Skip to main content
Explain Mode lets you ask Runway why a value, formula, chart, query, or page looks the way it does. Use it when you want to understand the model behind a number without tracing every dependency by hand.

​
How to use Explain Mode

1

Hold Option

Hold Option on Mac or Alt on Windows while you are anywhere in Runway.
2

Point at something explainable

Hover over or click a highlighted value, row, chart, formula, database cell, SQL editor, or page item.
3

Read the explanation

Runway opens an anchored AI explanation dialog and streams the answer as it works.

​
What you can explain

​
Driver values

Explain a driver row or value cell to see the inputs, formula logic, and period context behind the number. Explain Mode also handles rollup periods such as YTD and QTD, including month-by-month trend context.

​
Charts

Explain a driver chart to understand what the chart is showing and how the underlying driver values contribute to the view.

​
Formulas

Explain a formula cell to understand how its references, date ranges, actuals logic, and forecast logic work together.

​
Variance in BvA comparisons

Explain Mode can analyze variance in BvA comparisons, including contribution percentages from the dependency tree.

​
Database cells and columns

Use Explain Mode on database table cells and column headers to understand the source data, formulas, and column meaning.

​
SQL queries

Use Explain Mode in a SQL query editor to open an explanation titled Explain SQL Query.

​
Whole pages

Use Explain Mode on page titles and navigation items to summarize what a page contains and how it is structured.

​
The dialog

The explanation streams into a dialog with collapsible thinking steps. From the header, you can start New conversation, move the dialog to Move to floating chat panel or Move to sidebar, or use Minimize and Close.
Explain Mode is currently available to org Admins and Owners.

​
FAQ

Explain Mode only responds on explainable product surfaces. In grids, real data rows respond, while headers and summary rows may not.
Yes. It can explain rollups such as YTD, QTD, quarter-to-last-close, half-year-to-last-close, and year-to-last-close.
Explain Mode is currently available to org Admins and Owners.

​
What’s next