Switch modes

Quickly change which columns and data appear in the grid.

Use the Mode menu to switch between predefined data views and analyse your data in different ways.

All modes include the standard menus in the toolbar: Mode, Stream, Measure and Period. Some modes include additional menus.

Each mode has Summary and Dimension views. Summary view gives you a high-level view of the data, whereas Dimension view shows individual entities in a selected dimension. See Switch between Summary and Dimension views to learn how to move between these views.

Period mode

Use Period mode to analyse values over time.

Use the Measures menu to add more measure columns to the grid.

Summary view

Displays the values for each period in the selected date range.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Period: Displays each period within the selected date range. For example, when you select Rolling 12 Months, the grid displays a row for each month in the rolling 12-month period.
• Value: Displays the value for each period.
• Cumulative Value: Displays a running total of the values up to and including each period.

Summary view of Period mode

Dimension view

Displays the values for each entity in the selected dimension.

In this view, the Properties menu in the toolbar becomes available.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Properties: Displays the selected properties (such as Code and Name) for each entity. Use the Properties menu to select which properties to display. The available properties depend on the selected dimension.
• Total: Displays the total value for each entity across the selected period. A sparkline provides a visual summary of the trend over the selected period.
• Period columns: Display the value for each period within the selected date range. For example, when you select Rolling 12 Months, the grid displays a column for each month in the rolling 12-month period.

Dimension view of Period mode

Example

Use Period mode to view daily sales by product class for the previous month:

1. Click Mode > Period.
2. Click the Product Class dimension.
3. Click Period > Select dates.
4. Select the Day period type.
5. Select the first and last days of the previous month, then click Apply.

Using the Select dates feature to apply a custom date range

Daily sales of each product class in June 2026

Variance mode

Use Variance mode to compare two periods and analyse the variance between them.

This mode introduces a second period menu in the toolbar. Together, the period menus control the period comparison:

• Period: Select the current (main) period. This is the period that appears as the first value in the variance comparison. For example, you might select the current month, quarter or year.
• Compared to: Select the comparison period. The default is Previous (same period one year ago), with Prior Previous and Adjacent Previous also available. You can also compare to a predefined period or select a specific date range.

Comparison period options

Summary view

Displays a comparison of the selected period and comparison period.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Period: Displays the selected period and the comparison period (in brackets).
• Current: Displays the value for the selected period.
• Cumulative Current: Displays a running total of the values for the selected period.
• Comparison: Displays the value for the comparison period.
• Cumulative Comparison: Displays a running total of the values for the comparison period.
• Variance: Displays the difference between the current and comparison values.
• % Variance: Displays the percentage difference between the current and comparison values.
• Cumulative Variance: Displays the difference between the cumulative current and cumulative comparison values.
• Cumulative % Variance: Displays the percentage difference between the cumulative current and cumulative comparison values.

Summary view of Variance mode

Dimension view

Displays a comparison of the selected period and comparison period for each entity in the selected dimension.

In this view, the Properties and Columns menus in the toolbar become available.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Properties: Displays the selected properties (such as Code and Name) for each entity. Use the Properties menu to select which properties to display. The available properties depend on the selected dimension.
• Comparison: Displays the current value, comparison value, variance and percentage variance for each entity.

  

  Dimension view of Variance mode

Optional breakdown

In the dimension view, you can use Columns > Custom > Show all periods to display a breakdown of the selected period. This helps you identify where the variance occurred.

For example, if you compare the last 3 months with the previous 3 months, turning on Show all periods displays each month within the selected period so you can see how each month contributed to the overall variance.

The breakdown contains:

• Total: Displays the total value across the breakdown periods. A sparkline provides a visual summary of the values across the selected period.
• Period columns: Display the individual periods that make up the selected period.

Period breakdown columns in Variance mode

Example

Use Variance mode to compare a customer's spending for the rolling 12 months with the previous 12 months:

1. Click Mode > Variance.
2. Click the Customer dimension.
3. Locate and select the required customer and click Focus.
4. Click Period > Rolling 12 Months.

Comparison of a customer's sales in the current year against the previous year

1. Click Columns > Custom > Show all periods to view a breakdown of the customer's monthly sales in the current year.

Sales comparison including monthly breakdown for current year

Total mode

Use Total mode to view the total value for the selected period.

Unlike Period mode, Total mode displays only the total value and does not include cumulative values. Total mode is the simplest view of your data. It is particularly useful when multiple measures are selected because it provides a clear, uncluttered summary of your data.

Use the Measures menu to add more measure columns to the grid.

Summary view

Displays the total value for each period within the selected date range.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Period: Displays each period within the selected date range. For example, when you select Rolling 12 Months, the grid displays a row for each month in the rolling 12-month period.
• Value: Displays the total value for each period.

Summary view of Total mode

Dimension view

Displays the total value for each entity in the selected dimension.

In this view, the Properties menu in the toolbar becomes available.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Properties: Displays the selected properties (such as Code and Name) for each entity. Use the Properties menu to select which properties to display. The available properties depend on the selected dimension.
• Value: Displays the total value for each entity across the selected period.

Dimension view of Total mode

Example

Use Total mode to view the total number of products sold this year to date (YTD):

1. Click Mode > Total.
2. Click the Product dimension.
3. Click Measures > Quantity and clear any other selected measures.
4. Click Period > FYTD.

Quantity of each product sold in the financial year to date

Stream mode

This mode is only available when two or more streams exist for the database and dimension you have selected.

Use Stream mode to compare two streams and analyse the variance between them. For example, compare actuals against budget.

This mode introduces a second stream menu in the toolbar. Together, the stream menus control the stream comparison:

• Stream (baseline): Select the baseline stream.
• Stream (variance): Select the stream to compare against the baseline stream.

Use the Measures menu to add more measure columns to the grid.

Summary view

Displays a comparison of the baseline stream and comparison stream.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Period: Displays each period within the selected date range. For example, when you select Rolling 12 Months, the grid displays a row for each month in the rolling 12-month period.
• Baseline stream: Displays the value for the stream selected in the Stream (baseline) menu.
• Cumulative baseline stream: Displays a running total of the values for the baseline stream.
• Comparison stream: Displays the value for the stream selected in the Stream (variance) menu.
• Cumulative comparison stream: Displays a running total of the values for the comparison stream.
• Variance: Displays the difference between the baseline and comparison stream values.
• % Variance: Displays the percentage difference between the baseline and comparison stream values.
• Cumulative Variance: Displays the difference between the cumulative baseline and cumulative comparison stream values.
• Cumulative % Variance: Displays the percentage difference between the cumulative baseline and cumulative comparison stream values.

Summary view of Stream mode

Dimension view

Displays a comparison of the baseline stream and comparison stream for each entity in the selected dimension.

In this view, the Properties menu in the toolbar becomes available.

The grid contains the following columns:

• Properties: Displays the selected properties (such as Code and Name) for each entity. Use the Properties menu to select which properties to display. The available properties depend on the selected dimension.
• Baseline stream: Displays the value for each entity for the stream selected in the Stream (baseline) menu.
• Comparison stream: Displays the value for each entity for the stream selected in the Stream (variance) menu.
• Variance: Displays the difference between the baseline and comparison stream values for each entity.
• % Variance: Displays the percentage difference between the baseline and comparison stream values for each entity.

Dimension view of Stream mode

Example

Use Stream mode to compare sales rep performance against budget for the current month so far:

1. Click Mode > Stream.
2. Click the Sales Rep dimension.
3. Click Stream (baseline) > Sales.
4. Click Stream (variance) > Budget.
5. Click Period > Current Month.
6. Click the Grid settings button and turn on Period to date in the grid settings.

Comparison of current month's sales against the budget