While Flexible Variance mode might look slightly different from the other modes at first glance, its basic layout is the same: the toolbar along the top, dimensions on the left, and the grid in the center. It has many of the features you're familiar with in the other Analytics modes, along with some of its own.
1. Toolbar
The toolbar at the top has menus you use to change your view of the data, as well as some function buttons.
Menus
Mode: This standard menu allows you to change the mode, which is a pre-defined view of data that displays particular columns in the grid. Currently, Other modes is the only option in the menu, and it takes you back to the previous mode you were on.
Properties: This standard menu allows you to change the properties (information stored about a dimension) displayed in the grid.
Stream: This standard menu allows you to change the stream (series of data in the underlying database) displayed in the grid.
Measure: This standard menu allows you to change the measures (numerical data) displayed in the grid.
Period 1, Period 2, and Period (breakdown): Similar to the standard menu that allows you to change the period (timeframe) that applies to the data in the grid, these menus are the foundation of Flexible Variance mode. Firstly, select any two periods to compare and calculate the variance in the grid. Then select one of those periods (or another period) to add the applicable period columns to the grid, breaking down the data for detailed analysis.
Sparklines: Sparklines display the data in the breakdown period columns in graphical format, letting you see trends over the period. For example, a sharp decrease in the sparkline might signal a drop in sales, something worth investigating. Sparklines are available for these repeated columns, as they have the same structure (stream, measure, and period). If you don't want to see the sparklines, click Sparklines > Off to remove that column from the grid.
Function buttons
Undo and redo:
Chart view: Click the Chart button to switch from the default grid view to the chart view, where you can visualize your data in a chart.
2. Filter and focus tools
The filter box above the grid is unique to Flexible Variance mode. This is where you perform a quick keyword filter, or access the Focus and Advanced filter features.
Filter box: Enter a search term to quickly filter the grid.
Advanced filter: Click the Advanced filter button to view chips for any focussing or filtering you have done on the grid. This feature is still in development. Soon you'll be able to perform more advanced filtering based on a condition and using groups.
Focus: The Focus tool displays a subset of your data in the grid. While the Focus button looks different from the other modes and is in a slightly different location, it works similarly. Select one or more rows in the grid and click Focus to filter out all the other data. Your filter displays as a chip on the right side of the filter box.
3. Dimensions and nest feature
The left panel displays the list of dimensions, as in other modes. However, there are two additional features:
Filter dimensions: The filter above the dimension list lets you quickly find a particular dimension, which is useful when there are many in the list. Start typing the name of a dimension you're interested in, and the list is instantly filtered to show only the dimensions containing those letters.
Nest view: The Nest view feature sits right above the dimensions, making it easy to drag and drop at least two dimensions into the box to get a nested grid view (with levels you can expand and collapse). You can change the order in which the dimensions are displayed and remove dimensions as required. The Nest view box and its contents behave just like any other dimension, so you can quickly switch between a dimension view or the nest view.
This feature is similar to the Nest feature in the other modes but it’s in a different location and behaves slightly differently, as you don’t select the base level dimension before adding the levels.
4. Grid and formula bar
Columns
Code and Name: These property columns display the Code and Name of the entities in the selected dimension. You can add other properties as required using the Properties menu. For example, if you select the Customer dimension, you might want to add the Country and Region properties to see more details about each customer.
Comparison group: This column group displays data (selected stream and measure) for the periods selected in the Period 1 and Period 2 menus. This data comes from your ERP. From this data, the variance is calculated:
Variance (Period 1 - Period 2): This is a calculated column showing the results of the variance calculation .
% Variance ((Period 1 - Period 2) / Previous) *100): This is a calculated column showing the results of the variance percentage calculation.
Breakdown group: This colum group displays data (selected stream and measure) for the period selected in the Period (breakdown) menu. For example, if you select the Last three months, you’ll see three columns, one for each of the three preceding months. The Sparkline column displays a summary of that data in graphical format.
You can add columns to the grid, as outlined below.
fx (formula) bar
The fx bar directly above the grid makes it easy to identify and understand the formulas used to calculate the values in the grid. When values in a column are based on a formula, the column header has a grey fx icon. Click any cell in that column to view the underlying formula in the fx bar. The formulas include a description of the referenced columns rather than just a reference to a cell number or coordinate, so you can easily see how the values are calculated.
If you add a calculated column, the fx bar changes to edit mode and you can enter your own formulas, either from scratch or using a range of inbuilt functions. Learn how to add custom columns and /wiki/spaces/userdoc/pages/3304096786.
