FAQ Docu of MktPlanPro-9

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#Value! Error The #VALUE! is usually caused by blanks in table cells, errors in data entry, or errors in user-entered spreadsheet formulas. In almost all cases, the #VALUE! error is the result of leaving cellsblank instead of having numbers (e.g., enter a zero as the value in empty cells). When typing numbers into cells, enter the NUMBERS ONLY, with no formatting or spaces. Thesoftware formats number cells automatically (such as the $ for currency). Manually enteringformatting codes or pressing the spacebar while entering numbers causes the program to "see"the data as text instead of numbers. To test a value that looks like a number but appears to be interpreted as text, re-type it beginningwith an equal sign and numbers only. For example, if the problem seems to be with a cell showing"$999,999", type =999999 into the cell and see what happens. The financials are linked, so that a bad cell in one table may create the same error in other tables. To assist you in locating where the error occurs, try the following: If your plan is set for

more detail

, look first at the

Contribution Margin

table.

a.

If the error shows up in Sales or Cost of Sales, then your error originated in theSales Forecast table.b.If the error shows up first in any other part of the Contribution Margin, its source isprobably right in this table. Look at your Expense rows.If your plan is set for

less detail

, look first at the

Marketing Expense Budget

table.a.If the error shows up first in the Marketing Expense rows, then it is probably right inthat row.b.If the error shows up first in the calculated rows at the bottom for ContributionMargin, then its source is probably in the Sales Forecast table.Sales and Expense Breakdown Tables:If the error shows up in ALL of your Expense Breakdown tables, or ALL of your Sales Breakdowntables, go back and check the Contribution Margin table (see steps, above). If it shows up in onlyone of them, but not all three variations, then the error source is probably right in that table. Palo Alto Software's Diagnostics Team offers a fee-based #Value! error diagnostic service availablevia our Web site. Please visit the Diagnostic Services page at:http://www.paloalto.com/su/diag_fax.cfm for details about this service or to complete and fax arequest form.………………

What are these Actual and Variance tabs in my tables?Marketing Plan Pro 2006 allows you to follow up on your plan's implementation with a Plan vs.Actual analysis (also called Variance analysis). The Actual and Variance tabs in some tables let youswitch from your plan tables to actual and variance modes.(Show me...) Put simply, variance analysis compares your plan data to actual numbers you enter later, fromyour real business operations, and produces either a positive or negative number. These numbershelp you quantify where your business is meeting expectations, and what areas need to beimproved. The

Plan vs. Actual

feature lets you do an automatic variance analysis of the

Milestones,Marketing Expense Budget, Contribution Margin, Expense Breakdown, SalesBreakdown

(or

Funding Breakdown

, for nonprofits), and

Sales Forecast

tables (or

FundingForecast

, for nonprofits). Use the Actual and Variance tables for management and following up on planning andimplementation. Identify important sales variances, their causes, and their symptoms. Whenthings turn out different from the original plan, pay attention - your numbers are telling yousomething. TIP: Use the Actual mode for Course Corrections

As your plan starts rolling, you will want to revise budgets as you go, makingcourse corrections. Use the Actual view instead of Plan view and you can manageboth the plan and the revisions within the plan. For example, if you are threemonths into the actual results of the plan, use the actual results area from thefourth month on to keep your revised budgets. That way you'll keep the originalplan, but also optimize it for realistic forecasting.

ExamplesFor detailed examples of using the Plan vs. Actual features in a particular table, see the followinghelp pages:

•

Milestones: Plan vs. Actual

•

Sales Forecast: Plan vs. Actual

•

Sales Forecast: Example of Plan vs. Actual

•

Marketing Expense Budget: Plan vs. Actual

•

Contribution Margin: Plan vs. Actual

•

Sales Breakdown: Plan vs. Actual

•

Expense Breakdown: Plan vs. Actual …………Break-even Assumptions

The Break-even Analysis depends on three key assumptions: 1.Average per-unit sales price (per-unit revenue):* This is the average price that you receive per unit of sales, taking into account all product andservice lines, sales discounts and special offers. This can be hard to do in a complex businesswith multiple lines of sales, but this number is calculated for you from the projections youentered into the Sales Forecast table. If the number does not look right to you, revisit your firstyear's Sales Forecast projections. 2.Average per-unit cost:* This is the incremental cost, or variable cost, of each unit of sales. If you manufacture goods,this is the cost of materials and production per unit. If you buy goods for resale, this is what youpaid, on average, for the goods you sell. If you sell a service, this is what it costs you, per dollarof revenue or unit of service delivered, to deliver that service - not including operatingexpenses like payroll. This number is also calculated for you, based on the first year cost of sales information you entered into your Sales Forecast table.

*NOTE:

for plans using values-based forecasting, these two lines are replaced with

AveragePercent Variable Cost,

which calculates the percentage of your first year's total sales revenuesthat are used up in costs of sales. Although the variable costs for different products and servicesmay vary, this calculation provides one variable cost estimate for your entire sales forecast.3.Monthly fixed costs: Technically, a break-even analysis defines fixed costs as costs that would continue even if youwent broke. Instead, we recommend that you use your regular running fixed costs, includingpayroll and normal expenses, like rent, utilities, and so on. The default formula used for this rowlooks to the data you entered into the Fixed Costs table, which will give you a better insight onfinancial realities. These three assumptions become variables in the standard break-even analysis formulas.For more on the Break-even Analysis, see theBreak-even Analysis tablehelp.………..How do I convert plans from an older version of Marketing Plan Pro? To convert a plan from version 6.0, follow these steps:1.Open Marketing Plan Pro 9.0.2.Select 'Open an Existing Plan' from the Start a Plan screen.Or, choose File > Open from the menu bar.3.Select More files ... and click OK.4.Browse to your older version plan (these files are stored by default in the My Documentsfolder on your C:\ drive).

5.

Highlight your plan .mpd file and select Open.**

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