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Working In Longview Tax

Longview Tax is the portal through which users can access the products they have purchased, including Tax Provision, Task Management, Global Transparency, and Planning.

Understanding the Longview Tax interface

The Longview Tax interface contains several navigational elements that make it easy to find the tasks that you are looking for.

Some of the interface elements in Longview Tax include:

  • Modules

    Modules contain all the relevant functionality for a process. Depending on your system implementation, the number of modules and the name of each module varies. Interface elements, such as the navigation pane and categories, are specific to the module.

  • Navigation bar

    The navigation bar on the left side of the Longview Client window contains the module icon and categories.

    To change modules

    • click the module icon at the top of the navigation bar.

    To collapse the navigation pane

    • click the icon of the currently active category.

    The navigation bar also includes the following:

    • A Help button that launches the Longview Help.
    • The About button, which launches the About dialog containing version information for the following:
      • Longview Client
      • Web Bridge
      • Data Server
    • A User button that allows you to change your password or log out of the Client.

  • Navigation pane

    The navigation pane on the left side of the Longview Client window contains folders and a navigation Search box. Depending on configuration, a folder may contain one or more symbol selectors.

  • Refresh navigation pane

    Use this button to update all tabs in the navigation window to reflect any changes that may have been made. Refreshing the navigation pane will not change your current hierarchy expansion state.

  • Workspace

    The workspace changes depending on the options you select in the navigation pane. The workspace can include multiple tabs. For example, if you open several input apps, they open in separate tabs in the workspace.

  • Categories

    Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality. When you sign on to Longview Tax, the Data Collection category is in view. You can click a category to display it in the navigation pane.

  • Folders

    Folders are groupings of links. Depending on the category and your system, you may see a number of folders within a category. You can click a folder to expand or collapse it in the navigation pane. You may also see a Symbol Selector above a grouping of folders or directly underneath a folder. You can select a symbol that applies to all links underneath the Symbol Selector.

  • Links

    Depending on the link, clicking a link opens an item either in a separate window or as a tab in the workspace.

  • Navigation Search box

    You can use the Search box to search items in the Navigation pane. For example, if you’re looking for a specific input app, you can type all or part of the name or number in the Search box. The Search expands the folders within the current category containing the term, selects the first instance, and highlights all other instances. If you want to find the next instance of the term, click the down arrow.

Tax Provision categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab.

Data Collection category

The Data Collection category contains input apps for each aspect of the Tax Provision process.

  • Default Symbols

    This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

  • Data Imports

    This group contains data import apps assigned to the Data Imports category.

  • Data Imports by Entity

    This group contains data import apps requiring entity selection assigned to the Data Imports with Entity Selection category.

  • Chart of Accounts

    This group contains input apps related to chart of accounts data.

  • National Annual

    This group contains all the input apps required for the National Annual provision process.

  • Regional Annual

    This group contains all the input apps required for the Regional Annual provision process.

  • National Interim

    This group contains all the input apps required for the National Interim provision process.

  • Regional Interim

    This group contains all the input apps required for the Regional Interim provision process.

  • Common

    This group contains the Tax Account Rollforward input app, which you can use to enter manual adjustments to the tax account rollforward.

  • Supplemental Disclosures

    This group contains all the input apps related to supplemental disclosure data, including expiration and utilization.

  • Rates

    This group contains all the input apps required to update tax rates related to the Tax Provision.

Reports category

The Reports category contains reports for each aspect of the Tax Provision process.

  • Default Symbols

    This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

  • Chart of Accounts

    This group contains reports related to chart of accounts data.

  • National Annual

    This group contains all the reports related to the National Annual provision process.

  • Regional Annual

    This group contains all the reports related to the Regional Annual provision process.

  • National Interim

    This group contains all the reports related to the National Interim provision process.

  • Regional Interim

    This group contains all the reports related to the Regional Interim provision process.

  • Common

    This group contains the Tax Account Rollforward report, which you can use to review manual adjustments to the tax account rollforward.

  • Supplemental Disclosures

    This group contains all the reports related to supplemental disclosure data.

  • Rates

    This group contains all the reports related to tax rates for the Tax Provision process.

  • Longview Add-In Links - System

    This group contains links to all Longview Add-In files that exist in the folder set for File Path for Longview Add-In Links in the System Settings editor.

  • Longview Add-In Links - Custom

    This group contains links to any custom Longview Add-In files stored on a user’s local machine. The default for this path is set in User Default File Path for Longview Add-In Links in the System Settings editor, but you can override it for a particular user using the AUTaxLVforExcelFilePath - User File Path for Longview Add-In Tax Links setting in the Users editor.

  • Calculation Proofs

    This group contains Calculation Proof apps for specific calculations, which you can use to compare the calculated amounts to the source amounts that the calculation was based on and to review entity-specific settings that may impact the calculation.

  • Calculation References

    This group contains reports that you can use as a calculation reference. Each report in Tax Provision has a matching calculation reference report that discloses the standard calculations for each data intersection.

Workflow category

This category contains a link to Longview Workflow. Click this link to view approval processes.

Administration category

This category includes links to administrative functionality in Tax Provision. If you have administrative authorizations at the user or user group level, you can access restricted functionality in this category. You can use the Users editor, the User Groups editor, or the User_Authorization.csv and UserGroup_Authorization.csv import files to grant Administrative authorizations.

For more information on the Users and User Groups editors, see the Longview Tax Administrator’s Guide. For more information on the User_Authorization.csv and UserGroup_Authorization.csv import files, see the Tax Provision Implementer’s Guide.

  • Default Symbols

    This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

  • Entities

    This group contains the Entities editor, the Countries administration app and Period-Specific Settings app, and all the reports that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Entities for the Tax Provision process.

  • Accounts

    This group contains editors, reports, and input apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Accounts for the Tax Provision process.

  • Time Periods

    This group contains the Scenario administration apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to initialize and maintain Scenarios.

  • Other Dimensions

    This group contains the administration apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to initialize and maintain dimensions other than Entities, Accounts and Time Periods.

  • Calculations

    This group contains the Tax Calculations tool, which you can use to manually run calculations for a specific entity, currency, and time period, and input apps that you can use to configure return to provision transfer and prior year adjustment transfer.

  • Foreign Exchange

    This group contains the Currencies editor and all the reports and input apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Foreign Exchange for the Tax Provision process.

  • Rollover

    This group contains a tool that you can use to run the tax rollover process.

  • Security

    This group contains editors that you can use to configure users and user groups.

  • Import and Export

    This group contains the Import and Export tools, which allow you to import and export system configuration settings, hierarchies, symbol settings, and data. This group also contains the Templates tool, which you can use to generate import file templates that you can fill in to facilitate the import process.

  • System

    This group contains editors that you can use to configure system settings, mappings, Homepage links and Homepage alerts. This group also contains a sub-group containing apps related to initial system setup, including time period descriptions and deferred tax beginning balances.

  • Monitoring

    This group contains tools that you can use to work with locks, user submissions, events, and event status.

Task Management categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab.

Data Collection category

The Data Collection category contains the Tasks app.

Report category

The Reports category contains reports you have access to.

Administration category

The Administration category contains links to various administrative editors that you can use to configure your system. It also contains the Task Administration and Reminder Administration apps, which you can use to configure tasks and reminders for your company.

  • Tasks

    This group contains links to the Task Administration and Reminder Administration apps, which you can use to configure tasks and reminders for your company.

  • Entities

    This group contains the Entities and Jurisdiction editors, which the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Entities and Jurisdictions for Task Management.

  • Foreign Exchange

    This group contains the Currencies editor, which the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up currencies for Task Management.

  • System

    This group contains editors that you can use to configure system settings, users, and user groups for Task Management.

Global Transparency categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab.

Data Collection category

The Data Collection category contains input apps for each aspect of the Global Transparency process. Depending on the aspects of Global Transparency your company is using you may have folders for:

  • Country-by-Country – Input apps related to Country-by-Country reporting
  • Pillar Two – Input apps related to BEPS Pillar Two model rules
Default Symbols

This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

Country-by-Country

This group contains input apps related to Country-by-Country financial information and activities.

Reports category

The Reports category contains reports for each aspect of the Global Transparency process. Depending on the aspects of Global Transparency your company is using you may have folders for:

  • Country-by-Country – Input apps related to Country-by-Country reporting
  • Pillar Two – Input apps related to BEPS Pillar Two model rules
Default Symbols

This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

Country-by-Country

This group contains reports related to Country-by-Country.

Administration category

The Administration category contains links to administrative functionality in Global Transparency. Depending on the aspects of Global Transparency your company is using you may have folders for:

  • Country-by-Country – Administration specific to Country-by-Country reporting
  • Pillar Two – Administration specific to BEPS Pillar Two model rules
Default Symbols

This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

Country-by-Country

If your company is using Country-by-Country reporting this folder will appear and contain administration specific to Country-by-Country reporting.

Pillar Two

  • Entities -

    This group contains the Entities editor, which the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Entities for Global Transparency.

  • Accounts

    This group contains the Country-by-Country Automation input app that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Country-by-Country automation for Global Transparency.

If your company is using pillar two model rules this folder will appear and contain administration specific to pillar two model rules.

  • Entities

    This group contains the Manage Constituent Entities app used to manage the jurisdictions and entities in scope for Pillar Two.

  • Accounts

    This group contains apps for maintaining Pillar Two reporting hierarchies for:
    • GloBE Income Accounts
    • GloBE Adjusted Current Tax Accounts
Calculations

This group contains the Tax Calculations tool, which you can use to manually run calculations for a specific entity, currency, and time period.

Security

This group contains editors that you can use to configure users and user groups.

System

This group contains a tool that you can use to run the tax rollover process. This group also contains input apps for Time Period Descriptions, Homepage links and Homepage alerts.

Monitoring

This group contains tools that you can use to work with locks, user submissions, events, and event status.

Planning categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab. Depending on your system implementation, you may see different categories on the Planning tab. Planning categories are customized to fit your company’s needs.

My Components

This is a list of links to components that you have access to. Click the link for a component to open it outside of Longview Tax.

Longview Tax Tab Actions

Longview Performance Manager includes actions that you can perform when you have multiple tabs open in your workspace. To perform these actions, right-click on an open tab and select one of the following options:

Action

Description

Close tab

Will close the currently selected tab.

Close all tabs

Will close all currently open tabs in your workspace.

Close other tabs

Will close all tabs except the currently selected tab.

Split workspace horizontally

Will split tabs in the workspace horizontally.

Note: When the workspace is split, any new items launched will open in the area of the workspace that is last in focus.

Split workspace vertically

Will split tabs in the workspace horizontally.

Note: When the workspace is split, any new items launched will open in the area of the workspace that is last in focus.

Single workspace

Will merge all tabs in the workspace. This is the default view.

Longview Tax Menu Options

Longview Tax includes options relating to the way the workspace is displayed and default options that can be set by user. To access these options, click on the menu button and select one of the following:

Menu option Description

Select default symbols

Select this menu option to open the Default Symbols dialog and select default symbols for input apps and reports. Default symbols are automatically selected for tabs saved in the workspace layout and symbol selectors in the Data Collection and Reports categories.

Preferences

Select this menu option to customize how the workspace is split when launching items from an open tab. For example, if you have an app that opens another app, you can specify to open the secondary app vertically (beside the source app) or horizontally (beneath the source app). If the workspace is already split, then these settings do not apply.

Save workspace layout

Select this menu option to save all tabs currently open in the workspace. The next time you launch Longview, these tabs are open in the workspace by default.

Revert to saved workspace

Select this menu option to open the default tabs as saved by the Save workspace layout menu option and close any other tabs currently open.

Note: The Save workspace layout option does not save entities that are selected for any input app or report tabs. The default entity symbols are selected for these tabs when they are opened in the workspace by default.

Longview Tax toolbar

The Longview toolbar also includes the following:

  • A Help button that launches the Longview Help.
  • The About button, which launches the About dialog containing version information for the following:
    • Longview Client
    • Data Server Platform
    • Web Bridge
    • Longview Tax Client
    • Tax Provision Application Logic
    • Tax Provision Calculation Logic
    • Task Management Application Logic
    • Global Transparency Application Logic
    • Tax Planning Application Logic
  • A User button that allows you to change your password or log out of the performance manager. You can hover over the username for more information on the user currently logged in to the system.

Administrative toolbars

There are a number of administrative editors that users with administrative permissions can use that relate to working with entities, net income before tax accounts, book-tax differences, current and deferred tax, tax account rollforward data transfer, interim accounts, currencies, system settings, users, and user groups.

These administrative editors have an editor toolbar and a page toolbar. The buttons that appear on the page toolbar vary depending on the editor, but the following buttons appear on the editor toolbar for all editors:

Button Description

Save

Clicking the Save button saves any changes made to all pages associated with an administrative editor. For example, clicking Save in the Entities editor while viewing the Total Entities page saves any changes made to Total Entities, Jurisdictions and Legal Groupings, Total Operations, Partnerships, and Branches. If you close an editor without saving your changes, a dialog prompts you to save your changes. The Save button does not save symbol selections made to editable fields in the editor toolbar, such as Entities, Currencies, or Timeframes.

Refresh

Clicking the Refresh button updates all system information in the administrative editor in view to reflect any changes that you or any other users have made, including the creation or deletion of locks.

If you click Refresh without saving your changes, a dialog prompts you to save your changes.

Run Calculations

This button applies only to Tax Provision.

Clicking the Run Calculations button runs any calculations selected on, or affected by changes made to, the administrative editor in view. Run Calculations applies to all pages associated with the administrative editor. For example, clicking Run Calculations in the Current and Deferred Tax editor runs calculations on the National Deferred Tax page, the National Current Tax page, the Regional Deferred Tax page, and the Regional Current Tax page.

Note: The Run Calculations button does not appear in the Currencies, System Settings, Users, or User Groups editors.

Help

Click the Help button to open context-sensitive Help related to the appropriate tool or editor.

Selecting default symbols

If you use the same symbols for a large number of input apps and reports in Tax Provision and Global Transparency, you can select default symbols to use.

To select default symbols:

  1. Click the Select default symbols option in the Longview Tax menu. The Select Default Symbols dialog opens.
  2. In the Data Collection column, select default symbols in the Entities, Details, and Segments dimensions to use for input apps in the Data Collection category. You can select a symbol by typing the symbol name or selecting the symbol in the hierarchy. Alternatively, you can use the symbol selector.
  3. In the Reports column, select default symbols in the Entities, Details, and Segments dimensions to use for reports in the Reports category. You can select a symbol by typing the symbol name or by selecting the entity in the hierarchy. Alternatively, you can use the symbol selector.
  4. To specify the working current period, proceed to the Specifying the Working Period section below. Otherwise, proceed to step 5.
  5. Click OK. Your specified default symbols are now automatically selected for tabs saved in the workspace layout and symbol selectors in the Data Collection and Reports categories.

Specifying the working period

By default, Tax Provision input apps and reports are configured to use the current time period as specified by the rollover. If your system has been configured with scenario time periods, you can use a different current period as the working period.

Although you can select the new working period symbol in each input app or report, you may choose to change the working period globally. The working time period applies to all time-dependent input apps and reports in Longview Tax.

To specify the working current period:

  1. Click the Select default symbols option in the Longview Tax menu. The Select Default Symbols dialog opens.
  2. Click the Working Period tab.
  3. In the Current Period column, select the working period for the time periods dimension. You can select a symbol by typing the symbol name or selecting the symbol in the hierarchy. Alternatively, you can use the symbol selector.
  4. Click OK. Your specified working period symbol and the associated return period are now automatically selected for tabs saved in the workspace layout and symbol selectors in the Data Collection and Reports categories.

Using context menus

There are a number of administrative editors that users with administrative permissions can use that relate to working with entities, net income before tax accounts, book-tax differences, current and deferred tax, tax account rollforward data transfer, interim accounts, currencies, system settings, users, and user groups. These administrative editors contain context menus with standard and editor-specific menu options.

Expand and collapse context menu options are available for the following administrative editors:

  • Entities
  • Net Income Before Tax
  • Book-Tax Differences
  • Current and Deferred Tax
  • Interim Accounts
  • Currencies

There are several potential expand and collapse options:

Menu Option Description

Collapse All

Collapses all symbols under the root symbol.

Collapse Parent

Collapses the immediate parent of the selected cell.

Expand All for Selected Symbol

Expands all child symbols within the selected symbol.

To access the context menu, right-click the appropriate symbol. The expand and collapse options depend on the type of symbol that is selected:

Note: Expand and collapse options are not available for root leaf symbols.

Symbol Type Available Menu Options

Non-root leaf symbol
  • Collapse All
  • Collapse Parent

Non-root parent symbol
  • Expand All for Selected Symbol
  • Collapse All
  • Collapse Parent

Note: The Expand All for Selected Symbol option is not available if all child symbols for the selected parent symbol are filtered.

Root symbol
  • Expand All for Selected Symbol
  • Collapse All

Note: Expand and collapse options are not available if all child symbols for the selected root symbol are filtered.

Using the Symbol Selector

Any input field with the Search icon to its right indicates that you can use the Symbol Selector to search for and select one or more symbols for that field.

Note: In the Longview Add-In for Office, you can double-click worksheet cells that contain an LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function (usually indicated by a yellow background) to open the Symbol Selector dialog.

You can also select symbols for these fields using look-ahead functionality. Type the first character of the name of the symbol that you wish to select. A drop-down list appears below the symbol field, containing the symbols whose first character matches the character entered. Select the symbol you want to use, or further narrow down the list by typing more characters. You can press F3 to find and highlight the next instance in the hierarchy.

Note: Look-ahead functionality is not available for fields in the Longview Add-In for Office or for Data Import Apps in Longview Designer.

To use the Symbol Selector, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Search icon (if you are using the Longview Add-In for Office with a worksheet cell that contains an LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function, double-click the cell). The Symbol Selector dialog opens.
  2. Navigate to the symbol in the hierarchy that you want to add and click it. The Add icon appears to the left of the symbol.
  3. Click the Add icon. The selected symbol appears in the Selected Symbols list.

    The Add icon is unavailable because the symbol has already been selected. However, the Add icon can also be unavailable for the following reasons:

    • The maximum number of symbols have been selected. In this case, Add icons are unavailable for all symbols.
    • The symbol type (parent, leaf, or read-only) is not allowed to be selected, as set in the Symbol Selector definition.

      To remove a symbol from the Selected Symbols list, click the Remove icon to the left of the symbol name.

      Note: To navigate to a symbol in the hierarchy, click the symbol in the Selected Symbols list.

  4. When you are finished selecting the required symbols, click OK. The selected symbols appear in the input field or the worksheet cell.

    Note: Depending on where the input field is located, or how the LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function was set up in the Longview Add-In for Office, you may be able to select multiple symbols in the Symbol Selector, or one symbol only.

Searching using the Symbol Selector

You can also use the Symbol Selector dialog to search the hierarchy for symbols. Select symbols from the list of search results.

To search for symbols, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Search icon (if you are using the Longview Add-In for Office with a worksheet cell that contains an LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function, double-click the cell). The Symbol Selector dialog opens.
  2. Use the search list at the top right of the Symbol Selector dialog to select one of the following options:
    • Search Symbol Names
    • Search Symbol Descriptions
    • Search Names and Descriptions (this is the default)
  3. Begin typing the characters you want to search for into the search field. The dialog automatically switches to the Search Results tab and the symbols that match your search appear in a list. Continue entering text to narrow down the number of search results returned.

    Note: After text is entered in the search field, the Symbol Selector automatically navigates to the first search result symbol in the hierarchy. As in the Selected Symbols tab, click a symbol in the Search Results list to automatically navigate to that symbol in the hierarchy.

    If the same symbol appears in multiple hierarchies, that symbol displays multiple times in the Search Results list, one match per hierarchy. Use the Parent and Root columns to differentiate between the multiple occurrences.

  4. Click the Add icon beside the symbol in the Search Results list that you want to select. The dialog switches to the Selected Symbols tab, and the symbol is added to the Selected Symbols list.

    Note: You can also add symbols by clicking the Add icon beside the symbol in the hierarchy. Depending on where the input field is located, or how the LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function was set up in the Longview Add-In for Office, you may be able to select multiple symbols in the Symbol Selector, or one symbol only.

  5. Click the Search Results tab to return to the Search Results list. Repeat step 4 for each symbol that you want to add.

    Note: Click the X button to the right of the search field to clear the search field and the Search Results list.

    In the Search Results list, the Add icon is unavailable for symbols that have already been added.

  6. Once you have finished selecting the required symbols, click OK. The selected symbols appear in the input field or the worksheet cell.

Understanding the symbol spec selector

The symbol spec selector allows you to select the section of the hierarchy to be used.

Note: Certain combinations of Symbols, Spec, and Level are restricted because they will not return a valid set of results. If you attempt to use one of these combinations, either the combination will be restricted (for example, if you specify Leaf for Spec, the Level field is unavailable), or you will receive an error message.

Hierarchy Description

 Symbols

Type a symbol name or click the symbol selector button to search the hierarchy for the selected dimension.

Spec

Specify the type of symbol to query, using one of the following options from the drop-down list:

  • All-To select all symbol types.
  • Leaf-To select only leaf symbols.
  • Parent-To select only parent symbols.
  • Root and Parent-To select only root and parent symbols.

The default value for this field is Leaf.

Level

Type the number of levels of descendants of the selected symbol to appear in the results. You can select up to 99 levels of symbol detail. If you type 0, only the symbol you selected will appear. To include the selected symbol and one level of symbol detail below it, type 1. If you select 99 levels of symbol detail, all levels of symbol detail are included in the results.

To add additional symbols for a dimension, complete the following steps:

  1. Select the applicable symbol row.
  2. Click Symbol. A new row appears.
  3. For the new symbol, specify the symbol specifications.
  4. Repeat step 1 to step 3 for each additional symbol that you want to include.

Note: To delete additional symbols that you have added, select the row containing the symbol and click Delete. You can also change the order in which the symbols will appear in the query results by selecting the row containing the symbol and clicking Move Up or Move Down.
Published:

Working In Longview Tax

Longview Tax is the portal through which users can access the products they have purchased, including Tax Provision, Task Management, Global Transparency, and Planning.

Understanding the Longview Tax interface

The Longview Tax interface contains several navigational elements that make it easy to find the tasks that you are looking for.

Some of the interface elements in Longview Tax include:

  • Modules

    Modules contain all the relevant functionality for a process. Depending on your system implementation, the number of modules and the name of each module varies. Interface elements, such as the navigation pane and categories, are specific to the module.

  • Navigation bar

    The navigation bar on the left side of the Longview Client window contains the module icon and categories.

    To change modules

    • click the module icon at the top of the navigation bar.

    To collapse the navigation pane

    • click the icon of the currently active category.

    The navigation bar also includes the following:

    • A Help button that launches the Longview Help.
    • The About button, which launches the About dialog containing version information for the following:
      • Longview Client
      • Web Bridge
      • Data Server
    • A User button that allows you to change your password or log out of the Client.

  • Navigation pane

    The navigation pane on the left side of the Longview Client window contains folders and a navigation Search box. Depending on configuration, a folder may contain one or more symbol selectors.

  • Refresh navigation pane

    Use this button to update all tabs in the navigation window to reflect any changes that may have been made. Refreshing the navigation pane will not change your current hierarchy expansion state.

  • Workspace

    The workspace changes depending on the options you select in the navigation pane. The workspace can include multiple tabs. For example, if you open several input apps, they open in separate tabs in the workspace.

  • Categories

    Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality. When you sign on to Longview Tax, the Data Collection category is in view. You can click a category to display it in the navigation pane.

  • Folders

    Folders are groupings of links. Depending on the category and your system, you may see a number of folders within a category. You can click a folder to expand or collapse it in the navigation pane. You may also see a Symbol Selector above a grouping of folders or directly underneath a folder. You can select a symbol that applies to all links underneath the Symbol Selector.

  • Links

    Depending on the link, clicking a link opens an item either in a separate window or as a tab in the workspace.

  • Navigation Search box

    You can use the Search box to search items in the Navigation pane. For example, if you’re looking for a specific input app, you can type all or part of the name or number in the Search box. The Search expands the folders within the current category containing the term, selects the first instance, and highlights all other instances. If you want to find the next instance of the term, click the down arrow.

Tax Provision categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab.

Data Collection category

The Data Collection category contains input apps for each aspect of the Tax Provision process.

  • Default Symbols

    This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

  • Data Imports

    This group contains data import apps assigned to the Data Imports category.

  • Data Imports by Entity

    This group contains data import apps requiring entity selection assigned to the Data Imports with Entity Selection category.

  • Chart of Accounts

    This group contains input apps related to chart of accounts data.

  • National Annual

    This group contains all the input apps required for the National Annual provision process.

  • Regional Annual

    This group contains all the input apps required for the Regional Annual provision process.

  • National Interim

    This group contains all the input apps required for the National Interim provision process.

  • Regional Interim

    This group contains all the input apps required for the Regional Interim provision process.

  • Common

    This group contains the Tax Account Rollforward input app, which you can use to enter manual adjustments to the tax account rollforward.

  • Supplemental Disclosures

    This group contains all the input apps related to supplemental disclosure data, including expiration and utilization.

  • Rates

    This group contains all the input apps required to update tax rates related to the Tax Provision.

Reports category

The Reports category contains reports for each aspect of the Tax Provision process.

  • Default Symbols

    This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

  • Chart of Accounts

    This group contains reports related to chart of accounts data.

  • National Annual

    This group contains all the reports related to the National Annual provision process.

  • Regional Annual

    This group contains all the reports related to the Regional Annual provision process.

  • National Interim

    This group contains all the reports related to the National Interim provision process.

  • Regional Interim

    This group contains all the reports related to the Regional Interim provision process.

  • Common

    This group contains the Tax Account Rollforward report, which you can use to review manual adjustments to the tax account rollforward.

  • Supplemental Disclosures

    This group contains all the reports related to supplemental disclosure data.

  • Rates

    This group contains all the reports related to tax rates for the Tax Provision process.

  • Longview Add-In Links - System

    This group contains links to all Longview Add-In files that exist in the folder set for File Path for Longview Add-In Links in the System Settings editor.

  • Longview Add-In Links - Custom

    This group contains links to any custom Longview Add-In files stored on a user’s local machine. The default for this path is set in User Default File Path for Longview Add-In Links in the System Settings editor, but you can override it for a particular user using the AUTaxLVforExcelFilePath - User File Path for Longview Add-In Tax Links setting in the Users editor.

  • Calculation Proofs

    This group contains Calculation Proof apps for specific calculations, which you can use to compare the calculated amounts to the source amounts that the calculation was based on and to review entity-specific settings that may impact the calculation.

  • Calculation References

    This group contains reports that you can use as a calculation reference. Each report in Tax Provision has a matching calculation reference report that discloses the standard calculations for each data intersection.

Workflow category

This category contains a link to Longview Workflow. Click this link to view approval processes.

Administration category

This category includes links to administrative functionality in Tax Provision. If you have administrative authorizations at the user or user group level, you can access restricted functionality in this category. You can use the Users editor, the User Groups editor, or the User_Authorization.csv and UserGroup_Authorization.csv import files to grant Administrative authorizations.

For more information on the Users and User Groups editors, see the Longview Tax Administrator’s Guide. For more information on the User_Authorization.csv and UserGroup_Authorization.csv import files, see the Tax Provision Implementer’s Guide.

  • Default Symbols

    This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

  • Entities

    This group contains the Entities editor, the Countries administration app and Period-Specific Settings app, and all the reports that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Entities for the Tax Provision process.

  • Accounts

    This group contains editors, reports, and input apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Accounts for the Tax Provision process.

  • Time Periods

    This group contains the Scenario administration apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to initialize and maintain Scenarios.

  • Other Dimensions

    This group contains the administration apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to initialize and maintain dimensions other than Entities, Accounts and Time Periods.

  • Calculations

    This group contains the Tax Calculations tool, which you can use to manually run calculations for a specific entity, currency, and time period, and input apps that you can use to configure return to provision transfer and prior year adjustment transfer.

  • Foreign Exchange

    This group contains the Currencies editor and all the reports and input apps that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Foreign Exchange for the Tax Provision process.

  • Rollover

    This group contains a tool that you can use to run the tax rollover process.

  • Security

    This group contains editors that you can use to configure users and user groups.

  • Import and Export

    This group contains the Import and Export tools, which allow you to import and export system configuration settings, hierarchies, symbol settings, and data. This group also contains the Templates tool, which you can use to generate import file templates that you can fill in to facilitate the import process.

  • System

    This group contains editors that you can use to configure system settings, mappings, Homepage links and Homepage alerts. This group also contains a sub-group containing apps related to initial system setup, including time period descriptions and deferred tax beginning balances.

  • Monitoring

    This group contains tools that you can use to work with locks, user submissions, events, and event status.

Task Management categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab.

Data Collection category

The Data Collection category contains the Tasks app.

Report category

The Reports category contains reports you have access to.

Administration category

The Administration category contains links to various administrative editors that you can use to configure your system. It also contains the Task Administration and Reminder Administration apps, which you can use to configure tasks and reminders for your company.

  • Tasks

    This group contains links to the Task Administration and Reminder Administration apps, which you can use to configure tasks and reminders for your company.

  • Entities

    This group contains the Entities and Jurisdiction editors, which the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Entities and Jurisdictions for Task Management.

  • Foreign Exchange

    This group contains the Currencies editor, which the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up currencies for Task Management.

  • System

    This group contains editors that you can use to configure system settings, users, and user groups for Task Management.

Global Transparency categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab.

Data Collection category

The Data Collection category contains input apps for each aspect of the Global Transparency process. Depending on the aspects of Global Transparency your company is using you may have folders for:

  • Country-by-Country – Input apps related to Country-by-Country reporting
  • Pillar Two – Input apps related to BEPS Pillar Two model rules
Default Symbols

This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

Country-by-Country

This group contains input apps related to Country-by-Country financial information and activities.

Reports category

The Reports category contains reports for each aspect of the Global Transparency process. Depending on the aspects of Global Transparency your company is using you may have folders for:

  • Country-by-Country – Input apps related to Country-by-Country reporting
  • Pillar Two – Input apps related to BEPS Pillar Two model rules
Default Symbols

This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

Country-by-Country

This group contains reports related to Country-by-Country.

Administration category

The Administration category contains links to administrative functionality in Global Transparency. Depending on the aspects of Global Transparency your company is using you may have folders for:

  • Country-by-Country – Administration specific to Country-by-Country reporting
  • Pillar Two – Administration specific to BEPS Pillar Two model rules
Default Symbols

This is a list of default symbols that you have selected with the Default Symbols dialog. Default symbols in the Working Periods list are applied to any time-dependent item. Default symbols in the Data Collection list are applied to input apps in the Data Collection category. Default symbols in the Reports list are applied to reports in the Reports category.

Country-by-Country

If your company is using Country-by-Country reporting this folder will appear and contain administration specific to Country-by-Country reporting.

Pillar Two

  • Entities -

    This group contains the Entities editor, which the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Entities for Global Transparency.

  • Accounts

    This group contains the Country-by-Country Automation input app that the Longview Tax Administrator can use to set up Country-by-Country automation for Global Transparency.

If your company is using pillar two model rules this folder will appear and contain administration specific to pillar two model rules.

  • Entities

    This group contains the Manage Constituent Entities app used to manage the jurisdictions and entities in scope for Pillar Two.

  • Accounts

    This group contains apps for maintaining Pillar Two reporting hierarchies for:
    • GloBE Income Accounts
    • GloBE Adjusted Current Tax Accounts
Calculations

This group contains the Tax Calculations tool, which you can use to manually run calculations for a specific entity, currency, and time period.

Security

This group contains editors that you can use to configure users and user groups.

System

This group contains a tool that you can use to run the tax rollover process. This group also contains input apps for Time Period Descriptions, Homepage links and Homepage alerts.

Monitoring

This group contains tools that you can use to work with locks, user submissions, events, and event status.

Planning categories

Categories are groupings of Longview Tax functionality and are specific to the tab. Depending on your system implementation, you may see different categories on the Planning tab. Planning categories are customized to fit your company’s needs.

My Components

This is a list of links to components that you have access to. Click the link for a component to open it outside of Longview Tax.

Longview Tax Tab Actions

Longview Performance Manager includes actions that you can perform when you have multiple tabs open in your workspace. To perform these actions, right-click on an open tab and select one of the following options:

Action

Description

Close tab

Will close the currently selected tab.

Close all tabs

Will close all currently open tabs in your workspace.

Close other tabs

Will close all tabs except the currently selected tab.

Split workspace horizontally

Will split tabs in the workspace horizontally.

Note: When the workspace is split, any new items launched will open in the area of the workspace that is last in focus.

Split workspace vertically

Will split tabs in the workspace horizontally.

Note: When the workspace is split, any new items launched will open in the area of the workspace that is last in focus.

Single workspace

Will merge all tabs in the workspace. This is the default view.

Longview Tax Menu Options

Longview Tax includes options relating to the way the workspace is displayed and default options that can be set by user. To access these options, click on the menu button and select one of the following:

Menu option Description

Select default symbols

Select this menu option to open the Default Symbols dialog and select default symbols for input apps and reports. Default symbols are automatically selected for tabs saved in the workspace layout and symbol selectors in the Data Collection and Reports categories.

Preferences

Select this menu option to customize how the workspace is split when launching items from an open tab. For example, if you have an app that opens another app, you can specify to open the secondary app vertically (beside the source app) or horizontally (beneath the source app). If the workspace is already split, then these settings do not apply.

Save workspace layout

Select this menu option to save all tabs currently open in the workspace. The next time you launch Longview, these tabs are open in the workspace by default.

Revert to saved workspace

Select this menu option to open the default tabs as saved by the Save workspace layout menu option and close any other tabs currently open.

Note: The Save workspace layout option does not save entities that are selected for any input app or report tabs. The default entity symbols are selected for these tabs when they are opened in the workspace by default.

Longview Tax toolbar

The Longview toolbar also includes the following:

  • A Help button that launches the Longview Help.
  • The About button, which launches the About dialog containing version information for the following:
    • Longview Client
    • Data Server Platform
    • Web Bridge
    • Longview Tax Client
    • Tax Provision Application Logic
    • Tax Provision Calculation Logic
    • Task Management Application Logic
    • Global Transparency Application Logic
    • Tax Planning Application Logic
  • A User button that allows you to change your password or log out of the performance manager. You can hover over the username for more information on the user currently logged in to the system.

Administrative toolbars

There are a number of administrative editors that users with administrative permissions can use that relate to working with entities, net income before tax accounts, book-tax differences, current and deferred tax, tax account rollforward data transfer, interim accounts, currencies, system settings, users, and user groups.

These administrative editors have an editor toolbar and a page toolbar. The buttons that appear on the page toolbar vary depending on the editor, but the following buttons appear on the editor toolbar for all editors:

Button Description

Save

Clicking the Save button saves any changes made to all pages associated with an administrative editor. For example, clicking Save in the Entities editor while viewing the Total Entities page saves any changes made to Total Entities, Jurisdictions and Legal Groupings, Total Operations, Partnerships, and Branches. If you close an editor without saving your changes, a dialog prompts you to save your changes. The Save button does not save symbol selections made to editable fields in the editor toolbar, such as Entities, Currencies, or Timeframes.

Refresh

Clicking the Refresh button updates all system information in the administrative editor in view to reflect any changes that you or any other users have made, including the creation or deletion of locks.

If you click Refresh without saving your changes, a dialog prompts you to save your changes.

Run Calculations

This button applies only to Tax Provision.

Clicking the Run Calculations button runs any calculations selected on, or affected by changes made to, the administrative editor in view. Run Calculations applies to all pages associated with the administrative editor. For example, clicking Run Calculations in the Current and Deferred Tax editor runs calculations on the National Deferred Tax page, the National Current Tax page, the Regional Deferred Tax page, and the Regional Current Tax page.

Note: The Run Calculations button does not appear in the Currencies, System Settings, Users, or User Groups editors.

Help

Click the Help button to open context-sensitive Help related to the appropriate tool or editor.

Selecting default symbols

If you use the same symbols for a large number of input apps and reports in Tax Provision and Global Transparency, you can select default symbols to use.

To select default symbols:

  1. Click the Select default symbols option in the Longview Tax menu. The Select Default Symbols dialog opens.
  2. In the Data Collection column, select default symbols in the Entities, Details, and Segments dimensions to use for input apps in the Data Collection category. You can select a symbol by typing the symbol name or selecting the symbol in the hierarchy. Alternatively, you can use the symbol selector.
  3. In the Reports column, select default symbols in the Entities, Details, and Segments dimensions to use for reports in the Reports category. You can select a symbol by typing the symbol name or by selecting the entity in the hierarchy. Alternatively, you can use the symbol selector.
  4. To specify the working current period, proceed to the Specifying the Working Period section below. Otherwise, proceed to step 5.
  5. Click OK. Your specified default symbols are now automatically selected for tabs saved in the workspace layout and symbol selectors in the Data Collection and Reports categories.

Specifying the working period

By default, Tax Provision input apps and reports are configured to use the current time period as specified by the rollover. If your system has been configured with scenario time periods, you can use a different current period as the working period.

Although you can select the new working period symbol in each input app or report, you may choose to change the working period globally. The working time period applies to all time-dependent input apps and reports in Longview Tax.

To specify the working current period:

  1. Click the Select default symbols option in the Longview Tax menu. The Select Default Symbols dialog opens.
  2. Click the Working Period tab.
  3. In the Current Period column, select the working period for the time periods dimension. You can select a symbol by typing the symbol name or selecting the symbol in the hierarchy. Alternatively, you can use the symbol selector.
  4. Click OK. Your specified working period symbol and the associated return period are now automatically selected for tabs saved in the workspace layout and symbol selectors in the Data Collection and Reports categories.

Using context menus

There are a number of administrative editors that users with administrative permissions can use that relate to working with entities, net income before tax accounts, book-tax differences, current and deferred tax, tax account rollforward data transfer, interim accounts, currencies, system settings, users, and user groups. These administrative editors contain context menus with standard and editor-specific menu options.

Expand and collapse context menu options are available for the following administrative editors:

  • Entities
  • Net Income Before Tax
  • Book-Tax Differences
  • Current and Deferred Tax
  • Interim Accounts
  • Currencies

There are several potential expand and collapse options:

Menu Option Description

Collapse All

Collapses all symbols under the root symbol.

Collapse Parent

Collapses the immediate parent of the selected cell.

Expand All for Selected Symbol

Expands all child symbols within the selected symbol.

To access the context menu, right-click the appropriate symbol. The expand and collapse options depend on the type of symbol that is selected:

Note: Expand and collapse options are not available for root leaf symbols.

Symbol Type Available Menu Options

Non-root leaf symbol
  • Collapse All
  • Collapse Parent

Non-root parent symbol
  • Expand All for Selected Symbol
  • Collapse All
  • Collapse Parent

Note: The Expand All for Selected Symbol option is not available if all child symbols for the selected parent symbol are filtered.

Root symbol
  • Expand All for Selected Symbol
  • Collapse All

Note: Expand and collapse options are not available if all child symbols for the selected root symbol are filtered.

Using the Symbol Selector

Any input field with the Search icon to its right indicates that you can use the Symbol Selector to search for and select one or more symbols for that field.

Note: In the Longview Add-In for Office, you can double-click worksheet cells that contain an LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function (usually indicated by a yellow background) to open the Symbol Selector dialog.

You can also select symbols for these fields using look-ahead functionality. Type the first character of the name of the symbol that you wish to select. A drop-down list appears below the symbol field, containing the symbols whose first character matches the character entered. Select the symbol you want to use, or further narrow down the list by typing more characters. You can press F3 to find and highlight the next instance in the hierarchy.

Note: Look-ahead functionality is not available for fields in the Longview Add-In for Office or for Data Import Apps in Longview Designer.

To use the Symbol Selector, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Search icon (if you are using the Longview Add-In for Office with a worksheet cell that contains an LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function, double-click the cell). The Symbol Selector dialog opens.
  2. Navigate to the symbol in the hierarchy that you want to add and click it. The Add icon appears to the left of the symbol.
  3. Click the Add icon. The selected symbol appears in the Selected Symbols list.

    The Add icon is unavailable because the symbol has already been selected. However, the Add icon can also be unavailable for the following reasons:

    • The maximum number of symbols have been selected. In this case, Add icons are unavailable for all symbols.
    • The symbol type (parent, leaf, or read-only) is not allowed to be selected, as set in the Symbol Selector definition.

      To remove a symbol from the Selected Symbols list, click the Remove icon to the left of the symbol name.

      Note: To navigate to a symbol in the hierarchy, click the symbol in the Selected Symbols list.

  4. When you are finished selecting the required symbols, click OK. The selected symbols appear in the input field or the worksheet cell.

    Note: Depending on where the input field is located, or how the LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function was set up in the Longview Add-In for Office, you may be able to select multiple symbols in the Symbol Selector, or one symbol only.

Searching using the Symbol Selector

You can also use the Symbol Selector dialog to search the hierarchy for symbols. Select symbols from the list of search results.

To search for symbols, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Search icon (if you are using the Longview Add-In for Office with a worksheet cell that contains an LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function, double-click the cell). The Symbol Selector dialog opens.
  2. Use the search list at the top right of the Symbol Selector dialog to select one of the following options:
    • Search Symbol Names
    • Search Symbol Descriptions
    • Search Names and Descriptions (this is the default)
  3. Begin typing the characters you want to search for into the search field. The dialog automatically switches to the Search Results tab and the symbols that match your search appear in a list. Continue entering text to narrow down the number of search results returned.

    Note: After text is entered in the search field, the Symbol Selector automatically navigates to the first search result symbol in the hierarchy. As in the Selected Symbols tab, click a symbol in the Search Results list to automatically navigate to that symbol in the hierarchy.

    If the same symbol appears in multiple hierarchies, that symbol displays multiple times in the Search Results list, one match per hierarchy. Use the Parent and Root columns to differentiate between the multiple occurrences.

  4. Click the Add icon beside the symbol in the Search Results list that you want to select. The dialog switches to the Selected Symbols tab, and the symbol is added to the Selected Symbols list.

    Note: You can also add symbols by clicking the Add icon beside the symbol in the hierarchy. Depending on where the input field is located, or how the LVSYMBOLSELECTOR function was set up in the Longview Add-In for Office, you may be able to select multiple symbols in the Symbol Selector, or one symbol only.

  5. Click the Search Results tab to return to the Search Results list. Repeat step 4 for each symbol that you want to add.

    Note: Click the X button to the right of the search field to clear the search field and the Search Results list.

    In the Search Results list, the Add icon is unavailable for symbols that have already been added.

  6. Once you have finished selecting the required symbols, click OK. The selected symbols appear in the input field or the worksheet cell.

Understanding the symbol spec selector

The symbol spec selector allows you to select the section of the hierarchy to be used.

Note: Certain combinations of Symbols, Spec, and Level are restricted because they will not return a valid set of results. If you attempt to use one of these combinations, either the combination will be restricted (for example, if you specify Leaf for Spec, the Level field is unavailable), or you will receive an error message.

Hierarchy Description

 Symbols

Type a symbol name or click the symbol selector button to search the hierarchy for the selected dimension.

Spec

Specify the type of symbol to query, using one of the following options from the drop-down list:

  • All-To select all symbol types.
  • Leaf-To select only leaf symbols.
  • Parent-To select only parent symbols.
  • Root and Parent-To select only root and parent symbols.

The default value for this field is Leaf.

Level

Type the number of levels of descendants of the selected symbol to appear in the results. You can select up to 99 levels of symbol detail. If you type 0, only the symbol you selected will appear. To include the selected symbol and one level of symbol detail below it, type 1. If you select 99 levels of symbol detail, all levels of symbol detail are included in the results.

To add additional symbols for a dimension, complete the following steps:

  1. Select the applicable symbol row.
  2. Click Symbol. A new row appears.
  3. For the new symbol, specify the symbol specifications.
  4. Repeat step 1 to step 3 for each additional symbol that you want to include.

Note: To delete additional symbols that you have added, select the row containing the symbol and click Delete. You can also change the order in which the symbols will appear in the query results by selecting the row containing the symbol and clicking Move Up or Move Down.
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