Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An enterprise planning system provides interview-based enterprise planning techniques that enable users to interact with a simple, manageable and understandable front-end for complex planning software. The interview-based enterprise planning system guides users through an enterprise planning process that captures the planning data with a set of ordered input screens that include an interview-based progression of an enterprise planning session. The interview-based enterprise planning system presents an interview-based question and answer planning process in which users enter input data through a combination of, for example, input fields, yes-no answers to interview questions, and drop-down boxes. The interview-based planning process may be customized on an organization wide basis, on a per plan basis, and/or on a per user basis.

Abstract: Techniques are described for sharing multidimensional data between software systems, such as enterprise software systems. Specifically, the techniques provide mechanisms for defining inter-application “links” for automatically moving data among different databases associated with the enterprise software systems. For example, a system may include a first database storing multidimensional data for a first software application, and a second database storing multidimensional data for a second software application. The system further includes an interface by which an administrator defines a link that specifies a source area of the first database and a target area of the second database. A link control module automatically moves multidimensional data from the source area to the target area in accordance with the link. The link control module may automatically move the multidimensional data directly between live portions of the respective databases.