Entering Forecast Methods as Freeform Formulas

  To enter a Freeform Formula:

1. Access Forecast Method.

   See Accessing Forecast Methods.

2. Select Freeform.

3. In Formula, enter Freeform formulas calculating output values for selected accounts.

   SeeUsing Freeform Formulas.

4. In Description of Method, enter formula descriptions for display in the Forecast Method dialog box and on the Edit and Input bars.

5. Optional: For formulas using @input, from Input as select the format of the input data.

   Input data used in the Freeform formulas is entered in the Accounts view or in the Account Input dialog box:

   • Currency

     Enter input data using the option set in Units.

   • Items

     Enter input data using option set in Units.

   • Percent

     Enter input data as a percentage. Useful for tax rate formulas.

   • Ratio

     Enter input data as a ratio.

   • Days

     Enter input data as a number of days. When this input type is chosen, the input must be as a multiplied by another account to produce the output value.

   • Turns

     Enter the input data as the number of turns. The input must be multiplied by another account to produce the output value.

6. Optional: For formulas using @input, from Units select the input data unit specifications:

   • Default

   • Ones

   • Thousands

   • Millions

   • Billions

     Note:

     If @input is not in the formula, Input and Units will not affect formulas.

7. Optional: Select Use in History to use Freeform formulas in historical periods.

   For example, you may select Use in History to calculate Sales as Price x Quantity in both history and forecast.

   If this option is not selected, the Freeform formula is used only in forecast periods and historical data must be input separately.

8. Optional: Select Enable Overrides to enable currency overrides in input fields.

   In input periods, the selected input method can be overridden to enable input of that period's value as Default Currency/Items. To override the input method, enter a pound sign (#) before or after the number.

9. Click OK.

   Note:

   Be sure you are on the Freeform tab when you click OK, to ensure that it is the Freeform formula that is applied to the account.