About Changeable Time Horizon
The Changeable Time Horizon functionality enables the administrator to define the time periods where data can be changed. The Administrator selects a defined time horizon to be used as the Changeable Time Horizon for each Dataset.
You must define your Changeable Time Horizons either in absolute terms or as relative to a time mark. This is important since you can only make changes to cells within the periods defined in the Changeable Time Horizon, if datatype allows.
The cells that are within a particular period of a defined Time mark are unlocked cells. You can make changes on the unlocked cells. All other cells are locked (regardless of datatype). The locked cells will have a gray background to distinguish them from unlocked cells.
When a Changeable Time Horizon is defined for a Dataset all missing cells within this time horizon are created. For example, an administrator adds a time period to an imported Dataset by defining a Changeable Time Horizon that extends one period further than that of the imported data. This would provide the forecasters with empty cells for a defined period for the purpose of adding their forecast values.
The Changeable Time Horizon functionality offers excellent handling of sparse data. Changeable Time Horizon handles sets of sparse data by creating empty cells for defined periods. The forecaster can then add value to an empty cell or leave it empty. M3 DMP is able to distinguish between a cell where zero has been forecasted and a cell where no forecast has been made.
You can also disassociate Time Horizon from the dataset. Instead of removing the Time Horizon, just select for the dataset on the tab. On Changeable Time Horizon, select .
There are two options for Changeable Time Horizon:
- Create Missing Cells - OFF (default)
- Create Missing Cells - ON
With , the CTH definition is still used but there are no cells created in the database. This means that the generation step, which can run longer is skipped. Another benefit is that the database does not allocate space before it is needed. DMP will generate the missing cells when they are needed.
If you click , any unused cells is removed from the dataset in the database.
With , all missing cells within this time horizon are created. The database grows to accommodate the cell records that are defined by the Changeable Time Horizon.
If you click , any unused cells is removed from the dataset in the database and creates the missing cell again.
This table displays the permissions for each role.
| Role | Activity |
|---|---|
| All | Change Time Horizon |
| Administrator | Define Time Horizon |
| Administrator | Delete Changeable Time Horizon |
| Administrator | Remove Changeable Time Horizon from Dataset |
| Administrator | Modify Time Horizons |