# Allocation Rules and Controls

In the previous sections, we have explored the various planning capabilities. Plan offers rule-based controls to manage how data is entered, adjusted, and distributed across your model.

* **Locking Rules** help protect critical data by restricting edits to specific rows, columns, or periods. During allocations, locking cells ensures that they remain intact and their values are not altered.
* **Distribution Rules** streamline how values are allocated across measures and dimensions, ensuring consistency and accuracy.
* **Min-Max Rules** add a layer of validation by enforcing allowable value ranges during data inputs and allocations.

Together, these rules strengthen governance, maintain data integrity, and provide greater control over the planning process.

### Important features

* Configure input and distribution rules for all measures and columns in one place.
* Set global rules for all visual measures and columns, or apply the rules to specific measures.
* Choose the row dimensions, columns, and period range where the rules should apply.
* Configure rules for both existing measures/columns as well as future columns.
* Use filters to select the exact rows and columns you want to target.
* View details such as who created the rule, when it was configured, and the applicable measures, rows, and columns.

These rules can be accessed from the **Plan** tab.

<figure><img src="/files/iCvrRAt950nJrZAqi0fI" alt=""><figcaption><p>Allocation rules</p></figcaption></figure>

This section describes the various rules and constraints you can use to ensure that inputs and allocations to measures are formalized and made reliable.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.fabricplan.com/planning-sheets/how-tos/7.-planning-budgeting-and-forecasting/allocation-rules-and-controls.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.