Models basics
Models in Runway are structured tables where each row represents a driver, allowing you to aggregate data, input assumptions, and build logic across drivers. While many of their capabilities overlap with driver table blocks on pages, models offer unique features like driver grouping and expanding drivers by dimension.
What is a model?
Before diving into models, let’s quickly revisit what databases are for. Databases are where you store your raw data in Runway at various levels of granularity. This could include:
- Data pulled directly from integrations.
- Mapping tables you configure.
- Highly dimensional assumptions you input manually.
Databases are powerful for modeling and transforming data at scale, but they’re not always ideal for presenting or interacting with that data in a visual or lightweight format.
That’s where models and pages come in:
- Models are structured tables where each row represents a driver. You can include:
- Drivers pulled from databases or other models.
- New computed drivers created directly within the model to aggregate data or layer in assumptions.
- Pages are flexible canvases where you can present your data using various block types:
- Driver table blocks (which replicate much of a model’s functionality).
- Charts, database views, plans timeline, text, images, and videos.
So why use models instead of driver tables on a page?
It’s true: driver table blocks on pages cover most of what models can do. However, models currently support two key features that driver table blocks do not:
- Grouping drivers for better organization.
- Expanding drivers by dimensions
We know the line between models and pages can feel blurry. We’re actively working toward merging them into a single, more unified concept in the near future.
Creating a model
Start by clicking the + button next to a section or page in the sidebar. The new model will appear nested under that section or page.
Select Model as the type and give it a clear name, along with an icon or emoji for easy identification.
Adding & removing drivers
Adding, removing, and deleting drivers in a model works exactly the same way as in a driver table block on a page. Learn more in this guide.
Additional customizations
Just like in driver table blocks on a page, models allow you to:
- Customize which columns to show
- Change the time period rollup (e.g. monthly, quarterly, annual)
- Compare drivers across scenarios
- Compare drivers across time periods (e.g. MoM, QoQ, YoY)