Open your most complex Excel forecast right now. Pick one line item (e.g., “Commissions” or “Freight Costs”). Write its logic on a sticky note. Then log into your Adaptive tenant, create a new sheet, and convert that sticky note into a rule using Lookup , Prior , or @sum .
Write rule for Total_Salary :
Use the F key Ctrl+F to search for accounts once imported. Adaptive’s search is far faster than Excel’s. Step 3: Define Time Ranges Unlike Excel where you manage columns for Jan-2024, Feb-2024… Adaptive has native time intelligence. Go to Model Management > Time . Set your fiscal start month, calendar, and planning horizon (e.g., 5 years). f to workday adaptive planning tutorial
| Excel Concept | Workday Adaptive Planning Equivalent | |---------------|---------------------------------------| | Workbook (.xlsx) | (a collection of sheets, dimensions, and formulas) | | Worksheet Tab | Sheet (Level, Assumption, or Custom Sheet) | | F2 (Edit Cell) | Formula Editor (Point-and-click or text-based rules) | | F4 (Absolute Ref) | Hold/No Hold (Using # or ! in dimension references) | | VLOOKUP / INDEX-MATCH | Lookup() or Select() functions (syntax: Lookup( ‘Account’, ‘Version’, ‘Time’ ) ) | | SUMIFS | @sum with dimension filters | | Data Table | Custom Dimension (e.g., Product, Store, Project) | Open your most complex Excel forecast right now
Train your team on the new F keys: F5 to refresh, Ctrl+E to edit rules, and Ctrl+/ to search. Uninstall Excel from their taskbars (kidding – but only sort of). Conclusion: The “F” Is For Future-Ready You started knowing F2 as “edit.” You now know F as future-proof, flexible, and fast . Workday Adaptive Planning does not aim to replace your financial logic; it aims to liberate it from the grid. Then log into your Adaptive tenant, create a
Headcount = Prior('Headcount', 1, 'Month') + Phase(‘New_Hires’, 1, 1, 3, 2025)
Note: No SUMIFS . No F2 to drag down. This single rule applies to every combination of Job_Role , Cost_Center , and Time .