Name conventions help model builders structure a model. It's important you follow name conventions to ensure that different areas in your model are identifiable and intuitive.

Use name conventions for all model components, such as lists, modules, and functional areas. Names should be unique and clear for end users.

Check for any name restrictions before naming components in your model.

Note: Names cannot be more than 60 characters.

Model componentDescription
Models

Include the model’s business function to emphasize its purpose.

For example, if your model is for sales planning, name it Sales Planning.

If you archive or copy a model, add a memorable or significant date to the end of the name. For example, Sales Planning YYYYMMDD.

Modules

When you name a module, keep the name short to ensure that:

  • Formulas are concise.
  • Names in Actions are not shortened.

For example, if your module is for calculating price growth, name it Price Growth Rates.

If your module is part of a complex model, add a two or three-character prefix to the name. For example, REV01 Price Growth Rates.

Line items

When you name a line item, ensure that the name is unique and represents the line item's value.

For example, Benefits or Overheads.

If you use a line item in a formula or expression, enclose the line item name in single quotes if the name includes:

  • A number.
  • An operator such as a hyphen or asterisk.
  • The words IF, AND, or OR.

This ensures the formula works as expected.

Line item subsets

When you name a line item subset, include:

  • A two or three-character prefix (LIS).
  • The parent module’s name.
  • A colon, followed by the name of the line item subset.

For example, LIS: Reporting Summary.

If your line item subset contains line items from multiple modules, prefix the name with MM:. For example, MM: LIS Reporting Summary.

Lists

Describe the type of items in the list.

For example, if your list contains a group of employees, name it Employees.

List subsets

When you name a list subset, include:

  • A prefix (ls, sub, ss) to indicate that the list is a subset of a larger list.
  • The name of the parent list.
  • A colon followed by a description of the list subset.

For example, if your list subset contains a group of inactive employees in a specific region, name it sub GE3 Employees: Inactive.

Hierarchy lists

Include a two or three-character prefix to each level of the hierarchy.

For example, if your list contains geographical regions, name it G1 Region. In this example, G2 Country could follow G1 Region.

If your hierarchy list is complex, use additional prefixes to identify the parent hierarchy and the list content.

For example, if your list contains employees by region, name it GE3 Employees.

Numbered lists

Include a hash (#) to differentiate a numbered list from its parent list.

For example, GE3 Employees# is a numbered list that represents employees in a specific region.

List categories

Include << and >> characters to differentiate category names from list names. 

For example, add the G1 Region list to the <<Geo Hierarchy>> category.

If your list does not fit into a category, create an <<Other lists>> category.

If you want to separate list subsets, create a <<Subsets>> category.

Note: Use << and >> to categorize modules and saved views.

Import data sources

When you set up an import and an import data source is defined, the import data sources are named as below:

  • Modules use the module name.
  • Lists use the list name.
  • Saved views use the module and saved view names separated by a period (Module name.Saved view name).

It's important to give data sources unique names if they might be used as import data sources.

If you attempt to import data from a saved view that shares its name with another saved view, such as one in another workspace, the import fails.

Additionally, import data sources with similar names increase the possibility that you accidentally import incorrect data.

Time ranges

Include a date range and aggregation.

For example, if your time range covers the 2020-2021 financial year, name it FY20-FY21

If your time range includes quarter totals, name it FY18-FY20 with Qtrs.

Functional areas

Include a business function or process to emphasize the functional area's purpose.

For example, if your functional area contains sales forecasting modules, name it Sales Forecasting.

If your functional area represents a step in a process, include a number in the name. For example, 1 Sales Forecasting.

Dashboards

When you name a dashboard, ensure that the name is user friendly. 

For example, if your dashboard contains grids from expense modules, name it Expenses.

If your dashboard represents a step in a process, include a number in the name. For example, 5 Expenses.

Saved views

When you name a saved view, give it a meaningful name that describes its purpose. There's no need to include the name of the module, as this displays automatically when you access the view.

Avoid identical names for saved views in the same workspace. Imports can run incorrectly if multiple saved views share the same name.

Roles

Include names that reflect your organization's roles

For example, name a role Administrator, Sales Manager, or Sales Executive.

Actions

When you name an action, include:

  • The source and destination location.
  • An abbreviation of the action type.
  • The name of the data source.

Refer to the table below for recommended name conventions and examples.

Action nameDescriptionExample
Imports

Include im for imports.

Note: Use a number to represent a stage in the process.

1/2 im Employee Roster from Roster.csv
Exports

Include ex for exports.

Note: Use a number to represent a stage in the process.

2/2 ex Employee Roster from Employee Roster.csv
ProcessesUse simple names for processes.Generate Financial Statements
Buttons

Include a plus + or minus - symbol for button names.

Use > for buttons that open dashboards.

+ Product Group

- Product Group

> Sales Plan