Planning: What's new in 2020

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2.86 - December 28, 2020

New features
More detailed messages in the CTI status page
Users now receive more detailed and helpful messages when importing and exporting operations in CTI. Error messages include details necessary to debug and resolve the issue.
Minor enhancements

None

2.85 - December 7 - December 18, 2020

Maintenance release only
This release contains only bug fixes and servicing to support operational requirements.

2.86 - December 28, 2020

New features
Column Renaming

Admins can now change the column names users see during budget line item entry. Prior to this release, it was only possible to change column names for custom Dimensions or List columns; now it is possible to do so for System dimensions as well. To rename columns, simply edit the desired Line Item Table definition in Reference Data. The table editor now supports renaming of all columns of type Lookup and String.

Figure 1: Editing Line Item Table column definitions in Reference Data.

Renaming columns does not require an Update Reference operation in order for a plan to pick up the change. Once renamed, users will see the new name in line item table column headers.

Figure 2: Renamed system columns in Line Item Table.

Note: Renaming a column simply changes the display name used in the line item table, show/hide columns dialog, filter dialog, and grouping selectors in Summary page analytics. It does not change the underlying "code name" used in Import/Export or CTI operations

Manual Contract Amortization

We now support the ability to manually import, enter and edit the per period amortized expense amounts for a contract. To facilitate this, we've added a Manual amortization method and the ability to change (override) the amortization method defined by the Contract Type. As before, selecting a Contract Type will automatically fill in Contract Amortization field with the method defined in the Contract Type, but this field can now be changed. If the amortization method is set to Manual, the generated expense amounts become editable.

Figure 3: Overriding Contract Type default amortization method.

A 'swirly' icon will appear when the default Contract Type amortization method is modified; clicking on it will revert to the method defined by the Contract Type and will force a re-calculation of the expense amortization amounts based upon the current contract Amount, Start/End Date and other relevant fields (Amortize, Extend, etc.).

Figure 4: Manual amortization method allows direct modification of expense amounts.

NOTE: while in Manual amortization mode, any edits made to contract parameters (like Amount, Start/End Date, Extend, etc) have no impact on the per period expense amounts.

It is also possible now to import contract line items with per period expense amounts instead of having Planning calculate the amounts for you. To do so, one must import the line items with the Contract Amortization Method set to Manual Amortization. If the Contract Type is using a different amortization method, then the Default Contract Amortization Method Overridden field must be set to TRUE.

Figure 5: Manual amortization method can be used to directly import contract expense amounts (per period).

Finally, it is now possible to import contract line items as external line items. External line items are treated as sourced from an external system and read-only within Planning. Use this in conjunction with manual contract amortization to bring in periodic contract expense amounts that have been calculated by another system.

Figure 6: Importing external contract line items.

Dimension Grouping and Descriptions in Apptio BI

You can now view the list of dimensions grouped by the dimension type when configuring visualizations. In addition, you can hover over the help icon next to the dimension name to view a description of the dimension.

Figure 7: Grouping of dimensions in Apptio BI

SEE ALSO:

User guide: Planning data in Apptio BI

Minor enhancements

None

2.83 - November 9 - November 20, 2020

New features

Apex Shell Support

ITP now runs in the new Apex shell. Users can toggle between the shell's new left-hand navigation panel or the current menubar-style navigation via their User Profile menu.

For more information on Apex, see Apex Design System: Navigation Update.

Minor enhancements

System maintenance updates only

2.82 - November 2, 2020

New features
Apex Styling Support

We’ve made minor changes to our UI styling to better align with the Apex look & feel. Apex is the new Apptio-wide common UX which will be introduced later this year. Basically, we've changed fonts and colors to give our apps a cleaner, more modern look. We also modified the styling of the plan header (the area just below the app menus and the start of the page content) to cleanly separate it from app navigation and to provide a crisper look, as you can see in the images below.

New App Look and Feel

Here's a more detailed look at the changes in the plan header styling. There's no functional changes: everything still works the same, just looks a bit different, and better.

Previous Plan Header Styling

New Plan Header Styling

Department Level Dimensions in Apptio BI

We've added new dimensions (Level 1 and Level 2) to the Planning Apptio BI data sources. Level 1 and Level 2 refer to the top and next top level department roll-up associated with a line item's cost object (department). Level 1 is the first list of departments that appear in the "All Departments" drop-down in Planning; Level 2 is the next list of departments that appear under Level 1 departments. These dimensions support executive-level reporting by providing for aggregation of plan line item values up to executive and senior manager's department levels.

Figure 1: Level 1 and Level 2 values in Planning's "All Departments" drop-down list.

Figure 2: Level 1 and Level 2 dimensions can be found in Apptio BI visualization configuration, under "Add Dimensions" drop-down list

Minor enhancements

None

2.81 - September 28 - October 9, 2020

New features
Hide Sensitive Labor Data from Users

You can now identify sensitive labor columns and hide those sensitive labor data from users in . First, the administrator will identify the columns in the Labor expense tab that are sensitive and need to be hidden from users. Then the users who should not have access to sensitive labor data can be revoked access to those sensitive labor data. By default, the users will have access to the sensitive labor data.

NOTE: After upgrading your Planning tenant, existing users will continue to have access to sensitive labor data. To revoke certain users from access to the sensitive labor data, revoke the user's access directly from Cost Object Permissions.

Figure 1: Configure sensitive labor data

Figure 2: Grant access to sensitive labor data

SEE ALSO: User guide: Hide Access to Sensitive Labor Data in Planning

Dependent Picklists

Dependent picklists give you the ability to filter the list of values displayed in a picklist based upon other values in the line item. For example, the list of Vendors can be filtered by the current Asset Class selection to show only Hardware or Software vendors. Dependent picklists make it easier for Admins to constrain the number of choices available to the user during line item data entry improving data quality while providing a better entry experience for users.

Figure 3: Table with dependent picklist (right) is used to filter results, making it easier to make choices

Minor enhancements

None

2.80 - September 28 - October 9, 2020

New features
None
Minor enhancements

System maintenance updates only

2.79 - September 14 - September 25, 2020

New features
Shared CT instance support in CTI

You can now connect multiple ITP instances to a single shared CT instance - for example, a sandbox and main ITP environment - using Token Auth as the authentication method.

For more information on the configuration process, see Integrate with Cost Transparency and CT Integration Panel.

Minor enhancements

None

2.78 - August 31 - September 11, 2020

New features
Enhanced Costing Standard Integration (CTI)

We have enhanced the Costing Standard Integration experience to provide centralized management and one-click import and export with Costing Standard. The existing CTI Settings page has been replaced with a menu page that centralizes all CTI tasks into one place, removing complexity and tedium from the process of exchanging data with Costing Standard.

When you access CTI, you see a new panel with the following options:
  • Configure – configure and modify your integration settings.
  • Import Actuals – bulk import Actuals datasets from CT
  • Import Reference Data – bulk import Reference datasets from CT
  • Publish – bulk export plan data to CT
  • Status – view the status of data import & export requests
Note: You can still import and export to CT directly from individual reference data and plan line item tables via the Import from CT and Export to CT table actions. The new CTI experience simply provides a central place to perform bulk import and export operations.

For more information on the configuration process, see Integrate with Cost Transparency and CT Integration Panel.

Minor enhancements

None

2.77 - August 14, 2020

New features
None
Minor enhancements
System maintenance updates
This release includes system maintenance and bug fixes only.
Fixed in this release:

  • External labor rates are now editable. Users can now edit the labor rates for line items in the Project > Activity > External table.

  • We added the Update Reference Data button to the header bar in Spend Management. Previously, this operation was only available via the Actions menu

2.76 - July 31, 2020

New features
Planning data in Apptio BI

You can now create and share custom reports in Apptio BI using plan data from Planning. You can create and view reports in Apptio BI that use the latest real-time plan data. Your reports can feature multiple visualizations, including visualizations from different data sources. For example, a single report can contain visualizations from both Costing Standard and Planning.

Department expenses are available as Planning Financials, Labor, Contracts, or Assets data sources in Apptio BI. After selecting a data source, you can select any active plan in the Plan Name field to use for a visualization. The dimensions available for reporting are the same dimensions available in department's Expense tab in Planning, including custom dimensions. In addition to the existing Apptio BI date ranges, you can also select date range for Next Year, 2 years future, and up to 6 years future to use for your visualization.

NOTE: After upgrading your Planning tenant, if your environment already have Apptio BI, ITP data sources will be available in Apptio BI within 1 hour. Refer to the full deployment schedule here. Existing Planning cost object level permissions will be enforced in Apptio BI.

NOTE: This feature is currently not available to tenants running in GovCloud or IRAP.

Import Existing Asset Depreciation

We added a new Manual Depreciation method which means you can now import and edit asset depreciation amounts. We also added support for external asset line items so that you can import asset details (and depreciation amounts) from an external system so that budget owners can view, but not edit, the imported line items.

Minor enhancements

None

2.75 - July 13, 2020

New features
None
Minor enhancements

System maintenance updates only

ITP Apptio BI L1, L2 Dimension - February 11, 2020

◆ Applies to: Planning, Planning Foundation, Project Financial Planning, and/or Service Demand Planning as noted below.

In this release:

Department Level 1 and Level 2 Dimensions in Apptio BI

You can now select 2 new dimensions (Level 1 and Level 2) from the Planning data sources in Apptio BI. The Level 1 and Level 2 are the top and next top level department roll-up associated with the line item's cost object. The Level 1 is the first list of departments that appear in the "All Departments" drop-down list in Planning while selecting the department to view the plan. The Level 2 is the second list of departments that would appear under the Level 1 in the "All Departments" drop-down list. This will allow the user to create a visualization that aggregates the plan for the executive and senior manager's department levels in order to produce executive reports.

Figure 1: Level 1 and Level 2 values in Planning's "All Departments" drop-down list. 1 indicates Level 1 value while 2 indicates Level 2 value.

Figure 2: Level 1 and Level 2 dimensions can be found in Apptio BI visualization configuration, under "Add Dimensions" drop-down list.

SEE ALSO:

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