Setting Up the Calendar and Task Flow Type

Set up the calendar and task flow type for the application. You can set the period frequency, start and end years, fiscal period, and enable rolling forecasts. Then you can designate which task flow type to use.

The calendar establishes the application's period frequency, start and end years, first month of fiscal year (if monthly) or the start date of the first fiscal period (if weekly or quarterly), and lets you enable a rolling forecast and period duration.

For the fiscal year, set the fiscal year first month and specify whether the fiscal year starts from the same calendar year or the previous calendar year. You can later set up calculations based on the calendar year, for example, using formula expressions. When setting up formulas for an application, consider that formula expressions such as [TPDate] and [FirstDate] produce different results if the application starts in the same calendar year or previous calendar year.

On this screen you can also choose a Task Flow Type for the application:

• Task List: Task lists are a classic feature which guides users through the planning process by listing tasks, instructions, and end dates.

  For more information about task lists, see Administering Task Lists.

• EPM Task Manager: This is the default option for new applications. EPM Task Manager provides centralized monitoring of all tasks and provides a visible, automated, repeatable system of record for running a application.

  For more information about EPM Task Manager, see Administering Tasks with Task Manager.

Note:

You can switch the Task Flow Type after application creation from Task List to Task Manager. However, you cannot migrate existing task lists to Task Manager, and you cannot switch back to task lists after enabling Task Manager. If you want to continue using classic Task Lists, select the Task List option during application creation. For information about enabling Task Manager and to review other important considerations about switching, see Enabling Task Manager from within Planning.

To set up the calendar and task flow type:

1. Select the Period Frequency:

   • Monthly

   • Weekly

   • Quarterly

   • Custom

2. Select the Start and End year for the application.
3. Specify fiscal year information based on the Period Frequency:

   • For Monthly, select the first month of the fiscal year.

     If you create an application with a first month of something other than January, you must also select the Fiscal Year Start Date. The selection of this parameter is critical for the correct creation of the Years dimension and the underlying calculations for periods. For more information, see About the Calendar.

   • For Weekly and Quarterly, specify the start date of the first fiscal period

4. If you set the frequency to Monthly, select a Weekly Distribution option: Even, 445, 454, or 544.

   Weekly distribution sets the monthly distribution pattern, based on the number of fiscal weeks in a month. This selection determines how data in summary time periods spreads within the base time period. When users enter data into summary time periods, such as quarters, the value is distributed over base time periods in the summary time period.

   If you select a weekly distribution pattern other than Even, the application treats quarterly values as if they were divided into 13 weeks and distributes weeks according to the selected pattern. For example, if you select 5-4-4, the first month in a quarter has five weeks, and the last two months in the quarter have four weeks.

5. Decide whether to enable rolling forecasts and set the period duration. See About Rolling Forecasts.

   Rolling Forecast is available only if the start month is January.

6. Select a Task Flow Type for the application:

   • Task List: Guides users through the planning process by listing tasks, instructions, and end dates.

     For more information about task lists, see Administering Task Lists.

   • EPM Task Manager: This is the default option for new applications. EPM Task Manager provides centralized monitoring of all tasks and provides a visible, automated, repeatable system of record for running an application.

     For more information about EPM Task Manager, see Administering Tasks with Task Manager.