We've made several improvements to the formula editor to help you define variable logic faster and more intuitively. Our goal with this release is to streamline the formula editing process, and improve the discoverability of powerful features, ultimately helping you work more efficiently and accurately.

What's new

This release introduces four key enhancements to streamline your work:

• Formula presets:  A new selector allows you to define your variable logic clearer in the model builder. For version, quickly switch between Custom formula, Manual input, and Same as actuals (which reuses the logic defined on Actuals).
  • We'll soon expand this selector to include a new Moving Average and AI Forecast presets.
• Formula preview bar: This visual guide appears immediately when you select a function. It highlights the parameter you are currently filling and shows what parameters are still expected, ensuring you complete complex formulas correctly.
• New formula editor UI:Key actions are now easier to find and use.
  • Look for dedicated Clear, Apply, and Cancel buttons.
  • When using Same as actuals, you can now quickly use Unlink and edit to customize the inherited logic.
  • An AI-generate formula action is available when the editor is empty to suggest logic.
• Keyboard shortcuts: Use shortcuts for faster editing actions directly within the editor.

Learn more about these new changes here: Working with formula editor.

We have updated the syntax for cumulative calculations on variables to make it simpler and more consistent.

What’s new?

We have replaced the CUMSUM (Variable, criteria*) function with a new, simplified syntax using time modifiers. No action is required — all existing formulas have been automatically migrated to the new syntax.

Why this change?

This update simplifies expressions, improves readability, and aligns cumulative functions with other time-based modifiers.

New syntax

Use the following modifiers to calculate cumulative values:

Quarter-to-date (QTD)

• Before: CUMSUM (Variable, quarterly)
• Now: Variable.QTD

Year-to-date (YTD)

• Before: CUMSUM (Variable, yearly)
• Now: Variable.YTD

All-time cumulative

• Before: CUMSUM (Variable)
• Now: Variable.AllTime

Learn more about time modifiers here: Filters, time modifiers, and conditionals.

We've updated our version dataset formulas to give you more flexibility and power when working with your data. Previously, DATERANGE_COUNT, DATERANGE_ALLOCATION, and DATE_COUNT functions were limited to using only the pre-defined start date, end date, or unique ID columns.

What’s new?

You can now use any column in your version dataset as the id, start_date, or end_date within these formulas. As long as the column data type is correct, you can now build more custom calculations that weren't possible before.

We’ve improved the Manual Input experience with two updates:

improvement Clear Values: You can clear manual input values from a single or multiple rows, and they’ll be set to 0 in both default and non-default scenarios.

new Restore to Default: If you’re working with manual inputs in a non-default scenario and want to reset them to the default values, you can now do it easily at the row level.

How to use:

• Access both actions from the 3-dots menu at the end of each row within the manual input panel.
• Clear Values can be applied to multiple rows at once.
• Restore to Default is only available in non-default scenarios.

These updates make it easier to manage your manual inputs and keep your scenarios clean and accurate.

Your AI-powered finance assistant has arrived!

What’s new 

We're launching an early beta of the Abacum AI Agent, a new conversational assistant designed to provide instant answers to your most pressing financial and product questions, saving you from digging through the platform.

How it works

• The AI Agent is available via a new button in the bottom right corner of your screen, where the help icon was previously.
• All users can ask questions about general financial topics (e.g., “what's a healthy churn rate?”) and get how-to guidance for platform features (e.g., “how can I create a table?”).
• Admins and super admins can query their data, asking for specific variable values (e.g., “how much was my revenue last month?”) and analyzing variances between versions (e.g., “how did OPEX perform against budget in Jan 25?”).

Please note: this is an early beta version. Your feedback is crucial as we continue active development to iterate and improve its capabilities.

Rollout

• We have already activated the agent for a small group of clients.
• We will be expanding the beta program and will continue activating it for more clients in phases.

What's next 

Our priorities are improving context, performance and enabling the agent to render native Abacum tables and charts. After that, we will focus on adding dimensionality to your questions (e.g., “what was my revenue by country?”).

We will be expanding these functionalities over the coming months. This is just the first beta, and your feedback is essential for its evolution.

Get ready to see your financial and people planning in a whole new way! We're thrilled to introduce the Org Chart, a new space block designed to give you instant visual clarity on your company's structure.

This new feature allows you to create a dynamic, visual map of your organization based on your headcount data. Say goodbye to static diagrams and complex spreadsheets—now you can see reporting lines, team structures, and headcount distribution directly alongside your financial plans.

How it works

• Instant clarity. Add an org chart block to any Space to understand your organization's structure at a glance.
• Plan future scenarios with confidence. Seamlessly switch between different versions and scenarios to visualize the impact of potential re-orgs, new hires, or departmental changes.
• Track your evolution. Use the date selector to follow the forecasted evolution of your workforce structure over time.

Check out our Academy article to learn more.

We've recently released a new file format for version data downloads, which now includes the 'Input type' column from your model. This update will also be reflected in the data you pull and push via the Excel connector, although cannot be modified outside Abacum.

We recommend updating your Excel files to the new format to ensure a smooth transition. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our team. Visit the Academy to learn more about the new file format.

Yearly inputs used to apply the same value across all years of a version. Now, you can enter different values for each year, making multi-year planning smoother and more accurate.

✨ How It Works

1. Go to the Model Builder.
2. Open the Manual Input panel for the variable you want to edit.
3. Set the variable’s input type to “Yearly Distributed”.
4. Enter the desired value for each year in the version.

View Guide

Considerations:

• All existing yearly manual inputs are now configurable per year.
• The Version Data File, used for bulk download and upload, has a new format. Learn how it works in the Academy to keep your workflow running smoothly.

We’ve improved autocomplete in Model Builder formulas to make building formulas faster, more intuitive, and less error-prone:

1. Datasets grouped by category – Datasets in the autocomplete list are now grouped by category, making it easier to find the right one quickly.

2. Improved time period filtering –

   • The formula popover now shows “Filter time…” instead of the “.” trigger (the system will insert the “.” operator automatically).

   • Time options are reorganized into clear sections:

     • Relative: Last Month, Last 6 Months, Last 12 Months, Month Last Year, Custom Past Months, Custom Future Months. On actuals, Last Month, Month Last Year, Custom Past Months options are available.
     • Fixed: Specific months (e.g., Jan25, Feb25…)
3. “WHERE” renamed to “Filter rows…” – Selecting this in autocomplete now automatically generates a WHERE clause, making its purpose clearer.
4. Smarter date suggestions – Only relevant date columns are suggested when using functions with the new grammar, reducing errors.
5. Consistent operator styling – Operator groups (variables, datasets, operators, etc.) now appear in lowercase for better readability.

You can now review and input values for percentage variables in a more natural format within the Manual Input Panel. For example, you'll see and type 10% instead of 0.1.

How it works:

• Want to apply a 60% growth rate? Just type 60 or 60%.
• Copy-pasting from Excel or Sheets works seamlessly, no need to reformat.
• This update only affects how values are displayed and entered, all calculations remain unchanged. Behind the scenes, values are still processed as decimals (e.g., 0.1) in all computations.

Considerations:

• ⚠️ This logic only applies in the Manual Input Panel interface. In the downloaded version data file are still shown and managed as raw decimals (e.g., 0.6).