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💎 Slice Fundamentals

💎 Slice Fundamentals

Slice is a Microsoft-Excel add-in that works with TM1 for end users. Similar to Perspectives and IBM Planning Analytics for Excel. Slice is very fast, easy to install, connects directly to the TM1 REST API, works over the internet, has built-in support for hierarchies, supports existing reports built-in Perspectives and formula mode in PA for Excel.

Slice allows you to display and update values from a TM1 database using cell-based functions including:

  • Familiar look and feel

  • Supports all TM1 Excel functions (DBRW, DBS…)

  • Snapshot, Slice and Active Forms + MDX Forms

  • Create slices and active forms with hierarchies

  • Cube Viewer & Subset Editor • Buttons, Drillthrough, Annotations & Sandboxes

  • Create Active Forms with dynamic columns

  • Paste range of values to DBR formulas

  • Trigger the DBS functions only when required

  • Remove TM1 functions from the sheet

  • Troubleshoot faster errors in your report with the cell audit feature.

What is it built with?

Slice has two main components, an Excel Add-in and a server explorer which uses an Arc service primarily written in JavaScript with a GO server. All operations use the TM1 REST API instead of the legacy Perspectives C API.

It is a single executable that has everything included.

A single executable which accesses your TM1 instance using the TM1 REST API. You can access Slice directly from Excel:

 

In this section

Slice Editions: Community and Business
Compares the free Community edition with the subscription-based Business edition, breaking down which features (hierarchies, Cube Viewer, sandboxes, bursting, MDX Forms, virtual calculations, support) come with each and which one suits your needs.

Getting Started with Slice
A step-by-step walkthrough of the first steps: installing the add-in, connecting to a TM1 server, and browsing your model in the Slice Explorer.

Getting Started with Slice – Installation and Connection
A detailed look at prerequisites (TM1 11+, REST API, Arc server), where to install Slice, configuration via Settings, connecting to on-prem and PA Cloud instances, and troubleshooting connection issues.

Getting Started with Slice in One Minute
The fast-track quick start — download, run the installer as Administrator, open Slice, and auto-discover TM1 instances in under a minute.

Transitioning to Slice & Building Fast Reports
The hub for moving from TM1 Perspectives to Slice, covering the migration roadmap, Perspectives vs Slice expectations, performance tuning, symmetric vs asymmetric views, and good practices before going live.