Anaplan XL Web Edition can work with an SQL database. This gives various options to provide different functionality for Excel and Web-based users.

There are several options when you first setup Anaplan XL Web and have access to SQL Server to run an SQL Database.

Set up full SQL database

Everything is stored in the SQL database. This gives you access to features:

    • Excel-based dialogs for controlling permissions and access to reports and folders
    • Full version history of published items, as well as locking the live version
    • Logging of report accesses, including rendering times for usage and performance monitoring
    • Extended options around integrating with existing "Forms Authentication" websites
    • Operational reporting - report usage, user activity and so on.
    • Report commentary

The security model can be based on roles or Active Directory groups.

Role-based - recommended

Active-directory groups and users are assigned to Roles - these roles are then assigned permissions to reports/functionality. This has the advantage that no Active Directory import is required.

Active Directory-based

Active directory import needs to be run and configured, but no further maintenance is needed. Permissions can be assigned directly to Active-directory groups and users. It matches closely to a file-based repository.

Hybrid SQL database

Only report usage and commentary is stored in the database. This gives you access to the features below:

    • Report commentary
    • Logging of report accesses, including rendering times for usage and performance monitoring
    • Operational reporting - report usage, user activity etc.

The reports can be stored in either the file system or SharePoint

File-based reports

Excel users connect to Anaplan XL Web to publish, and the reports are stored in the file system — permissions are applied using standard NTFS security.

SharePoint-based reports

Excel users connect to SharePoint to publish — permissions are applied in SharePoint. Reports are available and viewed in SharePoint. Mobile users connect to Anaplan XL Web, which presents the published SharePoint reports.

In addition to these features, the SQL Repository feature also enhances:

    • Scheduling — Scheduling is accessible from Excel.  It features an easier-to-use interface as well as integrated run history
    • Error logging — Error logging is available from a dedicated server administration application. This can be used on any machine and user that has server access

Scheduling

If Scheduling is needed, a few additional steps are required to use it with the SQL Repository. The Scheduling Installation with the SQL Repository page has full details.