The Benefits of Using Slice for Arc Developers

The most popular way to access Arc is through a web browser but did you know that you can actually access Arc directly from inside Microsoft Excel?

The way that you can do this is by setting up Slice. Slice is a powerful Excel add-in that is very easy to install and uses Arc for the Cube Viewer and Subset Editor. In essence, when you are using Slice, you are basically getting the features of Arc right inside Excel plus some extra features brought by Slice itself.

Instead of just using tabs, you can now open multiple windows at the same time. Being able to show the rules and the cube view side by side is something that Arc users have been asking for for a long time and can now do it with Slice. Just right click on an object and click Open in a new Window:

You can also experience the same functionality as you have when you are working in TM1 Perspectives. When you use Slice, you can do all of your development using Arc’s developers’ features and if you need to export your data in Excel, you can do so and then refresh your Excel report to get the latest data. Without Slice, you can’t refresh your Excel reports built with Arc and are stuck with a static view of your data.

Remember that all the community features of Slice are completely free to use. You can download Slice here and after connecting it to your Arc server, you can start using it without requiring any extra licenses.  However, if you want to unlock the more advanced business features such as Virtual Consolidation, Virtual Expressions and MDX Forms (just to name a few) you would need to purchase a subscription.

If you have Excel installed on your laptop/server and you are using Arc then you should definitely try Slice – there’s nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain. You’ll be able to unlock a range of fantastic features without having to pay a single cent more.

Give it a try today.  You’ll be glad you did.

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