D. Configuration – Creating models and nodes
This step includes the following:

You standardize node-type templates using the Manage Node Default Details utility. By using this utility, future nodes created through the Create a New Node utility display the same input rows upon initial launch.
NOTE: You cannot apply the defaults retrospectively to existing nodes.
When you open the utility, the tabs at the bottom of the workbook represent the node types.

A model must exist for nodes to be created because a node must be linked to a model. For more information, see Creating a model.

After you create models, you can then create nodes to assign to them. You can create nodes two ways:
- Manually, by using the Create New Node utility. For more information, see Creating a node.
- Customized and automatically, by using the Node Rebuild Utility. To use this utility, you must import data using the Transfer to Financial Planning utility, the Rollforward Utility, or the FP Data Collection Template. For more information, see Building nodes from imported history and other data.