The Variables sub tab is a list of all the variables in a model. Variables are automatically added to this list when created from within a value driver or price component. Use the Variables list to: (1) rename variables; (2) see all the places where a variable is used; (3) add/edit organizational tags; (4) edit data; (5) review/input data source documentation; (6) access advanced variable functions using the menu at the right; (7) filter, sort and re-order variables; and (8) delete any unused variables. Power users will often use the variable tab for value model cleanup because you can easily access all the content in a model from there.
The variable tab is a sub tab because it appears as a tab in the lower section of several LeveragePoint tools. Specifically, you can find it in:
- Value Modeling -> 6. Summary Tab
- Price Setting -> 2. Offering Price
- Value Communication -> 1. Message & 4. Price
- Value Propositions -> Below the value proposition slides
Each variable tab has the same structure, with four columns and a settings gear.
Variables Column
The functions at the top of this column can reorder variables alphabetically (with the Z -> A icon) or narrow the variable list based on a text search (with the filter icon). Within this column, click on a variable name to edit it or use the gray dots to the left of the variable name to reorder it.
Usage Column
The Usage column displays all of the formulas which use each variable. Positive and negative value driver formulas are marked (+) or (-), respectively. (Comp) indicates variables used in the competitor price formula, whereas (Our) represents a variable within one of Our Price Components. Finally, (Fx) indicates a subformula, and conversion factors for Unit of Measure and Volume are simply noted as being used in the Value Model itself.
The filter icon allows you to filter your variable list by only showing variables based on their usage. In the image below, only the variables used in the positive (+) value driver “Decreased Labor Costs” will be displayed.
Next to any variable, click the link in the Usage column to expand/see the calculation(s) which use each variable. (You may also use the Expand Usage option in the settings menu at the top right of the Variables List to expand/see the calculations for all variables). Then, click the name of any formula to review or edit the calculation.
Tags Column
Use the Tags column to add variable tags (see Variable Tags Overview).
Value Column
The functions at the top of this column can reorder variables based on their numerical value (with the # icon) or filter the list based on variable type (Count, Currency, Data, or Subformula). Within this column, you can edit data by clicking directly on the value. For sub-formulas, click the value or the calculator icon to edit the calculation.
Settings Gear
Use the settings menu at the top right of the Variables List to Expand Usage to see how where all variables are used, globally set the default precisions for all variable types in your model (precisions set on individual variables will override this setting), lock all formulas so that they may not be changed in Unique Value Propositions (UVPs) once the model is published, clear any unused formulas where a custom value is used, clear any custom values where formulas are being used, and delete any variables that are not being used anywhere in the model.