Virtual Model

A virtual model represents a distinct collection of datasets comprising fields within a model. It serves multiple purposes such as data input, calculations, and reporting. Virtual models play a crucial role in fulfilling the business planning and consolidation needs of an organization. They empower business users to create datasets based on specific purposes within a model and utilize them for capturing data, generating reports, and performing data analysis within the customized dataset framework.

Objectives

• Virtual Models are subsets of Standard Models that allow users to interact with the stored data

• They provide a way to access and work with specific portions of the data.

• Despite being subsets, Virtual Models still retain all the properties and hierarchies of the fields, ensuring that users have a complete selection of options.

• This is similar to authorizations, where permissions are applied at the lowest level, but we still display properties and hierarchies using those lowest level members.

Authorizations

Authorizations are currently managed at the Standard Model level, but there are situations where Virtual Model-level authorizations may differ from Standard Model-level authorizations. For example, certain Virtual Models might have restrictions for specific types of users. While Standard Model authorization could be based on the company code, Virtual Model authorization might be based on the cost center. If the data control dimension is not added to the Virtual Model, separate authorization must be defined for that specific Virtual Model.

More about Virtual Models

Data can be input into Standard Models through various means, such as input forms, uploads, value driver trees, and integrations, all of which are associated with Virtual Models. Other calculations are typically managed at the Standard Model level, but we can explore the possibility of moving some of these calculations to the Virtual Model level instead.

Currently, the context, which determines the specific conditions for accessing tasks, is maintained at the Standard Model level. However, this can create issues since user authorization is controlled at the Virtual Model level. To address this, it is recommended to use the context only when accessing tasks from an instance.

Navigation

To access Virtual model, follow the below steps.

• On the left side panel of modelling screen - Click on the space

• Move toward Models

• Expand the dropdown for Models -to view existing functional areas.

• Under functional areas the list of models can be viewed- icons with is a virtual model