Every grid report needs a source of data. The Cube picker lets you define the source before you start, with filters and search tools to find the data you need. Without it, Anaplan can't know which part of your model to pull from. This makes it the most important link between your Excel spreadsheet and your Anaplan model.
When you insert a new grid report in Excel using an Anaplan connection, the Cube picker opens. Think of it as a data source selector — it asks you to choose the module or view that your report will be built on.
The Cube picker gives you several ways to find and select your data:
| Option | Description |
| Models | Choose from the models currently connected in your. |
| Search | Type a name to find a specific module or view. |
| Display | Toggle between showing all modules in the model or only the active connections in your workbook. |
| Functional Areas | Filter the available models by their designated functional area. |
| Dimensions | Narrow down results based on specific dimensions. |
Once you have made your selection, select OK to open the Report Designer.
Select a model or view
The Cube picker displays a tree view of available modules and views. You can select either a module or a view as your data source:
- Selecting a Module displays the dimensions and line items within that module. From there, you manually drag and drop dimensions onto your report areas to build the layout you want.
- Selecting a View provides a preconfigured layout. The report areas automatically fill in with the existing view configuration. This saves setup time and keeps your report consistent with the view's design in Anaplan.
Link to view
When you select a view in the Cube picker, you get an extra option: The Link to view checkbox.
Check this box before selecting OK, and two things happen:
- The Report Designer is bypassed entirely, and the grid is inserted directly into your spreadsheet.
- Any structural changes made to the view definition in Anaplan automatically appear in Excel the next time you refresh the grid.
This means your Excel report stays in sync with Anaplan without any manual rework. If someone updates the view in Anaplan — adds a dimension or changes a filter — your spreadsheet automatically reflects those changes on refresh.
Modify a linked grid
You can't use the Report Designer to modify a grid that is actively linked to an Anaplan view. If you attempt to design a linked grid, Anaplan triggers a warning prompt. If you choose to proceed, Anaplan permanently breaks the link to the original view and converts the grid to a standard one that you can design manually.
Warning: Anaplan XL Reporting doesn't support source members with identical names that differ only in case, for example, "BORROW" and "Borrow". Ensure all member names are distinctive when compared case-insensitively.
