IBM Cognos 8 Planning Analyst: Build Models (V8.4)

IBM Cognos 8 Planning Analyst: Build Models (V8.4) 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.

This is an advanced course for Modelers.

Introduction to IBM Cognos 8 Planning - Analyst

• Examine the components of the IBM Cognos 8 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 • Control user input using a formatted D List
• 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 8 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 Analyst data
• Design a model for reporting purposes
• Publish objects for external reporting
• Make published data available for reporting in IBM Cognos 8
• Create a report based on Analyst published data
• Populate a D Cube using IBM Cognos 8 as a datasource

Enhance Functionality Using the Excel Add In

• Examine the Analyst Excel Add-In
• Build and update views
• Create and use templates for data entry
• Format and customize Excel spreadsheets
• Update reports
• Examine batch printing

Illustrate the Model Using IBM Cognos 8 Planning - Manager

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

End-to-End Workshop (Optional)

Use Analyst with Contributor (Optional)

Use Analyst with IBM Cognos Finance (Optional)