Planning Analytics for Excel (PAFE) / Volatile Functions
A volatile function is one that causes recalculation of the formula in the cell where it resides every time Excel recalculates. This occurs regardless of whether precedent cells/calculations have changed, or whether the formula also contains nonvolatile functions. One test to check whether your workbook is volatile is to close a file after saving and see if Excel prompts you to save it a second time (this is an indicative test only).
Some functions are obviously volatile, e.g., NOW(), RAND(), TODAY(), and, perhaps slightly less obviously, CELL("filename"), which keeps track of whether the file name has changed.
Source - https://www.fm-magazine.com/news/2019/jun/microsoft-excel-volatile-functions-201920646.html#:~:text=A%20volatile%20function%20is%20one,formula%20also%20contains%20nonvolatile%20functions.
Options
- As of Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel version 2.0.41, the benefits of Constrained Calculations will be most noticeable if your worksheet does not contain volatile functions or persistently dirty data. If the worksheet that you are restricting the recalculation scope to contains volatile functions or persistently dirty data, Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel may need to recalculate any sheets that it shares dependencies with.https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSD29G_2.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ug_cxr.2.0.0.doc/c_pax_constrainedcalculations.html
- Working with the keys as part of refreshing/recalculation - https://revelwood.com/ibm-planning-analytics-tips-tricks-recalculating-excel-worksheets/
- Reviewing your worksheet design as part of reducing the dependency on volatile functions - https://www.datarails.com/excel-volatile-functions-performance/
- Looking at caching of the workbook - https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSD29G_2.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ug_cxr.2.0.0.doc/t_cor_clear_cache.html
- Reviewing of the Planning Analytics for excel report settings - https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSD29G_2.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ug_cxr.2.0.0.doc/c_coi_gt_strtd_set_planning_analytics.html
- Trouble shooting PAFE issues - https://revelwood.com/ibm-planning-analytics-tips-tricks-troubleshooting-planning-analytics-for-excel/
- How to use report types - https://www.acgi.com/blog/4-ibm-pax-report-types
- Working with PAFE API - https://ibm.github.io/paxapi/#introduction
- It is always recommended to upgrade your PAFE version every few months due to both enhancements and fixes - https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSD29G_2.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.tm1_nfg.2.0.0.doc/c_nfg_pax_test.html
------------------------------
paul YOUNG
------------------------------
#PlanningAnalyticswithWatson