---
title: Data Entry in Hierarchical Dimensions
description: The cBI Focus Planner supports the representation of hierarchically structured dimensions (hierarchies), which simplify calculations for planning methods. Rows and columns each form a hierarchical level with nodes and leaves. When using hierarchies in the row view, planning can be…
url: "https://cbi-focus.com/en/documentation/for-planners/data-entry-in-hierarchical-dimensions/"
updated: "2025-06-10"
category: For Planners
---

# Data Entry in Hierarchical Dimensions

The cBI Focus Planner supports the representation of hierarchically structured dimensions (hierarchies), which simplify calculations for planning methods. Rows and columns each form a hierarchical level with nodes and leaves. When using hierarchies in the row view, planning can be conducted in two different ways.

![](https://cbi-focus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-Data-Entry-in-Hierarchical-Dimensions.png)

## Bottom-up Planning

The first calculation method is the bottom-up calculation, where the val-ues of the leaf nodes are aggregated to the parent nodes.

The visual automatically performs these calculations after each change to a leaf, ensuring that the node values are dynamically updated.

![](https://cbi-focus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2-Bottom-up-Planning.png)

## Top-down Planning

The second calculation method is the top-down calculation ("Splashing").

When values at a higher hierarchy lev-el are changed, the visual automatical-ly adjusts the leaf values below the affected node.

![](https://cbi-focus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/3-Top-Down-Planning.png)

Three different splashing methods are offered:

1. **Equally Weighted Distribution**: Assigns equal values to the selected leaves, the sum of which equals the node value.
2. **Same Value Distribution**: Assigns the entered value to the selected leaves.
3. **Per-Quota Distribution**: A distribution based on the value ratio of a specific column, which the user must determine in the subsequent step.

![](https://cbi-focus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/4-Distribution-Methods.png)

After selecting the distribution type, the planner is prompted to decide whether to overwrite the existing leaf nodes:

- **Overwrite Existing Values:**Cells with values will be overwritten.
- **Keep Existing Values:**All cells with values remain unchanged, while empty cells will be overwritten.

![](https://cbi-focus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/5-Existing-Items.png)