We are happy to deliver the brandnew November 2024 release with major improvements on the table webpart and many more! Try it now!

Remember, the Web Client is the user friendly spreadsheet for your Collector Users to deliver their monthly/weekly/daily data. The Web App is the tool for the Power User to setup and control your organization’s collection workflows.

(1) Web App: Improvements for the table webpart

With this release, our focus is on improving the table webpart of the data1.io backend (“Web App”). This webpart is used in most of the menu items in the backend.

a) New Table Layout

The table webpart has been improved in the following areas:

• New light grey header
• Grid layout using light grey horicontal and vertical lines
• Reduction of line height by about 50 %
• 20 records as default setting

Compare the new layout …

… with the previous layout:

b) New Column Filter Experience

We have replaced the previous column filter with a modern filter experience:

• Select the elements from a list of distinct values of this column
• Sort ascending / descending
• Clear Filter function
• Customized Filter … function

Compare the new filter experience …

… with the previous filter dialog:

Of course it is also possible to define customized filters …

… with this popup dialog:

c) Single Record View vs. Table View

We removed the “single record view” from most menu items …

… and simply show single records in the normal table layout:

(2) Web Client: New parameter “data1_Write_AlwaysOn”

You can use this parameter to force the availability of the write button although otherwise the button would be deactivated. E.g. due to the presence of exclusively read-only cells, the presence of exclusively level queries, and so on. This parameter can have two values:

0 = normal behaviour

1 = write button will be forced

Please be aware that the write button is forced only on bottom level elements and within the valid period of the current workflow.

(3) API: New “Swagger” based REST-API

Additionally to our existing ODATA API, we deliver now the new Swagger based REST-API: https://data1-service.azurewebsites.net/swagger/ui/index

This Swagger based REST-API is easier to use than the more technical ODATA API and is relevant for the creation of “Azure Logic Apps”.

(4) API: New Blogpost “Automatize data1.io with Azure Logic Apps” (in german language)

Toni Kerschbaummayr, the core developer of data1.io, has written a fantastic blog post on how to use the “Azure Logic Apps” technology to automatize the data loading process in data1.io.

Get an impression of the solution that automatically loads an Excel based dimension table after every change into your data1.io application:

If you need help in setting up your own automation with Azure Logic Apps then do not hesitate to contact us!

We hope you like the new features – we are very curious about your feedback!

Please let us know what you think about data1.io and what kind of planning and data collection processes you evaluate to automate.

We`ll be back after christmas break with the January Release!

we #StandWithUkraine

We are happy to deliver the brandnew September 2024 release with the new Mobile Views and many more! Try it now!

Remember, the Web Client is the user friendly spreadsheet for your Collector Users to deliver their monthly/weekly/daily data. The Web App is the tool for the Power User to setup and control your organization’s collection workflows.

(1) Web Client: Improved Mobile Views

In April 2023 we delivered the first step of an improved mobile view and with this release we deliver the second step!

a. Improved Mobile Portrait View

In portrait view we have

• added the button titles in the menu bar
• added the on/off button for the dimension tree
• replaced the Excel like sheet selection and the horicontal scroll bar by the new sheet selector
• removed the Feedback/Help buttons at the bottom of the screen

Tipping the on/off button for the dimension tree turns the dimension tree on or off:

Tipping on the new sheet selector gives you a “drop up” list of the visible sheets within the workbook:

b. Improved Mobile Landscape View

In Landscape View we have

• lowered the menue bar
• added the on/off button for the dimension tree
• focussed the content of the dimension tree – we have removed the application information at the top of the tree and we also have removed the workkflow block at the bottom of the tree
• replaced the Excel like sheet selection and the horicontal scroll bar by the new sheet selector within the menue bar

Tipping on the new sheet selector gives you a “drop down” list of the visible sheets within the workbook:

c. New Unfreeze Function

Furthermore we have added an unfreeze button which appears if there are frozen rows and/or columns within the selected sheeet. Unfreezing will help your collector users using the sheet also on the mobile phone and on the tablet:

(2) Web Client: New Copy Data functions (Add-On)

The Copy Data function duplicates the existing records in the fact table of the selected element and alters e.g. the scenario. It can be used for the following tasks:

• Freeze the current data status as „Forecast x“ or as a backup (Collector Users)
• Create a new scenario from the current data status (Power Eser)
• Create the default values for the upcoming Forecast out of the Budget or the last Forecast (Power User)

This function is basically designed to be used by the Collector Users (= End Users), but it can also be configured to be used only by Power Users.

The Copy Data feature was released in January 2024 and improved in February 2024 and June 2024. With this release another major update is delivered for this feature.

a. New Definition Structure

Until now, a target rule could only be defined together with one filter condition. This was a major restriction that we have removed now with this release. From now on, the target rules are defined independently from the filter conditions:

b. New Target Rules

Furthermore we have added two new major types of target rules: Date rules and Measure rules.

With a Date rule the values of a date column in the duplicated fact records can be altered to another period of time. E.g. you can move the period of time by + 1 month:

With a Measure rule the values of a measure column in the duplicated fact records can be altered to another value. E.g. you can increase all values by + 4,00 %:

(3) Web Client: New Aggregated % Queries on Date Keys

Until now, aggregated queries within the date dimensions could only be executed with the YEAR, QUARTER and MONTH keywords:

With this release you can use also the % asterisk for the date dimension in order to query the total of the whole period:

(4) Web Client: Performance Improvement for Always Encrypted

In July 2024 release we delivered the Always Encrypted feature for the dimension keys as the new standard. We are happy that we also could improve the performance of the “old” encryption of the measure fields by using a group by index which enables buffering and batch processing of the requested data.

The performance gain is the largest in reports which aggregate (“group by”) the data in one or more dimensions and can be up to 400 %.

(5) Showcase: Comments on aggregated account levels

In May 2024 release we have introduced the new multiple layouts with the new CELLS01/CELLS02 definitions. With this release we deliver a demo for the collection of comments on an aggregated account level.

Look at the EBIT Planning in our public showcase Integrated P&L Planning. The collection of comments was implemented on the bottom accont level (which can be done very easily in data1.io):

With a separate CELLS02 definition the comments can be collected also on an aggregated account level (e.g. subtotal lines):

(6) Improvements and Debugging

As every month we have done a lot of smaller improvements and debugging.

We hope you like the new features – we are very curious about your feedback!

Please let us know what you think about data1.io and what kind of planning and data collection processes you evaluate to automate.

we #StandWithUkraine

We are happy to deliver the brandnew June 2024 release with the new spreadsheet options and a new always encrypted mode and many more! Try it now!

Remember, the Web Client is the user friendly spreadsheet for your Collector Users to deliver their monthly/weekly/daily data. The Web App is the tool for the Power User to setup and control your organization’s collection workflows.

(1) Web Client: New Spreadsheet Options (only for Power Users)

We have a new feature for Power Users! If you are either in the role of an “Tenant admin” or an “Application owner” then you’ll see the new Spreadsheet Options command in the context menue of the spreadsheet if you have pressed also “Ctrl”:

… which enables you to configure the new Spreadsheet Options:

• Unhide all rows and columns
• Page Layout Settings (Gridlines)
• Formula calculation and Error Checking
• Unprotect Sheet or Workbook
• View Settings (Formula Bar, Named Ranges, Frozen Panes, Headers)

Using e.g. the Unhide function will shou you – as a power user – all hidden rows and columns:

(2) Web Client: Always Encrypted on Dimension Keys (Preview)

Until now, it was only possible to apply the Always Encrypted function only on numeric fields like “Measure01”.

Unfortunately this costs a lot of performance in the Web Client and makes any READ process much slower. Therefore we make it possible now, the encrypt the Dimension Keys and not the numeric fields. This encryption is applied to the fact table …

… as well as on the key fields in the dimension tables:

This brings also some restriction like reduced filter options on these fields and the sorting is not possible. But we are optimistic that this change can bring huge performance gains. If you are interested in (temporarely) change the encryption on your application and test the new possibilities, please contact us.

(3) Web Client: Calculated Columns for Dynamic Tables

With this release, it is also possible to use calculated columns on your dynamic tables – they are kept and calculated after the refresh of the dynamic table:

(4) Web Client: Simplified Definition for By Column Mapping

We have simplified the definition for the data1_CELLS01_ByColumnMapping parameter: until now you had to write “data1_CELLS01_MEASURE_0” and so on …

… from now on you can leave the “data1_CELLS01_” prefix and simply write “MEASURE01_0” (which is the target column and the relative record number):

Please note that the previous syntax is also continued, so you do not need to update your existing workbooks.

(5) Web Client: New Parameter “data1_IsWriting”

We have created a new parameter “data1_IsWriting” which has 2 parameters:

• 0 = no Write process is executed
• 1 = Write process is executed

You can use this parameter e.g. to set alternative dimension keys for the write process other than for the read process. This parameter is derived from all CELLS0x areas.

(6) Web Client: Date Ranges for Copy Data Processes (Add-On)

We have created the possibility to define data ranges as filters for Copy Data processes:

(7) Debugging and Improvements

We have improved the CELLS02 feature, which was introduced with the May 2024 release. There was an issue with the WRITE process if the CELLS02 area didn`t have any write activated cells, another issue with Date-Ranges during the READ process and an issue with DATE01_Level definitions.

There was an issue with the record set structure in combination with CELLS02 and SysDelta definitions.

We have also improved the initial refresh for dynamic tables, which was also introduced with the May 2024 release. Before the initial refresh is executed the top element from the dimension tree is loaded into the sheet with the dynamic table since this is often used as filter criteria for the dynamic table.

There were two issues with the Iterate Sheet function which are solved now.

Furthermore we solved an issue with DIM001_Alternative Keys which resulted in a very poor READ performance. Another issue could be solved with poor performance for emptying cells during the READ process under certain conditions.

There was also an issue with the check for the activation/deactivation of the WRITE button which led to poor performance during data entry in the workbook and/or when scrolling the workbook.

In combination with the new Action Buttons the dialog for unsaved data was not shown, this is solved now.

We hope you like the new features – we are very curious about your feedback!

Please let us know what you think about data1.io and what kind of planning and data collection processes you evaluate to automate.

we #StandWithUkraine

We are happy to deliver the brandnew April 2024 release with a new Writeback Function and even more! Try it now!

Remember, the Web Client is the user friendly spreadsheet for your Collector Users to deliver their monthly/weekly/daily data. The Web App is the tool for the Power User to setup and control your organization’s collection workflows.

(1) Web Client: New Writeback Function with SYSDELTA

Basically, writeback of new data always includes an update or replacement of existing / preliminary data. In data1.io this replacement of existing records is controlled with the so called SYSTEM Delta Parameter which is defined by the author of the workbook. Until now, only one parameter per sheet could be defined. With this release, we have removed this restriction and you can define several or even many such parameters whithin the same sheet.

a. Fields of application

This new function makes many new usecases for planning and data collection possible:

• Collect FORECAST and BUDGET data within the same sheet in the first planning round (from the collector users) and then edit them seperately from each other in a second planning round (e.g. by controllers).
• Collect ACTUALS and ESTIMATE data within the same sheet and then improve Estimate in a second planning round without changing Actuals anymore.
• Collect COMMENTS together with FORECAST and later finalize Comments
• Edit DATA and COMMENTS in workbooks with (list) queries from different tree elements (e.g. using Alternate Level definitions)

b. Example – Data Entry

Let’s demonstrate all this with a simple example. In our public showcase Cost & Invest Budgeting you can collect FORECAST data for the current year 2024 (“FC 1”) and BUDGET data for the years 2025 – 2027 (“BUD”):

c. Example – Definitions

Until now, the SYSTEM Delta parameter had to be the same for all records generated out this sheet when executing the writeback:

From now on, you can define the SYSTEM Delta as “horicontal” or “vertical” named range and therefore you can define different parameters for different columns of this sheet:

d. Example – Performance Analyzer

Until now, each writeback had only one SYSTEM Delta paraemeter and therefore triggered only one replacement of existing records (with the same parameter):

From now on, each writeback triggers as many replacements of existing records as different SYSTEM Delta parameters are found in the sheet at the time of executing the writeback:

e. Example – Fact record structure

Until now, all new records generated by a writeback process got the same SYSTEM Delta parameter (which will be the criteria for the replacement as soon as new records are written back):

From now on, the records of each column (or row) in the sheet can get their individual SYSTEM Delta parameter and this makes it possible to edit only a portion of the initial data amount in different data entry sheets:

f. Conclusions

This new definition of the SYSTEM Delta parameter enables a lot of new use cases!

As you see in the screenshots of the Performance Analyzer above, this new function comes with a price in performance. In our experience, WRITE performance usually is no issue while READ performance is nearly always a big issue. But nevertheless, you should keep that aspect in mind.

More importantly, variable SYSTEM Delta parameters makes your application more powerful but also rises complexity of your application. As probably many of our power users know, it is quite easy to generate undesired fact records by having small definition errors in the SYSTEM Delta parameter and this risk rises with variable parameters. So, we strongly recommend that you have to test even more if you use this great new feature!

(2) Web Client: Improvements for Action Buttons (Preview)

In our last March 2024 release we launched the preview of the new action buttons. With this release, we extend the functionality and make the feature more stable.

a. Auto show/hide sheets for Navigation Buttons

With this release, you can hide the sheets which are called by a navigation button:

The sheet is made visible automatically when the navigation button is pressed and it will be hidden again, as soon as you leave the sheet (e.g. by clicking the Back button):

This is the same functionality that we delivered with the prior hyperlink based navigation.

b. Demo for Dynamic Buttons

We have implemented a demo for dynamic buttons in our public showcase HR Contracts. Depending on the selection in the dropdown menu, the button changes title, target sheet and status:

You want to know, how this works? Here we go! 🙂

• The most imporant thing is to use the “Cell Adress” parameter, i.e. the dynamic button must be generated in another cell than the formula cell (only this way the button can be changed dynamically)
• The rest are IF() conditions and a lot of “” and “”” to get the correct syntax 🙂

c. Improved formula support for Dynamic Buttons

There was an issue with long formulas. Strictly speaking this is not a button specific issue but a spreadsheet issue in general. But it is very probable that you come across with this topic only if you use dynamic buttons.

Until now, the workbook could not be loaded if a formula was used which contained a text string that was longer than 255 characters. From now on you get a proper error message in order to be able to solve the issue:

You can solve the issue by “cutting” the too long text string in two ore even more pieces. Here in this demo this is done firstly with the IF() condition for the status and secondly with an extra ” & ” divider:

By doing this, the workbook can be loaded without any problems and the button also works 🙂

(4) Improvements and Debugging

We have solved some issues in the Web App (“Backend”). For instance, the refresh of table views now refreshes automatically after uploading a file. There was an issue with half-sized dropdown fields. In the Workbook and Workflow editors some definitions had to be entered twice to be saved correctly. Those little but annoying issues are all solved now.

We hope you like the new features – we are very curious about your feedback!

Please let us know what you think about data1.io and what kind of planning and data collection processes you evaluate to automate.

we #StandWithUkraine

We are happy to deliver the brandnew February 2024 release with the new Replace Mode for Fact Table Uploads and many more! Try it now!

Remember, the Web Client is the user friendly spreadsheet for your Collector Users to deliver their monthly/weekly/daily data. The Web App is the tool for the Power User to setup and control your organization’s collection workflows.

(1) Web App: Replace Mode for Fact Table Uploads

We have introduced the Update Mode for Dimension Table Uploads in March 2023 Release. We are happy that we can deliver now the corresponding feature for the fact table – the brandnew Replace Mode.

This new Mode is based on the content of the column SYSTEM.Delta in the upload file for the fact table. Assume you have an upload file with records which all are flagged with the text Actuals 2020 in the SYSTEM.Delta column:

After starting the upload of this file into the Fact Table you can choose now between the already existing Append Mode or the new Replace Mode:

Now the system analyses the recordset structure of the upload file and determines how many already existing records in the fact table will be replaced by the upload:

If you continue, then the 81 existing records are going to be deleted and the 111 new records from the file are inserted into the fact table (therefore the number of records changes from 551 to 581):

We are optimistic that this feature saves you as a power user a lot of time and increases the operational safety in upload processes.

(2) Web App: Date Filters for the Copy Data feature

The new Copy Data feature was released in January 2024 release. Now, the definitions are extended to filters also for the date fields. This helps you to define exactly the correct amount of records for your scenario and forecasts processes:

At this stage you can define date filter but no variation for the target records (like a time shift, this is planned for a future release):

This is the way the new date filters are presented in the Web Client for the end users:

(3) Web Client: Iterate Sheet with Screen Wake Lock

We have introduced the Iterate Sheet function in the January 2023 release. There was an issue with the screensaver, which is mandatory in many companies – the screensaver prohibits the further execution of this client based process.

Therefore we have implemented …

… a so-called screen wake lock in order to prohibit the screensaver to activate before the Iterate Sheet process is finished:

At this stage the screen wake lock is supported by the Browsers Chrome and Edge but not by Mozilla Firefox:

(4) Web App: Delete Function for Workflows

From now on it is possible not only to add new workflows but also to delete existing workflows …

… by pressing the red Delete button in the bottom right corner of the dialog box:

It is not possible to delete all workflows since every data1.io application must have 1 workflow minimum. We recommend to carefully evaluate the deletion of a workflow since it is part of the documentation of the collected records in the fact table.

(5) Web App: Add/Delete Function for Tenant Admins

From now on it is also possible to maintain the Tenant Admins in your tenant by adding new and deleting existing tenant admins:

Similarly to the workflows, it is not possible to delete the last tenant admin since every data1.io application must have 1 tenant admin minimum.

(6) Web App: Improvements in the UI

We added two useful buttons to make your work as a Power User more effective.

First, we have added an Upload button directly in the workbook list which saves you having to open the workbook editor:

Second, we have added a refresh button in the Key Wizard which saves you to refresh the browser to get the current query:

(7) Debugging

We solved an issue with the “data1_SyncSheets_Write” parameter in combination with Level Dimensions.

We have improved the database structure in the backend which reduces the risk of capacity bottlenecks.

We have also solved an issue with the date range queries (introduced in the October 2023 release).

We have also solved an issue with the continous workflows and another issue with workflow e-mails which were sent too early.

We hope you like the new features – we are very curious about your feedback!

Please let us know what you think about data1.io and what kind of planning and data collection processes you evaluate to automate.

we #StandWithUkraine