Create from scratch

You can create a Custom Report without using an Exploration View. This advanced technique is referred to as cell-based mode. In cell-based mode you drag metadata from the source tree to the cells of the worksheet.

Because there are no drop zones, you must drag objects in such a way that they appear horizontally or vertically to form the rows and columns of the worksheet. In general you must start by building the rows and columns by dragging and dropping headings and then individual or groups of items along the vertical (for example, in the diagram, cells numbered 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4) or horizontal (in the diagram, cells numbered 2.1 and 2.2) axis. After you have created this framework, you can drag a measure to the intersecting cell where the row heading and column heading meet (in the diagram, the cell numbered 3).

Figure 1. Drop zones for cell-based analysis
Graphic shows dragging a measure to the corner of a block of cells.

You can continue to modify the worksheet by editing formulas and applying formatting. By default, data is updated when you edit a formula. To edit formulas without data updates, right-click the worksheet and select IBM® Planning Analytics > Pause formula resolution. Placeholder symbols (~ ~) appear in data cells when Pause formula resolution is selected. When you are ready to show data, right-click the worksheet and select √ > Run formula resolution.

Some of the techniques that you need to remember when working in cell-based mode include the following:

  • Leaving blank rows or columns when you create a cell-based analysis disconnects one part of the exploration from another. This leaves cells without data. Only insert a blank row or column after you have created your analysis and initially populated the cells with data. You are then able to insert a single blank row or column for calculations or formatting purposes. Inserting more than one blank row or column disconnects cells when expanding items.
  • To change the orientation of items, from vertical to horizontal, while dragging the items, hold down the Ctrl key while dropping items into cells.

Before you can create a cell-based analysis, the administrator must have created a package in IBM Cognos® Framework Manager and published it to a location in the IBM Cognos Connection portal to which you have access. For full access to IBM Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel, you should be a member of the Express® Authors or Report Administrators role in IBM Cognos Analytics. An administrator must configure these privileges using IBM Cognos Administration.

For more information on using cell-based mode, see Example - using cell-based analysis to create an Exploration View of order method revenue.