Configure Planning Analytics for Excel (PAfE)

Planning Analytics for Excel (PAfE) is a Microsoft Excel® add-in that enables you to interact and analyse data in IBM Planning Analytics.  The provides users with a familiar interface whilst removing the disadvantages of using spreadsheets such as, stale data and formats.  For more information please see: https://ibm.biz/CS_PAfE

Contents: 

Tips and Tricks | Download | Launch for a single session | Launch for all sessions | Connect to PAW | Upgrade add-in

Remove add-in | Check PAfE Version | Check Excel Bitness | Find Add-in Location 

Tips and Tricks

• Launching for a single session may be required if third party Excel add-ins are installed
• When installing as an add-in, it is recommended to rename xll file to a generic name (e.g. IBM_PAfE_x64.xll) to simplify future upgrade processes
• For best compatibility, stay within +/- 1 version with Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) - to check PAfE version
• Ensure the bitness (32-bit or 64-bit) of the add-in matches matches Excel - to check in Excel
• Your Connection URL will differ by environment (if applicable) and where Planning Analytics is hosted - see Connect to PAW

Download from Planning Analytics Workspace 

To download PAfE from Planning Analytics Workspace:  https://ibm.biz/CS_PAfE_Download 

1. On the Planning Analytics Workspace Home page, click the Administration tile.
2. On the Administration page, click Excel and Customizations.
3. Select the version of Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel you want to download. The three most recent versions are available for selection.
4. Click Download Update.
5. The installation is saved as an archive named Integration<version>.zip in your Downloads directory.
6. Extract the archive – both 32 and 64-bit versions are included.
7. Refer to next slides depending on install type (single or all sessions).
8. Consult the README.txt file in the extracted archive if required.

Launch for a single session

1. Download the Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel .xll add-in file from Planning Analytics Workspace 
2. Move the add-in file to your desired directory. Ensure that the directory is listed in Microsoft Excel as a Trusted Location. For more information about Trusted Locations, see Add, remove, or change a trusted location.
3. Double-click the add-in file to launch Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel.
4. Enable the add-in if prompted by Microsoft Excel Security Notice.

Launch for all sessions as an add-in

1. Download the Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel .xll add-in file from Planning Analytics Workspace 
2. Move the .xll file to your desired directory and rename to a generic name. 

e.g. Documents\PAfE add-in\IBM_PAfE_x64.xll

3. Launch Microsoft Excel.

4. Click the Developer tab.

5. Click Excel Addins in the ribbon.

6. Click Browse….

7. Select the Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel .xll file.

8. Click OK.

Connect to Planning Analytics server

1. With either install method, connection steps are the same
   
2. In Excel, click IBM Planning Analytics
   
3. Click Connect -> New Connection
   
4. In dialogue box, paste your Connection URL and be sure to include the https:// prefix
   
   Your Connection URL can be found in your welcome emails or in the web browser address bar when connected to Planning Analytics Workspace
    
   Depending on where your Planning Analytics server is hosted, there will be slightly different formats:
    
   • Planning Analytics on Cloud (PAoC) - will have one for each environment (prod and dev) and will have one of the following two domain formats. n.b. do not include anything after .com
   https://<myserver>.planning-analytics.ibmcloud.com
   https://<myserver>.planning-analytics.cloud.ibm.com
    
   • Planning Analytics as a Service (PAaaS) - will follow the format below. n.b. do not include anything after your tenantid
   https://<datacenter>.planninganalytics.saas.ibm.com/?accountId=<accountid>&tenantId=<tenantid>
   
   
5. Optionally, enter a friendly name to easily differentiate from each environment
   
6. Click Test Connection to validate and Save to complete the process; repeat all steps for additional environments

Upgrade Add-in

1.Close all Excel windows before proceeding with upgrade

2. Download the PAfE .xll add-in file from Planning Analytics Workspace

3. In Downloads folder, copy and rename xll file to a generic file name

4. Copy to add-in folder and Overwrite file when prompted

5. Start Excel and validate by checking PAfE version

Remove Add-in

You may need to remove Add-in if there is a conflict with other Excel Add-ins or to switch to launching on a per session basis.

1. Take note of add-in location
2. Close all Excel windows before proceeding with removal
3. In previously saved add-in folder, delete xll file

4. Start Excel and click OK on warning: 

5. Click Developer -> Excel Add-ins
6. In Add-ins list, uncheck ibm_Pafe_X64
7. Click Yes to confirm deletion from list

8. Close Excel

Check PAfE version

1. In Excel, click IBM Planning Analytics in ribbon
2. Click Help
3. Click About – Version referred to is third number (e.g. 65)

Check Excel version and bitness

***It is important to match PAfE 32 or 64 bit version with Excel**

1. Launch Excel
2. Click Account in left navigation pane
3. Click About Excel to details:

Find PAfE Add-in location

When running for all sessions, you may need to know where Add-in is located in order to uninstall.

1. Launch Excel
2. Click File -> Options
3. Click Add-ins
4. Click IBM add-in
5. Location will be displayed at bottom

Start Excel and click OK on warning: