The first web-based Excel add-in for IBM Planning Analytics
Plaicel™ by ForQuest Solutions bridges the gap between Microsoft Excel and IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) - directly in your browser. No desktop installs. No VPN dependencies. Just open Excel on any device, connect to your TM1 environment, and start working.
Unlike IBM's desktop-only Planning Analytics for Excel (PAfE), Plaicel runs as a modern Office.js web add-in, giving finance, operations, and supply chain teams instant access to TM1 data from Excel Online, Excel Desktop, and Excel for Mac — all through a single deployment.
Key Capabilities
Real-Time TM1 Connectivity
Read and write data directly to TM1 cubes. Build reports, input plans, and execute processes — all from familiar Excel spreadsheets. Plaicel communicates via the TM1 REST API for fast, reliable, standards-based connectivity.
Enterprise-Grade Security
Every user authenticates individually. Plaicel enforces per-user TM1 security so users only see the data they're authorized to access. Supports multiple authentication modes: Native TM1 (Mode 1), CAM/Cognos (Mode 5), IBM Cloud API Key, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect (OIDC) — covering on-premise, cloud, and hybrid deployments.
Connect to IBM Planning Analytics as a Service (cloud), Planning Analytics Local (on-premise), or hybrid environments. Plaicel's Azure-hosted backend handles connectivity, including support for Azure Hybrid Connections to reach on-premise TM1 servers without exposing them to the public internet.
Use TM1 functions you already know — DBRW, DBRA, DBSS, DIMIX, and more — directly in Excel formulas. Plaicel translates these into optimized REST API calls with sub-second response times, even for large datasets.
Future-Ready Architecture
Plaicel is built for the future of Planning Analytics. With IBM transitioning to TM1 v12 and OIDC-based authentication in PA 3.x, Plaicel's REST API foundation and OpenID Connect support ensure compatibility with both current and next-generation PA deployments.
Who It's For
Plaicel is designed for organizations that rely on IBM Planning Analytics for budgeting, forecasting, financial consolidation, operations planning, and supply chain management — and want their teams to work in Excel without the constraints of a desktop-only add-in.
FP&A teams building budgets and rolling forecastsManufacturing planners managing PSI (Production, Sales, Inventory) modelsOperations teams running capacity planning and demand forecastingIT departments seeking browser-based deployment with centralized managementOrganizations migrating to Planning Analytics Cloud or PA 3.x
Why Plaicel
No desktop install required — deploy once, access everywhereWorks in Excel Online — the only TM1 add-in that runs natively in the browserPer-user security enforced — no shared credentials, no security gapsOn-premise and cloud — one add-in covers all PA deployment scenariosSub-second performance — optimized REST API calls for responsive planningPA 3.x ready — OIDC and REST API architecture aligned with IBM's roadmap
Built by ForQuest Solutions — specialized IBM Planning Analytics consultants with 25+ years of TM1 expertise delivering enterprise planning solutions.
