---
title: "Versions and Scenarios"
slug: "versions-scenarios"
description: "Understand when to use Versions versus Scenarios in Pigment to model different planning realities. Learn how Scenarios support fast what-if simulations, while Versions enable structured, repeatable, and auditable planning for budgets, forecasts, and long-term analysis."
tags: ["Planning Cycles", "Scenarios", "Versions"]
updated: 2026-05-04T09:53:17Z
published: 2026-05-06T10:09:15Z
canonical: "kb.pigment.com/versions-scenarios"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.pigment.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Versions and Scenarios

In Pigment, you can use Versions and Scenarios to model different realities and set up plans and comparisons.

### When to use Versions and when to use Scenarios

Pigment’s Scenario feature is built for quick, ad-hoc comparisons—ideal for testing assumptions or simulating short-term impacts. Scenarios do not have all the functionality of a Dimension, which limits their use in data blocks and formula logic. They offer instant flexibility for exploring “what-if” cases such as the below, without needing to modify your core model structure:

- Good-world versus bad-world
- Optimistic, realistic and pessimistic

Use of a Version Dimension is the more appropriate choice in structured, recurring planning cycles:

- Long-term, structured planning processes like Budgets, Forecasts, and Reforecasts
- Modeling at scale, when you need a Version Dimension that can be fully integrated into formulas, data blocks, and access controls
- Initialising new planning cycles, leveraging features like “Clone Data”
- Consistent reporting and variance analysis over time

> [!NOTE]
> ℹ️ Note
> 
> - Use Scenarios for rapid “on-the-fly” simulations.
> - Use the Version Dimension when planning needs to be repeatable, auditable, and deeply integrated into your model.

Versions and Scenarios can be used in combination. For example, a forecast planned using a Version Dimension can have optimistic and pessimistic Scenarios. For more information, see [Understand Versions in Pigment](/v1/docs/understand-versions-in-pigment).