Gartle Planning
An application for budgeting and planning
for small and mid-size enterprises
built with Microsoft Excel and SQL Server
Key ideas of Gartle Planning
Basic requirements for planning applications can be summarized
in several sentences:
- we need master data,
- we need a raw data cube,
- we need an aggregated data cube,
- we need input forms,
- we need output reports,
- we need a subsystem for managing permissions,
- we need a subsystem for data import-export.
Many applications meet these requirements, including ERP systems.
The idea behind Gartle Planning is to offer a low-cost planning application based on Microsoft SQL Server and our products for working in Microsoft Excel and online.
The screenshot shows an example of a configured budget request.
The form uses dimensions: entity (201), category, period, budgeting accounts, subsidiary accounts, products, and regions (hidden).
Features of Gartle Planning
The application allows:
- Planning for multiple companies in a single database
- Planning in multiple currencies with different tax rates
- Customizing dimensions, members, and aggregation rules
- Customizing input forms and output reports
- Customizing reports in Excel based on data from a database
- Configuring user permissions and member relationships
- Importing and exporting data
The application has seven predefined dimensions.
If there is a need for more measurements, please contact us.
You can use Microsoft Excel with the SaveToDB add-in, the DBEdit desktop application, and the DBGate or ODataDB web apps as clients.
In general, the Gartle Planning app contains a basic set of features for applications of this class.
The screenshot shows an example of budget reports.
Users can obtain data from any slice.
Users can get the cell source data from the context menu.
You can try the Gartle Planning application online:
Supported Platforms
The application uses a Microsoft SQL Server database on Windows or Linux.
We do not plan to port the application to other platforms.
What is the difference between Gartle Planning and Gartle Budgeting?
The core of Gartle Planning utilizes the aggregation of cube metrics.
The core of Gartle Budgeting utilizes a double-entry accounting system.
Accordingly, in Gartle Budgeting, you set up debit and credit ledger accounts for budgeting accounts.
In Gartle Planning, you set up parents, coefficients, and aggregation functions.
In other words, these are different ideologies for generating output data.
In Gartle Planning, input forms are driven by analysts. Users only enter data.
In Gartle Budgeting, users create the necessary set of budget request lines themselves.
The key point is to specify budgeting accounts, analytical members, and values.
In general, both applications allow solving budgeting and planning tasks.
But the choice of the best system depends on the requirements and the preferences of finance officers.
Who is the Gartle Planning for?
The app is suitable for small and mid-size enterprises with a fairly simple document flow.
You can customize it for any planning model using system-defined aggregation methods.
It allows generating input forms and output reports in multiple languages on the same data.
The initial installation package includes English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.
How much does it cost, and is there a free version?
Gartle Planning itself is a free application. The source code is provided under the MIT license.
Depending on your needs, you may purchase licenses for the SaveToDB add-in and the DBGate or ODataDB web applications.
Commerial support is also available.
How to start?
We recommend trying the online versions of Gartle Planning and Gartle Budgeting.
In half an hour, you will have a complete understanding of the key principles.
Next, we recommend installing the SaveToDB add-in and trying it with demo application workbooks.
In an hour, you will be sure that Microsoft Excel is convenient for both data input and working with reports.
Feel free to contact us.