Forecast with multiple data type columns
In a forecast grid, you can have multiple columns with different data types—such as currency and quantity—displayed in a single view. For example, in a product-based forecast, you can display the Best case column values as a quantity (the decimal value of the volume of products sold) and as currency simultaneously.
For more information about configuring columns and data types, go to Choose layout and columns.
License and role requirements
| Requirement type | You must have |
|---|---|
| License | Dynamics 365 Sales Premium or Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise More information: Dynamics 365 Sales pricing |
| Security roles | System Administrator or Forecast Manager More information: Predefined security roles for Sales |
While the forecast grid can display multiple data types, the Kanban view, deal flow, and trend chart can only display a single data type at a time. Hence, for a multiple data type forecast, you must select the primary data type to be displayed in these views before activating the forecast.
Similarly, the Kanban view, deal flow, and trend chart can't show two columns with the same selector. For example, using the Best case selector both revenue and discount. Because the Kanban view and deal flow can only show a single revenue column for a category, you must choose the revenue column to display in these views before activating the forecast.
Note
To use deal flows and trend charts, you must have the Sales Premium license.
Examples of forecasts with different data types
Let's look at a few examples of configuring and activating forecasts with different data types:
Example 1: Create two different currency columns and a quantity column with the same forecast category
Let's say you want to view the Best case forecast category's total amount, discount amount, and the number of products sold to get this amount. You configure three Best case columns as follows in the Layout step of the forecast:
| Column name | Type | Selector | Data type | Amount field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best case | Rollup | Best case | Currency | Amount |
| Best case discount | Rollup | Best case | Currency | Manual Discount or Volume Discount |
| Best case products sold | Rollup | Best case | Decimal | Quantity |
After you've completed the other configuration steps as required and are activating the forecast, an error message is displayed at the top of the Activate forecast configuration page.
Select Fix issue. The following Layout warnings pane is displayed, where you can select a primary data type.
If you select the primary data type as Quantity, the forecast chooses the Best case products sold column to display in the Kanban view, deal flows, and trend charts. This is because the Best case products sold column is the only column that has a quantity (in this case, decimal) data type. You can proceed with activating the forecast after you select the primary data type. The Kanban view in the following image displays only one lane with a single quantity-based column.
If you select the primary data type as Currency, you must choose between Best case and Best case discount columns to display in the Kanban view, deal flows, and trend charts. This is because both these columns have Currency as the data type and share the same selector (Best case). Select the appropriate column, and then select Save.
In this forecast, the Best case column is selected to be displayed in the Kanban view, though the Best case discount column is of the same selector and data type. The quantity-type column Best case products sold is of the same selector and is displayed in the forecast grid, but not in the Kanban view.
Example 2: Create a currency column and a quantity column with two different forecast categories
Let's say you want to view the total revenue of the Won forecast category and the products sold under the Best case forecast category. You configure the Won and Best case columns as follows in the Layout step of the forecast:
| Column name | Type | Selector | Data type | Amount field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Rollup | Won | Currency | Amount |
| Best case products sold | Rollup | Best case | Decimal | Quantity |
After you've completed the other configuration steps as required and are activating the forecast, the "Kanban can't show columns with multiple data types. Please resolve this issue to activate the forecast" error message is displayed at the top of the Activate forecast configuration page.
Select Fix issue, and in the Layout warnings pane, select a primary data type.
Select the primary data type that meets your needs. As the Won (currency) and Best case (quantity) columns have different selectors and data types, you must select one of them a primary data type to be displayed in the Kanban view, deal flows, and trend charts.
View selected primary data type and columns
You can view the details of the primary data type and the selected column (among duplicate columns with the same selector) that'll be displayed in the Kanban view, deal flows, and trend charts. The displayed details are view-only and can't be edited after you activate the forecast.
Sign in to the Sales Hub app.
In the site map, select the Change area
, and then select App Settings.Under Performance management, select Forecast configuration.
The forecast configuration page opens.
Select More options corresponding to the forecast, and then select Edit.
Go to the Layout configuration step. At the bottom of the Layout section, a Layout warnings section is displayed.
Select View settings. A Layout warnings pane is displayed on the right side of the page.
You can view the selected primary data type and column to display in the Kanban view, deal flows, and trend charts.
Can't find the options in your app?
There are three possibilities:
- You don't have the necessary license or role. Check the License and role requirements section at the top of this page.
- Your administrator hasn't turned on the feature.
- Your organization is using a custom app. Check with your administrator for exact steps. The steps described in this article are specific to the out-of-the-box Sales Hub and Sales Professional apps.
Related information
Activate and upload simple columns data
Choose layout and columns