Demand forecast (form)

Article
05/05/2014

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Click Inventory management > Inquiries > Forecast > Demand forecast.

You can use this form to create and view demand forecast lines. You can create demand forecast lines for items, item groups, customer accounts, and customer groups.

For each forecast line, you select the forecast model to use. Then specify the item, and the quantity or the transaction amount. You can also set up a time schedule for when to allocate the forecast quantity.

Tasks that use this form

Create forecast lines

Navigating the form

The following tables provide descriptions for the controls in this form.

Tabs

Tab	Description
Overview tab	Create new demand forecast lines. You can also view and modify existing lines.
General tab	Create, view, and modify general information about the selected demand forecast.
Item	Create, view, and modify item information about the selected demand forecast.
Project	View project information about the selected demand forecast.
Financial dimensions	View information about financial dimensions, such as the default dimensions and where the dimensions are used in account structures and advanced rule structures.
Inventory dimensions	View and enter the inventory dimensions such as size, color, pallet ID and so on, for the selected demand forecast line.
Filter	Define criteria, such as customer group, item group and model, on which to filter the demand forecast lines.
Exploded	View the forecast transaction distributed according to the method and configuration that is defined on the Allocation section.

Buttons

Button	Description
Edit	Modify, copy, and delete existing forecast lines.
Forecast balances	View selected forecasts by fiscal period.
Inventory forecast	View the projected inventory transactions for the selected forecast line.
Cash flow forecasts	View the cashflow forecast that is generated for the line.
Inventory	Select the inventory dimensions that are displayed on the Overview tab.
Budget updates	Show project transactions for the selected project forecast.
Project	View the general ledger entries for the selected transaction.
Copy	Copy the selected forecast to a sales order, an item requirement, or an item consumption record.
Transfer quotation lines	Transfer quotation lines to the selected project.
Create lines	If you are using an allocation method, use this button to generate the individual schedule lines for the forecast transaction. The transaction is then distributed according to date, quantity, and amount.

Fields

Field	Description
Model	The forecast model that the transaction is associated with.
Date	The date that the transaction starts.
Customer account	The customer account that the transaction is associated with.
Customer group	Customer group that the transaction is attached to.
Item number	The identification of the item.
Item group	The item group that the transaction is associated with.
Item allocation key	The item allocation key that is used in inventory forecast allocation.
Sales quantity	The transaction quantity in the specified sales unit.
Unit	The unit that the item is sold in.
Amount	The gross amount, less discounts, that the forecast transaction contributes to the forecast.
Currency	The currency for the current forecast transaction. The default currency is entered by the system, but you can select a different currency from the drop-down list.
Method	The method used to allocate forecast transactions. Select one of the following options: None - No allocation occurs. Period – Use to forecast the same quantity per period. Use this option together with the Per field, to specify a quantity; the Unit field, to select the unit of time; and the End field, to specify the end date for the forecast horizon. Key - The forecast quantity is allocated according to the period allocation key that you specify in the Period key field. You can use this method when you want to consider seasonal variation.
Per	Enter the number of time intervals that the forecast extends into the future. This field is enabled when you select Period in the Method field. Example Select Period in the Method field. Enter 1 in the Per field. Select Months in the Unit field. Specify an ending date in the End field that extends one year into the future. One forecast line is generated for each month of the coming year, based on the item and quantity stated in the header line.
Unit	The unit of time interval. Select one of the following options: Days - Allocation corresponds to the number of days that you specify in the Per field. Months - Allocation corresponds to the number of months that you specify in the Per field. Years -Allocation corresponds to the number of years that you specify in the Per field.
Period key	The period allocation key for allocating the forecast. See also Period allocation categories (form).
End	The ending date when you use the Per and Unit fields.
Report	Select the check box to include the transaction in reporting.
Comments	Enter any comments that pertain to the forecast transaction.
Active	Select the check box to include the transaction in budget reporting. This field cannot be modified for reporting transactions.
Cash flow forecasts	Select the check box to allocate the forecast transaction to the general ledger.This field cannot be modified for reporting transactions. See also Cash flow forecast transactions (form).
Sales tax group	The tax group that is used to specify tax for the forecast transaction.
Item sales tax group	The item tax group that is used to specify tax for the forecast transaction.
Unit price	The sales price per number of units specified in the Price unit field. The information is retrieved from the item, but you can modify it.
Price unit	The number of sales units for which the sales price applies. The number is retrieved automatically from the items table, but you can modify it.
Sales charges	Fixed charges on the sales price. The charges are independent of quantity.
Cost price	The cost for the current forecast transaction per inventory unit. The cost is retrieved from the Items table, but you can modify it.
Discount percentage	The discount expressed as a percentage.
Cash discount amount	The discount expressed in amount per sales unit.
Inventory quantity	The transaction quantity expressed in the inventory unit of the item.
Sub-BOM	The BOM number of a specific sub-BOM. When this field is blank, the active number is used.
Subroute	The route number of a specific sub-route. When this field is blank, the active number is used.
Project ID	The identification of the project that is referenced by the current transaction.
Category	The cost category of the current transaction.
Line property	The status that the transaction is attached to.
Unit price	The price per unit.
Modified By	The identification of the worker who last modified the selected transaction.
Invoice date	Enter the expected invoice date.
Elimination date	View or modify the elimination date. When the forecast is created, the elimination date is set to the end date of the project. If the project has no end date, the project date is applied. Applies to fixed-price projects and investment projects.
Cost payment date	Enter the expected date for the purchase payment.
Sales payment date	Enter the expected date for the sales payment.
Project date	Date of the demand forecast transaction.
Funding source	Funding source that the demand forecast is associated with.
Activity number	The activity associated with the demand forecast transaction.
Category	Cost category of the current transaction.
Line property	Status that the transaction is attached to.
Transaction ID	System identification for the demand forecast transaction.
Cost amount	Demand forecast transaction amount.
Unit price	Price per unit.
Modified by	The identification of the worker who last modified the selected transaction.
Invoice date	Enter the expected invoice date.
Elimination date	View or modify the elimination date. When the forecast is created, the elimination date is set to the end date of the project. If the project has no end date, the project date is applied. Applies to fixed-price projects and investment projects.
Cost payment date	Enter the expected date for the purchase payment.
Sales payment date	Enter the expected date for the sales payment.
Financial dimensions	The financial dimensions that were set up in the Financial dimensions form.
Where the %1 dimension is used	The account structures and advanced rule structures that use the financial dimensions that you selected in the Financial dimensions or Default financial dimensions field group. Note The name of the field depends on the selection in the Financial dimensions or Default financial dimensions field group.
Configuration	Select an item configuration to specify an item with specific attributes.
Size	The size of the item
Color	The color of the item.
Warehouse	Enter the warehouse where you store the items.
Batch number	Enter the batch number dimension. If you select Edit lines and Explode lines in the upper section of the Shipment/Receive form, you can modify the batch number for the transfer order line.
Location	The location inside a warehouse. If you select Edit lines and Explode lines in the upper section of the Shipment/Receive form, you can modify the location number for the transfer order line.
Pallet ID	The unique identification for the pallet. This is also the serial shipping container code.
Serial number	The serial number dimension. If you select Edit lines and Explode lines in the upper section of the Shipment/Receive form, you can modify the serial number for the transfer order line.