Scenarios (Writeback Matrix only)

Inforiver Writeback Matrix offers the ability to create new scenarios in edit and read modes based on an existing series for ad-hoc analysis. Once a scenario is created, you can either simulate or perform allocations on the native measures.

Scenarios are interactive and can be edited unless it’s explicitly locked. They can be created in both reading and edit mode and can be shared with other users. You can writeback all or specific scenarios and enable automatic writeback if required.

1. Create a scenario

To create a scenario you need to log in with your Microsoft 365 account

You can create a new scenario by clicking the 'Create scenario' button under the 'Insert' tab of the Inforiver toolbar.

Create scenario option

Clicking this option will open up a 'Create scenario' modal. This modal has a general tab and a permissions tab.

The general and permission settings can be edited later after the creation

1.1. General

Under the 'General' tab, you can configure the general scenario options and properties. You will find the following two options under this tab:

Scenario name - In this input field, you can specify the name of the scenario

Include series in scenario -This field by default has all the metrics added. You can however add or exclude the series you want in your scenario.

Start period and End period - Here you can specify the starting and ending periods of the scenario

Period Range - When you have a date dimension in your report columns, you will be able to create different scenarios corresponding to targeted time periods. You can select the time frame from the Period Range date picker.

Period range for scenarios

1.2. Permission

Under the 'Permission' tab, you can configure the scenario permissions.

In the Who can share the scenario section, you can see the following two options:

i) All users within your company domain - If this option is selected, then all the users within your company domain will be able to share the created scenario

ii) Specific users within your company domain - Selecting this option will allow only the specified users to share the created scenario. If this option is selected, the 'Add users' input field becomes available. You can specify the email id of the people who can share this scenario in this input field.

Once all the permissions and settings are configured, click 'Create' to create a scenario.

2. Create a scenario in reading view mode

Creating a scenario in reading view mode follows the same procedure as the edit mode.

But there is one additional step, you need to enable the 'Scenario tab' in the 'Allowed User Controls' modal. You can learn more about configuring the allowed user controls modal here.

Enable scenario tab in reading view mode

3. Configure scenario

If a new scenario is successfully created, you will see a 'Scenario' ribbon in the Inforiver toolbar.

Scenario tab

The scenario tab has the following options to configure the scenario-related settings:

3.1. Create scenario

This option lets you create a new scenario. Clicking on this option will open up the 'Create scenario' modal. You can learn more about how to create a scenario here.

Create scenario option

Alternatively, you can click the '+' icon next to your current scenario tab to create a new scenario.

Create scenario icon option

3.2. Scenario settings

This option lets you edit the previously configured scenario settings. Clicking this option will open up the 'Edit scenario' modal.

Scenario settings option

In this modal, you can configure the general and permission settings.

Edit scenario modal

If you want to lock your scenario, enable the 'Lock scenario' checkbox. A locked scenario cannot be edited.

Lock scenario option

3.3. Input method

Inforiver offers two types of input methods: simulation and distribution.

Input method option

a) Simulation

If you choose the simulation input method, each cell will have a simulation slider. You can calibrate the slider to adjust the value and simulate changes. Once simulations is performed, you can track them below the toolbar.

Simulation option

b) Distribution

Using this method you can distribute the value across descendants.

Distribution option

3.4. Bulk editing a scenario

You can also run simulations in bulk for a scenario you have created, allowing you to easily perform analyses like determining the impact of an x% increase in sales for a specific region or increasing the bonus for employees in a specific department by x dollars.

1. In a scenario, click Bulk Edit from the tool bar under the Insert tab.

2. In the pop-up, choose the measure to be simulated and the necessary categories and sub-categories from row and column dimensions.

3. Select the simulation percentage to be applied and click Apply.

The animation below illustrates the same, with bulk simulations performed for two different scenarios and the results compared.

Bulk editing scenarios

3.5. Show variance

If you enable this option, you will see the percentage of variance to the left of the data metrics.

Show variance option

3.6. Slider settings

If you click the 'Slider settings' option, the 'Variance settings' modal will open up.

Variance settings modal

This modal has the following options:

a) Series - Displays the name of the series in the scenario

b) Increase is good - This toggle is enabled by default. If this is turned on, then the percentage increase will be displayed in green. If this option is disabled, then the increase in value or percentage will be displayed in red.

c) Value range - In this field, you can configure the maximum value of the range. The default is 100%.

3.7. Copy to base scenario

You may perform simulations on different scenarios before arriving at the most optimal option. Any simulations on Data Input measures/columns in a scenario can be updated to the base scenario using the Copy to Base option.

In the below scenario, the measure 2023 Forecast is created by adding a new measure to the report. The simulations on the 2023 Forecast in Scenario2 will be reflected in the report after selecting the Copy to Base option.

Copy to Basie

On selecting Copy to Base, a dialog box opens up which contains the list of columns that will be exported.

Copy to Base Modal

On clicking on the Proceed button, the simulations in the scenario for 2023 Forecast have now been updated in the report.

Report with values set up in a scenario

You can also use the Copy to Base option in the toolbar to apply simulations to the base report.

Copy to base option in the toolbar

3.8. Edit/duplicate/delete

To edit, delete, or duplicate a scenario, click on the additional options menu icon that appears when hovering over the name of the scenario and select the relevant option.

Edit/duplicate/delete scenario

3.9. Set a default scenario

When users open scenarios in reading mode, the Base scenario is always displayed by default. If you want a particular scenario to be loaded on initialization, choose the Make as Default option from the context menu.

Make as default option

Scenario 1 will be opened by default in reading view when users navigate to scenarios. Default scenarios can be identified by the icon.

Default scenario in reading view

3.10. Style formatting scenarios

You can manually format the newly created scenarios using the cell and value formatting styles or the column styles as well as copy the style from the Base or any other existing scenarios.

The image below shows Scenario 1 created from Base.

Scenario 1

To copy the style formatting from the base or any other scenarios, select the format painter and choose Copy style formatting from scenario -> Base or select any Scenario name to copy its style.

Copy style formatting from scenario

The image below shows Scenario 1 with the style format copied from the Base.

Scenario 1 with the Base Style format

3.11. Exiting scenario mode

You will be able to use the other ribbons like the Home/Insert/Design/Export while working on a scenario. The simulations applied to a scenario will be visible even when you navigate to any of the other toolbar tabs.

Navigating to the Insert ribbon in scenario mode

Click on the Close Scenario button to exit scenario mode. You just need to navigate to the Scenario ribbon to re-visit the scenarios you created.

Close scenario

4. Comparing scenarios

Compare simulations in different scenarios with snapshots. You can use snapshots to save the state of simulations within a scenario. To capture a snapshot, click the Create Snapshot button on the Scenario ribbon. Learn more about snapshots.

Snapshots of scenarios

Use the Compare snapshot option to compare the values across different scenarios. Learn more about comparing snapshots.

Comparing scenarios

In the next section, we'll look at budgeting and allocations.