You should make a copy of your model, sanitize it, and provide the model concurrency team with access to the model. The model concurrency team can then import this sanitized copy of the model into the performance test environment. Alternatively, if there is insufficient workspace capacity to enable a model copy, Level 3 Support can provide an isolated workspace to carry out sanitization.
This document describes the model sanitization requirements, and approaches. Script development doesn't start until a model has been imported into the performance test environment.
Sanitization priority list
We understand that you may not sanitize all data due to time or effort constraints. We recommend that all data be sanitized, but the table below lists which data can remain unchanged. Data should be sanitized by a solution architect or model builder.
| Priority | Data | Possible location | Examples | Sanitization mandatory |
| 1 | Company name | Model name dashboards | "Anaplan" | Yes |
| 2 | Other company names | General lists | Accounts, Suppliers, Clients, Distributors | Yes |
| 3 | Financial data | Data input modules | Salaries, Revenue, Expenses, Sales tax % | Yes |
| 4 | Real person names | General lists | Employees, Partners | Yes |
| 5 | Locations | General lists | Sales offices, Retailers | Optional |
| 6 | Products | General lists | Biscuit brands, Drink brands | Optional |
| 7 | Services | General lists | Dental, Advertising, Housing | Optional |
Sanitization guide
1. Company names - mandatory
2. Other company names - mandatory
3. Financial data - mandatory
4. Real person names - mandatory
5. Locations - optional
6. Products - optional
7. Services - optional
Sanitization techniques
A workspace administrator can sanitize list items and modules.
Sanitize list items
The quickest way to sanitize list items that represent sensitive data such as employee lists or accounts, is to create modified numbered lists. Follow these steps to convert proper names into an alpha-numeric string format.
- Go to General lists and identify the list you want to sanitize.
- Scroll to the Numbered column for the list you want to sanitize, then select and clear it. This changes the names of the items on that list to the default IDs that the model associates with the items.
- Open the list, then select the Properties tab.
- Insert a new property and name it Sanitized display name.
- Change the format to Text.
- Enter this formula in the Formula column:
"ListName" & NAME(ITEM('list name'))
where ListName is the prefix you want to give to the list item names and list name is the actual name of the list you’re modifying. - In General lists, go to the list you’re sanitizing and select Numbered.
- In the Display Name Property column, select Sanitized display name.
Sanitize modules
You can quickly sanitize modules used for collecting user data input, such as actual sales figures, forecasted sales values, and salaries:
- Go to Modules and open the module used for data input.
- Determine the line item used for inputting data that needs to be sanitized. Select any cell under that line item.
- Go to its formula bar and enter a random number. This should change the values of all the cells associated with that line item.
- Delete the random number from the formula bar.
If you've only one column of data in a module to be sanitized, you can copy and paste directly from a spreadsheet/text application. However, if you have cells that require values from a list selection, you can use the Export and Import functionality.
The Export and Import functionality also lets you sanitize several columns of data in one action. This method typically reduces human error.
If you encounter an error during the sanitization of your data, use the Model Restore functionality in History to return to an original state.
