Saving and managing versions
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A version refers to a distinct iteration or snapshot of a model at a particular time. Versions are used to track changes over time and compare different planning approaches.
For example, after creating your FY25 budget that's been approved by your board, you could save it as a version—Board approved FY25 Budget. You might likely create a revised version of the budget a few months later named Revised FY25 Forecast which is a forecast reflecting recent performance.
Versions allow teams to:
Track progress: Compare actuals against the original or revised plans.
Collaborate: Work on multiple iterations of a plan without overwriting previous ones.
Audit changes: Maintain a history of edits for transparency and accountability.
Learn about:
There are two types of versions you can create on Drivetrain—snapshot and version.
A snapshot version is a complete snapshot of your model at a specific point in time.
It captures the state of your data and model (variables, metrics and lists), allowing you to track changes over time, compare different planning strategies, and maintain a record of progress.
Saving a snapshot creates a copy of the entire model (variables, metrics and lists) along with the datasets used at that point of time.
A typical use case here is the Board approved FY25 Budget version example cited earlier where the numbers need to be preserved for record and compared against actuals over time.
A version is a partial snapshot of the current model without the dataset values.
Only the model structure is copied. The metric values in a version use the current data in the datasets — meaning the metric values change as the underlying numbers in the datasets change.
Versions allow for more expansive editing capabilities compared to snapshots including creating new variables, deleting variable, editing lists, editing dimensions added to a variable, edit planning duration (i.e, model range), editing source of actuals for a variable, add new scenarios and filters.
Any changes made in a version are limited to that version, and will not reflect in or affect the current plan or other versions.
Creating a new version is useful when you need to build a model for a different purpose than your current plan or make significant modifications to an existing one including changing the time horizon.
For example:
Long-range planning – When the current plan contains the AOP, but you need to create a long-range plan.
Next fiscal year budgeting – When the current plan includes the Q4 forecast for the current fiscal year, but you need to budget for the next year with changes to the structure of the model itself.
On the Models page, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) on the top right and select Versions.
On the Versions side pane, click on + New.
In the "Save a new version" pop up, give a version name and description (optional).
If you want to create a snapshot version, check the box Snapshot datasets and click Save. Else, leave it unchecked to create a version.
You can visualize and compare snapshots and versions against actuals giving you a clear view of how your original and revised plans have progressed.
On the Models page, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) on the top right and select Versions.
The Models page will refresh and display a read-only mode of the saved snapshot or version indicated by an orange strip at the top with the version name.
You can exit the View-only mode by clicking on the close button or by navigating away from the Models page
On the Models page, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) on the top right and select Versions.
Hover over the desired snapshot or version you want to edit, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) and select Edit.
The Models page will refresh and display an editing mode of the saved snapshot or version indicated by an orange strip at the top with the version name.
When exiting the editing mode by clicking on the close button or navigating away from the Models page, a confirmation popup is displayed asking whether you want to discard or save the changes.
Note: Editing capabilities in a snapshot are limited.
In the editing mode, you can:
Change forecast formulas and change values in the forecast cells
Change number formating
Change time and dimension summaries
View lists as they were when the version was saved
Change the pivot view
However, you cannot:
Add a variable
Remove a variable
Change dimensions added to a variable
Change planning duration (i.e, model range)
Change source of actuals for a variable
Add scenarios
Add filters
Edit lists
In a version, the above limitations are removed.
However, any changes made in a version are limited to that version, and will not reflect in or affect the current plan or other versions. Further, metrics can only be created in the current model or plan—it's not possible to create a new metric in a version. Also, variables can only be linked to a metric present in the current model or plan.
On the Models page, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) on the top right and select Versions.
Hover over the desired version you want to edit, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) and select Archive.
To unarchive a version, expand "Archived versions", select the version to unarchive from the list
On the Models page, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) on the top right and select Versions.
Hover over the desired snapshot or version you want to delete, click on the vertical ellipsis (⋮) and select Delete.
The values of the version reflect the data present at the time of the snapshot. Editing capabilities are .
Refer to this section on to learn more.
Select the desired version or snapshot you want to view from the Versions side pane. Note: A snapshot version can be easily identified by the snapshot icon and label next to the name.
