View source for Forecast

{{Module Introduction|Forecast|Reporting}} is an add-on module that can be installed from the {{Module|Plugin}}. After installing the plugin, a new module is added that uses historical data to forecast future sales, quantities, and costs.

{{Plugin Install|Forecast|Reporting}}

==Filters==

[[File:Forecast Module Filters.png|right]]
The '''Filters''' pane is used to select the data used for forecasting, the date range, and the type of chart.

* '''Display Data''' - Select the type of data that will be analyzed and forecast:
** '''Sales''' - Uses the price of inventory that has been sold.
** '''Quantity''' - Uses the quantity of inventory that has been sold, scrapped, and consumed on work orders.
** '''Cost''' - Uses the cost of inventory that has been sold.
* '''Part''' - Select the part that will be used for forecasting. Leave the field blank to include all parts.
* '''Location Group''' - Select the location group that will be used for forecasting. To include all location groups, select '''<All>''' or leave the field blank.
* '''Combine Location Groups''' - If checked, the location groups will be combined into one line on the chart.
* '''Formula''' - Below are some common uses for each formula. For more information, hover over an image, click an image, or click a link.
** {{LinkToTable|Constant Average}} - Draws a straight line using the average or mean of the data.<br>Example: This formula may be helpful when the future is likely to follow a constant historical average.{{ImageInDescription|Constant Average|Line Graph|3=#Constant Average Table}}
** {{LinkToTable|Linear Regression}} - Draws a straight line through the "middle" of the data points.<br>Example: This formula may be helpful when the future is likely to follow a long-term trend.{{ImageInDescription|Linear Regression|Line Graph}}
** {{LinkToTable|Exponential Moving Average}} - Draws a wavy line that reacts to each data point. This allows the most recent trends to strongly affect the forecasted line.<br>Example: This formula may be helpful when the future is likely to follow the most recent trends.{{ImageInDescription|Exponential Moving Average|Scatter Plot}}
* '''Growth''' - Includes an additional growth percentage adjustment to the forecasting.
* '''Date Range''' - Select the historical date range that will be used in the calculation and the future date range to forecast.
** The dates can overlap to achieve overlapping lines on the chart. Changing the forecast start date will not affect the outcome of the forecast line, except when using [[#Constant Average & Accumulation Table|Constant Average & Accumulation]]. In this case, since the accumulation begins on the forecast start date, the dates should overlap to continue forecasting the total for the current period.{{ImageInDescription|Constant Average|Accumulation}}<br>To reset the total and start forecasting for a new time period, the dates should not overlap.<br>[[File:Constant Average & Accumulation Separate.png|Constant Average & Accumulation Not Overlapped|link=#Constant Average & Accumulation Table]]
* '''Chart Type''' - Below is a description of each chart type. For more information, hover over an image, click an image, or click a link.
** {{LinkToTable|Line Graph}} - Shows fluctuation by connecting the data points with a line.<br>Example: This chart type may be helpful when comparing time intervals (this month vs. last month).{{TypeImageInDescription|Line Graph}}
** {{LinkToTable|Accumulation}} - Shows the running or cumulative total by adding each data point to the previous total.<br>Example: This chart type may be helpful when looking at total calculations (MTD, YTD, etc.).{{TypeImageInDescription|Accumulation}}
** {{LinkToTable|Scatter Plot}} - Shows the same data points as the line graph but without the line.<br>Example: This chart type may be helpful when used with overlapping dates so that the data points can be easily compared to the forecasted line.{{TypeImageInDescription|Scatter Plot}}
* '''Group By''' - Select the time interval displayed on the graph: '''Day''', '''Week''', '''Month''', or '''Year'''. Changing the time interval can have a large impact on the forecast line because it changes the data points. This is especially true when using [[#Exponential Moving Average Table|Exponential Moving Average]]. Changing the interval will also affect which average is displayed when using [[#Line Graph Table|Constant Average & Line Graph]]. For example, a daily average vs. a monthly average.
* '''Save filters''' - Use the buttons at the bottom of the '''Filters''' pane to load and save the filters.

==Forecast combinations==

By combining different formulas, chart types, dates, and intervals, many combinations are possible. Below are several possible combinations. To achieve overlapping lines, set the '''Forecast Date''' to include the '''Reference Date'''. For more information, hover over an image, click an image, or click a link.
{{anchor|table}}
{| border="1" cellpadding="10" style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:center;"
|- style="background: #F0F8FF;"
| width=200px |
| {{LinkToDescriptionAndAnchor|Line Graph}}<br>Blue dots are connected
| {{LinkToDescriptionAndAnchor|Accumulation}}<br>Running total
| {{LinkToDescriptionAndAnchor|Scatter Plot}}<br>Blue dots are not connected
|- 
| style="background: #F0F8FF;"|{{LinkToDescription|Constant Average}}<br><br>No trend.<br>Straight line using the average (mean) of the data.
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{anchor|Constant Average Table}}{{ImageInTable|Constant Average|Line Graph}} {{Actual|Actual quantity with line|Line Graph}} {{Forecasted|Average of the quantities|Constant Average}}
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{ImageInTable|Constant Average|Accumulation}} {{Actual|Actual quantity as running total|Accumulation}} {{Forecasted|Average compounded as running total|Constant Average}}
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{ImageInTable|Constant Average|Scatter Plot}} {{Actual|Actual quantity without line|Scatter Plot}} {{Forecasted|Average of the quantities|Constant Average}}
|-
| style="background: #F0F8FF;"|{{LinkToDescription|Linear Regression}}<br><br>Overall trend.<br>Straight line through the "middle" of the data points.
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{anchor|Linear Regression Table}}{{ImageInTable|Linear Regression|Line Graph}} {{Actual|Actual quantity with line|Line Graph}} {{Forecasted|Straight trend line for quantity|Linear Regression}}
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{ImageInTable|Linear Regression|Accumulation}} {{Actual|Actual quantity as running total|Accumulation}} {{Forecasted|Straight trend line as running total|Linear Regression}}
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{ImageInTable|Linear Regression|Scatter Plot}} {{Actual|Actual quantity without line|Scatter Plot}} {{Forecasted|Straight trend line for quantity|Linear Regression}}
|- 
| style="background: #F0F8FF;"|{{LinkToDescription|Exponential Moving Average}}<br><br>Recent trend.<br>Wavy line that reacts to each data point.
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{anchor|Exponential Moving Average Table}}{{ImageInTable|Exponential Moving Average|Line Graph}} {{Actual|Actual quantity with line|Line Graph}} {{Forecasted|Wavy trend line for quantity|Exponential Moving Average}}
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{ImageInTable|Exponential Moving Average|Accumulation}} {{Actual|Actual quantity as running total|Accumulation}} {{Forecasted|Wavy trend line as running total|Exponential Moving Average}}
| style="padding-top:25px;" | {{ImageInTable|Exponential Moving Average|Scatter Plot}} {{Actual|Actual quantity without line|Scatter Plot}} {{Forecasted|Wavy trend line for quantity|Exponential Moving Average}}
|}

<sub>For mathematical descriptions of the formulas, see [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Average#Arithmetic_mean Constant Average], [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linear_regression Linear Regression], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moving_average#Exponential_moving_average Exponential Moving Average].</sub>

==Chart==

* The chart can be zoomed and dragged using the mouse.
* Hover over a data point to see the corresponding data.

[[File:Forecast Chart.png]]

==Customize tables==

The tables in the {{Module|Forecast}} can be customized in several ways. Customizing the tables does not change the chart, but it does affect the data that is exported.

* Columns can be [[Customize_Fishbowl#Customize_tables|dragged, sorted, and hidden]].
* The table can be filtered by clicking on the right side of any column header.<br>[[File:Forecast filter table.png]]
** Click '''(All)''' to select or unselect all entries.
** Click an individual entry to show or hide it in the results.
** Click '''(Custom...)''' to add a custom filter to the results.<br>[[File:Forecast module custom filter.png]]
* Click the {{Icon Button|Export to .xls}} or the {{Icon Button|Export to .csv}} to export the data that is currently in the table.<br>[[File:Forecast Copy data.png]]
* To copy a single row, click the row and then press '''Ctrl + C'''.
* To copy all rows, press '''Ctrl + A''' and then press '''Ctrl + C'''.
* To copy consecutive rows, click and drag the mouse over the rows and then press '''Ctrl + C'''.
* To copy non-consecutive rows, hold down the '''Ctrl''' key while clicking each row and then press '''Ctrl + C'''.
=TABS=

{{HideH2|Forecast tab}} [[File:Forecast Forecast Tab.png|right]]

* The '''Forecast''' tab displays the forecast for the part(s) included in the filter.
* Data in the table can be [[#Customize tables|sorted, filtered, copied, and exported]].

{{HideH2|Chart Data tab}} [[File:Forecast Chart Data Tab.png|right]]

* The '''Chart Data''' tab displays the details for the data points on the chart.
* Data in the table can be [[#Customize tables|sorted, filtered, copied, and exported]].

{{HideH2|Raw Data tab}} [[File:Forecast Raw Data Tab.png|right]]

* The '''Raw Data''' tab displays the raw data used in the forecasting calculation.
* Data in the table can be [[#Customize tables|sorted, filtered, copied, and exported]].

{{Plugin Release Notes}}