Using Goal Seek

Use Goal Seek to identify a target value for an account. Strategic Modeling calculates changes to another account to reach that target. This eliminates manipulating accounts manually.

Using Goal Seek for Single Periods

To use Goal Seek for single periods:

1. On the Accounts spreadsheet, select a cell or account, and then Goal Seek.

2. Select Single Period.

3. In Set, select the goal account.

4. In In Period, select a time period.

5. In To Value, enter the target amount.

6. In Change, select the source account affecting the goal.

   This account must be related to the goal account through a formula.

7. In From Period and To Period, enter the years to change the source account.

8. In Adjust By, specify the adjustment method.

9. Optional: Select Continuous Seek to perform a new goal seek while retaining the results of the prior goal seek(s) in the model.

   Note:

   When continuous seek is active the results of the prior goal seek(s) are incorporated in the model for the current goal seek. If the continuous seek option is not active the results of the prior goal seek are undone before starting the current goal seek.

10. Click Seek.

11. Optional: Select Undo Last to revert just prior to last seek.

12. Optional: Select Undo All to revert all changes to the account values by all seeks since the dialog was opened.

13. Click OK to retain the results, or click Cancel to reject the results.

14. Optional: Select Only Show Changes to display only the time periods that are modified.

Using Goal Seek for a Time Series

To use Goal Seek for a time series:

1. On the Accounts spreadsheet, select a cell or account and then Goal Seek.

2. Select the Time Series tab.

3. In Set, select the goal account.

4. In Values in, select a source account to contain the goal.

   You can use Memo Accounts.

5. In Change, select the source account affecting the goal.

   This account must be related to the goal account through a formula.

6. In From Period and To Period, enter the years to change the source account.

7. Click Seek.

8. Optional: Select Continuous Seek to perform a new goal seek while retaining the results of the prior goal seek(s) in the model.

   Note:

   When continuous seek is active the results of the prior goal seek(s) are incorporated in the model for the current goal seek. If the continuous seek option is not active the results of the prior goal seek are undone before starting the current goal seek.

9. Click Seek.

10. Optional: Select Undo Last to revert just prior to last seek.

11. Optional: Select Undo All to revert all changes to the account values by all seeks since the dialog was opened.

12. Click OK to retain the results, or click Cancel to reject the results.

13. Optional: Select Only Show Changes to display only the time periods that are modified.