General Settings

General settings configure writeback behavior for a report. These settings control how data is structured, filtered, and written to the destination.

1. Writeback type

Use Writeback type to define the table structure. There are four supported types.

1.1 Long

Long is the default writeback type. Each row represents an observation, and each column represents a variable. Only Long supports writing back comments and notes.

1.2 Wide

Wide stores measures as columns. As you add more measures, the writeback table adds more columns to accommodate them. Totals and subtotals are not written back in Wide format.

1.3 Long with changes

Long with changes uses delta writeback. Only changed values are written in the report. Previous values are stored in PreviousValue, and new values are stored in Value. The system also sets IsLatest = 1 to identify the latest row. Delta writeback works for both numeric and text data type adjustments.

1.4 Wide with changes

Wide with changes uses delta writeback, but each measure is stored in a separate column. It maintains change history and uses IsLatest to identify the active record.

Writeback type considerations and best practices:

1. After the first writeback, changing the Writeback type displays a warning before existing tables are unselected in Writeback > General Settings > Destinations. You can reselect the table for writeback, but the system checks for conflicts between the existing table type and the current Writeback type. If a conflict exists, the system prompts you to drop and write back the table. When in doubt, create a new table and perform writeback instead of dropping an existing one.

2. Changing row or column dimensions displays a warning before it drops and writes back the table.

2. Filter

Use Filter to control which data gets written back to the destination. The filter list includes predefined options and custom filters

2.1 None

None writes back the entire report or scenario without applying any filter.

2.2 Data with Comments only

Data with Comments only writes back only the cells that contain comments. This option works only with the Long writeback type.

2.3 Calculated rows only

Calculated rows only writes back only calculated rows, including any notes added to those rows.

3. Additional column configuration

Use Additional column configuration to add date keys to the writeback table during writeback. This requires consent to access all datasets in the workspace.

Add Date Key adds a Date Key column to the writeback table. For high-level planning scenarios such as revenue by year or month, the system appends the first day of the month or quarter to the date dimension. For example, if the report is set to Year-Month, the system writes 01-01-2025 for Jan 2025.

Add Date Key works only when a time intelligence date hierarchy is used in the Columns field.

4. Decimal Precision

Use Decimal Precision to define the number of digits after the decimal point. This is a one-time setting that applies to all destinations configured for a report page. When you configure the first writeback destination, the system displays a dialog to set decimal precision.

You can configure numeric data with up to 10 decimal digits. Any digits beyond 10 are rounded off.

The configured precision appears in the Decimal Precision section.

5. Text field length

Use Text field length to control the number of characters written back for text fields. The default limit is 512 characters. When you add the first destination, you can either keep the default limit or allow writeback up to the maximum supported by the backend. This is also a one-time setting for all database destinations on that report page.

The Text Length section of the report shows the set text length as follows.

If the Text length exceeds the configured limit, writeback fails.