3.4 - Create a forecast

This article explains how to create a forecast in a planning sheet and enter forecast values for open periods.

Create a new forecast#

1. Go to the Model ribbon.

2. Select Forecast.

3. Configure the forecast settings:

• Measure Name: Enter a name for the forecast measure.
• Forecast Period: Select the forecast period.
• Closed Period and Open Period: Configure data for closed and open periods.

Consider this example where,

• Closed periods are configured to use the Revenue values.
• Open periods use the Data Input option without any default values configured.

4. Select Create.

5. You can optionally configure a baseline source for forecast data.

To create a zero-based forecast, leave Copy Source empty by setting it to None. To use existing data as a baseline, select a source and then choose Save.

6. After the forecast is created:

• Closed periods appear in gray and display values from the linked measure (for example, Revenue).
• Open forecast periods remain blank since Data Input is selected without a default value (Default value: None).

Enter forecast values#

1. Double-click the cell for the open period that you want to edit.

2. Enter a value in the formula bar and press Enter.

3. By default, forecast values are distributed equally across row and column hierarchies and aggregated to totals.

Distribute forecast values#

1. To apply a different distribution method, select a cell and open the Distribution menu.

   You can distribute the values by:

   • Trend
   • Weights from an existing series

2. In this example, the 2026 Forecast values are distributed using the weights from 2025 Actuals.

3. The forecast values are updated based on the selected distribution method.

Related content#

To learn more about forecasts, automated period close, and extending time periods, see tutorial 4- Forecasts, rolling forecasts & statistical forecasts.