A forecast is always based on a budget workbook that has been published to a stream, which could be a budget or a previous forecast stream. You convert a budget workbook into a forecast workbook. If the budget workbook includes a Balance Sheet and Cash Flow budget, they are also converted into a forecast.
Ensure the budget worksheet is published to a stream. If your budget includes a Balance Sheet worksheet, ensure that is published also.
From within the budget workbook, click the Menu button, then click Save as forecast. If you don’t see this option, it means you don’t have permission to manage Budgets and Forecasts.
In the Create Forecast Workbook window, enter a name for the forecast. For example, Forecast 3+9.
(Optional) Select a different budget stream on which to base the forecast.
A default stream, which is your last published stream, is selected for you. If no stream is selected, it means the budget workbook has not been published to a stream.
You might want to select a different stream from the default stream. For example, you might have another budget with exactly the same structure, such as a stretch or worst-case scenario budget, and that is what you have been using recently, so you prefer to base your forecast on that budget.
Select the Actual + Forecast periods you want in your workbook.
This is the period that you want to forecast. For example, suppose your budget runs from July 2022 through to June 2023 and you have just completed the month of October (fourth month in budget). You want to bring in your actual data from July to October (four months) and forecast from November onwards. Therefore, you select the 4+8 option.
You can amend this period selection later, as time progresses.
Select the items you want to bring across from the budget workbook into the forecast period.
By default, all the budget worksheet tabs are selected, and therefore, included in the forecast workbook. If you do not want any of them, click the Filter button and clear the checkboxes of those you do not want.
All cell comments are included by default, so if you do not want them, clear the Cell comments checkbox.
Click Next.
(If applicable) Define the database drivers: Select the Budget Stream, Actual Stream and Actual Measure. This step displays if your budget workbook has any database driver tabs or a Balance Sheet budget, in which case, you need to provide additional information to bring in data for the corresponding stream(s).