Creating What If Models

Use this information to create What If models if your institution has the Forecasting module and your user role gives you edit rights.

1. Navigate to Setup > What If Models.
2. Select Add to begin the process of creating a model.
3. Enter a Name to appear throughout the application.
4. Complete the following fields:

   Model Type

   You have the following options:

   • What If - Most models have a What If type. These models can be used to try out different forecasts.
   • Primary - The first model created is assigned this type by default. Later, as more models are created, you have the option of designating another model as your Primary model.
   • Current Budget - This model is for the current year's budget and is referenced on the home page and in variance reports. You are not required to use this Model Type. If you do, then you must always have a Current Budget model.

   Calculation Type

   The selected type cannot be changed after the new model is saved. You have the following options:

   • Standard Calculation - This option is the default setting. The application's calculations function normally.
   • No Calculation - Choose this type if you want to enter values and not have any calculation-related changes made to the model's data. When you create a No Calculation model, you have the option of choosing whether to copy data from the source model.

   Starting Month Method

   This field controls the months that appear in the model. You can change this method after a model is created. You have the following options:

   • Floating - For this method, the model's starting month is always the application's Current Month (last processed month). You can select any future month as the Ending Month.

     Use this option if you want the model to show some months, which move forward relative to the Current Month.

   • Fixed - This method lets you define a static range of months that stays the same even after the monthly update runs. Select any historical time frame as the Current Month. Choose any later month for the Ending Month.

     This model provides a snapshot of your data where all cash flows calculate from the Current Month that you choose. The rest of the months are forecasted months that subsequent monthly updates do not affect.

   • Floating to Fixed - For this method, the starting month is always the application's Current Month. When the model reaches the designated Fixed Month, the months remain constant from the Fixed Month to the Ending Month.

     Use this method to work on a budget up to a certain point after which you do not want it to change. For example, if the Current Month is September, then you can set the historical data to update (or float) until December (the Fixed Month). Then, have the months until the following December (the Ending Month) remain fixed and unchanged for your forecasting.

   Consolidated Organization Method

   This field controls how accounts at your consolidated organization levels behave in the Forecasting Detail and Forecasting Supplemental Data pages. You have the following options:

   • Calculation - Keep the Calculation default setting if you want to edit and forecast accounts for consolidated organizations.
   • Sum - Select the Sum setting if you want consolidated organizations treated as simple summations of their lower organizations. As a result, a consolidated organization's accounts (except for balancing accounts) are read-only on the Forecasting Detail page. On the Forecasting Supplemental Data page, all organizational accounts are read-only (except for accounts with the Ratio Code set to either Federal Tax Rate or State Tax Rate).

   Note: This field does not appear for single-organization institutions or when a model's Calculation Type is set to No Calculation.

   Copy User Access

   This field allows you to select the appropriate what-if model from the drop-down list if you have existing what-if models that you want to copy predefined user access from. The field defaults to Use Current, allowing you to define access rights for your users manually.

   User Access

   This field allows you to specify the users who are allowed to use the new model. Select Edit, View, or None next to a user role or individual users whose access you want to modify.

   The new model is hidden from users who you do not select. If you save a model without choosing users, then User Access sets to All. Set this field to All if you want users who are added to the application later to have automatic access to this model.

   Tip: Keep User Access set to None for non-administrator users when initially creating the what-if model. When you are ready to open the forecast for end users, modify the User Access setting to Edit.

   Allows Subledgers

   This field allows your users to add subledger accounts. These accounts make it possible to forecast using greater detail than what appears in the forecasting grids. Examples are items like employee salaries, fixed asset purchases, and specific travel expenses.

   If you select the Allow Subledgers, then the Copy Subledgers field appears. If you select this option, then the application allows you to copy subledgers.

   Review Structure

   This field allows you to turn on a review structure for users to submit their budgets for approval to another person.

   If you select this option, then an Included Organizations field appears where you can select the organizations that you want to include in the Review Structure.

   Notes

   This field is a text box where you can enter explanatory information.

   Copy Setup From

   This field allows you to select an existing model to use as the source for the new what-if model's accounts.

   Copy Data

   When the Calculation Type for a new model is set to Standard Calculation, the Copy Data field is automatically selected. If you choose the No Calculation option, then you can specify whether to copy data from the source model.

   Copy Comments

   This field allows you to copy comments from the source model to the new what-if model.

5. Select Save to complete the process.