Setting Up Methods

You need to prepare method groups for use in the planning model for line item activities. This section provides overviews of methods and method drivers and discusses how to:

Modify method names and view method attributes.
Define method drivers.
Describe driver lookup tables.
Define driver lookup details.
Establish planning method groups.
Copy a planning method group.
Define a method's drivers.

Pages Used to Set Up Methods

Page Name	Definition Name	Navigation	Usage
Planning Method	BP_MTHD	select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Planning Methods	Modify a planning method name and view method attributes.
Method Driver	BP_MTHD_DRV	select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Method Drivers	Define method drivers.
Driver Lookup Tables	BP_DIST_TYP	select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Driver Lookup Tables	Define driver lookup tables and assign or distribute amounts to planning centers.
Driver Lookup Details	BP_DIST_DRV_PER	Click the Lookup Table Details link on the Driver Lookup Tables page.	Create or modify the driver lookup table details by planning centers and period.
Planning Method Group	BP_MTHD_GROUP	select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Method Groups	Group the methods, method drivers, driver lookup tables, and driver parameters to be used by line item activities.
Copy Method Group page	BP_MTHDGRP_COPY	Click the Copy Method Group button on the Planning Method Group page.	Copy a planning method group.
Method Drivers	BP_MTHD_DRVR_GROUP BP_MTHD_DRVR_GRP_N	Click the Method Drivers link on the Planning Method Group page.	Define a method's drivers, driver parameters, and lookup ID.

Understanding Methods

The system assigns a method to every line in a line-item budget activity. This method defines how the system calculates the budget amount for the line or how the system derives the budget amount if a calculation is unnecessary.

Use the delivered methods as a basis for creating the planning model activities. You can change the method name and provide a description that is more meaningful to your organization. Changing the method name does not change the logic and rules that underlie the method itself.

Method ID	Method Name	Description	Usage
AMTFTE	Amount Per FTE (amount per full-time equivalent)	Define an amount to multiply times the number of full-time equivalents (either from a planning center or business unit) that is then picked up from the position budgeting activity.	Available for bottom-up scenario types when expense planning, and only used in conjunction with the Position Budgeting Activity.
AMTHC	Amount Per Headcount	Define an amount to multiply times the headcount (either from a planning center or business unit) that is then picked up from the position budgeting activity.	Available for bottom-up scenario types when expense planning, and only used in conjunction with the Position Budgeting Activity.
AMTPER	Amount Per Budget Period	Enter amounts in budget periods.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types, and can be used in conjunction with the spreadsheet add-in for data entry and balance sheet planning.
AMTUNT	Amount Per Defined Units (amount multiplied by defined units)	Apply amounts to units based on the driver definition for the units that the coordinator defined.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but the coordinator can define no defaults for the starting balance.
ANN%	Annual Growth Percentage On History	Apply an annual percent increase for building proposed budget amounts based on the historical criteria that you select.	Available for bottom-up and top-down scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but starting balance will reflect the analysis base chosen and the percentage applied will not update this value.
ASSET	From Asset Budgeting	Specifies that the data from the row that you selected is carried into a line item from the detailed asset budgeting activity.	Available for bottom-up scenario types when preparing capital plans. This method is used when a line item relationship to an asset budgeting activity exists.
BASBUD	Base Budget Amount	Represents the seeded budget based on the history or scenario that you select as the data source to build the proposed budget. It can include multiple data sources, and incremental percent increases or decreases that you applied to each source.	This is the default method and is available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but starting balance depends on a data source being available.
DISTR	Distributions	Distribute constant amounts defined by the coordinator for planning centers using the driver lookup tables.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but the coordinator can define no defaults for the starting balance.
ECODRV	Economic Driver On History	Associate a specific driver value, such as inflation, with line items.	Available for bottom-up and top-down scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but starting balance will reflect the analysis base chosen and the percentage applied will not update this value.
FLEX	Flexible Formula	Represents derived amount that comes from a defined flexible formula.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning. See Understanding Flexible Formulas.
ITM	Itemization	Define a list of items associated with an account.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can also be used for balance sheet planning.
JOIN	AMTUNT multiplied by UNTAMT	Combines the amount and cost drivers that are defined by the coordinator for the AMTUNT and the UNTAMT methods.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but the coordinator can define no defaults for starting balance.
LINEITEM	From Line Item Budgeting	Represents interface values that are coming from related line item type activities (Includes Data From relationship).	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. This method is used when a line item relationship to another line item activity exits.
METH=0	Zero Method Amount	Zero out values for the proposed budget or plan.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types.
PER%	Period Growth Percentage On History	Apply different percent increases by period rather than applying one annual percentage to all periods. Note: If you map a quarterly source scenario to an annual target scenario, then the PER% method applies the incremental % to the sum of the four quarters.	Available for bottom-up and top-down scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but starting balance will reflect the analysis base chosen and the percentage applied will not update this value.
POSBUD	From Position Budgeting	Specifies that the data from the row that you selected is carried into a line item from the detailed position budgeting activity.	Available for bottom-up scenario types when preparing detailed position plans. This method is used when a line item relationship to a position budgeting activity exists.
RELATE	Related to an Account or Statistical Code	Associate an account with a monetary or statistical amount and calculate a value using an amount or percentage.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but the coordinator can define no defaults for starting balance.
UNTAMT	Units Per Defined Amount (units multiplied by defined amounts)	Apply units to the cost based on the driver definition for the amount that the coordinator defined.	Available for bottom-up, top-down, and forecast scenario types. It can be used for balance sheet planning, but the coordinator can define no defaults for starting balance.

Note: When using an activity defined to include balance sheet planning, the coordinator cannot assign a default value (or driver value) for the starting balance. But for those methods that allow the starting balance to be available, the end user can enter an amount when override is allowed by the coordinator.

The following methods are not supported with forecast scenario types: AMTFTE, AMTHC, POSBUD, ANN%, PER%, ECODRV, and ASSETS.

The following methods are not supported with top-down scenario types: AMTFTE, AMTHC, POSBUD, and ASSETS.

Planning models that are defined as project budgeting types, as indicated by the scenario group, do not use the following methods: AMTFTE, AMTHC, POSBUD, and ASSETS.

When you set up methods for the planning model you need to:

(Optional) Modify method names.
(Optional) Define driver lookup tables so that you can have variables by planning center associated with drivers.
Define method groups that can be associated with line-item activity scenarios.
Specify driver default values and lookup tables that are used for a method group.

Understanding Method Drivers

Methods that require a system calculation use method drivers. A method driver is the calculation factor that is used in the algorithm of the method. You define method driver defaults that are used during line item budgeting. You can also enable override of the driver defaults when you set up line-item activity scenarios in the planning model.

You can also establish driver lookup tables that enable budget preparers to select alternate drivers; these alternate drivers reference values on defined planning centers. Define drivers for those methods that require them. For example, when you associate a lookup table with a driver, the system retrieves the driver parameter for the planning center from an established lookup table. If the system cannot locate a lookup value for the planning center, it uses the established default amount for the method driver.

Method Driver	Method Driver Name
BCFTE	Driver for Planning (Budget) Center Amount Per Full-time equivalent
BCHC	Driver for Planning (Budget) Center Amount Per Headcount
BUFTE	Driver for Business Unit Amount Per Full-time equivalent
BUHC	Driver for Business Unit Amount Per Headcount
QTYXCOST	Driver for ITM (itemization) method, in which the number of units is multiplied by a cost per unit for a calculated amount for an item
PERSUM	Driver for ITM (itemization) method, in which you enter the total amount for an item

Note: The system does not display the QTYXCOST and PERSUM method drivers for the ITM (itemization) method when you define the Method Driver page in the group. Instead, these specific method values are available to you only on the Itemization Method detail page in the line item activity during budgeting.

When you define the default driver parameters that are required for certain method drivers, you can also define a driver lookup table that enables the budget coordinator to define different driver values based on planning center.

When you define method drivers and driver lookup tables, determine the number of decimal positions that the system uses to calculate the method amount during line item budgeting. Use statistical drivers that have values defined up to eight decimal positions, or use monetary drivers that have values defined by the associated currency code definition. The system uses the method driver definition, or driver ID, to determine the number of decimal positions that are used to calculate the method amount during line item budgeting regardless of the definition that is used for the driver-lookup table definition. If you want the system to use eight decimal positions during method amount calculations, use a driver ID that is defined as a statistical driver.

Planning Method Page

Use the Planning Method page (BP_MTHD) to modify a planning method name and view method attributes.

Navigation

select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Planning Methods

Method Name

Enter a name for the method.

Changing the method name does not change the logic and rules that underlie the method.

Driver Delivered

Indicates that the method uses one of the delivered Planning and Budgeting drivers.

Driver Required

Indicates that the method requires a driver to perform budget calculations.

Allow New Driver

Indicates that additional drivers are enabled for the method using the Method Driver page.

Base Required

Indicates that the method uses a base value, which you define, for the calculation.

You define the base using the Method Defaults page in the planning model by activity scenario.

Method Driver Page

Use the Method Driver page (BP_MTHD_DRV) to define method drivers.

Navigation

select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Method Drivers

Statistical Driver

Indicates that the driver is based on units rather than on monetary amounts.

You can enter values using up to eight digits to the right of the decimal for statistical method drivers.

The system uses eight decimal positions when performing calculations for method amount during line item budgeting. It does not apply currency precision for drivers that are selected as statistical drivers.

Driver Lookup Tables Page

Use the Driver Lookup Tables page (BP_DIST_TYP) to define driver lookup tables and assign or distribute amounts to planning centers.

Navigation

select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Driver Lookup Tables

Statistical Driver

Indicates that the driver lookup table is based on units rather than on monetary amounts.

You can enter values using up to eight digits to the right of the decimal for statistical method drivers.

Note: If you want the system to use eight decimal positions when performing calculations for method amount during line item budgeting, also select a default driver ID that is defined as statistical driver. The system does not validate whether the lookup ID and driver ID defined for a method group are both defined as statistical drivers.

Lookup Table Details

Click to access the Driver Lookup Details page to create or modify the driver lookup table details by planning centers and period.

Driver Lookup Details Page

Use the Driver Lookup Details page (BP_DIST_DRV_PER) to create or modify the driver lookup table details by planning centers and period.

Navigation

Click the Lookup Table Details link on the Driver Lookup Tables page.

Image: Driver Lookup Details page (1 of 2)

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Driver Lookup Details page (1 of 2). You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Image: Driver Lookup Details page (2 of 2)

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Driver Lookup Details page (2 of 2). You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Currency Code

Enter the currency code that you want.

Note: This field is available for monetary-based driver lookup tables.

This field is unavailable if you select Statistical Driver on the Method Driver page.

Distribution Type

Select how the system calculates the budget amount per budget period. Values are:

Amount: The system uses the predefined or constant amount that is unique to the planning center to calculate the budget amount by period when you select a method that uses a driver lookup ID. The table is populated with constant or monetary values.

Percent/Rate: The system uses a percentage or rate that is unique to the planning center to calculate the budget amount by period when you select a method that uses a driver lookup ID. The table is populated with percentages.

Planning Center SetID

Enter a setID other than the setID that is defined for the lookup ID to define the planning centers for which you want to enter distribution values.

The setID determines the prompt table that is used for Planning Center in the Enter Driver Lookup Values grid. The setID also determines the available values for driver lookup tables when you define the method group using the same setID.

Planning Center Dimension

Enter the dimension (ChartField) to use as the planning center dimension for this driver lookup.

This value controls which planning centers are available in the grid to define driver lookup rules. The planning center dimension that you define here for the lookup table should also be the same dimension that you establish as an activity's planning center.

Calendar SetID

Enter a setID that is used to select the calendar.

The calendar controls the periods across which the system applies the lookup values in the grid.

This value does not need to be the same value as the planning center setID.

Calendar ID

Select the calendar ID, as filtered by the calendar setID, for the system to use to define the periods across the grid to which the system applies the lookup values.

Detail calendars with fewer than 14 periods per year are available for selection.

Add All Planning Centers

Click to populate the grid with all of the valid values that are defined for the selected planning center setID and planning center dimension.

Import from CSV (import from comma-separated values)

Click to populate setup data from files that are formatted with comma-separated values (CSV).

Note: Create a CSV file using the Driver Lookup Tables page to prepopulate planning center values. The layout of the file is important for the import of data. When the import process updates information from a CSV file, the system updates only the planning center values that are defined in the file; any other original planning center values that are defined in the lookup table are not deleted or affected by the import.

To use the import feature, set up the file transfer protocol (FTP) using the URL Maintenance page.

Note: To download the information in the grid to create a CSV file, use the PeopleTools Download icon in the tools bar in the grid heading.

Refresh Total

Click to update the totals in the grid.

Select

Select the check boxes next to the planning centers to which the system applies the distribution amount.

Clear the check boxes next to the planning centers that should use the default driver amount.

Alternatively, use the Select All button to select all planning centers in the grid area.

Planning Center

Enter the lookup values in each period for a planning center.

Planning Method Group Page

Use the Planning Method Group page (BP_MTHD_GROUP) to group the methods, method drivers, driver lookup tables, and driver parameters to be used by line item activities.

Navigation

select Planning and Budgeting, then select Planning and Budgeting Setup, then select Define Parameters, then select Method Groups

Image: Planning Method Group page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Planning Method Group page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

SetID and Method Group ID

Displays the setID that is associated with the method group ID.

Associate each method group ID with a single setID, planning center setID, and currency.

Copy Method Group

Click to copy the selected method group and associated method drivers into a new method group.

Using this button saves you from having to manually create a second method group when you require more than one line item activity with different method groups in a single activity group.

Clicking the Copy Method Group button accesses the Copy Method Group page, where you enter the new method group ID.

Note: Only the most current row is copied into the target method group when a source method group contains more than one effective dated row.

Effective Date

Enter the effective date that you want.

If you add a new effective-dated row to the planning method group, the system copies the method attributes that you defined on the last active row to the new row.

Planning Center SetID

Enter the setID that the system uses to determine the valid values that you can select for Driver IDs on the Method Drivers page.

The system displays a warning message when you modify Planning Center SetID indicating that, when you select a different setID, the system clears the Lookup Driver ID field for every driver ID on the Method Drivers page. Repopulate each lookup ID field based on the available values for the selected planning center setID.

Currency

Enter the default currency to use for all methods and drivers that you define.

Select

Select the check box (system default) next to each method ID that you want to use with the activity scenario in the planning model.

Clear the check box next to each method that you do not want to use during the budget development process.

When you define a proposed line item activity, the system makes available all 18 delivered methods for monetary budgeting. For statistical budgeting, which is a line item budget that uses a statistical account or statistical code, you can use all delivered methods except for:

ASSET
POSBUD

When you prepare a line item budget that is a top-down scenario, you can use all delivered methods except for ASSET (from asset budgeting), POSBUD (from position budgeting), AMTFTE (amount per FTE), and AMTHC (amount per headcount).

When you prepare a line item budget that is a forecast scenario type, you can use all delivered methods except for ASSET (from asset budgeting), POSBUD (from position budgeting), AMTFTE (amount per FTE), AMTHC (amount per headcount), ECODRV (Economic driver), ANN% (Annual growth percentage), and PER% (Period growth percentage).

Method Drivers

Click to access the Method Drivers page to define a method's drivers, driver parameters, and lookup ID.

Note: If a method ID does not require a driver, the Method Drivers link is unavailable.

Note: The planning type that you define for the scenario affects the use of methods within an activity scenario in the planning model. For example, if you select all method IDs, certain methods are unavailable for the forecast planning types. This means that for the activity scenario for a planning model, the system displays only the appropriate methods (on the Define Method default page), not all available methods.

Copy Method Group Page

Use the Copy Method Group page (BP_MTHDGRP_COPY) to copy a planning method group.

Navigation

Click the Copy Method Group button on the Planning Method Group page.

Image: Copy Method Group page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Copy Method Group page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Source

Set ID

Displays the Set ID of the original method group.

Method Group ID

Displays the method group ID of the original method group.

Effective Date

Displays the effective date for the original method group.

Target

Method Group ID

Enter a method group ID for the new method group you are creating.

Effective Date

Enter an effective date for the new method group you are creating.

Click OK to create a new method group and return to the Planning Method Group page.

Before the system returns you to the Planning Method Group page, it checks key values for the target method group ID to ensure the keys are valid and are not identical to your existing keys.

Method Drivers Page

Use the Method Drivers page (BP_MTHD_DRVR_GROUP) to define a method's drivers, driver parameters, and lookup ID.

Navigation

Click the Method Drivers link on the Planning Method Group page.

Image: Method Drivers page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Method Drivers page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Note: The fields that appear in the Method Drivers Details group box depend on the selected method ID.

Calendar SetID

Enter a setID that is used for the calendar.

This value does not have to be the same value that is in the Planning Center SetID field.

Calendar ID and Annual Calendar ID

Enter a time value for the driver ID.

Options depend on the selected method ID and your organization's business practices as defined in the Detail Calendar (located under select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions). Typical calendar selections include monthly, quarterly, and annually.

Select an annual calendar if you are defining a driver ID for one of the following methods that use only an annual time frequency:

ECODRV
DISTR
AMTFTE
AMTHC
RELATE

Select monthly, quarterly, or annual calendars for the following methods:

AMTUNT
UNTAMT
FLEX

The JOIN method uses the default time frequency from the AMTUNT and UNTAMT defaults.

Driver ID

Enter the desired driver ID to specify whether to enter the associated amount or value as a monetary amount or statistical value.

The driver ID overrides the statistical definition in the driver lookup table. For example, if you select a lookup ID on this page that is defined as a statistical driver on the Driver Lookup Tables page, but you select a driver ID that is defined as monetary, the system uses the monetary setting.

The following methods require additional driver-related information:

AMTFTE
AMTHC
ECODRV
RELATE
DISTR
AMTUNT
UNTAMT
JOIN
FLEX (when using Driver as Flexible Formula Source)

Relate Type

Select whether the RELATE method driver is associated with an account or statistical code. Values are Account and Stat Code (statistics code).

The value that you select displays either the Account or Stat Code column.

Account

Enter the desired account to base the related calculation on (such as when position benefits represent 30 percent of the defined salary account).

This value applies to the Relate method only when the relate type is Account.

Year

Select the desired accounting year as defined by your organization.

Select a year for all methods that require a driver ID.

Sum/Average

Select how to define the Amount field. Values are:

Avg/Period: The fraction of the total sum that is received by dividing the amount by the number of periods. The specified values are recognized in each period. For example, UNTAMT uses a quarterly calendar ID. When a driver called HOTEL is defined as 100 USD in quarter one, then 100 USD applies for all months in the first quarter when you are preparing a monthly budget.

Sum/Period: The total sum that is reflected in each of the periods. The specified values are recognized as a total amount across each period. For example, AMTUNT uses a quarterly calendar ID. When a driver called OTHOURS is defined as 180 in quarter one, then 60 applies for all months in the first quarter when you are preparing a monthly budget.

Use Avg/Period and Sum/Period for the RELATE, AMTFTE, AMTHC, DISTR, UNTAMT, AMTUNT, and FLEX methods.

Note: When you are using forecast scenario types, no matter what the calendar for the budget driver, the amounts are calculated based on all budget periods, both closed and open.

Value Type

Select the nature of the Value field for the RELATE method. Values are Amount and Percent.

Lookup ID

Select a lookup ID to override global default amounts that are defined for the RELATE, AMTFTE, AMTHC, DISTR, UNTAMT, AMTUNT, and FLEX methods.

The JOIN method uses the default lookup IDs from both AMTUNT and UNTAMT defaults.

Define and select distribution values using the Driver Lookup Tables page.

Note: The valid values for Lookup ID depend on the planning center setID that you select using the Planning Method Group page.

Value

Enter the value that you want.

For the RELATE method, depending on the value type that you select, the value that you enter is either a percentage or an amount.

For the DISTR method, the value that you enter is either a sum or average of the total. The system uses this as the default value when planning centers use lookup tables for the defined method driver.

Stat Code (statistics code)

Enter a statistical code for the RELATE method so that you can use predefined variables for budgeting against statistical accounts.

Note: This field is available when you select Stat Code as the relate type for a RELATE method.

Amount

Enter a monetary sum or average of the total for the AMTFTE and AMTHC methods.

Values Total

Enter the total value.

For the AMTUNT method, enter the total number of units.

For the UNTAMT method, enter the individual cost per unit.

Unit Driver ID

Enter the AMTUNT driver that is defined for the JOIN method group.

Note: You must first define the driver ID for AMTUNT.

Amount Driver ID

Enter the UNTAMT driver that is defined for the JOIN method group.

Note: You must first define the driver ID for UNTAMT.

Annual Value

Enter a percentage that is used to calculate an annual value using the ECODRV method.