Report editors can make manual tables and charts dynamic by connecting data points through variables, cross-table reference formulas and rollover rules to automate data entry and reduce manual work year over year.
There are three main activities to make manual tables and charts dynamic. Select an option below to navigate directly to it.
Reference Data in a Table or Chart
Report Variables
Report Variables (both text and images) can be referenced in a manual table’s cells or within the header and footers of the table itself. For charts, insert a report variable into a Chart title, subtitle or credits. These variables provide a centralized location to easily update recurring content or images within a table or chart year over year.
Use these to create a key of common images or icons, reference fiscal year or dates and other values that are static but may change year over year.
Cross-Table Reference
With three key pieces of data, the Table ID, Sheet Name and Cell or Cell Range, report editors can reference data with a simple formula between manual tables or charts as needed to keep information up to date across the document.
Use this feature to connect a manual table to a visual chart or connect fluctuating data between two sets of tables.
Import MDFM Data into a Table
Number Variable (Linked Number)
Within a Chart or Table, reference a specific number from your MDFM financial models using a Number variable. This can be added directly into cells of the table or reference data of a chart and provides a direct connection to the financial figure ensuring that if the data changes, the reference changes with it.
Tip: Apply standard spreadsheet formulas to the linked numbers imported from the MDFM.
Rollover Data Each Year
Rollover Rules
Save time and reduce manual re-entry year over year by carrying hardcoded values in a chart or table forward with Rollover Rules. This reduces the need to rebuild a table and just add in the next year's data.
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