When you create a forecast, the forecast workbook opens
The forecast workbook has all the same elements as a budget workbook, along with some additional elements, the most notable being the three total columns and the flag pole.
[need to change screenshot to match]
Actual + Forecast column - When you create a forecast workbook, this column is selected by default. It displays the actual and forecast values in the grid, according to the periods you selected in the setup window. The default position of the flagpole identifies ????. The actual values display to the left of the flagpole and the forecast values displays to the right of the flagpole. You can drag the flagpole back to the left to see what your forecast was (budget values). The default forecast values are the same as those in the Actual+Budget column but the cells are editable, so you can edit the values and formulas as required.
Flag pole - Identify the latest current actual, as defined in the forecast setup window (default position of the flag pole). Drag the flag pole back to view the different data (from actual to forecast/budget). You cannot drag the flagpole forward past a certain period because you do not have any actuals for those periods (future periods). which you use to toggle between the different data views. See images above.
Colored line - Identify the actual portion of the forecast. A dotted vertical line appears at the end of the last fully completed month (period moment). The flagpole can be dragged left and right to adjust the actual versus forecast break point. (this is particularly useful for current month and last month).
Total Budget column - Click this column to display your budget values in the grid (the flagpole does not display). You can snap to budget (see below) to make the Total budget value equal to the Actual+Forecast value. The cells are not editable, the information is for reference purposes only.
Actual+Budget column - Click this column to view the actual and/or budget values, depending on the position of the flagpole. The actual values display to the left of the flagpole and the budget values display to the right of the flagpole. The cells are not editable, the information is for reference purposes only. From Dan: That will just bring you back to what your budgeted numbers were, so this will be quite useful when you start reforecasting, and you want to see what your original budget was. Denise: how is this different to above?
The color of the column headers, flag pole and line changes, depending on the position of the flag pole and the total column that is selected, as illustrated in the images below. So you can easily determine if a column displays actual or forecast values.
Initially the cells in the forecast are black color to signify that they have not yet been edited but when you enter a forecast values, the cells change to blue.
The other change to note is that for working some and comparison lines we now show empty budget for actual plus budget totals. As there is no data for these cells.
there are several types of spread.