IBM Cognos Planning Analyst: Build Models (V10.1) is a five-day, instructor led course that teaches modelers how to design and build models for business planning. Participants will learn the data modeling process and participate in hands-on demos and workshops that illustrate good model design and best practice techniques while learning how to use the product.

Please refer to course overview.

This course is intended for Modelers.

You should have:

• Knowledge of your organization's data and structure
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel

Introduction to IBM Cognos Planning Analyst

• Examine the components of the IBM Cognos Planning solution
• Discuss libraries, D-Lists, D-Cubes, and D-Links
• Create libraries

Create D-Lists and D-Cubes

• Manually create D-Lists
• Import D-List items from external sources
• Modify D-Lists
• Build D-Cubes

Load Data

• Determine what can be used as source data
• Create file maps to assist in loading data
• Load data from an external source into a D-Cube
• Load data from one D-Cube to another

Enhance D-Lists and D-Cubes

• Prevent calculations on a D-List item
• Control user input using a formatted D-List
• Use Built-in Functions (BiFs) to calculate data
• Use time averages in a D-List
• Use weighted averages in a D-List
• Apply conditional formulas to a D-List

Distribute Data

• Use a D Cube to allocate data
• Summarize D Cube data with Accumulation D Links
• Populate a D Cube based on text in the target D Cube using Lookup D Links

Create and Distribute an Income Statement

• Determine the requirements for building and populating an income statement
• Discuss various methods of depreciation
• Calculate depreciation using a Built-in Function
• Export income statement data

Forecast Data

• Examine the Forecast Built-in Function
• Build a revised rolling forecast
• Use various methods to forecast data

Automate Processes

• Use D List and D Cube update links to update structure and data
• Create macros to automate the update process
• Enhance macros functionality
• Record a macro to perform repetitive tasks

Object Maintenance and Administration

• Examine IBM Cognos security
• Add and maintain libraries
• Apply security to a library or object
• Add, remove, and modify objects
• Create copies of objects and libraries
• Discuss features that affect performance

Use Complex Calculations

• Move values through periods using the FeedParam Built-in Function
• Round values using TRound Built-in Function
• Examine Tier calculations
• Calculate balances based on profiles

Examine Advanced Concepts

• Discuss calculation precedence
• Restructure D Cubes
• Transfer data within a D Cube
• Examine cascading allocations

Design for Reporting

• Explore the tools available for reporting on Planning Analyst data
• Design a model for reporting purposes
• Publish objects for external reporting
• Make published data available for reporting in IBM Cognos
• Create a report based on Planning Analyst published data
• Populate a D-Cube using IBM Cognos as a datasource

Enhance Functionality Using the IBM Cognos Planning Analyst Add-in for Microsoft Excel

• Examine the IBM Cognos Planning Analyst Add-in for Microsoft Excel
• Build views
• Update views
• Create and use templates for data entry
• Format and customize Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
• Update reports
• Examine batch printing

Illustrate the Model Using IBM Cognos Planning Manager

• Design reports
• Create a flowchart
• Link the flowchart to objects in IBM Cognos Planning Analyst
• Create tables

End-to-End Workshop (Optional)

Use IBM Cognos Planning Analyst with IBM Cognos Planning Contributor (Optional)

Use IBM Cognos Planning Analyst with IBM Cognos Finance (Optional)