

5. Convert seed and historical amounts to the base currency of the Business Unit/Model when the amounts are in a currency that is not supported by the planning model.

6. Generate future currency exchange rates for the set of currencies supported within the model.

7. Copy the completed base version for the scenario/activity to the master version.

8. Generate the Worklist entries for reviewers.

9. Continue to support the additional ‘incremental’ staging Processes.

Understanding the Data Staging Process

Data staging using application engine processing that places source data into tables used by your activities for preparation of plans and budgets by your users in PeopleSoft Planning and Budgeting.

Processing Details

During the data stage process, the system logic considers the following:

• Dimension summarization definitions that you set up using the Dimension Level Summarization page to bring lower level dimension values to a level consistent with the tree level defined for the activity scenario in the planning model

• Dimension mapping or conversion definitions that you set up using the Dimension Member Mapping page in the Activity Group to map dimension values in the planning model to be applied to all activity data. When staging existing in-service asset, position data, and line item data, the system recognizes these mapping rules defined on the Dimension Member Mapping page in the Activity Group.

• Determines valid dimension values on the “As of Date” in the Activity Group that is associated with the model.

  Data that is not staged populates the Dimension Exception Inquiry table for review by the coordinator.

• The Flip Sign setting that you determine for account types using the Account Type Options page applies to line item ledger data.

  If selected, the system reverses the sign associated with the account type amounts. For example, if you store revenue account type amounts as negative values in the imported ledger and you selected Flip Sign for revenues, the system changes the amounts from negative to positive numbers within the staging table. Once the system stages to the planning model, view revenues as positive numbers.

  Note. Assets and positions staged from existing source data, such as PeopleSoft Asset Management and PeopleSoft Human Resource Management, ignore the flip sign option.

• For statistical account types staged to line-item activities, the system does not allow a value in the currency code fields or statistical code field. If values are in either field, the data is not staged.

• For statistical codes staged to line-item activities, the system does not allow a value in the currency code field. If a value is in this field, the data is not staged.

• For in-service assets with values missing for the dimension used as the planning center, these asset and depreciation rows are dropped and not processed during data staging.

• For existing job data with value missing for the dimension used as the planning center, staging references the defaults specified using the Map HR Depts to Planning Centers page, along with the position's human resource department, to populate the planning center dimension value.

  If the information is unavailable and the dimension value is still missing, these distribution rows are dropped and not processed during data staging.

• When using the Enforce Budget flag on a line item activity, dimension combination edits will be performed using combination edit rules and controlled budget rulesets for a control budgeting type.

• For multicurrency models, the system creates future exchange rate tables for the model and conversion takes place on any transaction currency when the source is not defined as an entry currency using the Currency Option page in the planning model.

• Performs a copy of the ACE model and formulas for line item activities.

• Creates the following versions: base, master, and version one. Version one is created last since a model recalculation is performed against the master version before copying to the working version.

• Generates a workspace list for each activity in the scenario to enable user access to plans and budgets.

  See Using Multiple Currencies.

Run the data staging process from the Data Staging page.

Understanding Model Validator Rules

Model Validation is an application engine program that ensures that the activity scenario rules are setup accurately in the planning model prior to staging. It validates the model for activities, activity groups, related activities, scenarios, security groups, dimensions, dimension levels, calendars, default accounts, multi-currency options, and so on. The data staging process assumes that data is prepared and valid. Rather than performing exhaustive error handling throughout the staging process, this separate process validates the setup for a scenario and activities in the planing model.

The model validation process can be called from within the staging process, but users can also run model validation outside of the larger staging process to identify setup errors prior to running the data stage process to help validate setup as you go. This process can be run at any time during the model creation process, not only when it is complete. You should run the validation process any time you make a change to a model.

Results of the model validation process are displayed on the Model Validation Report page. The following table details the messages that can display as a result of the model validation process:

Understanding How to View Dimension Exceptions After Data Staging

After you resolve any errors, run the data staging process again. Repeat these steps until you are satisfied with the data in the staging tables that you then release by activity scenario in the planning model for access by end users.

When you run the data staging process, the system verifies and selects valid dimensions, members, and trees defined by the activity and activity group against the detail data sources for sourcing/seeding the base budge amounts. For example, if you defined a department dimension, where your as of date is 01/01/2006 for the activity group, the system uses this information to validate each dimension value against the source data used as the source to seed the budget. For example, it uses this information to verify the following:

• If a dimension member is invalid and a row exists in the ledger/source, an Invalid Dimension appears in the Exception column.

• If there is ledger/source data for a dimension member not defined by the activity, then a Missing From Dimension message appears in the Exception column.

  The following list contains the possible dimension exceptions that may appear on this report:

  - Invalid Statistical Account found in Scenario for Planning Center Period/Fiscal Year (scenario, planning center, and period/fiscal year will be indicated)

  - Invalid Statistical Account found in Scenario for Planning Center Budget Period (scenario, planning center, and budget period will be indicated)

  - Member not defined for the dimension

  - Missing from the dimension selection

  - Asset crosses multiple Planning Centers

  - This Depreciation Account is not in the Dimension

  - Member not found in the Dimension Hierarchy

Use the Dimension Exception Inquiry page to view dimension exceptions generated during the data staging process.

Note. Even if exception rows show up in your Dimension Information grid, it may not necessarily mean they are errors. For example, you may have defined the activity dimension rules to exclude the data on purpose.

See Also

Setting Up the System

Understanding How to View Dimension Members After Data Staging

The set of valid members for each dimension for the scenario/activity are defined using the Dimension Member Inquiry page. The Data Staging processes must introspect the Dimension Value Set definition for each dimension for the scenario/activity being staged and determine the set of valid detail dimension member IDs. This list of detail dimension members will be used to seed the activity details with data from the source ledger. Additionally, the valid dimension members are stored in a table that is used for the prompt views for the dimension on the activity entry pages.

Use the Dimension Member Inquiry page to review and verify the dimensions and members that are staged and used to select, seed, and prepare activity scenarios, are those that you expect.

Prerequisite

Ensure that you take into account the following prerequisites before staging activities and scenarios in the planning model:

• User roles must be set up properly.

  Typically, an individual assigned the coordinator role performs the steps to setup and stage the planning model.

• Hardware capabilities must be evaluated.

  Consider evaluating your hardware capabilities before using parallel processing to run the data staging process. If you are using hardware that does not have sufficient central processing unit (CPU) capacity and memory to run parallel processes, your processing performance will not be improved.

• Planning model setup must be reviewed and complete.

  Review your planning model setup before staging since some of your definitions will not be available to update after you stage an activity scenario in the planning model, such as selected activity dimensions, scenarios, and multi-currency options.

Pages Used to Stage Data and Review Dimension Results

Staging Data for Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model

Access the Data Staging page.

Business Unit, Planning Model ID, Scenario, and Activity	Select the appropriate values to define the model that you want to stage.
Staging Type	Select the desired type of staging. You can choose from the following types: Partial Staging: Enables you to select the check boxes next to the specific functions that you want performed. Standard Staging: Automatically selects and performs all functions.
Process Type	Select the desired type of process. You can choose from the following types: Parallel by Activity: Enables you to process the activities in parallel. Single Processing: Processes budget data to staging tables in a single processing instance.
Validate Model	Select this check box to validate the model. See Understanding Model Validator Rules.
Load Dimensions	Select this load dimensions and members used by the scenario activities.
Load Exchange Rates	Load the exchange rates that will be used by the scenario for a multi-currency planning model.
Seed Activity	Uses a source scenario to seed your proposed plan or budget as a starting point. It will also generate your worklist.
Copy Line Item ACE Model	Generates the ACE model that is required for line item activities and analysis reports.
Full Model Calculation	Creates the master version and performs full model recalculation based on model, scenario, and activities selected. The first working version is created after the calculation is performed.

Running Model Validator

Access the Model Validation page.

Select the appropriate Business Unit, Planning Model ID, Scenario, and Activity values to define the model that you want to validate.

You may run model validator on its own any anytime. This includes during the setup of the planning model, with the staging process, or even after activities and scenarios have been released to end users. In this last case, you would run this when you have made some setup changes that might impact available activity scenarios.

See Staging Data for Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model.

Viewing the Results of the Model Validation Process

Access the Model Validation Report page.

This page displays the results of the model validation process.

Verifying Dimension Exceptions after the Data Staging Process

Access the Dimension Exceptions Inquiry page.

The system searches and retrieves dimension exceptions related to the type of activity—asset budgeting, line-item budgeting, or position budgeting — and associated scenario.

Verifying Model Dimension Values from the Data Staging Process

Access the Dimension Member Inquiry page.

The system searches and retrieves dimension values by an activity scenario in the planning model. Each dimension list by scenario will display the valid values staged and available for preparation by end users.

Using Model and Scenario Manager

This section provides and overview of Model Manger and Scenario Manager and discusses how to:

• Use Model Manager.

• Use Scenario Manager.

• Review the process summary.

Understanding Model Manager and Scenario Manager

PeopleSoft enables you to manage multiple models and multiple scenarios within each model using the Model Manager and the Scenario Manager. These pages provide a comprehensive view of your models and can help you determine which models you own, the status of each model, and whether any scenario activities within a model have errors associated with them.

Pages Used to Access Model and Scenario Manager

Using Model Manager

Access the Model Manager page.

Planning Model	Click to access the Model page for the selected planning model to review and update. See Defining Planning Model Defaults.
Validator Exceptions	Displays a Yes or No value that indicates whether one or more errors were found within the model have failed the model validation.
Manage Scenarios	Click to access the Scenario Manager page for a specific planning model to manage, update, perform actions, change status, review process results of the activity scenarios defined.

Using Scenario Manager

Access the Scenario Manager page.

Planning Model (link)	Click to access the Model page and view or edit the planning model. See Defining Planning Model Defaults.
Edit Activity Scenarios	Click to access the Activity Scenario page and modify the activity scenarios. See Managing Activities and Scenarios in the Planning Model.
Stage	Click to access the Data Staging run control page to perform the process against any activity scenario with an initiated status. See Staging Data for Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model.
Validate	Click to access the Model Validation run control page to validate the accuracy of your model setup. See Understanding Model Validator Rules.
Recalculate	Click to access the Model Recalculation run control page to perform the recalculation process on activities and scenarios. See Recalculating the Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model.
Stage Formulas	Click to stage any new or revised formulas into line item activities. When you update or add formulas, they are not available in line items until they are staged, making them available for use in conjunction with the ACE tool.
Activity	Click the desired activity name to access the Activity page. See Defining the Planning Model.
Scenario	Click the desired link to access the Scenario page.
Status	Select the current status of the scenario. You can choose from the following values: Initiated, On Hold, Released, or Staged.
Validator Exceptions	Displays a Yes or No value that indicates whether there were errors and therefore failed the model validation.
Formulas Require Restaging	Displays a Yes or No value that indicates whether the scenario requires restaging.
Locked	Displays a Yes or No value that indicates whether the scenario is locked. If the scenario is locked changes are not allowed to any attributes (and children) of the locked group.
Action	Select an action to perform on the scenario. You can select any of the following actions: Manage Locks: Accesses the View Current Locks page to review or modify lock information for a scenario. Process Summary: Accesses the Process Summary page to view the various stage functions processed, last run dates, and the list of formulas staged by activity scenario. Stage: Accesses the Data Staging page to import and stage data for a planning model activities and scenarios. See Staging Data for Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model. Update Stage: Accesses the Update Staged Data page to validate models and update dimension members, exchange rates, worklist entries, and comparison scenarios. The Update Staged Data page is discussed in the “Updating the Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model” section of this chapter. See Updating Staged Data. Validate: Accesses the Model Validation page to validate components of a planning model. See Running Model Validator.
Go	Click to implement the selected action.

Managing Locks in a Planning Model

Access the View Current Locks page.

Activity	Select the desired activity. Values for this field are user defined and default from the row where you selected the action of manage locks. Change the activity to one of the other available activities in the scenario, or select all to view all locks for all activities in the defined scenario.
Select All to Unlock	Click to release all locked activities. Save the page to execute the simultaneous release of all selected locked activities.
Unlock	Select this check box to unlock an individual activity. Save the page to execute the release of all selected locked activities.

Other lock details include the planning center and user associated with the lock, status, and lock type.

Reviewing the Process Summary

Access the Process Summary page.

Exceptions	Click to access the Model Validation Report page and review Model Validator results for a given planning model activity scenario. See Viewing the Results of the Model Validation Process.
Run Model Validator	Click to access the Model Validation page and validate a model. See Running Model Validator.
Run Staging	Click to access the Data Staging page and stage data for scenarios and activities in a planning model. See Staging Data for Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model.
Update Staged Data	Click to access the Update Staged Data page and recalculate a staged model.
Stage Formulas	Click to stage any new or revised formulas into line item activities. When you update or add formulas, they are not available in line items until they are staged, making them available for use in conjunction with the ACE tool.

Updating the Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model

This section provides overviews of, and discussions of how to:

• Update the scenarios and activities in a planning model.

• Validate models.

• Update dimension members.

• Update exchange rates.

• Update the worklist entries for an activity scenario.

• Update comparison scenarios.

• Copy ACE models.

• Recalculate models.

• Run combination data validations.

• Refresh driver parameters.

Understanding How to Update the Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model

After successfully staging the planning model, you can update the data included in the model by running the following processes:

• Validate models (BP_STG).

• Update dimension members (BP_STG).

• Update exchange rates (BP_STG).

• Update the worklist entries for an activity scenario (BP_STG).

• Update comparison scenarios (BP_STG).

• Copy ACE models (BP_COPY_MDL).

• Recalculate models (BP_MDL_CALC).

• Run combination data validations (BP_KK_COMBO).

• Refresh driver parameters (BP_DRPRRF).

Understanding Model Validation in the Update Process

The Model Validation process (BP_STG) can be run at any time, including during the building of the planning model, and after activity scenarios are released to end users. You would use the option here, on the Update Staged Data process, after updating a model when activity scenarios have already been released to end users. Model Validation is discussed in another section of this chapter.

See Understanding Model Validator Rules.

Understanding the Update Dimension Member Process

The Update Dimension Member process (BP_STG) updates the dimension values used in your activity and scenarios.

The system retrieves updated dimension values based on the rules defined in your Activity Group on the Member page. The process is primarily intended to be run after an activity scenario had been previously released, and additional dimension members are required to complete plans and budgets. It is recommended that you do not delete any dimension members that may have data associated with them, since the update process cannot remove any corresponding history associated with the removal the dimension member.

When you add new dimension members in your planning center tree, you will want to run this process. When updating your planning center dimension, you should also run the Update Worklist Entries process in addition to Updating Dimension Members process.

Note. Tree reorganizations are not supported, and should not be made after one activity in the Activity Group page has been staged.

Use the Update Staged Data Process page to initiate this process.

Understanding the Update Exchange Rates Process

When you run the Update Exchange Rates process (BP_STG), the system updates the scenario with modified exchange rates for a multi-currency model. Exchange rates are stored by scenario; meaning all activities in one scenario share the same exchange rate data.

Use the Update Exchange Rates page to initiate this process.

Understanding the Update Worklist Entries Process

You can select the Update Worklist process (BP_STG) to update the table used by My Planning Workspace page, that, based on your security access, displays the available planning centers for a given model, scenario, and activity.

When you add a new planning center to the dimension tree used by the activity scenario, you will need to run this process to update the worklist (workspace) table that allows end users to access their work.

The Update Worklist and Update Dimension Member process should be used together when members are updated for the planning center dimension. The following steps occur during the process when new planning center members are available:

• Updates the status of the planning center in conjunction with the new one added.

  For example, when you submit a planning center, the status at the reviewer level is Open. If you add a new planning center that impacts the reviewer level, the system changes the budgeting status to Not Ready. This is because the new planning center has not yet been submitted, and the reviewer level cannot edit their planning center until all child planning centers have submitted

• Creates a new base budget version that includes the new planning centers.

  Preparers of a new planning center must create their first working version; the system does not automatically create a working versions.

The following information lists the overall steps required when adding a new planning center.

1. Modify the existing tree structure by using Tree Manager to add your new planning center to the tree.

   You may enter new detail level planning centers, or new node or rollup values. You should not reorganize the planning center tree; that is not supported for an activity scenario that has already been staged.

2. Update the users in the Security Group page associated with activities using the group definition.

3. Run the Update Staged Data process, selecting the functions of Update Dimension Members and Update Worklist Entries.

4. Access the Scenario Manager page and release your updated activity scenario.

Note. Planning centers that you add after the original staging process do not contain historical data since the data did not exist as part of the original tree definition.

The system does not update existing working versions with newly added planning centers.

Run the Update Worklist Entries process from the Update Staged Data page.

Understanding the Update Comparison Scenario Process

When you run the Update Comparison Scenario process (BP_STG), the system updates the selected Comparison Scenario. The Comparison Scenarios available are those associated with your line item activity scenario on the Data Source page in the planning model.

Run this process using the Update Staged Data page.

Note.

Note. Planning target data from a top-down scenario is not updated by this Update Comparison Scenario process. Planning target data is dynamic, referencing the data from the source budget ledger table. If you are still actively updating your top-down plan that provide targets, you will need to run the Export to General Ledger process to have access to the most current information.

Use the Update Staged Data page to initiate the Update Comparison Scenario process.

Understanding the Copy ACE Model Process

When you run the Copy ACE Model process (BP_COPY_MDL), the system will regenerate the ACE (Analytic Calculation Engine) model required to use your line item activities and analysis reports.

This process is already performed when the Data Staging process occurs, and will typically not be necessary to run after your activities and scenarios have been released. You will find the only time it is necessary to run this process is when there is an ACE model update for Planning and Budgeting application or you have created your own configuration. When running the Copy ACE Model process, there should be no locks against the scenario and activities, and you should place them in ‘On Hold’ status. The check box of “Unlock” on the run control page will perform this for you automatically when selected.

Note. It is not necessary to run the Copy ACE Model process for new or updated flexible formulas. Instead, you can stage your formulas from the Scenario Manager page for the planning model.

Understanding the Model Recalculation Process

When you are working with a planning model, the system recalculates the data every time you enter a new piece of information or change a budget figure. When you make line-item modifications at the lowest planning center level in the model—at the preparer level—the recalculations take place immediately. This is possible because the budget changes are isolated within the planning center.

However, when using position and asset budgeting, to make modifications that affect multiple planning centers or to generate new dimension combination rows from details into line-item budgets, run the Model Recalculation process to update the model. If the dimension combination rows already exist in the line item activity with you add new positions or assets, it is not necessary to run the Model Recalculation process.

Additionally, when you have various data or calculation relationships between activities that affect multiple planning centers, you will need to run the Model Recalculation process to synchronize data and generate any new combination rows from the details.

The Model Recalculation process (BP_MDL_CALC) calculates and distributes data throughout the planning model. The system recalculates the data for multiple planning center versions, and activities, simultaneously. Recalculate the planning model at any time during the budgeting process. You may perform this process against the entire model, specific scenario, or scenario activities. The model recalculation will unlock planning centers that are still locked out when you run the process by selecting the “unlock” check box option. If you do not select this check box, you may not be able to run the process if there are any locks against the data to be recalculated.

Whether a planning center is submitted or not, recalculation affects all versions by inserting new dimension combination rows into corresponding activities. The system creates these new rows that reflect the amounts budgeted in those activities. For example, when you distribute position budgeting expenses to other planning centers in the activity, the budget data does not get inserted into the other planning centers unless the amounts are in the master version. Data gets inserted into the master version when the budget is submitted; alternatively, you can copy a working version into master if you are not ready to submit.

Note. You may also want to consider running this model recalculation process before distributing a budget to preparers to ensure that all dimension combinations are synchronized between line-item activities, line item details from asset and position data, and other data relationships like flexible formulas, particularly when you have not staged the scenario activities at the same time.

Use the Model Recalculation page to initiate the Model Recalculation process.

Understanding the Combination Data Validation Process

When you run the Combination Data Validation process (BP_KK_COMBO), the system uses combination edit rules to validate against line item activities that have the Enforce Budget flag enabled for the activity scenario on the Line Item Default tab in the planning model. If your planning model is a control budgeting type (as defined by the scenario group assigned to the model), the system uses the commitment control ruleset information. Any invalid combination found will be marked in error, and the end users will need to either modify or delete the row before their planning center can be submitted.

When using the combination edit and commitment control rules, they should exist in the EPM database, and would have been brought over from your source system via ETL maps. Since the Data Staging process would have initially performed this validation, this Combination Data Validation process is performed when the rules have been updated from your source general ledger system after an activity scenario has been released to your end users. The process performs the validation against all versions and planning centers in the activity scenario the process is run for.

Note. Validations are not performed against asset or position activity types. The validation is performed against the rows inserted into a line item activity from those detailed activities.

Understanding the Refresh Driver Parameters Process

When you run the Refresh Driver Parameters process (BP_DRPRRF), the system updates driver parameters in the line item activity scenarios in a planning model. Drivers will not be refreshed for those that allow override, since users can change the values themselves. You will be able to update all driver parameters defined by the Planning Method Group when using the Initialize All check box.

Use this process to update driver parameters that are not enabled for method and driver parameter override.

Use the Refresh Driver Parameter page to initiate this process.

Pages Used to Update the Scenarios and Activities in the Planning Model

Updating Staged Data

Access the Update Staged Data page.

Business Unit, Planning Model ID, Scenario, and Activity	Select the appropriate values to define the model, scenario, and activities that you want to update. Check the All Activities box to process all activities for the selected scenario.
Staging Type	Displays the type of data being updated.
Validate Model	Select this check box to validate the selected model. See Understanding Model Validator Rules.
Update Dimension Members	Select this check box to update the dimension values used in your scenario and activities.
Update Exchange Rates	Select this check box to update the scenario with modified exchange rates for a multi-currency model.
Update Worklist Entries	Select this check box to update the table used by My Planning Workspace page, that displays the available planning centers for a given model, scenario, and activity.
Update Comparison Scenario	Select this check box to update a specific comparison scenario that contains revised historical data in which you want to update to a planning model, scenario activity.
Comparison Scenario	Select the comparison scenario you want to update.

Note. The process does not automatically generate new dimension combination rows in the proposed plan or budget scenario activity in line items for any of the versions you are working with. When new comparison scenario rows are inserted into historical data during this update process, and similar dimension combinations did not exist during the original stage process, the row may not be visible in line item activities or reporting. This does not mean the row is not stored as history for the model, but rather it is visible when there is a correlating row for the line item activity you are updating. Preparers can add a new row in their line item activity and the correlating new historical amounts will then become visible.

Running the Copy ACE Model

Access the Copy ACE Model page.

Business Unit, Planning Model ID, Scenario, and Activity	Select the appropriate values to define the model, scenario, and activities that you want to run copy ACE model. Check the All Activities box to process all activities for the selected scenario.
Unlock	Select the check box to unlock all the open checkouts and keep all the activity/scenario in On-Holdstatus while processing calculations. If you choose not to select the check box, all the activity/scenario should be set manually to an On-Holdstatus, and all locks must be released before the process can be run.

Recalculating the Scenarios and Activities in a Planning Model

Access the Model Recalculation page.

Business Unit, Planning Model ID, Scenario, and Activity	Select the appropriate values to define the model and/or scenarios and activities that you want to perform model recalculation. Check the All Scenarios box to process all scenarios in the planning model. Check the All Activities box to process all activities for the selected scenario.
Manage Scenarios	Click to access the Scenario Manager page if you wish to review locks or change the status against the activities and scenarios in the planning model.
Unlock	Select the check box to unlock all the open checkouts and keep all the activity/scenario in On-Holdstatus while processing calculations. If you choose not to select the check box, all the activity/scenario should be set manually to an On-Holdstatus, and all locks must be released before the process can be run.

Running the Combination Data Validation

Access the Combination Data Validation page.

Business Unit, Planning Model ID, Scenario, and Activity

Select the appropriate values to define the model, scenario, and line item activities that you want to run combination edits and/or commitment control validation against. Check the All Activities box to process all line item activities for the selected scenario.

Updating Driver Parameters

Access the Refresh Driver Parameters page.

Business Unit, Planning Model ID, Scenario, and Activity

Select the appropriate values to define the model, scenario, and line item activities that you want to refresh the method driver parameter values, as defined by the corresponding Planning Method Group defaults.

Initialize All?

Select this check box to refresh all line items with the current values of the drivers. When enabling this check box, any manual changes that preparers have made to the drivers will be overwritten. Deselect this check box to only refresh those line items where preparers are not allowed to change or override the driver's parameters, as defined by the corresponding Assign Planning Method Default page.