Forecast Curve (Standard View)

Cost

Note: The distribution method that you select determines the Cost options that are available.

Choose one of the following options:

Manually enter amounts for each period (available if you chose Manual distribution)

You can enter cost information in the Total field on the worksheet.

Auto distribute total amount across all periods (available if you chose Auto by default profile distribution)

This option distributes the amount in the Total field automatically, using the selected default profile.

Distribute amount from cost sheet column

This option takes the amount in the selected Cost Sheet column and enables you to either:

Distribute it manually (if you chose Manual distribution)

or

Use the default distribution profile (if you chose Auto by default profile distribution)

For a forecast column, an example of a column choice would be a Spends-type business process and status.

Schedule

From Date

To Date

Select, or define, the range of dates to use to plot the cash flow data. If you choose to take dates from the schedule sheet elements, the Master schedule sheet for the Project/Shell is used.

Distribution

Distribution spreads the amount value between cash flow time periods. Choose one of the following options:

Manual

To enter values in each field manually.

Note: Selecting the Manual distribution option enables you to select the following two Cost options, only:

Manually enter amounts for each period

Distribute amount from cost sheet column

Auto by default profile

To select one of the available profiles from the Distribution Profiles.

You can choose one of the available Distribution Profiles, that were defined in Standards & Libraries > Cash Flow > Distribution Profiles, or from those that were defined directly in the Project/Shell cash flow log (Edit > Distribution Profiles).

The selected profile will be used as the default profile; however, at runtime, you can change which profile to use.

Select Auto by default profile > Click Select. The Select Distribution Profiles (Distribution Profiles) window opens.

Select a profile to use for the curve, as default profile, and click Select.

Note: If the initial Forecast uses a distribution profile, and has a configuration start at the end of Actuals (or "spends"), the profile does not impact Forecast distribution when you receive Actuals (or "spends").

Variance

Choose Inflow or Outflow or neither.

Forecast Options

Choose one of the following options:

Begin calculations at end of curve

Select this option if you want to automatically start the forecast at the end of a selected spends curve for each time period.

Select Begin calculations at end of curve > Click the drop-down list and select your desired option. For example, you can select Actuals (or "spends") curve if this curve exists.

Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date

If you select this option, and the period close settings have not been specified, then Unifier replaces the Forecast Curve with Actuals (or "spends") Curve on the end of the month curve.

Note: The cumulative graph will not show the forecast connected to Actuals until Unifier overwrites the Forecast with Actuals.

Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement by Actuals

This option enables you to reconfigure the forecast until the date set to replace the forecasted values with Actuals (or "spends").

Note: If the cutoff date is not specified, but the Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date and Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement by Actuals checkboxes are marked, then Unifier does not allow edits to the Forecast Curve after the end of the month curve.

The options under Distribute unassigned amounts from Spends are available only if you have chosen:

Auto by default profile for Distribution

Begin calculations at end of curve for Forecast Options

The following options, under Distribute unassigned amounts from Spends enable you to automatically distribute any overestimated or underestimated Actuals (or "spends") amounts from the original forecast.

using weighted average over all remaining periods

Enter the number of time periods.

using weighted average over next _____ period(s)

Enter the number of time periods, 1 or more, not to exceed the number of periods remaining.

Bring Forecast Data From

Use data from Schedule Sheet

This option enables you to choose a schedule sheet and view the cost distribution information by CBS.

Note: The Cash Flow by Summary CBS – Forecast does not have this option.

To use data from schedule sheet, follow these instructions:

Select Use data from Schedule Sheet > Click Select to open the Schedule Sheets window > Select the desired schedule sheet > Click Open. The selected schedule sheet appears in the Use dates from Schedule Sheet field.

Use Data from P6 Source

Note: The Cash Flow by Summary CBS – Forecast does not have this option.

The data picker lists all the P6 Data sources under the Standards & Libraries node (User mode > Company Workspace > P6 Data Sources.

Note: This option is unavailable (greyed out) when Shell Schedule Type = Duration Based.

If you select this option, Cost and Dates information data come from P6 Summary Sheet (spread) based on P6 Data Sources.

A secondary drop-down list, Data Type, contains the data types available: At Completion and Remaining.

If you select At Completion, the system draws the Forecast curve using the At Completion Cost spread.

If you select Remaining, the system draws the Forecast curve using the Remaining Cost spread.

Cost

You can choose the cost column when creating a curve in a Project/Shell but not in templates. Choose one of the following options:

Manually enter amounts for each period (available if you chose Manual above)

You can enter cost information in the Total field on the worksheet.

Auto distribute total amount across all periods (available if you chose Auto by default profile above)

This option automatically distributes the amount in the Total field using the selected default profile.

Distribute amount from cost sheet column

This option takes the amount in the selected Cost Sheet column, and either enables you to distribute it manually (if you chose Manual distribution), or it enables you to use the default distribution profile (if you chose Auto by default profile).

An example column would be a budget.

Schedule

From Date

To Date

Select, or define, the range of dates to use to plot the cash flow data.

If you choose to take dates from the schedule sheet elements, the schedule sheet name (picker) for the Forecast is used.

Use dates from P6 Source

Note: This option is available for CBS, only.

The data picker lists all the P6 Data sources under the Standards & Libraries node (User mode > Company Workspace > P6 Data Sources.

Note: This option is unavailable (greyed out) when Shell Schedule Type = Cost or Resource Based

If you select this option, the Dates information data come from P6 Summary Sheet (spread) based on P6 Data Sources.

A secondary drop-down list, Data Type, contains the data types available: At Completion and Remaining.

If you select At Completion, the system draws the schedule from At Completion Start and At Completion Finish.

If you select Remaining, the system draws the schedule from Remaining Start and Remaining Finish.

Distribution

Distribution spreads the amount value between cash flow time periods. Choose one of the following options:

Manual

To enter values in each field manually.

Note: Selecting the Manual distribution option enables you to select the following two Cost options, only:

Manually enter amounts for each period

Distribute amount from cost sheet column

Auto by default profile per CBS

To select one of the available profiles from the Distribution Profiles. Follow these instructions for CBS Detail Level curves:

Note: You can use the same instructions for Summary CBS Detail Level curves

To set default distribution profile for one CBS:

Click Auto by default profile per CBS > Details to open the Edit Distribution Profiles (CBS Details) window.

Click to select a CBS > double-click the cell under the Default Profile column for that CBS > Click the desired distribution profile from the list.

Note: You can use Find to search for a specific CBS code.

To set default distribution profile for multiple CBSs:

Click Auto by default profile per CBS > Details to open the Edit Distribution Profiles (CBS Details) window.

Click to select a CBS > Hold down the Ctrl or Shift key on your keyboard and then click each CBS that you want to select > Click Bulk Edit to open the Select Distribution Profiles (Distribution Profiles) window > Click the desired distribution profile from the list > Click Select.

Note: You can use Find to search for specific CBS codes.

When the Edit Distribution Profiles (CBS Details) window appears, ensure that the correct profiles have been selected and when finished, click Save.

Variance

Choose Inflow or Outflow or neither.

Forecast Options

Choose one of the following options:

Begin calculations at end of curve

Select this option if you want to automatically start the forecast at the end of a selected spends curve for each time period.

Select Begin calculations at end of curve > Click the drop-down list and select your desired option. For example, you can select Actuals (or "spends") curve if this curve exists.

Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date

If you select this option, and the period close settings have not been specified, then Unifier replaces the Forecast Curve with Actuals (or "spends") Curve on the end of the month curve.

Note: The cumulative graph will not show the forecast connected to Actuals until Unifier overwrites the Forecast with Actuals.

Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement by Actuals

This option enables you to reconfigure the forecast until the date set to replace the forecasted values with Actuals (or "spends").

Note: If the cutoff date is not specified, but the Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date and Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement by Actuals checkboxes are marked, then Unifier does not allow edits to the Forecast Curve after the end of the month curve.

The options under Distribute unassigned amounts from Spends are available only if you have chosen:

Auto by default profile per CBS for Distribution

Begin calculations at end of curve for Forecast Options

The following options, under Distribute unassigned amounts from Spends enable you to automatically distribute any overestimated or underestimated Actuals (or "spends") amounts from the original forecast.

using weighted average over all remaining periods

Enter the number of time periods.

Using weighted average over next _____ period(s)

Enter the number of time periods, 1 or more, not to exceed the number of periods remaining.

Forecast Options (continued)

Use dates from P6 Summary Sheet

The data picker lists all sheets from the ‘P6 Summary Sheets’ node under the Schedule Manager node.

Note: This option is unavailable (greyed out) when shell Schedule Type = Resource Loaded or Cost Loaded.

If you select this option, the dates information data come from P6 Summary Sheet (spread).

Note: This option is available when the Distribution option is Manual, or Auto by default profile per CBS.

A secondary drop-down list, Dates Type, contains the date types available: At Completion and Remaining. Using the Start and Finish dates of the selected dates type, the system draws the cash flow curve.

If you select At Completion, the system draws the Forecast curve using the At Completion Start and At Completion Finish dates of the selected Summary Sheet (spread).

If you select Remaining, the system draws the Forecast curve using the Remaining Early Start and Remaining Early Finish dates of the selected Summary Sheet (spread).

Cash Flow Granularity

Single distribution of sum of base commit and all changes

Manual entry of values per cash flow period.

Note: This is the only available option. If you select this option, you can only select the Manual entry of values per cash flow period option for Distribution Method.

In User Mode, you must open the Cash Flow Details window to complete time scale fields and distribute the rolled up values of the base commit record and any change commit records.

Cash Flow Granularity

By individual record (base commit and all changes separately)

Use with:

Manual entry of values per cash flow period option under Distribution Method

Auto distribution option under Distribution Method

Either with the Manual dates and manual profile selection option, or the Business process dates and default profile selection option.

Selecting the Manual entry of values per cash flow period option under Distribution Method enables you to manually enter the time scale and to distribute costs.

Selecting the Auto distribution option under Distribution Method enables you to utilize a pre-defined distribution curve. In User Mode curve data is read-only, but you can change the distribution profile.

Selecting the Auto distribution option under Distribution Method requires selecting one the following sub-selection:

Manual Dates and manual selection of profile: Use this option to manually enter the time scale and select a distribution curve.

Business process dates and default profile selection: Use this option to select the time scale from fields on the business process. Click Details to open the selection window. There are four columns in the Auto Distribution window and you can select one of the following option:

Business Process

List comes from the Cost-type business processes available in your company.

From Data Element

Select the date you want the distribution to start.

To Data Element

Select the date you want the distribution to end.

Default Profile

If desired, select a pre-defined profile.

Cash Flow Granularity

By line items from Schedule of Values

Use with:

Manual entry of values per cash flow period option under Distribution Method.

Manual entry with auto distribution of unassigned amount option under Distribution Method.

Auto distribution option under Distribution Method.

Manual dates and manual profile selection option, only.

Selecting the Manual entry of values per cash flow period option under Distribution Method enables you to select record line items. In User Mode you can:

See each selected line item in the cash flow Details window; the columns come from the business process.

Select a profile on the detail window for each line.

Select the distribution profile manually.

Selecting the Manual entry with auto distribution of unassigned amount option under Distribution Method enables you to auto-distribute the total cost.

You must select a Default profile for new records. Initially the curve uses auto-distribution based on both the dates you entered in the Forecast details window and the default profile you selected for the distribution method. Once you modify data-period dates:

If the Unassigned amount is not equal to zero, you must manually enter dates and manually adjust the Unassigned amount.

If the Unassigned amount equals zero, the Cash flow by Commitment - Forecast curve uses a weighted average to redistribute the Unassigned amount.

Selecting the Auto distribution option under Distribution Method automatically selects the Manual Dates and manual selection of profile option and enables you to manually enter dates and select a distribution profile. In the Cash Flow Details window, Unifier populates column values from the Business Process Schedule of Values (SOV).

Distribution Method

See Cash Flow Granularity in this table for details.

Commit Change Processes to be included

Add Commit Change business processes according to the status.

Note: These line items are also seen in the Cash Flow Curve Details window.

Variance

Choose Inflow or Outflow or neither.

Forecast Options

Choose one of the following options:

Begin calculations at end of curve

Select this option if you want to automatically start the forecast at the end of a selected spends curve for each time period.

Select Begin calculations at end of curve > Click the drop-down list and select your desired option. For example, you can select Actuals (or "spends") curve if this curve exists.

Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date

If you select this option, and the period close settings have not been specified, then Unifier replaces the Forecast Curve with Actuals (or "spends") Curve on the end of the month curve.

Note: The cumulative graph will not show the forecast connected to Actuals until Unifier overwrites the Forecast with Actuals.

Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement by Actuals

This option enables you to reconfigure the forecast until the date set to replace the forecasted values with Actuals (or "spends").

Note: If the cutoff date is not specified, but the Replace current period forecast with Actuals on cut off date and Allow edit of current period forecast until replacement by Actuals checkboxes are marked, then Unifier does not allow edits to the Forecast Curve after the end of the month curve.

The options under Distribute unassigned amounts from Spends are available only if you have chosen:

Auto by default profile per CBS for Distribution

Begin calculations at end of curve for Forecast Options

The following options, under Distribute unassigned amounts from Spends enable you to automatically distribute any overestimated or underestimated Actuals (or "spends") amounts from the original forecast.

using weighted average over all remaining periods: Enter the number of time periods.

using weighted average over next _____ period(s): Enter the number of time periods, 1 or more, not to exceed the number of periods remaining.

Forecast Curve

NA

NA

Manual

Schedule (Dates)

Schedule Sheet

Auto

Schedule (Dates)

Schedule Sheet

Set in the past

Forecast with Actuals (no Actuals data)

Start Date

No change

Moves to current

Set in the past

Forecast with Actuals (no Actuals data)

End Date

No change

Future: No change

Past: Moves to current

Set in the past

Forecast with Actuals (with Actuals data)

Start Date

Moves to current

Moves to current

Set in the past

Forecast with Actuals (with Actuals data)

End Date

Future: No change

Past: Moves to current

Future: No change

Past: Moves to current

Set in the future

Forecast with Actuals (no Actuals data)

Start Date

No change

No change

Set in the future

Forecast with Actuals (no Actuals data)

End Date

No change

No change

Set in the future

Forecast with Actuals (with Actuals data)

Start Date

Moves to current

Moves to current

Set in the future

Forecast with Actuals (with Actuals data)

End Date

No change

No change