Tree view

The Planning sheet provides a Tree layout that lets you visualize the model in a hierarchical tree structure, run simulations on the fly, and view results as sparkline charts within nodes.

Simulations help businesses make informed decisions by testing out different scenarios and seeing the results. With tree view, you can create and compare multiple scenarios, perform in-depth scenario analysis, and visualize them.

Advantages of tree view

Create and compare multiple scenarios.
Simulate changes on the fly and perform what-if analysis.
Identify key performance drivers through simulation.
Assign important nodes as KPIs or key inputs to track progress.
Evaluate performance against a benchmark.
Add comments and collaborate with your team.

Tree view overview

When you select Layout > Tree view and choose the baseline and comparison series, the model is displayed in a tree view layout.

The tree is presented in a horizontal format as a visual. Its structure begins with a single node called the top node/root node, and this node then branches out to other nodes as children/descendants. In the image below, the model is segmented into levels starting from level 1 with the top node named 'Net Profit'. The nodes share a parent-child relationship at each level.

Navigate through tree view

You can traverse through the nodes using the mouse scroll or by dragging and dropping the hand tool on the canvas. Use Ctrl + and Ctrl - to zoom in and out.

Select > to expand and < to collapse levels.
Use Go to level to navigate between different levels.
Select the Zoom icons to zoom in/out of the canvas as well as to reset zoom.
Use Node Customization to customize the text and chart alignment on nodes.

Compare baseline and comparison series

The tree view that includes comparison series displays nodes with variance values obtained by comparing both series.

Nodes in green indicate that the variance is favorable based on the desired trend you set. For example, a positive variance is favorable when the desired trend is increasing, while a negative variance is favorable when the desired trend is decreasing. Unfavorable variances are shown in red. You can also format them to appear in orange or other colors depending on the variance.

Understanding node components

Component

Description

Corresponding item in the image

Node name

Every node is identified by its name, which can be a value driver, KPI, or category name.

Net Profit

Node value

The primary value in the node is the baseline value, which represents the total of the node's baseline series. On a simulated node, this value represents the simulated value.

225.95k

Comparison value

The value series used for comparison that appears when you hover over the sparkline chart.

230.37k

Absolute variance

Absolute variance is the difference between the Baseline and Comparison series in absolute numbers. On a simulated node, it represents the difference between the simulated series and Comparison series in absolute numbers.

-4.42k

Percentage variance

Percentage variance is the difference between the Baseline and Comparison series in percentage terms. On a simulated node, it represents the difference between the simulated series and Comparison series in percentage terms.

-1.92%

Sparkline chart

A sparkline chart is available on each node to show the trend. During simulation, the chart updates dynamically to display the new trendline as a solid line and the previous trendline as a dotted line.

Conditional formatting

A color band is displayed at the bottom of the node to indicate whether the value or variance is favorable or unfavorable (as configured in the node settings for that node).

orange bar below the node

Simulation-disabled icon

This symbol on a node indicates that simulation is disabled and the node value cannot be simulated.