---
title: "Using Comments and Descriptions"
description: "There are two main areas for commenting in Lucanet xP&A: In the spreadsheet, to collaborate with fellow model builders and editors. On the dashboard, to collaborate with your end-users, e.g. your business partners, investors etc"
source_url: https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/using-comments-and-descriptions
language: en
last_updated: 2026-05-01
---
# Using Comments and Descriptions in Lucanet xP&A

## Overview

There are two main areas for commenting in Lucanet xP&A (Extended Planning & Analysis):

- In the **spreadsheet**, to collaborate with fellow model builders and editors
- On the **dashboard**, to collaborate with your end-users, e.g. your business partners, investors etc

Descriptions, by contrast, are more permanent explanations of a variable/formula — an ongoing guide for anyone looking at the model. This article tells you everything you need to know about comments and descriptions in Lucanet xP&A.

## Adding a Comment on Variables and Cells in Lucanet xP&A

Start a comment thread on a variable in Lucanet xP&A by using **Shift+C** on your keyboard, or right-clicking and using the command **Add comment**. You can either comment on the variable as a whole, or comment on a specific cell within the variable (e.g. specific month or dimension item).

![Shows the right-click context menu for a variable in Lucanet xP&A, with options including Group Variable, Create Chart, Add Description, Copy Variable Link, Aggregation Function, Add Variable, Delete Variable, Move/Copy Variables, and Inspect Variable. Highlighted in red is the Add Comment option with its Shift+C keyboard shortcut.](https://support.lucanet.com/assets/docs-images/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/using-comments-and-descriptions/_images/en/create-comment.png)
Create comment for a variable

If a comment exists, a yellow triangle is displayed in the cell:

![Shows a small yellow triangle in the top-left corner of a variable chip (Revenue by Currency) within a formula in Lucanet xP&A, indicating that a comment exists on that cell.](https://support.lucanet.com/assets/docs-images/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/using-comments-and-descriptions/_images/en/existing-comment.png)
Display of an existing comment

## Adding a Description to Variables and Formulas in Lucanet xP&A

Descriptions in Lucanet xP&A are meant to be more permanent explanations of a variable/formula. You can think of them as an ongoing guide for anyone looking at the model. Add a description by right-clicking and using the command **Add Description**.

![Shows the right-click context menu for the Net Profit Before Tax variable in Lucanet xP&A, with options including Add Comment, Group Variable, Create Chart, Copy Variable Link, Aggregation Function, Add Variable, Delete Variable, Move/Copy Variables, and Inspect Variable. Highlighted in red is the Add Description option.](https://support.lucanet.com/assets/docs-images/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/using-comments-and-descriptions/_images/en/adding-a-description.png)
Adding a description to a variable

You can edit an existing description by double-clicking on it.

> **Note:** If you create a description for a variable in the Inputs section, it also appears on the [Dashboard](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/xp-a---extended-planning-and-analysis/viewing-and-visualizing-data/using-dashboards.md).

## Adding an In-Line Formula Comment in Lucanet xP&A

You can also add comments within your formulas with a double slash **//**. Everything between the double slash and the end of the line will be ignored by xP&A when calculating.

## Comment Permissions in Lucanet xP&A

There are two main areas for comments in Lucanet xP&A: in the spreadsheet, and on the dashboard.

- Those with **Edit (and above) access** to a model can see and interact with _all_ comments across the spreadsheet and the dashboard.
- Those with **View access** only can see/interact with comments on the dashboard.
- If you only have access to the dashboard via a public/private link, you cannot see/reply to existing threads or create new.
- Comments on the spreadsheet are not shown in a read-only spreadsheet on dashboard.

Comment threads in Lucanet xP&A only show up in the views and/or scenarios they were created in, and only for those who have access to those views and/or scenarios. For example, if you create a comment in the High Spend scenario, only those who have access to the High Spend scenario will be able to see/reply to the thread.