Date Range Group: The Date Range controls are used to set the span of data used when estimating forecast models, define a holdout sample and reset dates to the default of using all available data without a holdout sample.
Year and Period: The Year and Period spinners are used to define the fit set. All time series methods begin by fitting a model to historic data. You can alter the beginning year and beginning period to specify the first point of the fitting sample and/or the ending year and ending period to specify the last point. By default, Forecast Pro selects the largest fit set for which data exists. Normally, you will want to accept the defaults. However, you may want to ignore earlier data if you distrust their relevance.
Please note that the fit set selected is applied to all forecasted items, unless you have used the Start Dates icon on the Forecasting tab to specific alternative start dates for individual items.
Holdout Periods: This spinner is used to specify the length of a holdout sample. When using a holdout sample, Forecast Pro withholds the specified number of periods at the end of the data from the model fitting. If you withhold 2 or more points, Forecast Pro automatically generates out-of-sample evaluation statistics for any models that you build. These statistics are available in the Forecast Report. If you do not want to perform out-of-sample testing, set the holdout sample to zero (the default).
Read Data: The Read Data icon reads in the historic data defined in the Data Manager from its primary source along with any other inputs where the on Read option is selected.
Forecast: Clicking the Forecast icon generates statistical forecasts. This option is only available when historic data has been defined in the Data Manager and the data has been read in. Changes to the date range used may require you to re-forecast the data.
Recalculate: This option is only available after changing the date range or when Manual override mode or Manual forecast mode is selected on the Performance tab of the Options dialog box (see The Performance Tab). Selecting the Recalculate icon will reconcile all forecasts and overrides.
Password: This icon is used to password protect your project. When you attempt to open a password-protected project, Forecast Pro will prompt you for the password and only open the project if the correct password is entered.