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BI360: Self-Paced ‘Techical Product Training’ Guide
PURPOSE:
This document is meant to be used as a self-paced guide for power users (consultants, customers, and partners)
to educate themselves on the technical aspects of BI360 (product functionality, how to design reports, how to
design planning input forms and models, how to administer the data warehouse, etc…).
JUMP IN!
Thank you for choosing BI360! Now it is time to get you familiar with the technical side of BI360! This ‘Self-
Paced Technical Product Training Guide’ is organized into sessions to enable you to manage the pace of your
own education. If you care to ‘get it all done straight away’, take each session, one immediately following the
other, to complete the entire curriculum in record time. Alternatively, take one or two sessions every few days,
over a longer period of time. You can choose the method that works best for you!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Before proceeding with this guide, you must either be a BI360 customer (having already purchased licenses of
BI360) or be a BI360 Partner (having signed up as an official partner with rights to Partner license keys and portal
access).
If you are reading this guide and fall into neither one of these roles, contact Solver to help clarify your access to
the resources outlined below. If you are an end user/customer, you may either contact your BI360 reseller or
contact your Solver Account manager at [email protected]. If you are a BI360 Partner, contact your Solver
Partner Account Manager directly. If you are unsure of who this may be, contact [email protected].
Thank you!
The BI360 Team at Solver
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..............................................................................................1 BI360: Self-Paced ‘Techical Product Training’ Guide
.............................................................................3 BI360 Product Training General Overview & Pre-Requisite Steps
Curriculum Overview ..............................................................................................................................................3
Pre-requisite Steps .................................................................................................................................................5
..........................................................................................................................................................7 BI360 Reporting
1 - BI360 Overview & Portal Resources ..................................................................................................................7
2 - Installation and Administration .........................................................................................................................7
3 - Composer (Ad-hoc Reporting) ...........................................................................................................................8
4 - Introduction to Report Designer .......................................................................................................................8
5 - How to Build a P&L ............................................................................................................................................9
6 - Reporting Security & Tools ................................................................................................................................9
7 - How to Build Additional Reports .......................................................................................................................9
......................................................................................................................................................... 10 BI360 Planning
8 - Budgeting: Overview and Templates ............................................................................................................. 10
9 - Input Form Design 1 (Standard P&L Budgeting)............................................................................................. 10
10 - Input Form Design 2 (Advanced Capex budget) ........................................................................................... 11
11 - Workflow Set-up and User Security ............................................................................................................. 11
............................................................................................................................................ 12 BI360 Data Warehouse
12 - Data Warehouse Overview and Configuration ............................................................................................ 12
13 - Data Warehouse Imports (data & dimensions) ............................................................................................ 13
14 - Best practices architecture discussion ......................................................................................................... 13
.................................................................................................................................... 14 BI360 Downloads Fast Track
Contents
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BI360 Product Training General Overview & Pre-Requisite Steps
This section outlines general curriculum sessions, resources used, as well as pre-requisite content download steps.
Curriculum Overview
BI360 ReportingSession Topic Resources
1 BI360 Overview & Portal Resources Demonstration Video
Reporting Training Guide BI360 Book
2 Installation and Administration
Installation Guide
User Guide
Report Training Guide
BI360 Book
3 Composer (Ad-hoc Reporting) Product Training Video
Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
4 Introduction to Report Designer Product Training Video
Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
5 How to Build a P&L Product Training Video
Reporting Training Guide
6 Reporting Security & Tools
Product Training Video (Updated video for v3.5 to come)
Administration Tool User Guide
BI360 Book
7 How to Build Additional Reports Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
BI360 Planning Session Topic Resources
8 Budgeting: Overview and Templates
Demo Video Planning Training Guide
Planning User Guide
BI360 Book
9 Input Form Design 1 (Standard P&L Budgeting) Product Training Video
Planning Training Guide
BI360 Book
10 Input Form Design 2 (Advanced Capex budget) Product Training Video (Video to come)
Planning Training Guide
BI360 Book
11 Workflow Set-up and User Security Product Training Video Planning User Guide BI360 Book
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BI360 Data Warehouse Session Topic Resources
12 Data Warehouse Overview and Configuration Video (Video to come)
Warehouse User Guide BI360 Book
13 Data Warehouse Imports (data & dimensions) Warehouse User Guide
Warehouse Training Manual
BI360 Book
14 Best practices architecture discussion Solver Consultants
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Pre-requisite Steps
BI360 Downloads Sites, Manuals & Guides How to Access
BI360 Customer & Partner Portal
(Secure ‘login required’ Online Content)
Access the BI360 Portal - https://support.solverusa.com login required
Create Login Credentials o Customers: Can register as a new user. o Partners: Refer to your ‘Welcome Letter’ for login directions
Email your account manager for a copy if you’ve misplaced it.
Product Training videos housed in ‘Solver University’, accessed through the lower left navigation pane, once logged in to the Portal.
Training Guides
(Module specific training)
Access the BI360 Portal - https://support.solverusa.com login required
BI360 Downloads | Module Name| Documentation - Training Guides o BI360 Reporting Training Guide (ERP Specific)
o BI360 Planning Training Guide
o BI360 Data Warehouse Training Guide
BI360: The Ultimate How-To Guide
(370-page, 4-color book of exercises and
deep details)
Order copy of BI360 book - http://www.solverusa.com/contact/orderbook o Customers: Contact your partner or account manager if you
think it was included in your original purchase of the software. o Partners: Contact your account manager if this was included in
your partnership agreement.
Many exercises in the self-paced curriculum are supported by chapters and sections in the BI360 book.
Additional Resources Source How to Access
Solver Forum
(Product knowledge, tips & tricks)
Access the Solver Forum - www.solverusa.com/forum login required
Create Login Credentials o Can register as a new user in the login page
All BI360 related posts are under the Solver BI360 sub-forum
Solver Newsletter
(Updated news on products and
services)
Signup for the Solver Newsletter - Link o Register an e-mail address to receive the Solver Newsletter
All updates on product releases dates and other information is communicated through the newsletter.
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Solver Social Network
(Blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
Links to the social networks:
Blog Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
Join our social networks to keep up-to-date on the most current releases and news.
QUESTIONS?
General Content & Access: Should you have questions with regard to the general curriculum, or how
to access the supporting training files (PPT, Manuals, etc…) email [email protected]
Technical Product questions: Should questions arise regarding the technical product functionality,
please submit your questions to [email protected]. We will respond as quickly as possible to keep
your training flowing!
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BI360 Reporting
This section will help you to educate yourself on the technical reporting features and functionality of BI360.
Topic & Resource Steps
1 - BI360 Overview & Portal Resources
Resources Used Demonstration Video
Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
a) Demo Videos
View demonstration videos
Overview: Overview Video Reporting: Reporting Intro Video Planning: Planning Intro Video Dashboards: Dashboard Intro Video
b) Reporting Training Guide Read ‘Introduction’
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part I: Chapter 1-3
Topic & Resource Steps
2 - Installation and Administration
Resources Used Installation Guide
Administration Tool User Guide
Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
a) User Guide (Login to the Support Portal )
Go to BI360 Downloads | Reporting | Documentation - User Guide
View: Installation Guide/Quick Install and Administration Tool User Guide
b) Reporting Training Guide Read ‘Overview of the Administration Guide’
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part II: Chapter 4
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Topic & Resource Steps
3 - Composer (Ad-hoc Reporting)
Resources Used Product Training Video
Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
a) Training Video (Login to Support Portal) Go to Solver University | Videos
View: Reporting 102: Composer Basics
b) Reporting Training Guide Read ‘Overview of the Report Composer’
Read ‘Report Composer Exercise 1-3’
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part III: Chapter 5-6
Topic & Resource Steps
4 - Introduction to Report Designer
Resources Used Product Training Video
Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
a) Training Video (Login to Support Portal) Go to Solver University | Videos
View: Reporting 101: Reporting Basics
b) Reporting Training Guide Read ‘Overview of Report Designer’
Read ‘Report Designer Exercise 1’
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part IV: Chapter 7-9
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Topic & Resource Steps
5 - How to Build a P&L Resources Used Product Training Video
Reporting Training Guide
a) Training Video (Login to Support Portal) Go to Solver University | Videos
View: Reporting 203: How to Build a P&L
b) Reporting Training Guide Read ‘Report Designer Exercise 2’
Topic & Resource Steps
6 - Reporting Security & Tools
Product Training Video (Updated video for v3.5 to come)
Administration Tool User Guide
BI360 Book
a) Training Video (Login to Support Portal) Go to Solver University | Videos
View: Reporting 202: Security
b) User Guide (Login to Support Portal)
Go to BI360 Downloads | Reporting | Documents - User Guides
View: Administration Tool User Guide | Access Management
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Appendix 6
Topic & Resource Steps
7 - How to Build Additional Reports Reporting Training Guide
BI360 Book
a) Reporting Training Guide Read ‘Report Designer Exercise 3-7’
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b) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part IV: Chapter 10 (and Appendices)
BI360 Planning Designed for Sales, Pre-sales or Consultants that need to demonstrate/learn BI360 Planning & the Data Warehouse.
Topic & Resource Steps
8 - Budgeting: Overview and Templates
Resources Used Demo Video
Planning Training Guide
Planning User Guide
BI360 Book
a) Demo Video View demonstration video
Planning: Planning Intro Video
b) Planning Training Manual Read ‘Overview of BI360 Planning’
c) User Guide (Login to Support Portal) Go to BI360 Downloads | Budgeting|
Documentation - User Guides
Planning User Guide
d) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part V: Chapter 12
Topic & Resource Steps
9 - Input Form Design 1 (Standard P&L Budgeting)
Resources Used Product Training Video
Planning Training Guide
BI360 Book
a) Training Video (Login to Support Portal) Go to Solver University | Videos
View: Planning 201: PL Input Form Part 1 & 2
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b) Planning Training Guide Read ‘Exercise: Example 1’
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part V: Chapter 12 - Getting Started with
Implementation
Topic & Resource Steps
10 - Input Form Design 2 (Advanced Capex
budget)
Resources Used Product Training Video (Video to come)
Planning Training Guide
BI360 Book
a) Training Video (Login to Support Portal) Video to come
b) Planning Training Guide Read ‘Exercise: Example 2’
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part V: Chapter 13 - Capital Expenditures
Model
Topic & Resource Steps
11 - Workflow Set-up and User Security
Resources Used Product Training Video (Video to come)
Planning User Guide
BI360 Book
a) Training Video (Login to Support Portal) Video to come
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b) User Guide (Login to Support Portal)
Go to BI360 Downloads | Budgeting| Documentation - User Guide | Planning User Guide
Read Assignments section
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part V: Chapter 12 - Getting Started with
Implementation
BI360 Data Warehouse Designed for Sales, Pre-sales or Consultant needing to implement and administer the Data Warehouse.
Topic & Resource Steps
12 - Data Warehouse Overview and Configuration
Resources Used Product Training Video (Video to come)
Warehouse User Guide
BI360 Book
a) User Guide (Login to Support Portal)
Go to BI360 Downloads | Data Warehouse| Documentation - User Guides | Warehouse User Guide
Read Introduction, Overview, and Configuration sections
b) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part VI: Chapter 16-17
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Topic & Resource Steps
13 - Data Warehouse Imports (data &
dimensions)
Resources Used Warehouse User Guide
Warehouse Training Manual
BI360 Book
a) User Guide (Login to Support Portal)
Go to BI360 Downloads | Data Warehouse| Documentation - User Guides | Warehouse User Guide
Read Managing the Data Warehouse section
b) Warehouse Training Manual Read ‘Exercise: Example 1’ and ‘Exercise:
Example 2’
c) Book: Ultimate How-To Guide Part VI: Chapter 18
Topic & Resource Steps
14 - Best practices architecture discussion Resources Used Solver Consultants
a) Solver Consultants
Each Data Warehouse configuration varies by business requirement
Recommended to fill out the embedded file below.
Consult a Senior Consultant from Solver
Integration Documentation.xlsx
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BI360 Downloads Fast Track Use the tables below to download the key pieces of content to support your BI360 Self-Paced Technical Training.
Access Partner Portal & Demo Portal WHAT WHERE
Partner Portal: Sales tools, PPTs, scripts,
software downloads, licenses, training videos, etc. Partner Portal https://support.solverusa.com - Login Required
(See Partner Welcome Letter for login directions).
Hyper-V Demo Portal: Cloud-based
preconfigured demo environment with all BI360 software & templates.
Hyper-V Demo Portal: http://bi360.acxlive.com/ - Login
Required You must contact your Account Manager or e-mail
[email protected] to gain access to the Hyper-V Demo environment
Download DocumentationLog in to the BI360 Partner Portal for all paths below
WHAT WHERE
System Requirements BI360 Downloads | Reporting (tab) | Documentation - User
Guides
Installation Guides (Full and Quick Install) BI360 Downloads | Reporting (tab) | Documentation - User
Guides
User Guides BI360 Downloads | Reporting/Budgeting/Data Warehouse (tab)
| Documentation - User Guides
Training Guides BI360 Downloads | Reporting/Budgeting/ Data Warehouse (tab)
| Documentation - Training Guides
BI360 ‘The Ultimate How-To User’s Guide’ Contact Us | Order Book
BI360 Hyper-V Demo Image User Guide E-mail Account Manager or [email protected]
Forum Solver Forum : Link
Whitepapers Solver University | White Papers
Download software WHAT WHERE
BI360 Reporting NOTE: It is expected that you have your own ERP
database to use as the data source or use the BI360 Data Warehouse.
BI360 Downloads | Reporting (tab) | Download | Current Versions
BI360 Planning & Data Warehouse
NOTE: A single installation manages both BI360
Planning and Data Warehouse.
BI360 Downloads | Budgeting or Data Warehouse (tab) | Download | Current Versions (section)
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Download supporting material WHAT WHERE
BI360 Reporting - Report templates
BI360 Planning & Data Warehouse - Budget templates & Demo Database
BI360 Downloads |Reporting (tab) |Sample Reports (section)
BI360 Downloads |Budgeting (tab) |Demo Model or
BI360 Downloads |Data Warehouse |Demo Model