Data Entry in Farseer
Data is entered directly into spreadsheet cells. It:
Saves automatically
Updates instantly for all users
Cell Actions (Right-Click Menu)
Cell Options
Here are the available cell tools:
Round: Rounds selected values to whole numbers.
Regression: Fills cells using linear regression.
Random: Fills cells with random values.
Forecast: Applies forecasting logic based on selected version or parameters.
Copy From:
Copy value from a selected year and version
Use custom copy rules
Set Value: Sets a single value across selected cells.
Apply Percentage: Increases or decreases values by a defined percentage.
Add Comment: Adds a cell comment.
Freeze Values: Locks values so they cannot be changed.
Inspect Value: Shows detailed data origin and calculation tracing.
Data Entry Tools
Beyond standard typing and pasting, Farseer provides several advanced data-entry tools that help you populate, adjust, and manage large sets of values quickly. These tools appear when you right-click a cell or a selection of cells and are especially useful when planning, forecasting, or transforming data at scale.
Forecast
Using Forecast
The Forecast option lets you automatically generate future values based on historical patterns. Farseer uses statistical forecasting that takes seasonality into account, allowing you to produce accurate predictions with just a few clicks.
For best results, your model should have at least 3 years of historical data.
How it works
Select the cells you want to forecast into (typically future periods).
Right-click → Forecast.
Choose your forecasting basis:
Version (e.g., Actuals) → Farseer automatically uses:
the same variable you're forecasting into
all available historical data for that variable
Custom → You choose:
which historical period to use
which variable and dimension combination the forecast should be based on
Run the forecast.
Farseer analyzes the selected historical values, detects trends and seasonal patterns, and fills the future periods with predicted results.
Forecast Progress & History
Viewing the forecast progress & history
Every forecast you run appears in the Forecast Progress modal, accessible from the sheet toolbar.
Here you can:
Track all ongoing and completed forecasts
Filter forecasts by time range / period
Review past forecast runs
Monitor multiple forecasting jobs when working collaboratively
This gives you full visibility into how and when forecasts are generated.
Forecasts = Imports
Every forecast is technically treated as an import job inside Farseer.
This means:
You can undo a forecast through Import → Undo
You can review historical forecasts in the imports list
Forecast runs remain traceable just like any other import
This ensures a clean audit trail and makes it easy to roll back if needed.
Use cases
Generate next year’s plan based on historical Actuals.
Create rolling forecasts.
Quickly fill missing future values without manual calculations.
📹 Feature Spotlight: Forecasting
Want a visual walkthrough?
See how Farseer generates fast, reliable forecasts with seasonality detection, custom ranges, and full progress tracking — all in just a few clicks.
Copy From
Using Copy From
The Copy From tool lets you populate selected cells with values taken from another time period, version, or custom source.
This is especially useful for versioning workflows, year-to-year comparisons, rolling forward data, or using existing data as a baseline for planning.
Two modes are available:
1. Copy Exact (Year → Version)
Copies the exact value from a specific year and version.
Example:
Copy 2023 Actuals → 2024 Plan
Steps:
Select target cells
Right-click → Copy From
Choose:
Year you want to copy from
Version you want to copy from
Farseer copies the number into the selected cells.
This preserves the original structure and copies values exactly as they are—making it ideal for creating baseline versions or replicating data across periods and scenarios without any changes.
2. Custom Copy (Formula-Based)
Lets you define a custom expression to copy values using a formula.
Examples:
Copy last year’s value +10%
Copy average of two versions
Copy a completely different variable or dimension intersection
Steps:
Right-click → Copy From → Custom
Enter a formula referencing any variable, dimension, year, or version
Farseer evaluates it and fills the selected cells
Use cases
Rolling forward Actuals into Plan
Creating draft versions
Copying reference years
Custom baseline building
Top-Down Entry
Top-Down data entry allows you to enter a value at a higher aggregation level (e.g., a total), and Farseer will distribute it downward into the detailed rows automatically.
This is useful when:
You know the total but not the breakdown
You want to adjust totals proportionally
You want to spread numbers across departments, products, months, etc.
How it works
Select a parent row or aggregated cell
Enter a number
Farseer distributes the value into its underlying cells based on the chosen rule
Depending on the variable configuration, top-down distribution can behave in several ways:
Proportional to existing data: If underlying values already exist, the entered total is redistributed proportionally based on those values.
Equal distribution: If no underlying values exist and equal distribution is allowed, the total is spread evenly across all applicable elements.
Constrained Light Top-Down: If no underlying data exists and this option is enabled, the system blocks the distribution to prevent unrealistic or artificial spreads.
Top-down data mapping templates: If no underlying data exists but the variable has a top-down data mapping template defined, Farseer uses that template to determine how the value should be distributed.
Top-Down behavior is managed in the variable’s Advanced settings, including standard distribution rules, Constrained Light Top-Down, and Top-Down Data Mapping for cases where no underlying data exists.
Use cases
Setting an annual target and letting Farseer split it by months
Entering a category total and distributing to products
Adjusting high-level planning numbers without manual breakdowns
📹 Feature Spotlight: Constrained Light Top-Down
Want a visual walkthrough?
See how Constrained Light Top-Down prevents unrealistic spreads by blocking top-level inputs when no underlying data exists—keeping your planning clean, accurate, and meaningful.
Data Entry Tool Summary
Tool | Purpose | Best For |
Forecast | Auto-generate future values based on historical patterns & seasonality | Rolling forecasts, future planning |
Copy From | Copy exact values or create custom formula-based copies | Baselines, versioning, year-to-year carryover |
Top-Down | Distribute high-level values into detailed rows | Target setting, spreading totals, structured planning |