Create number parameters

Number variables are designed to pass numeric or percentage values dynamically into custom scripts, calculated measures, or data filters. They allow users to interactively adjust values (such as interest rates or thresholds) and see instant updates across reports without manually modifying underlying formulas or filters each time.

Reference number parameters in formulas#

Bind dynamic parameters directly into calculated measures to enable interactive "what-if" analysis. To demonstrate this feature, we use the formula: Real Sales = Sales / (1 + i)^t

In the formula:

• i is the inflation rate, which is passed as a parameter
• t is the tenure, which is also passed as a parameter
• Sales is a native measure from the semantic model

Follow the steps outlined to create number parameters and use them in a calculated measure.

1. Create a new parameter and set the Type to Number. This parameter captures the inflation rate.
2. Select Show as Percentage to display the inflation rate as a percentage. Planning internally converts it to a numeric value to use in calculations.
3. Enter a unique parameter ID to reference the parameter value in a formula.
4. Under Interface Options, select the interface type as Slider.
5. Set the minimum and maximum values to ensure users don't set a value outside the allowed range.
6. Set the Step Increment / Decrement. This value determines how much the value increases or decreases each time you drag the slider.
7. Select Show Min/Max Labels to display the allowed range (configured in step 5) on the slider control.
8. Select Show Current Value to display the active slider value above the control. Select Add. The configuration is shown in the following image:

9. Follow the same steps to configure a parameter to capture the tenure.
10. For the tenure, set the interface type to Tiles. Set Columns per View to the total number of tiles to display in one row.

The parameter pane with the inflation rate and tenure is shown in the following image:

11. To create a calculated measure, in the Planning ribbon, go to Insert Column > Formula. Enter the formula. Press Ctrl + Spacebar to use intellisense to add references to the parameters in the formula.

12. Planning recalculates the RealSales values dynamically as you change the inflation and tenure parameters.

Rank data by using numeric parameters#

Dynamically display top- or bottom-performing items by passing numeric parameter values directly into your ranking filters.

1. Create a new parameter and set the Type to Number. This parameter captures how many ranks to display.
2. Set the interface type to Tiles or Radio to allow users to select from predefined ranking values.
3. Set the minimum and maximum ranks to display.
4. For radio buttons, you can define the Layout Direction - arrange the radio buttons one below the other or side by side.

The following image shows the number parameter created with a radio button interface.

5. In the Planning ribbon of your planning sheet, select Tools > TopN.
6. Select the parameter in the TopN configuration

7. Selecting a parameter value automatically ranks the data in the planning sheet.

To learn how to configure ranking in intelligence sheets by using parameters, see Use parameters in intelligence sheets.

Enter conditional formatting thresholds#

Pass threshold values directly into conditional formatting to automatically highlight key data across your intelligence dashboards without configuring additional rules.

1. Create a number parameter to pass the threshold value. In this example, we use parameters to drive the conditional formatting for Profit Margin.
2. Set the interface type. In this example, a slider.

3. In your intelligence visual, select Conditional Formatting > Create Rule.
4. In the side pane, set Format by to Rules (If Conditions).
5. Configure the rule as shown in the following image. Reference the defined parameter in your conditional formatting rule. In this example, the rule highlights the categories when the Profit Margin falls below the threshold value set in the slider parameter.

6. Create a second number parameter to highlight the Sales Amount in the matrix visual when the amount falls below the entered threshold value. Refer to the configuration shown in the following screenshot.

7. In the Matrix tab of the visual, go to Conditional Formatting > Create Rule and configure the rule to reference the parameter created in step 6.

The chart categories and matrix data are highlighted based on the parameter values.

Best practices for selecting the UI control#

• Use Sliders when visual exploration matters more than entering an exact decimal point (e.g., "What if sales drop 5%?").
• Use Input Boxes when users need precise control or need to enter arbitrary values outside a fixed range.
• Use Tiles or Radio Buttons when business rules dictate that planners must pick from a specific set of allowed standard values rather than arbitrary numbers.