Lesson Four: Adding Categories & Groups


So here is your matrix as it stands right now.



At this point, you have two categories, Quarter and Type. Let's add two more, Region and Year. We are going to have 4 different regions and we are going to forecast growth over the next 2 years. So let's add the two new categories to your matrix.
    Step 1. Select the category tile next to where you want to insert your new category.
      Click on the "Type" category tile.
    Step 2. Add a new category tile.
      Hit ENTER. It will insert your category tile to the right of the "Type" tile. Drag and drop the new tile to the left of the "Type" tile. (Keyboard shortcut: if you hold down your SHIFT key as you press ENTER to insert the tile, it will insert your new tile to the left of the "Type" tile.)
    Step 3. Add the label name to the tile.
      Click in the tile and rename it "Region". Hit ENTER.
At this point, your matrix should look like the following:



    Step 4. Add your category item.
      Click in the new item space at the top. Rename it "Region1". Hit ENTER. The cell turns blue. Notice that the corresponding data to that category is also blue.
    Step 5. Add new category sections.
      While your "Region1" cell is still blue (or click on it to make it blue), hit ENTER. You'll get an entirely new "Region2" category that has duplicated your previously entered categories and items. Repeat 2 more times for "Region3" and "Region4".
    Step 6. Add data.
      Fill in your "Quarter1" data for the new regions. Use any numbers you like.
    Step 7. Add another category.
      Repeat steps 1-4, clicking on "Quarter" and hitting ENTER to add a new category. Label the category “Year". Label the first one "Year1" and add just one other: "Year2".
    Step 8. Add a formula that rolls data from Quarter4 of Year1 to Quarter1 of Year2.
      Add a fourth formula to the Formula Editor that calculates the first quarter of this year as equal to the fourth quarter of the previous year times the growth rate of 1.2.
Great! Your matrix should look like this:



Now let's add some groups to the model. Groups are used when it is helpful to logically subdivide items. We are going to subdivide Widgets into Small, Medium and Large Segments. Our Whosits group will contain Round and Square items.
    Step 1. Rename first item.
      We now need three different kinds of Widgets instead of just one. Click on a "Widget" item in any region. Type "Small' and hit ENTER.
    Step 2. Add new items.
      While the first Widget item is still selected, hit ENTER again to add a new item. Name it "Medium." Repeat for "Large".
    Step 3. Group the items.
      Drag across the three Widget items to select them. Click on Insert > Group Items. You'll get a new cell to identify the group. Name the group "Widgets".
Now your matrix should look like the following:


    Step 4. Add data to your new items.
      Fill in the Quarter1 data for your new items. Note that all the regions need their own data -- Quantrix does not assume that the data is the same, only that the overall structure is the same.
    Step 5. Edit/Add the Whatsits and group them.
      Repeat 1-4, naming the items "Round" and "Square". Name the group "Whosits." Add data for your new items.
    Step 6. Format cells.
      Right-align your items by selecting them and using the "Right-align" button on your tool bar. Play around with other formatting techniques like number and text formatting. Click the format toolbox icon in the toolbar to manipulate different formats on the model.
    Step 7. Save your model.
      Click File > Save.
Your matrix should look like the Illustration below.


Next:

>> Lesson Five: Adding an Assumption Matrix

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