International Business Machines Corporation

Anaplan, Inc.

Andrew Thomas Nelmes

Jonathan Co

Alexandros Komninos

Michael Gould

George Duncan Pearson

Johnathan Hodge

John Martin Pitstick

Robin Ward Stafford

A method for converting a spreadsheet into a data model includes: obtaining the spreadsheet including a plurality of cells containing data; identifying local structures within the spreadsheet using attributes of the data in the spreadsheet; combining the local structures of the spreadsheet into a generic multi-dimensional model comprising dimensions and data cubes; generating the data model using the generic multi-dimensional model by mapping elements of the generic multi-dimensional model to elements of the data model; and displaying, on a display and to a user, the data model. The dimensions and the data cubes are the elements of the generic multi-dimensional model.

System and method for converting spreadsheets into data models

Proposed are concepts for transforming a spreadsheet (or set of spreadsheets) into a knowledge base for analysis. Such a concept may convert a spreadsheet into a structured OLAP model that facilitates detailed analysis. For instance, by turning the semi-structured cell-based data representation into a structured OLAP model, it may be possible to perform analysis that would otherwise not be possible with the existing tools.

Generating an OLAP model from a spreadsheet

Proposed are concepts for identifying OLAP dimensions from a spreadsheet. Such a concept may determine contents and structure of an OLAP dimension from a spreadsheet using position, formatting, data and formulae. This may, for example, facilitating creation of an OLAP mode in a manner that would otherwise not be possible with the existing tools.

Identifying content and structure of OLAP dimensions from a spreadsheet

Proposed are concepts for identifying data relationships from a spreadsheet. Such a concept may transform formulae by replacing the variables in each formula with descriptive labels. This may, for example, expressing the transformed formulae in terms that have more meaning to a user, the facilitating understanding and/or analysis that would otherwise not be possible with the existing tools.

Identifying data relationships from a spreadsheet

An enterprise planning and performance management system provides a variable-based modeling technique that enables users to interact with a more manageable variable-centric front-end for complex enterprise planning software. The system enables users to specify a plurality of variable definitions via a variable-based user interface. Based on the plurality of variable definitions, the system generates, and in some instances automatically generates, model data that defines an enterprise planning model. The system uses the model data during subsequent enterprise planning sessions. Because model builders typically comprise financial analysts unfamiliar with traditional complex enterprise modeling techniques but familiar with common financial variables of an enterprise, this variable-based modeling technique may facilitate easier model building by allowing these financial analysts to generate model data from the perspective of the more readily understood variables.

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Andrew Thomas Nelmes