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Slice FAQ

Slice FAQ

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Slice for IBM Planning Analytics (TM1).

General

What is Slice?

Slice is an Excel add-in that allows you to retrieve and update values from a TM1 database using cell-based functions. It works directly from Microsoft Excel, using the TM1 REST API.

Why was Slice created?

Slice was built to expand the TM1 ecosystem and make it easier for companies to build and deploy application-specific Excel user interfaces. Key design goals:

  • Fast performance with minimal dependencies

  • Easy to install — no Citrix or Remote Desktop required for most use cases

  • Connected directly to the TM1 REST API

  • Works over the internet

  • Built-in support for hierarchies (a key gap in Perspectives and PA for Excel)

  • Backwards compatible with existing Perspectives and PA for Excel reports

How much does Slice cost?

Slice comes with a three-month trial period. After the trial, a Slice Business subscription is required to continue using premium features. A free community edition is available with all the core Perspectives-compatible functionality.

Pricing details are available on the Slice pricing page.

Technical Questions

Will Slice work with my existing TM1 reports?

Yes. Slice is built to be backwards compatible with Perspectives and PA for Excel functions. PA for Excel action buttons are supported (Perspectives action buttons are not). If anything does not work as expected, raise a support issue and Cubewise will investigate.

Does Slice work with TM1Web?

Yes. Slice uses the same functions as Perspectives, with the exception of the new hierarchy functions DBH and DBHW and the new Active Form function.

Does Slice work with the IBM PA Cloud?

Yes. Slice works with IBM Cloud. Out of the box, you can use the non-interactive account. To use your IBM ID or a federated login, contact Cubewise for assistance.

Do I need Citrix or Remote Desktop to use Slice over the internet?

No — in most cases. Slice is designed to work over slower connections using the TM1 REST API efficiently. However, performance depends on your specific environment. It is recommended to test response times in your environment before rolling Slice out to end users. It may not be as fast as a Citrix-hosted solution but is often fast enough for practical use.

How to remove Slice trial license and use the Community edition instead?

To have the Community edition of Slice you basically need an expired license which you don't have right now.

However, you can invalidate the license file that you have:

Open %appdata%/ArcForTm1/Slice.xml and update signature value to something else

This will make the license invalid and Slice will run community edition.

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