# Stream mode

{% hint style="info" %}
The Stream mode is only available when streams exist for the database and dimension you have selected. 
{% endhint %}

Stream mode allows you to compare multiple streams of data side-by-side, such as your sales vs. budget or sales vs. orders, which is useful for building KPI reports. In Stream mode, the **Variance Stream** menu becomes available on the right of the **Stream** menu and you use these two menus to control which streams display in the grid.

{% embed url="<https://phocassoftware.wistia.com/medias/btnqif0g48>" %}
Track sales rep performance against budget
{% endembed %}

{% embed url="<https://phocassoftware.wistia.com/medias/37jage9v9k>" %}
Compare multiple data streams using Stream mode
{% endembed %}

## Stream mode in Summary view <a href="#streammode-streammodeinsummaryview" id="streammode-streammodeinsummaryview"></a>

In Summary view, the grid displays the relevant time unit (day/month/year) within the current period, plus the following columns: stream (such as **Sales**), stream cumulative, variance stream (such as **Budget**), variance stream cumulative, **% Variance** and **% Variance Cumulative**.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/W7I7Su0CtRZvWvjJhBdK/2985594042.png" alt="" width="612"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Stream mode in a filtered view <a href="#streammode-streammodeinafilteredview" id="streammode-streammodeinafilteredview"></a>

When you select a dimension, the grid displays columns for the active properties (such as **Code** and **Name**) for that dimension plus columns for the stream, variance stream, variance, and percentage variance. The delta (triangle) icon indicates a change or difference.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/33kLz69a2UzGckF2n735/2986672360.png" alt="" width="612"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

## Example 1: Use Stream mode to compare two streams <a href="#streammode-example1-usestreammodetocomparetwostreams" id="streammode-example1-usestreammodetocomparetwostreams"></a>

Use stream mode to compare a Sales Rep's performance against the sales budget:

1. Click **Mode** > **Stream**.
2. Click the **Sales Rep** dimension.
3. Click **Stream** > **Sales**.
4. Click **Variance Stream** > **Budget**, then click out of the menu. The grid updates to display the Sales Rep data from the two streams, along with the variance between them (as an amount and percentage), for the selected period (in this case it's rolling 12 months).

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/qFqBKqEBmThk91iHbPJn/2986770614.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Example 2: Use Stream mode to compare multiple streams <a href="#streammode-example2-usestreammodetocomparemultiplestreams" id="streammode-example2-usestreammodetocomparemultiplestreams"></a>

Use stream mode to compare a Sales Rep's performance against multiple streams: Following on from the example above, click **Variance Stream** > **Stretch Budget** (leave **Budget** selected) then click out of the menu.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/qAMZRLZZV2SO1XMyMALn/2987098204.png" alt="" width="198"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

The grid updates to display both the Budget and the Stretch Budget data, along with variance columns that show the difference between Sales and Budget, and Sales and Stretch Budget.

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/jmSZSlUYCfLd4c9DG8S5/2986836136.png" alt="" width="841"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
To see your results in a chart, switch to chart view and select the appropriate chart type.  For best results when viewing multiple streams, first select **Summary view,** then switch to chart view and select line chart.
{% endhint %}

## Example 3: Use Stream mode with historical data <a href="#streammode-example3-usestreammodewithhistoricaldata" id="streammode-example3-usestreammodewithhistoricaldata"></a>

Use Stream mode to introduce historical data into the comparison: Following from the example 1 above, click **Variance Stream** > **Sales (previous)** then click out of the menu.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/b4RyXr8djZzs43A4Q8iP/2986705099.png" alt="" width="226"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

The grid updates to display a combination of current and previous data, along with the comparison stream.

<figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/itAvDF3MljQXV0rjHRP7/blobs/eIclscCgsth9UPrIaQuI/2986672408.png" alt="" width="853"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>