This is what happens in the video
The flexible forecast header in Business Central controls how you view and work with forecasts. The settings are stored per user ID, so the information on the header can differ from one user to another. Each user gets their own view without affecting how colleagues work with the same forecasts.
You set the period using the start and end date, and the result depends on which view you use. In the view that shows forecasts in periods per item, the date range creates many lines for one item. In the two other views, the date range defines the total period the system calculates forecast entries within.
You can filter on more than one location at a time, but new forecast entries are always created on the location you specify in the “new forecast on location” field. If you modify a line, for example from 92 to 94, the new forecast entry is created on the basic location.
You can filter on dimensions, and you can combine two dimensions to narrow down what you see. The use company functionality lets you read forecast data from other companies, but it is read-only. You can run the forecast in a sales company and view data in an inventory company, but changes you make are not written back to the inventory company.
The forecast name and period dates
The first field on the header is the forecast name. You can work with several different forecasts at the same time. A forecast created in 2020 can still be an ongoing forecast that you continue to work with.
The start and end date define the period you are looking at. The effect depends on the view:
- In the view that shows forecasts in periods per item, the date range creates many lines for a single item within that period filter.
- In the two other views, the date range defines the total period the system uses to calculate forecast entries.
The period options field controls how the lines are displayed. You decide whether you only see a line where you have a forecast trigger, or whether you view per month or per week. This is covered in more detail in a separate video.
Filtering on location and creating new forecast entries
The location filter determines which locations you include in the forecast. You can add more than one location here, so you can work with a view that spans several locations at once.
Because you can filter on several locations, the header also has a field called “new forecast on location”. This controls where new forecast entries are created when you enter a forecast on a line. If you modify a line, for example changing the quantity from 92 to 94, the new forecast entry is created on the location you have set here, such as the basic location. When you drill down, you can see the new entry has been created on that location.
Filtering on project and department dimensions
The header includes a project filter and a department filter. The project filter is a shortcut for the global dimension one, and the department filter is a shortcut for the global dimension two. They can be named whatever your dimension codes are called.
You can filter on a single dimension, and when you update and view the lines, the forecast changes because it only uses forecast entries for that dimension. This applies to all the columns, including sales quantity and purchases. You can also filter on a second dimension at the same time, and the forecast is then calculated for the two dimensions combined. This is useful when you want to keep the same view but limit it to specific dimensions.
Reading forecast data from other companies
The use company functionality lets you drill down into your list of companies, so you can use the forecast functionality in companies other than the one you are working in. You can, for example, work in a sales company but view all the data in another inventory company.
This is read-only. When you modify a forecast entry, the change is not written back to the inventory company. The use company functionality is only for reading data from other companies.
Including items without a forecast
The checkmark to include items without forecast only makes sense in the views where you have more than one item. If you use the forecast view that shows many items in one period, this checkmark lets you unfold all items, including those that do not yet have a forecast.
Component forecast and sales forecast
The component forecast option works the same way as standard Business Central. You can choose to view both the component forecast and the sales forecast. If you select both, they are added together in the view.
When you want to change the lines, you have to select one of them only. The normal approach is to create a sales forecast.
Q&A
Are the forecast header settings shared between users?
No. The flexible forecast header is locked on your user ID. The information on the header can differ from user to user, and it is remembered per user.
Can I filter a forecast on more than one location?
Yes. You can add more than one location to the location filter and work with a view that spans several locations at the same time.
Where are new forecast entries created when I change a line?
New forecast entries are created on the location set in the “new forecast on location” field. If you change a line from 92 to 94, for example, the new entry is created on that location, such as the basic location.
Can I use the forecast functionality across companies?
Yes, but only for reading data. The use company functionality lets you view forecast data from another company, for example viewing inventory data while working in a sales company. Changes you make are not written back to the other company.
What does the include items without forecast checkmark do?
It lets you unfold all items, including those without a forecast. It only makes sense in views where you have more than one item, such as the forecast view that shows many items in one period.
Can I view component forecast and sales forecast together?
Yes. If you select both, they are added together in the view. However, when you change the lines, you have to select one of them only. The normal approach is to create a sales forecast.