This help covers creating and management of forecasts in the Controller section. You can open the Forecast tool by selecting Controller > Forecasts. Forecasts are based on actual, budgeted, or imported accounting data from different periods. This help covers creating, editing, import/export in Excel, and input for account groups and cost objects.

Contents

Forecast

A forecast is a tool used to estimate the fiscal year's revenues and expenses based on actual and budgeted values or imported accounting data. The forecast is based on actual months and the entered data for the rest of the fiscal year, budget data for the rest of the fiscal year, or data from a previous forecast for the rest of the fiscal year.

Forecast input

You can start creating a forecast by selecting Controller > Forecasts > Create new.

  • Enter a name for the forecast.
  • Select the forecast type, either Rolling forecast or Forecast for period:
    • Rolling forecast follows the VAT lock date and always starts from the month following the VAT lock date.
    • Forecast for period starts from the selected start date and shows actual values in the forecast up to the company’s VAT lock date.
    • If the company is not Vat liable, the actual values are the months in the past.
    • For example, march moves to actuals on 1.4. in the Controller night run.

When copying forecast figures to a new forecast or budget, actual values are included as they appear in the forecast.

  • Select either ready-made figures or a blank template as the base for the forecast:
    • When you use ready-made figures, the system selects the latest monthly values for each forecast month from the selected material.
    • If the base material length is over a year:
      • the first year’s figures are brought calendar monthly to the new forecast’s first year
      • the second year’s figures to the second year, etc.
  • Note that the choice between Rolling forecast or Forecast for period cannot be changed after the forecast is created.
  • You can edit the duration of the forecast after it has been created.
  • You can delete, copy, or set the forecast as primary from the three-dot menu:
    • The primary forecast appears first, for example, in the comparison series selection in Reports.
    • When you retrieve the forecast from the Reports view, you will see the original values entered for the forecast.

A forecast can be in the status Ready or In progress.

  • Edit the forecast only when its status is In progress.
  • You cannot edit a forecast whose status is Ready.

When you enter a value in the total column of the forecast:

  • the system first subtracts the sum of the actuals in the forecast
  • the remaining value is evenly distributed across the forecast months
  • the remainder is set to the first month of the forecast.

You can input the forecast simultaneously with multiple users.

  • After each value is saved, all changed values are updated in the forecast.
  • You will also see the values entered simultaneously by other users.

Use keyboard shortcuts with selected cells to speed up forecast input:

  • Copy (Ctrl + C) – copies the values of the selected cells.
  • Paste (Ctrl + V) – pastes the copied values into the selected cell and onwards to other cells based on the copy.
  • Cut (Ctrl + X) – removes the values of the selected cells and copies them to the clipboard.
  • Fill (Ctrl + K) – inputs the value of the selected cell (one cell) into the remaining cells of that row in the table. Use the command from the cell that contains the value to be copied.
  • Delete – removes the values from the selected cells.

Forecast import/export

You can export forecast values to Excel and import them back into Controller.

  • Only forecast values are exported to Excel, actual values are omitted.
  • Edit the values in Excel and import the edited values back into Controller.
  • Accounts are matched by number.
  • Cost objects and titles are matched by name.

Input for account group

When you input the forecast for an account group:

  • the value is saved to the first account of the account group
  • input for an account group overrides the previous values under the account.

Input for cost object

You can also input the forecast for a cost object.

  • Select the cost object from the cost object filter.
  • You can input values for a cost object combination by selecting both cost objects, in which case the values go to both cost objects.

The unallocated value of a cost object title is the sum of all values that have not been assigned a cost object under that title.

In the cost object hierarchy, values can be at all levels. In this case, the values of the lower levels of the hierarchy are included together with the values at the higher levels.

Account view

You can input cost object values for a single account more efficiently through the account view.

  • Open the account view from the forecast view by clicking the account name or the arrow button next to the selected cell.
  • In the account view, you can change the selected account from the menu at the top of the table.

Allocation to cost objects

In the account view:

  • Unallocated shows the value entered for the account that has not been allocated to any cost object.
  • If unallocated is other than 0, values entered for cost objects automatically reduce the unallocated value.
  • When you remove a value entered for a cost object, the value is transferred back to unallocated.

Default title selection

When you select a default title:

  • summary rows are added to the table for the default title’s cost objects
  • from the summary rows you can see the sum of all cost object combinations that contain that cost object
  • the default title selection is user-specific and does not affect saved values, so you can change it as needed.

Forecast and budget side by side in the same report

Through the Controller reports, you can take the forecast and budget side by side in the same report.

  • Select one value for the figures.
  • Select the other value for the comparison values.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find the Forecast tool in Controller?

You can open the Forecast tool by selecting Controller > Forecasts.

How do I create a new forecast?

Select Controller > Forecasts > Create new, enter a name for the forecast, and select the forecast type Rolling forecast or Forecast for period. Then select either ready-made figures or a blank template as the base for the forecast.

What is the difference between a Rolling forecast and a Forecast for period?

Rolling forecast always starts from the month following the VAT lock date and follows the VAT lock date. Forecast for period starts from the selected start date and shows actual values up to the company’s VAT lock date.

Can I change the forecast type (Rolling forecast / Forecast for period) after creating the forecast?

You cannot change the choice Rolling forecast or Forecast for period after the forecast is created, but you can edit the duration of the forecast.

How do I export a forecast to Excel and import it back?

Export forecast values to Excel with the Forecast import/export function. Edit the values in Excel and import them back into Controller. Only forecast values are exported, actual values are omitted. Accounts are matched by number and cost objects and titles by name.

How do I input the forecast for an account group?

Enter a value for the account group, in which case the value is saved to the first account of the account group and overrides the previous values under the account.

How do I input the forecast for a cost object?

Select the cost object from the cost object filter and enter the values. You can also input values for a cost object combination by selecting both cost objects.

What does unallocated value mean in cost objects?

Unallocated value is the sum of all values that have not been assigned a cost object under that cost object title. Values entered for cost objects reduce the unallocated value, and removing a value from a cost object transfers it back to unallocated.

How do I get the forecast and budget in the same report?

Open the Controller reports and select one value for the figures and the other for the comparison values so that the forecast and budget appear side by side in the same report.

How can I input values more efficiently for a single account?

Open the account view from the forecast view by clicking the account name or the arrow button next to the selected cell and enter the cost object values in the account view.

Keywords: forecasts, Controller, rolling forecast, forecast for period, Excel, account group input, cost object, import/export, account view.

This article has been translated using an AI-based translation tool. The contents or wording of these instructions may differ from those in other instructions or in the software.


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