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• EBM Excel Add-In: Installation Instructions
  Installing the EBM Excel Add-In is a straightforward process that enhances your Excel experience with improved functionality and security. By following the simple steps outlined below, you can seamlessly integrate this powerful tool into your lo...

  Installing the EBM Excel Add-In is a straightforward process that enhances your Excel experience with improved functionality and security. By following the simple steps outlined below, you can seamlessly integrate this powerful tool into your local machine, ensuring smoother workflows and enhanced collaboration within your team. For the full guide, follow this link.

  

  How to Install the EBM Excel Add-In

  Follow the easy steps below to install the EBM Excel COM Add-in .msi package onto your local machine.

  1. Before proceeding, ensure you don't already have the EBM Add-In installed. If you do, uninstall it using the following steps:
     • Close ALL Excel files.
     • Navigate to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.
     • Find "EBMOfficeBridge" in the list and select "Uninstall." Follow the prompts and restart your computer.
       
       
       
       
  2. To install the latest version, visit our download landing page and provide your details.
  3. Before starting the installation, close Excel.
  4. Click on the 'Download Now' button to obtain the new Excel Add-In.
     
     
     
     
  5. Run the MSI file and follow the on-screen prompts. If prompted by Excel to close, allow it to do so temporarily.
     
     
     
     
  6. Once installed, the EBM Add-In will integrate into Excel and appear in the "Office Add-Ins" list. Here's how to verify installation and activation:
     • Go to Excel > File > Options > Add-ins > COM add-ins.
     • Ensure "EBM Office Bridge" is listed and enabled. If not, check the Disabled List and enable it if necessary.
       
       
       
       
  7. Share this information with your team to ensure they download and install the EBM Add-In.
  8. Coordinate with your Blue Ops team to update legacy files using the Cube Updater tool after installation.

   

  With the EBM Excel Add-In successfully installed, you've taken a significant step towards optimizing your Excel operations. By leveraging its capabilities, you can unlock new levels of productivity and efficiency while ensuring compatibility with evolving technological landscapes. Don't forget to share this valuable resource with your team and coordinate with Blue Ops or EBM to ensure a seamless transition for legacy files.

• Upgrading to the EBM Excel Add-In: Full Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
  EBM Software applications connect your data from Diligent and the data lake directly to your reports in Excel, and they do this via the EBM Excel Add-In. Once installed, your EBM-connected files will work seamlessly and stay working, allowing user...

  EBM Software applications connect your data from Diligent and the data lake directly to your reports in Excel, and they do this via the EBM Excel Add-In. Once installed, your EBM-connected files will work seamlessly and stay working, allowing users to access their data cubes without having to support or maintain VBA macros.

  

  Learn how to seamlessly transition to the EBM Excel Add-In for improved performance, security, and functionality. This comprehensive guide covers uninstalling the old version, installing the new one, testing it, and troubleshooting common issues. Skip ahead to installation instructions.

  
  This article contains the following topics:

  • Background
  • Benefits
  • How it Works
  • Installation Instructions
  • Verifying Installation
  • Troubleshooting
  • How to Uninstall

  Background

  Important: Your team should collectively decide to adopt the EBM Add-In. This move helps avoid reliance on Microsoft Trusted Locations for file security. As Microsoft tightens security for VBA Macros, your EBM-connected files won't function without Trusted Locations enabled, unless you transition to the add-in.

  • The creation of the EBM Excel Add-In stemmed from Microsoft's security hardening measures, which now require all macro-enabled files to be explicitly trusted. By adopting the add-in, this concern becomes obsolete, ensuring seamless functionality without the need for Trusted Locations.
  • Additionally, EBM's transition to Microsoft Azure server infrastructure and the utilization of more robust tabular cubes have significantly enhanced data processing capabilities. Unlike the previous reliance on VBA macro-enabled files, which didn't support tabular-based models, the add-in now enables the usage of these advanced tabular cubes within XLSX files. Furthermore, tabular-based models seamlessly integrate with Power BI models and reporting, offering enhanced data visualization and analysis capabilities.

  Therefore, transitioning to the EBM Add-In (introduced in 2023) has become an essential step in maintaining security and keeping up with technological advancements. While installation still isn't mandatory, it's recommended and will eventually become standard practice. Familiarize yourself with the benefits and implications of this upgrade for your workflow. Skip ahead to installation instructions.

  Benefits

  While not mandatory, there are compelling reasons to install the EBM Excel Add-In.

  1. Smaller File Sizes: Enjoy significantly reduced file sizes, optimizing storage and improving performance.
  2. Enhanced Security: Eliminate the need for Trusted Locations, enhancing overall file security.
  3. Secure Design: Experience a more secure environment with no code persistence in files, minimizing vulnerabilities.
  4. Improved Stability: Benefit from enhanced stability, reducing the likelihood of breaks or disruptions.
  5. Credential Management: Store credentials securely in a cross-session manner, ensuring data integrity.
  6. Modernization: Transition from .xlsm to .xlsx files for improved compatibility and modernization.
  7. Macro Maintenance Elimination: Say goodbye to the hassle of maintaining VBA macros, ensuring smooth file operations.
  8. Backward Compatibility: Even older files with VBA macros (.xlsm) remain fully functional, preserving legacy data.
  9. Future-Proofing: Prepare for the future as Microsoft and EBM may phase out VBA macro support, ensuring continued effectiveness and security.
  10. Infrastructure Upgrades: Stay ahead of evolving technology infrastructure requirements with the add-in, while still supporting older methods for a transitional period.
  11. Enhanced Features: Enjoy faster performance, improved security, self-managed accounts, scalability, and compatibility with newer tabular cubes, enhancing overall productivity and efficiency.

  How it Works

  Understand how the EBM Excel Add-In functions seamlessly with your EBM-connected files, eliminating the need for VBA macros while providing enhanced functionality and security. Here's how it works, what's changed, and what remains the same.

  

  • Excel automatically detects whenever you download or open an EBM-connected file. It delivers the same functionality as the VBA Macro file.

  • Files are now downloaded and operate in .xlsx format, eliminating the need for macro-enabled .xlsm file format.

  • With some exceptions, authentication is handled via Microsoft Azure Active Directory, rather than standalone usernames and passwords.

  • No continuous code execution; a secure connection is briefly established.

  • The infrastructure supporting macro-enabled files remains unchanged, ensuring compatibility.

  • Installation does not require administrative access.

  • The Add-In is digitally signed by "Digicert" for security.

  Installation Instructions

  Follow the easy steps below to install the EBM Excel COM Add-in .msi package onto your local machine.

  1. Before proceeding, ensure you don't already have the EBM Add-In installed. If you do, uninstall it using the following steps:
     • Close ALL Excel files.
     • Navigate to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.
     • Find "EBMOfficeBridge" in the list and select "Uninstall." Follow the prompts and restart your computer.
       
       
       
       
  2. To install the latest version, visit our download landing page and provide your details.
  3. Before starting the installation, close Excel.
  4. Click on the 'Download Now' button to obtain the new Excel Add-In.
     
     
     
     
  5. Run the MSI file and follow the on-screen prompts. If prompted by Excel to close, allow it to do so temporarily.
     
     
  6. Share this information with your team to ensure they download and install the EBM Add-In.
  7. Coordinate with your Blue Ops team to update legacy files using the Cube Updater tool after installation.

  Confirm the Add-In is Installed

  Once installed, the EBM Add-In will integrate into Excel and appear in the "Office Add-Ins" list. Here's how to verify installation and activation:

  • • Go to Excel > File > Options > Add-ins > COM add-ins.
    • Ensure "EBM Office Bridge" is listed and enabled. If not, check the Disabled List and enable it if necessary.
      
      

  Troubleshooting

  Encounter any challenges or questions? Document them for review. Here are some common issues and troubleshooting suggestions.

  • Quit and Restart: First rule of thumb with Excel before continuing to troubleshoot is to quit Excel and restart your machine. Please try that before continuing to troubleshoot.

  • Login and Access Issues:

    • For issues with Microsoft sign-on, MFA, or security during installation/uninstallation, check our Multi Factor Authentication guide and contact your internal IT support team.

    • Confirm Website Access: Verify access to your designated EBM URL provided by your Blue Ops rep. Use your provided login credentials or follow the Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) process to sign in.
      
      
      
      

  • EBM Add-in is Hidden: Confirm that the COM Add-In is not hidden in your Excel Ribbon. Right-click on the ribbon to access Excel options settings. Choose "Customize Ribbon" and ensure "EBM Office Bridge" is selected and not hidden.
    
    

  • EBM Add-In is Disabled: Check to see if the COM Add-In is disabled in Excel and re-enable it.

    1. Navigate to File > Options > Add-Ins
       
       
    2. Under "Manage" at the bottom, toggle to Disabled Items and select Go.
       
       
       
    3. If EBMOfficeBridge appears in this list, click Enable.
       
       
       
       

  • EBM Add-In is Unregistered: This may occur during installation errors, such as if the machine is restarted early during install. Check Control Panel for Add-In registration and provide details to EBM support.
    
    
    
    

  • EBM Add-In Files are Deleted: Antivirus software may cause this issue. Locate plugin file folder (ebmofficebridge.msi) using Windows Explorer based on the file path location found in Excel > File > Options > Add-Ins > EBMOfficeBridge. If any files are missing from the folder, uninstall the application, and then delete the below folder, then attempt to reinstall. For additional assistance inform EBM support.
    
    
    
    
    

  • Reinstall EBM Add-In: If all else fails, reinstall the program. First you must uninstall it. Follow the uninstallation instructions below to uninstall the MSI package from your machine. Then proceed by reinstalling the application. If encountering difficulties uninstalling or reinstalling the latest version of the add-in, ensure all Excel files are closed before proceeding.

  • File Size Considerations: Files over 50 MB may cause issues; over 100 MB will always result in problems. Be cautious with formatting to prevent unnecessary file size growth.

  Explore additional information on file size management and best practices.

  How to Uninstall

  Follow these simple instructions to quickly uninstall the EBM Excel Add-in.

  1. Close ALL Excel Files:

     • Ensure that no Excel files are open on your computer. This includes any instances of Excel running in the background.

  2. Navigate to Control Panel:

     • Click on the Start menu located in the bottom-left corner of your screen.

     • Type "Control Panel" in the search bar and press Enter to open Control Panel.
       
       
       
       

  3. Access Add or Remove Programs:

     • Within Control Panel, locate and click on "Programs" or "Programs and Features," depending on your Windows version.

     • This will open a list of installed programs on your computer.
       
       
       
       

  4. Locate EBMOfficeBridge:

     • Scroll through the list of installed programs to find "EBMOfficeBridge."

     • You can also use the search function within the Control Panel to quickly locate the program.

  5. Uninstall EBMOfficeBridge:

     • Once you've found "EBMOfficeBridge," select it by clicking on it once.

     • Click on the "Uninstall" button located at the top of the program list, or right-click on "EBMOfficeBridge" and select "Uninstall."
       
       
       
       

     • Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process. This may include confirming your decision to uninstall and providing administrator permissions if prompted.

     • Allow the uninstallation process to complete. Depending on your computer's performance and the size of the program, this may take a few moments.

  6. Restart Your Computer:

     • After the uninstallation process is complete, it's recommended to restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

     • Save any ongoing work and close any open programs before restarting your computer.

  7. Contact EBM Support team for further assistance if issues persist.

  Adopting the EBM Excel Add-In offers a streamlined approach to data management in Excel, enhancing security, compatibility, and efficiency. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can seamlessly transition to the add-in, unlocking its myriad benefits while ensuring a smooth workflow for you and your team. Should you encounter any challenges along the way, don't hesitate to reach out to our EBM Support team for assistance.

• Diligent Glossary
  This glossary gives users a comprehensive list of terms, concepts, and other definitions commonly used within the EBM Diligent suite and its application. If you encounter other terms or ideas that aren't included in this list, please reach out!  ...

  This glossary gives users a comprehensive list of terms, concepts, and other definitions commonly used within the EBM Diligent suite and its application. If you encounter other terms or ideas that aren't included in this list, please reach out! 

  

  
  Skip to a term...

  2FA, Activity, Activity vs. Ending Balances, Actuals Through, Advanced Spread Tool, Attribute Table, Attributes, Azure, Azure AD, Azure AS, Budget, Business Owner, Calculated Accounts, Calculated Measures, Calendarized Report, Diligent Modules, Cube, Cube Update, Currency, Currency Exchange Rates, Current Documents, Customer, Dashboards, Datasets, Dirty, Ending Balances, Fact Table, Favorites, File Upload Center, Financial, Financial Attributes, Financial Cube, Financial Overrides, Fiscal Calendar, Forecast, Full Re-Load, Gross Sales Planning, Group Security, Hierarchy, Implementation, Invoice, Item, Journal Entry, Journal Entry Cube, Leaf, Levels of a Hierarchy, Lock Periods, Manage Custom Content, Mapping of Accounts, MDX Cube, MFA, MTD-QTD-YTD Full Year Report, Node, Office Bridge, Operational Accounts, Override, Partial Re-Load, Pivot Report, Planning Calculations, Primary Hierarchy vs. Secondary Hierarchy, Pro Forma, Profitability, Profitability Accounts, Profitability Allocations, Profitability Attributes, Profitability Cube, Profitability Overrides, Profitability Rates, Query Builder, Rate Planning, Rate Volume Mix Report/Analysis, Roll Forward, Scenario, Sign Flip, Smartload, Smartload Cube, Spot Rate vs Average Rate, SQL, Standard Reports, Star Schema, Subscriptions, System Rates vs User Defined Rates, System Status, Tabular Cube, Three Scenario Compare Report, Tree View, Trend Analysis Report, TTM, User Security, Users vs. Groups, Visualizations, Volume Planning, Web Reports

  Glossary Grid

  Terms and Concepts	Definitions and Descriptions
  2FA	2FA, or Two-Factor Authentication, is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two separate forms of identification before granting access to an account or system. It adds an extra layer of protection beyond just a password, making unauthorized access more difficult for potential attackers.
  Activity	Financial and Profitability activity refers to the various transactions that involve the movement of money within a business over the course of a period of a time, such as operations, raising funds, investing, sales, and costs.
  Activity vs. Ending Balances	Activity involves the movement of money and resources within a business to achieve financial goals, while ending balances are the final amounts in various accounts at the end of a specific period.
  Actuals Through	Allows users creating new scenarios to prepopulate the new scenario with data from an existing scenario as a starting point through a specific period.
  Advanced Spread Tool	A Diligent planning tool that allows the user to decide, on a granular level, how changes are spread across periods.
  Attribute Table	An attribute table, also known as a dimension table, is a data structure within a relational or multidimensional database that stores descriptive information related to specific attributes or characteristics of data. It is a fundamental component in data warehousing and is used to provide context and details about the data stored in fact tables. Attribute tables work in tandem with fact tables to provide a comprehensive data model for business intelligence and analysis. The combination of fact and attribute tables allows analysts to perform complex queries, aggregations, and calculations while maintaining the context and descriptive information necessary for informed decision-making. Attribute Table Traits: Descriptive Data: Offers context like product names, locations. Foreign Key: Links via primary key, enabling cross-dimension analysis. Hierarchies: Often hierarchically structured, e.g., year, quarter. Categorization: Groups data, enhancing analysis organization. Slowly Changing Dimensions: Manages evolving attribute values for historical accuracy. Metadata: Serves as metadata source, detailing attributes and definitions.
  Attributes	Characteristic unique to specific transaction. A transaction attribute refers to a specific characteristic, detail, or piece of information associated with a financial or profitability transaction. In the context of business and finance, a transaction attribute provides additional context and information about a transaction, helping to categorize, analyze, and understand the nature of the transaction, such as ID, Date and Time, Payment Method, Description, Category, Location, Type, Ref or Invoice Number, Discounts or Promos, Shipping or Delivery Info, Status, etc.
  Azure	Microsoft Azure, commonly referred to as Azure, is a comprehensive cloud computing platform and infrastructure offered by Microsoft. It provides a wide range of services that enable organizations to build, deploy, and manage various applications and services through Microsoft's global network of data centers. Azure encompasses a vast array of tools, frameworks, and services that cater to computing, storage, databases, networking, analytics, artificial intelligence, and more.
  Azure AD	Azure AD, or Azure Active Directory, is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service. It provides authentication and authorization services for users, devices, and applications across cloud and on-premises environments. Azure AD enables organizations to manage user identities, control access to resources, and enhance security through features like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO). It's a fundamental component in modern IT systems, facilitating secure access to various Microsoft and third-party services.
  Azure AS	Azure Analysis Services is a cloud-based analytical data engine provided by Microsoft Azure. It enables users to build and deploy interactive, tabular data models that facilitate fast querying and analysis of large datasets. Azure Analysis Services supports data modeling, data transformation, and the creation of calculations using the Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) language. It's commonly used for business intelligence and data analytics, allowing organizations to gain insights from their data through interactive reports, dashboards, and visualizations.
  Budget	A type of scenario or plan for a fiscal year.
  Business Owner	Allows the Administrative User to assign management of a selected hierarchy to a specific user. Business Owners can automatically receive email notifications when unassigned accounts are created so that they can be mapped to a given hierarchy.
  Calculated Accounts	Allows for the definition of Standard Calculated Accounts, as well as the creation of User Defined Calculated Accounts. (i.e. Gross Profit, EBITDA, etc.). Allows addition or subtraction of accounts.
  Calculated Measures	Allows users to create percent or numeric measures to compare a selected group/element across hierarchy levels (i.e. % of Gross Sales). Allows the division of an account. (e.g. per unit per gross sales, per something etc.).
  Calendarized Report	A standard report presenting data by period.
  Diligent Modules	The menu tabs along the left hand sidebar. Applications within Diligent, such as Planning, Profitability, etc. May also refer to Cube types, such as AR Cube, Inventory Cube, Smartload Cube, Payroll Cube, POS Cube, AP Cube, etc.
  Cube	A tool used in Diligent to quickly pull and organize data. Cubes leverage Pivot Table functionality within Excel and utilize macros to bring data into Excel from the database.
  Cube Update	Tool allowing the EBM connection to be reinstated into an Excel file. Commonly fixes Excel issues.
  Currency	The user can define the appropriate currency and exchange rate for their organization by period and by company.
  Currency Exchange Rates	The defined rates applied to multi-currencies.
  Current Documents	Also known as Harness. Repository for custom documents (Excel, Word, PDF, etc.) and commonly used files. Similar to a Cloud-based file storage system, like Dropbox, OneDrive, or SharePoint.
  Customer	Dimension within profitability data. Often its own primary hierarchy.
  Daily Job (Process_Scheduled_Daily)	A SQL job that performs the same actions as the Hourly Job except for one distinction -- when it's manually run it will not refresh the scenarios assigned to the hourly list, only those assigned to the daily list found in System Status. Can be manually run by a user by clicking the "Refresh Financial" or "Refresh Profitability" buttons in the System Status page above the Scheduled Daily section of scenarios. If the Daily Job is set to run on a schedule it will do everything the same but will also process the hourly scheduled scenarios as well. Note: Daily Job is not set to a schedule when automation and the Nightly Job are enabled. This avoids job overlap.
  Dashboards	Visualizations module and Power BI reporting synonym.
  Datasets	Allows users to create standard data views that can be utilized via the Office Bridge tool.
  Dirty	Terminology used in database management. Refers to a state where data is now out of date. When data, an object, file, or scenario is dirty or stale, it means that changes have been made to that dataset that have yet to be processed.
  Ending Balances	Ending Balances refer to the financial balances of various accounts at the end of a specific period, typically at the end of a month, quarter, or fiscal year, providing a snapshot of a company's financial position at a particular moment in time, such as cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, and equity balances.
  Fact Table	A fact table is a central component in a relational or multidimensional database that stores quantitative data or facts related to a business process or event. It is a fundamental concept in data warehousing and business intelligence. Fact tables play a crucial role in decision-making processes by providing a repository of quantifiable data that can be analyzed and interpreted using various business intelligence tools and techniques. They are typically used in conjunction with dimension tables, which provide context and additional information about the data stored in the fact table. Together, fact and dimension tables form the basis for designing effective data models in data warehousing environments. Fact Table Highlights: Numeric Data: Stores quantifiable measurements like sales revenue, quantities. Foreign Keys: Links with dimension tables using foreign keys for context. Granularity: Holds data at specific levels, e.g., daily, monthly. Aggregated Data: Can include summarized results for faster complex analysis. Measures: Numeric values subject to calculations, like sum, average. Time Dimension: Often connected to time dimension for varied period analysis.
  Favorites	Links to the most used Planning and Report pages that will then appear on the user’s homepage. Favorites are unique to each user.
  File Upload Center	Also known as Smartload. Tool allowing large files to be loaded into the backend. Allows user to navigate UI while files are being loaded. Displays history.
  Financial	Database for General Ledger based data (anything that comes from the P&L and BS).
  Financial Attributes	Characteristic unique to a GL transaction.
  Financial Cube	A Pivot Table containing the financial database.
  Financial Overrides	Tool used to override an automated financial record. Amount entered replaces the original amount. Nightly ERP automation does not overwrite overrides. Overrides will always win.
  Fiscal Calendar	A 12-month period for each predetermined fiscal year.
  Forecast	A type of scenario combining Actuals with Budget data.
  Full Re-Load	When uploading data to Diligent, a full reload allows you to replace all existing data with what you're uploading. Usually not recommended.
  Gross Sales Planning	Allows the individuals in an organization to forecast sales based on volume and rate assumptions.
  Group Security	Defines navigation and hierarchy permissions within a specified group. Allows individual users to be added to groups. (Preferred and more efficient than inidivudal user permissions).
  Hierarchy	In the context of MDX cubes, a hierarchy refers to a structured arrangement of related attributes within a dimension. It provides a way to organize and navigate data across different levels of granularity. Hierarchies are a fundamental component of multidimensional data modeling and are used to facilitate various types of analyses and querying within MDX cubes. Data aggregation in Diligent involves hierarchies built upon foundational data. These hierarchies encompass categories like account, company, item, and customer. Diligent allows the creation of unlimited hierarchies to organize data effectively. Hierarchy Characteristics in MDX Cubes: Levels: Granularity varies; e.g., time hierarchy—year, quarter, month, day. Attributes: Each level links with specific elements, e.g., "Month" level has attributes like "January." Parent-Child Links: Often attribute relationships, e.g., "Year" as parent to "Quarter," "Quarter" to "Month." Drill-Down and Roll-Up: Users dive deep or rise high in data, adjusting perspective. Navigation: Systematic data exploration across dimensions. Aggregations: Efficient pre-aggregation, enhancing query speed.
  Implementation	Process of creating and onboarding a new client onto the Diligent platform.
  Invoice	Profitability attribute.
  Item	Dimension within profitability data.
  Journal Entry	Financial attribute.
  Journal Entry Cube	A Pivot Table containing the Journal Entry database.
  Leaf	The lowest level attribute within a record and hierarchy. In the context of data structures, particularly trees and hierarchical databases, a "leaf" refers to a node that does not have any child nodes. It's the endpoint or bottommost element in the structure. Here's a breakdown of the concept: Tree Structure: Imagine a hierarchical structure resembling a tree, where each node can have child nodes. The top node is called the "root," and the nodes that stem from it are branches. Nodes that have child nodes are called "internal nodes," and nodes without children are referred to as "leaves." Leaf Node: A leaf node (i.e. leaf) is a node in this structure that does not have any children. It's the final point in a specific branch of the tree, indicating the end of that particular path. In the context of data and databases, the concept of "leaf" is often used in applications such as: File Systems: In a file directory structure, a leaf node represents an individual file rather than a directory. Data Modeling: In hierarchically organized data, leaf nodes store the actual data values, while parent nodes represent categories or groups. Decision Trees: In machine learning, decision trees use nodes to make decisions. Leaf nodes in a decision tree correspond to final outcomes or classifications.
  Levels of a Hierarchy	In the realm of data organization, particularly in accounting and data management, a hierarchy is a systematic arrangement of categories or elements that are structured in a cascading manner, forming a multi-level structure. Each level of the hierarchy represents a distinct layer of detail, from more general categories at the top to more specific subcategories at lower levels. This hierarchical structure helps organize and categorize data in a way that reflects the relationships between different elements. Hierarchy Overview: A hierarchy consists of several levels, with each subsequent level delving deeper into the specifics of the categories. Think of it as a layered structure, resembling a tree with a root node at the top and branches extending downward. The root node represents the highest-level category, and as you move down the branches, you reach increasingly specific subcategories. Increasing Granularity: Granularity refers to the level of detail or specificity of data. In a hierarchy, as you move down the levels, you're increasing the granularity, getting closer to the specific details. This is crucial in accounting and data analysis as it allows for a more nuanced understanding of the data. Accounting Example: In accounting, hierarchies are often used to organize financial data, such as accounts on the balance sheet and income statement. The example you provided illustrates this: Level 1: This is the top-level classification in the hierarchy. It often signifies major categories, such as "Balance Sheet" and "Income Statement." These are fundamental divisions of financial information. Level 2: This represents a more detailed classification under level 1. For instance, under "Balance Sheet," you might find categories like "Assets," "Liabilities," and "Equity." Under "Income Statement," you might find categories like "Net Sales" and "Operating Expenses." These categories provide more specificity within the major divisions.
  Lock Periods	Allows for the closing (locking) and opening of period(s) within a given scenario. Found in the Scenario Management screen.
  Manage Custom Content	The ability to structure the User Interface of Diligent.
  Mapping of Accounts	This is the process of categorizing and assigning hierarchy levels to financial accounts that are unassigned or lack proper classification. It ensures that uploaded financial data aligns with predefined account categories, making reporting and analysis accurate and structured. This mapping process is crucial for organized financial management and informed decision-making.
  MDX Cube	An MDX cube, also known as a Multidimensional Expressions cube, is a data structure used in multidimensional databases for efficient and complex querying and analysis of data. MDX is a query language specifically designed for interacting with multidimensional databases, and it's commonly associated with Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) and other OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) systems. MDX Cube Highlights: Multidimensional Data Model: Allows versatile analysis across dimensions like time, geography. Hierarchies: Shows granularity levels, e.g., year, quarter. Measures: Numeric data for analysis, such as sales. Aggregation: Pre-calculated data boosts query speed. Query Language: MDX for complex queries, custom sets. OLAP Capabilities: Supports tasks like drilling, rolling up. Business Intelligence: Used in BI for interactive analysis.
  MFA	MFA, or Multi-Factor Authentication, is a security mechanism that enhances account protection by requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification before gaining access to a system, application, or account. It adds an extra layer of security beyond traditional single-factor authentication, such as a password.
  MTD-QTD-YTD Full Year Report	Standard report preinstalled in Diligent presenting data based on defined periods.
  Node	In the context of financial data analysis and reporting, the terms "node" and "leaves" are often used to refer to elements within a hierarchical structure used for organizing and categorizing financial data. This structure is commonly known as a chart of accounts. Node in Financial Data: In financial data management, a "node" refers to a specific account or category within a chart of accounts. A chart of accounts is a structured list of financial accounts used to classify and categorize financial transactions. Each account represents a unique element, such as an asset, liability, revenue, or expense. Nodes in this context can represent any level of categorization within the chart of accounts hierarchy. Leaves in Financial Data: The "leaves" of a financial data hierarchy, often referred to as "leaf nodes," represent the individual accounts or categories that do not have any further subcategories within the chart of accounts. In other words, they are the lowest level of accounts in the hierarchy and do not have any child accounts. These leaf nodes are where the actual financial data is recorded and stored. They include specific accounts like "Cash," "Accounts Payable," "Rent Expense," and so on. Hierarchical Structure: The chart of accounts is typically organized hierarchically, with broader categories at higher levels and more specific subcategories at lower levels. The hierarchical structure allows for better organization, analysis, and reporting of financial data. Nodes at higher levels represent summary categories, while nodes at lower levels (leaf nodes) contain the detailed data. For example, consider a simplified chart of accounts for a company: Assets Current Assets Cash Accounts Receivable Fixed Assets Property, Plant, and Equipment Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable Short-Term Loans Expenses Operating Expenses Rent Expense Salaries Expense In this chart of accounts, each level represents a node, and the leaf nodes are the specific accounts where financial data is recorded. For instance, "Rent Expense" is a leaf node under the "Expenses" category. In summary, in the context of financial data, a "node" refers to an account or category within a chart of accounts, and "leaves" refer to the individual accounts at the lowest level of the hierarchy, where actual financial data is stored.
  Office Bridge	Allows users to access and format Datasets within PowerPoint, Word, or Excel.
  Operational Accounts	Accounts utilized in the Profitability side of Diligent. Operational Accounts generally include, but are not limited to, Gross Sales, Material Costs, Labor, and Overhead.
  Override	Allows users to make overriding adjustments to actual data.
  Partial Re-Load	Preferred. When uploading data to Diligent, it replaces existing data with only records in upload sheet, rather than full replacement.
  Pivot Report	A standard report preinstalled in Diligent presenting data with a flexible structure.
  Planning Calculations	Allows users to populate planning data via a defined calculation based on related accounts or other fixed values.
  Primary Hierarchy vs. Secondary Hierarchy	A Primary hierarchy is included in all Business Intelligence and Planning tools, used for Planning, and cannot be deleted from the system. A Secondary hierarchy includes options for displaying in the cube, as well as reporting options to add to existing reports or to create a new set of reports based on this hierarchy.
  Pro Forma	A scenario type allowing data to be loaded in parallel with actuals data, but remains separate. "Pro forma" refers to financial statements or projections created based on assumptions or hypothetical scenarios. These statements show how financials might appear under specific conditions, like mergers or changes. They help evaluate potential outcomes but should be interpreted cautiously as they're not based on actual historical data.
  Profitability	A database for invoice level data. Also known as Operational data.
  Profitability Accounts	In MDX Cubes: Profitability accounts in MDX cubes refer to financial metrics and measures associated with evaluating the financial performance and profitability of a business. These measures could include metrics like sales revenue, costs, expenses, and profits. MDX cubes store these measures within a multidimensional data structure, allowing for intricate analysis based on various dimensions, such as time, geography, products, and customers. In Tabular Cubes: In tabular cubes, profitability accounts similarly represent financial indicators, but they are stored within a tabular data model. This format resembles traditional relational databases, making it easier for users familiar with spreadsheets and databases. Tabular cubes use the Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) language to define and compute profitability measures. This model provides fast query performance, making it suitable for efficient analysis of profitability data. In summary, both MDX cubes and tabular cubes can store and analyze profitability accounts, but they differ in their data structures (multidimensional vs. tabular) and query languages (MDX vs. DAX).
  Profitability Allocations	Ability to allocate amounts across multiple customers/items. (e.g. when unsure where to apply the revenue amounts, spread across all)
  Profitability Attributes	Characteristic unique to an Invoice transaction.
  Profitability Cube	A Pivot Table containing the profitability database.
  Profitability Overrides	Tool used to override an automated profitability record.
  Profitability Rates	Calculation used to create profitability record based on existing data (e.g. % of Gross Sales, Amount Per Selling Unit, Fixed, etc.).
  Query Builder	A tool allowing queries to be generated over Journal Entry or Profitability databases.
  Rate Planning	Defined amount per quantity (e.g. Selling Price Per Unit, Materials Per Unit, etc.).
  Rate Volume Mix Report/Analysis	A sales bridge (or price volume mix analysis) is a report which shows the gap between budgeted and actual sales, and the explanation for that variation. Price effect: deviation due to apply higher or lower selling prices. Volume effect: variation in the turnover due to the total units sold.
  Roll Forward	The process of rolling the year end balances into the beginning of the following year. Example: If you have $10 in your account at the end of 2021 Actuals (on 12.31.21), you should also have an opening balance of $10 at the start of your 2022 Actuals (on 1.1.22). The balance of an account at the end of one year should always appear as the opening balance for the following year (e.g. Net Income from 2021 to Retained Earnings in 2022).
  Scenario	12-month block of data. (i.e. 2017 Actuals, 2018 Budget, etc.).
  Sign Flip	Allows the user to invert the sign an account is displayed in from a positive value to a negative value and vice versa. (e.g. Revenue appears in the data as a negative (credit) amount the user wants it to appear in the reports as a positive amount (debit).) Sign Flip only applies to Actuals Scenarios, it will have no effect on Forecast or Budget Scenarios.
  Smartload	SmartLoad is a component of Diligent 2.0 and a user interface that was rolled out for use by Blue Ops in October of 2022 that allows the finance consulting team to quickly create standard and custom measures with a smaller data footprint required.  This will allow us to process datasets significantly quicker.
  Smartload Cube	See Tabular Cube.
  Spot Rate vs. Average Rate	Different exchange rates used to translate the balance sheet and income statement activity. Income statement accounts should be defined to use monthly average exchange rates (i.e. the Average Rate) and Balance sheet account should be defined to use month end exchange rates (i.e. the Spot Rate).
  SQL	SQL is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system, or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system.
  Standard Reports	Preinstalled or canned reports that come standard with each Diligent instance installation.
  Star Schema	Star Schema is a type of data modeling technique used in data warehousing and business intelligence. It involves structuring data with a central fact table surrounded by dimension (attribute) tables. The fact table contains quantitative data, while dimension (attribute) tables hold descriptive attributes. This schema simplifies querying and analysis by creating clear relationships between data elements, aiding in efficient and comprehensive reporting.
  Subscriptions	The ability to receive standard reports via email at a specified frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).
  System Rates vs User Defined Rates	Diligent will automatically populate exchange rates each month and these rates will be used as the System Rate if User Defined Rates are not loaded. Within the Currency Exchange Rate tab, a user can load User Defined Rates to ensure the exchange rates being applied exactly match their organization’s specific rates.
  System Status	Administrative page displaying the current status of financial and profitability data.
  Tabular Cube	A tabular cube is a type of data model used in business intelligence and analytics, designed to provide efficient and flexible querying and analysis of data. Tabular cubes are commonly associated with Microsoft Power BI and Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) Tabular mode. Tabular cubes are favored for scenarios where data needs to be rapidly queried, analyzed, and visualized, making them a popular choice for organizations seeking to empower business users with data-driven insights. The familiarity of the tabular structure and the power of DAX calculations make tabular cubes a valuable tool in modern business intelligence environments. Tabular Cube Key Points: Tabular Data Format: Resembles traditional tables, like spreadsheets or databases. Columns and Rows: Familiar structure for easy comprehension. DAX Language: Employs DAX for calculations and transformations. Measures and Calculated Columns: DAX-defined metrics and values. In-Memory Storage: Quick analysis due to in-memory data storage. Columnar Storage: Enhances compression and query speed. Self-Service Analytics: User-friendly interface for non-technical users. Business Intelligence Tools: Used with Power BI, Excel, and more. Relationships: Allows complex analysis with table connections.
  Three Scenario Compare Report	A standard report that comes preinstalled which compares data across three separate scenarios.
  Tree View	Allows for an easy-to-read view of the current hierarchy structure. Can be utilized to adjust the order of the hierarchy. Tree View can be found with Manage Hierarchy or Hierarchy Configuration.
  Trend Analysis Report	A standard report that comes preinstalled which compares data across actual scenarios.
  TTM	A scenario type allowing data to be grouped based on the previous 12 months from a given point in time.
  User Security	Defines navigation and hierarchy permissions for a specific user. (Less preferred and less efficient than group user permissions).
  User vs Groups	Diligent provides user and group security settings for access management. User accounts are designed for individual access. Groups allow security settings to be applied to multiple users at the same time.
  Visualizations	Visualizations module and Power BI reporting and dashboards synonym.
  Volume Planning	Planning based on number of units. Focuses on estimating and forecasting the expected sales or production volumes of products or services over a specified period.
  Web Reports	The whole collection of standard reports that come preinstalled into Diligent.

• How do I create a Trusted Location in Excel?
  EBM Software applications require Excel to trust its connection to your Diligent website. With recent Microsoft Security Hardening, Excel now requires you to create a trusted location for all EBM-connected files, otherwise we can't guarantee your ...

  EBM Software applications require Excel to trust its connection to your Diligent website. With recent Microsoft Security Hardening, Excel now requires you to create a trusted location for all EBM-connected files, otherwise we can't guarantee your files will work as expected.

   

  

   

  

  • If you encounter a warning message in a red bar at the top of Excel that says "Security Risk: Microsoft has blocked macros from running because the source of this file is untrusted" you'll need to create a Trusted Location in Excel and store/open all of your EBM-connected files from that folder location.

  Setting up Trusted Locations

  Create trusted locations and assign them full Macro enabled rights. You can create as many trusted locations as you want.

  1. To do this in Excel, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations > Add new location.
  2. Add folders and/or include subfolders as Trusted Locations where you store your Diligent and EBM connected documents.
  3. If you store them on the cloud, be sure to select the option to allow trusted locations on my network after trusting a shared drive or cloud based folder.
  4. Quit Excel.
  5. Move your affected files to a file folder you've designated as trusted.
  6. Open your file(s) from that folder. 
• Cube Overview
  What is a Data Cube?  A data cube is a live window into your database/dataset via Excel that allows for fast and efficient analysis. The cube will enable consolidation or aggregation of data for which you can then drill down, slice and dice the d...

  

  What is a Data Cube? 

  A data cube is a live window into your database/dataset via Excel that allows for fast and efficient analysis. The cube will enable consolidation or aggregation of data for which you can then drill down, slice and dice the data to analyze at different angles and levels of granularity. The data cubes function similarly to a pivot table.

  What is a Pivot Table?

  A pivot table is a data summarization tool that can automatically sort, total or give the average of data stored in the Data Mart. A user can set up and change the data's structure by dragging and dropping fields graphically. This "rotation" or pivoting of the summary table gives the concept its name.

  Working with the PivotTable Field List:

  • Excel displays the PivotTable Field List so that you can add fields to the PivotTable, rearrange and reposition them as needed, or remove them from the PivotTable. By default, the PivotTable Field List displays two sections:
    • A field section at the top for adding fields to and removing fields from the PivotTable.
    • A layout section at the bottom for rearranging and repositioning fields.
  • You can dock the PivotTable Field List to either side of the Excel window and horizontally resize it. You can also undock the PivotTable Field List, in which case, you can resize it both vertically and horizontally.
  • If you don't see the PivotTable Field List, make sure that you click anywhere in the PivotTable.
  • If you close the PivotTable Field List, you can display it again. Right-click the PivotTable, and then click Show Field List. You can also click Field List on the Ribbon (PivotTable Tools, Options tab, Show group for a PivotTable; PivotChart Tools, Analyze tab, Show/Hide group for a PivotChart).
  • If you don't see the fields that you want to use in the PivotTable Field List, right click in the pivot table and select Refresh.

  How the PivotTable Field List Works:

  It's important to understand how the PivotTable field List works and the ways that you can arrange different types of fields so that you can achieve the results that you want when you create the field layout of a PivotTable or PivotChart report.

  • Move a field to the Column Label area in the Field List, which simultaneously moves the field to the Column Label area in the PivotTable report.
  • Move a field to the Row Label area in the Field List, which simultaneously moves the field to the Row Label area in the PivotTable report.
  • Move a field to the Values area in the Field List, which simultaneously moves the field to the Values area in the PivotTable report. NOTE: the only fields you will be able to place in the values section are those listed within the 'Measures' section of the pivot table field list.

  Remove fields from the PivotTable or PivotChart:

  To remove a field, in the PivotTable Field List, do one of the following:

  • In the respective layout area, left click and hold the dimension that you want to remove, and then drag it outside the PivotTable Field List.
  • In the Pivot Table Field List, clear the check box of the field you want to remove.
    • ***Note Clearing a check box removes all instances of the field from the report.
  • In the respective layout area, click the down arrow on the dimension, and then click Remove Field.

  Show/Hide Detail (Expand or Collapse Levels):

  • Double-click the item that you want to expand or collapse.
  • Click the expand or collapse button (plus sign, minus sign) next to the item that you want to expand or collapse.
  • Right-click the item, click Expand/Collapse, and then do one of the following:
    • To see the details for the current item, click Expand.
    • To hide the details for the current item, click Collapse.
    • To hide the details for all items in a field, click Collapse Entire Field.
    • To see the details for all items in a field, click Expand Entire Field.
    • To see a level of detail beyond the next level, click Expand To "".
    • To hide to a level of detail beyond the next level, click Collapse To "".

  How to Refresh the Report:

  To refresh your pivot tables follow one of the steps outlined below:

  • • Within the EBM Office Bridge ribbon in Excel - select 'Refresh All Cube(s)'
    • In the PivotTable Analyze tab, click refresh - refresh all
    • You can also right-click the PivotTable, and then click Refresh

  Add/Remove Subtotals:

  You can display or hide subtotals for individual column and row fields, display or hide column and row grand totals for the entire report, and calculate the subtotals and grand totals with or without filtered items.

  1. In a PivotTable, select an item (item: A subcategory of a field in PivotTable and PivotChart reports. For instance, the field "Month" could have items such as "January," "February," and so on.) of a row or column field. This displays the PivotTable Tools, adding the Options and Design tabs.
  2. On the Options tab, in the Active Field group, click Field Settings.
  3. In the Field Settings dialog box, under Subtotals, click Automatic. To remove subtotals, click None.

  Display or hide grand totals:

  1. Click anywhere in the PivotTable report. This displays the PivotTable Tools, adding the Options and Design tabs.
  2. On the Design tab, in the Layout group, click Grand Totals, and then select the grand total display option that you want.

  Freeze Panes:

  1. On the worksheet, do one of the following:
     • To lock rows, select the row below the row or rows that you want to keep visible when you scroll.
     • To lock columns, select the column to the right of the column or columns that you want to keep visible when you scroll.
     • To lock both rows and columns, click the cell below and to the right of the rows and columns that you want to keep visible when you scroll.
  2. On the View tab, in the Window group, click the arrow below Freeze Panes.
  3. Do one of the following:
     • To lock one row only, click Freeze Top Row.
     • To lock one column only, click Freeze First Column.
     • To lock more than one row or column, or to lock both rows and columns at the same time, click Freeze Panes

  Best Practices:

  Turn Off 'GetPivotData' functions: Excel automatically defaults to showing a long 'GetPivotData' reference for any formula built off of a pivot table rather than using the local cell references. It is recommended that this setting be turned off for easier navigation and audit of formulas within schedules. This function can be turned off by navigating to Excel Options --> Formulas ---> Working With Formulas--> uncheck the box for 'Use GetPivotData' functions for Pivot Table references. See below for a before and after.

  

  Before:

  

  After:

  

   

  Set Default Pivot Table Settings to User Preference:

  Within Excel Options > Data > Data Options > select 'Edit Default Layout' > select 'PivotTable Options...' you are able to set your default pivot table options to your preference. Common / recommended settings are outlined below. 

  1. Select your preference for when there are error values - e.g. zero, dash or blank

  e.g. this is useful for managing divide by zero or other errors when utilizing calculated fields within a pivot table report

  2. Select your preference for when there are empty cells - e.g. zero, dash or blank

  3. Turn off 'Autofit column widths on update' to maintain formatting upon refreshing data cubes

  4. To turn off the expand or collapse (+/-) buttons  navigate to 'Display' and deselect 'show expand/collapse buttons'. This may give you a more presentation ready output.

  

  5. If you would always like to see all attributes presented regardless of whether or not there is data within the boundaries you have selected in your current pivot table field list, it may be helpful to select the 'show items with no data on rows' or 'show items with no data on columns' found within the Display tab. This is often useful when you have similar tabs within a document using slightly different filtering that may cause a certain month or year to drop out if there is not data for the respective channel, customer, product category, etc.

   

  Other Relevant Articles:

  Cube Basics - Accessing & Modifying the Cubes

  Diligent Glossary

   

   

• Diligent Cube Troubleshooting
  You may encounter a myriad of error messages when using Microsoft Excel, but rest assured we've likely seen it before.  Many errors occur due to an issue with the cube attempting to open or refresh, so if the instructions in each link below do no...

  

  You may encounter a myriad of error messages when using Microsoft Excel, but rest assured we've likely seen it before. 

  Many errors occur due to an issue with the cube attempting to open or refresh, so if the instructions in each link below do not resolve the issue, try restarting your computer and attempt to open the same cube and/or download a new one. If the issue persists, use the Cube Updater or send us a message for further support.    

  Read on for some of the most common errors and fixes.

  Activity Missing from Pivot Measures Section

  Analysis Server OLE DB Provider

  Analysis Services Wizard with Database Driver Failure

  Automation Issue

  Browser Stuck in a Processing Loop

  Can't Find Project or Library

  Cancelled by User Excel Error

  Class Not Registered

  Connection Cannot Be Made

  Crashing Internet Explorer

  Cube Accessibility

  Cube Permissions

  Cube Session Timeout or Cube Structure Rebuild

  Cube Showing Data That No Longer Exists

  Cube Updater Fails

  EBM Office Bridge is Blank

  EBM Loading Form Progress Bar Loop

  Error Uploading to Diligent

  Excel File Refresh Issue

  Excel Upload Bug - File Upload Popup

  Excel Quits Unexpectedly or Requires Microsoft Login

  Excel Ribbon Blank

  Excel Slicers Not Working or Data Not Found

  Excel Timeout Error

  Excel Waiting on OLE Action

  File Not Found

  Hierarchy Structure Changes

  HP Sure Click

  IE Security Error Upon Opening a Cube File

  Invalid User Credentials

  Journal Entry Cube Doesn't Load in Excel

  Macro Enabled Spreadsheets

  Macros and Trust Center Errors

  Microsoft Update - Security hardening change for Trusted Documents

  Microsoft VBA Error

  Missing Hierarchy in Excel Cube

  Missing Hierarchy in PivotTable Fields

  MS Office Timeout

  Network Connectivity

  OLAP / Enable Content Error

  Out of Memory Errors

  Page Cannot be Displayed

  Power BI Dashboard Access Error

  Process or Transaction Deadlocked

  Refresh All Cubes Fail

  Run-time Error 1004

  Signed Out When Exporting a Hierarchy Excel Sheet

  Slicers Referencing Values No Longer Present in the Cube

  Unexpected Error (35010)

  UserForm_Initialize - Web Browser Excel Fail

  Web Server Application Pool

  If you find other error messages please take a screenshot of the message and include it in a support ticket.