Planning Analytics File manager improvements - File handling for normal users

Getting files in and out of Planning Analytics (PA) as an end user is, in its current form, not good enough.

Exporting and importing text files might seem very old-school to tech people and not something you would typically do. However, for a controller, this is still very common in 2026, especially when working with older Planning Analytics solutions.

In version 11, you at least had the option of using FTP to move files in and out. It wasn’t very user-friendly, but it worked. You could also set access control on subfolders if needed.

In version 12, the available file import/export functionality is very limited and forces the use of custom solutions via the REST file API. However good that API may be, the lack of native functionality for end users to easily move files in and out of Planning Analytics is a clear weakness in the product.

Uploading files for processing by a TI process:
The file upload functionality in PAW action buttons requires Modeller or Admin access in later PA versions (from 12.5, I believe). Why take a great feature and make it effectively useless? One option is to use a built-in security group—members of this group have access to the file manager, including the ability to upload files from an action button.

Security on folders in the file manager (ACL):
A normal end user should not have access to all folders in the file manager. Allowing an admin to set access control using ACLs (Access Control Lists) on folders and subfolders would solve this.

File manager availability for end users:
The lack of a way for non-Modeller or non-Admin users to move files in and out of PA needs to be addressed. Again, one option is to use a built-in security group whose members have access to the file manager. Users could then access the file manager from a workbook.

Cross-server file manager access:
This is more of a “nice-to-have,” but being able to view multiple TM1 servers in the file manager, or access them from a TI process, would be very useful.