> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.inforiver.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.inforiver.com/~/changes/mS6jwvARNLHpKqBa4cT9/working-with-inforiver/7.-planning-budgeting-and-forecasting/forecasting.md). # Forecasting With Inforiver, you can easily generate a rolling forecast and use methods like period range, average of period range, etc. to initialize the forecast. You can leverage the integrated time intelligence and time extension features to create half-yearly forecasts or fiscal period forecasts. With Inforiver, you can close the forecast once actuals are available, update the forecast, distribute deficits, and extend forecasts. ## 1. Generating a forecast To create a forecast, click on the Insert Forecast button in the Insert ribbon. The forecast dialog box has the options listed below **1. Measure name:** By default, the forecast measure is named ‘Forecast’. This can be updated to a relevant column name. **2. Forecast period:** The time frame for which the forecast is being generated. Inforiver's time intelligence sets the start date to the current month - you can update the range based on your requirements. **3. Linked actuals measure:** The new forecast measure will be created for past or closed periods as well. The *Linked actuals measure* option allows you to select the series to be used as the data source. If Sales is selected, then the forecast measure for 2022 and 2023 will be populated from Sales. If Revenue is selected, then the forecast measure for 2022 and 2023 will be populated from Revenue.

## 2. Configuring the forecast Inforiver allows you to create rolling forecasts and choose different methods to populate the forecast values. **1. Target period:** You can split the forecast period into shorter time frames or configure the forecast for the whole period. In this case, we have split the forecast period into 3 parts: January to March, April to June, and July to December.

You can also configure for the entire period in one shot as shown below.

**2. Select source:** You can choose the measure that will be used as the data source for the forecast. To manually enter the forecast values, select the 'Blank' option.

**3. Apply operation:** There are 3 different methods that you can use to generate a forecast: * **Period range**: The values from a specific period range will be used to initialize the forecast. In this case, we have used the sales from Q4 2023 (Copy period range) to populate the forecast for Q1 2024 (Target period). The duration of the period range should match the duration of the target period. E.g., if the target period is 6 months, then you must select a period range spanning 6 months.

* **Single period:** The values for a specific month will be used to initialize the forecast. In this case, we have used the revenue from December 2022 to populate the forecast for Apr to Jun 2024.

* **Average of period range**: The average of a custom time period will be used to initialize the forecast. In this case, we have used the average revenue from Jan 2022 to Dec 2023 to initialize the forecast.

**4. Copy period range:** The time frame for which to copy data from the source measure.

## 3. Analysing the forecast Let's look at the forecast generated with the configurations in the earlier sections. * **Closed period forecasts** The forecast measure generated for previous or closed periods will be greyed out and cannot be edited. In section 1, we had assigned the Sales measure to populate the forecasts for past periods.

* **Forecast using period range** We used the Sales measure from Oct to Dec 2023, to populate for forecast from Jan to Mar 2024. For clarity, in this image, we have displayed only Sales and Forecast measures.

* **Forecast using single period** We used the revenue from December 2022 to create the forecast from April to June 2024. For clarity, in this image, we have displayed only Revenue and Forecast measures.

* **Forecast using average of period range** We used the average revenue from Jan 2022 to Dec 2023 to create the forecast from July to December 2024.

## 3. Forecast customizations Inforiver offers customizations that can be applied once the forecast is created. #### 1. Values display You have the flexibility to retain the forecasted values or use the actuals after closing a forecast. Click on the Values Display button to open the Set Value Display window. i) Show Values - Forecast The forecast value is retained even after the actuals are available. This setting enables you to compare the actuals against the predicted values.

ii) Show Values - Actuals The forecasted values are overwritten when the period is closed and the actuals become available. The forecast values are highlighted in blue indicating that they are linked to an actuals value - any updates made to the actuals will be reflected in the forecast. To view the underlying actuals measure, navigate to edit forecast > Linked Actuals Measure.

#### 2. Forecast grand total If the column grand total is enabled, you can choose whether the grand total for the forecast measure should be derived from open periods, closed periods, or both. To customize the grand total for forecasts, click on the forecast column gripper and select the desired option from the *Total Display* section.

**a) All Periods:** The grand total forecast will be the aggregate of the forecasts for open and closed periods.

**b) Open Periods:** The grand total forecast will be the aggregate of the forecasts for open periods only.

**c) Closed Periods:** The grand total forecast will be the aggregate of the forecasts for closed periods only.

#### 3. Show or hide closed periods You can choose whether to display the forecasts for closed periods. To mask the forecast for closed periods, click on any forecast that is generated for closed periods, click on the *Show/Hide* icon, and choose *Hide closed periods.*

The forecast for the closed period is hidden as shown in the image below.

To un-hide the forecasts for closed periods, click on any measure belonging to the closed period, click on the *Show/Hide* icon, and select *Show closed periods*. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.inforiver.com/~/changes/mS6jwvARNLHpKqBa4cT9/working-with-inforiver/7.-planning-budgeting-and-forecasting/forecasting.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.