IBM Controller
How to: When Does the FAP Publish Client from Controller Need Updating?
Last Updated: September 4, 2024Customers who have integrated Planning Analytics and IBM Controller systems often want to understand when the Controller FAP Client needs an update. In basic terms, there is an indexation reference...
How to: Navigate the Backend SQL tables within IBM Controller
Last Updated: September 6, 2024The information in this article should be used in conjunction with Knowledge Share article “How to: Interrogate the Backend SQL Table using IBM Controller” The Period Table The most widely...
How to: Back Up an IBM Controller Database
Last Updated: June 17, 2025How to: Back Up an IBM Controller Database Creating regular backups of your IBM Controller database is a simple but essential step in protecting your data. In this short guide,...
How to: Add Companies to Linked Structures Directly from the Company Structure Menu
Last Updated: June 24, 2025How to Add Companies to Linked Structures Directly from the Company Structure Menu If you’re working with extended dimensions like Costs by Function or Sales by Product, you may be...
How to: Save Time Posting Journals on Accounts That Reconcile to Each Other
Last Updated: July 10, 2025When a data entry account has been set up in your account structure to reconcile to an analysis or summation account, you can save time by using a specific journal...
How To: Subscribe to IBM Security Bulletins for Planning Analytics, Cognos Analytics and Controller
Last Updated: September 9, 2025What is a Security Bulletin? From time to time, IBM identifies vulnerabilities in its software. When that happens, they issue a Security Bulletin. These bulletins explain: A summary of the...
How to: Condense XACCLOCK Table
Last Updated: September 16, 2025How to: Condense XACCLOCK Table In IBM Controller, the XACCLOCK table records company lock activity each period. As this table grows over time, it can affect the efficiency of the...
How to: Clear the local cache within Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026There is a setting within Controller which clears the Local Cache. One reason you may want to do this is if your Excel Link within Controller has lost your credentials...
How to: Check the size of your IBM Controller database
Last Updated: January 19, 2026There are two ways to check the size of a Cognos Controller database: Using SQL Server Management Studio 1. Open SQL Server Management Studio. 2. Expand the server instance that...
How To: Fix the Intercompany button not appearing in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026No ‘Intercompany’ pop up screen appearing when button is selected. When trying to enter intercompany data via the intercompany button, the pop-up screen does not appear. Resolving the problem. Click “Maintain...
How To: Interrogate the backend SQL table using IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026If there’s a need to look at the backend (SQL) data and you don’t have access to the SQL Server, you can do so using Controller itself. Steps Log into...
How To: Log into Citrix for the first time using IBM Controller on Cloud
Last Updated: January 19, 2026This page is for those users who are logging into Controller in the Cloud via Citrix, for the first time. Before you start please ensure you have received an...
How to: Consolidate a Submission in IBM Controller Web
Last Updated: January 19, 2026Consolidating submissions in IBM Controller Web is a key step in the financial close process. This article takes you through the steps you need to complete a consolidation job from...
How to: Check when a Company was last updated (and by who) from within IBM Controller Web
Last Updated: January 19, 2026In IBM Controller Web, you may need to check and keep an audit trail of when, and by who, a company was last updated. To perform this check, go to...
How To: Change the method of translation applied to the P&L statement, or create different P&L translation views from the same source data in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026How the group consolidation is initially configured, say with one method of translation across the P&L may not accord to the new or current reporting want, say from management restructure,...
How to: Change the reporting currency belonging to the group consolidation in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026There are two approaches to this, each of which carries a different advantage. Original Database The first solution is very simple, you work within your existing database. Here you create...
How to: Drill Data within IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026There are multiple approaches to drilling data with Controller. We’ll take you through several methods in this knowledge base article. Trial Balance with Drilldown This is a standard Controller report...
How to: Check currency translation using a standard report in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026In Controller there are standard reports that are pre-written to support the consolidation. For a report to prove the currency rate used on a set of specific accounts, for example...
How to: Schedule an internal optimise in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026Running an internal optimise requires the system to be in ‘Single Mode’, with all users logged out. Scheduling the optimise allows you to schedule it to run when no users...
How to: Run an internal database optimise in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026To optimise your IBM Controller database, you must first put the system into ‘Single Mode’ which means you need to ensure all users log out of the Controller database to...
How to: Effectively structure user security in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026Enabling security limitations against users within Controller should be an essential step of your user setup process By default new users are enabled within Controller without limitation. To ensure users...
How to: Change the reporting currency belonging to a local subsidiary (or reporting entity) in IBM Controller
Last Updated: January 19, 2026Whilst the reporting currency of a local subsidiary can easily be changed in IBM Controller, it does require some thought and planning. You’ll also have to plan for change as...
How to: Create Multi Period Import Specs in IBM Controller Web
Last Updated: January 21, 2026This article explains how to create an Import Specification in IBM Controller Web to load budget data where each period is stored in a separate column in an Excel file....
Fundamentals: What’s the difference between IBM Controller Web and IBM Controller Classic?
Last Updated: February 4, 2026IBM Controller is IBM’s financial consolidation and close solution, designed to help group organisations automate statutory consolidation, reporting, and financial governance. IBM Controller is available in two interfaces: IBM Controller...
How to: Improve your Controller Excel Report Performance
Last Updated: February 5, 2026IBM Controller integrates with Microsoft Excel through the Excel Link add-in, allowing users to build and refresh financial reports directly in Excel. For many organisations, this remains an important and...
Aramar Tips: The Benefits of Using IBM Controller Web for Data Import via Import Specifications
Last Updated: February 5, 2026Import specification and its usage of lookup tables for the import of data into IBM Controller is a method of functionality that is common to both IBM Controller Classic and...
How to: Reconcile Data by Company in IBM Controller Web
Last Updated: February 5, 2026Individual company data can be reconciled both IBM Controller Classic and IBM Controller Web, with the following checks being common to both: – Debit / Credit Trial balance reconciles to...
How to: Audit the Licenced Number of Controller Users
Last Updated: February 6, 2026IBM Controller licensing is intentionally flexible, but that flexibility means it requires active oversight. The Controller application is self-policing when it comes to licence consumption. While you may have purchased...
Weekly reporting vs period close in IBM Controller: what to consider
Last Updated: February 6, 2026Customers often ask whether IBM Controller can support weekly reporting alongside monthly or periodic close. The short answer is yes, but how you design it depends on the purpose of...