You can select a base time period and a monthly distribution pattern, based on the number of fiscal weeks in a month. Base time periods are the bottom-level time periods in an application. Predefined options are quarters or months. You can create a custom base time period, such as weeks or days.

You use monthly distribution patterns to determine how data entered into a summary time period is distributed (spread) among the base time periods. During data entry, users can enter data into summary time periods, such as years or quarters. Planning distributes the entered values over the base time periods that constitute the summary time period.

If you select a weekly distribution pattern other than Even Distribution, Planning treats quarterly values as if they were divided into 13 weeks and distributes weeks according to the pattern that you selected. For example, if you select the 5-4-4 pattern, Planning treats the first month of a quarter as if it has five weeks and the last two months of the quarter as if they have four weeks. The options for the weekly distribution pattern are available only if you select the base time period option “12 Months.”