What is Anaplan?

Anaplan is a Connected Planning platform that empowers businesses to see, plan, and lead more effectively. As an enterprise cloud software, Anaplan is designed to facilitate connected planning across various business functions including finance, sales, supply chain, and HR & workforce. Its purpose is to provide companies with a vision of confidence, particularly in a world filled with uncertainties.

Since its inception in 2006, Anaplan has aimed to streamline strategic alignment of objectives and resources, thereby enabling faster business results through bold decision-making. It accomplishes this by offering real-time visibility and future planning capabilities, which in turn fosters improved internal collaboration and makes meaningful data available more swiftly. Anaplan also allows users to perform on-the-fly scenario modeling, enhancing the decision-making process.

With Anaplan's service, over 2000 customers, including more than half of the Fortune 50 companies, have experienced transformative outcomes. Anaplan's platform is celebrated for its continuous innovation and commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences. This recognition is bolstered by the expertise of Anaplan's leadership team and the strength of its over 200 partner network.

In terms of data handling, Anaplan's workspace administrators have the ability to format data in a variety of ways. The platform supports different data formats including Number, Boolean, Date, and others, each offering specific configuration options and formatting capabilities. These functionalities cater to the diverse needs of businesses, enabling them to manage and utilize their data more efficiently within the Anaplan environment.

Anaplan Plugins for Excel

Installation of the Excel Add-in

The Excel Add-in is designed specifically for use with Anaplan, and it must be installed before it can be used. Users cannot operate different versions of the Add-in simultaneously. The Add-in can be downloaded from the Anaplan Downloads page. Installation options include using an EXE file for a standard setup or an MSI file via a command prompt for advanced installations. Additionally, users have the option to install the Add-in to a directory of their choice using the ellipsis button during the installation process.

Compatibility and Use Restrictions

It is important to note that the Excel Add-in is not compatible with other Add-in versions. Therefore, users must ensure that they have the correct version of Excel, specifically the 64-bit version, to create connections with over one million cells. Each worksheet within a connection to Anaplan is limited to a maximum of five million cells.

Common Use Cases

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  Use case 1: Enabling end users to retrieve and analyze Anaplan data within Excel for enhanced data manipulation and visualization
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  Use case 2: Allowing IT administrators to install and configure the Anaplan Excel Add-in across multiple users within an organization for standardized access
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  Use case 3: Creating read-only connections for users to view Anaplan data in Excel without the risk of altering the source data
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  Use case 4: Utilizing multi-sheet connections for comprehensive data analysis across various dimensions from Anaplan within separate worksheets in Excel
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  Use case 5: Synchronizing multi-sheet connections to automatically update Excel worksheets when changes occur in Anaplan page dimensions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Anaplan plugin for Excel and how do I access its features?

The Anaplan plugin for Excel, known as Extensions Excel Add-in Series 4, allows users to access data from Anaplan modules and saved views within Microsoft Excel. It is available to users with an Anaplan subscription and features are accessible through the Anaplan ribbon in Excel once the plugin is installed and the user is signed in.

How do I sign in to the Anaplan Excel plugin?

To sign in to the Anaplan Excel plugin, use your Anaplan username and password or Single Sign-On (SSO). You'll find the sign-in options within the Anaplan ribbon in Excel, where you can also configure the authentication settings.

Can I upgrade my current Anaplan Excel plugin to the latest version?

Yes, users can upgrade from their current version of the Anaplan Excel Add-in to the latest version to benefit from the most recent functionality. The latest version can be downloaded from the Anaplan Downloads page.

Are there any prerequisites for installing the Anaplan plugin for Excel?

The plugin must meet certain prerequisites to be set up and installed on a device, such as compatibility with Microsoft standards. Users must meet all these prerequisites before attempting to install the plugin.

What are the differences between read-only and read/write connections in the Anaplan Excel plugin?

Read-only connections allow users to view Anaplan data in Excel without the ability to modify it, while read/write connections enable users to edit the data and write it back to Anaplan. Users can create these connections through the Anaplan ribbon and configure them as needed.