Creating distributions

  1. Select Scheduling > Schedule Optimization > Forecast > Distribution Setup > Distribution.
  2. Click Create New Entry.
  3. Specify this information:
    Distribution Name
    Specify the name of the distribution.
    Location
    Select the location to which this distribution applies using the lookup. Available locations are listed in a hierarchy in the Location lookup window. When using an automatic distribution, this location should be the driver that holds the results details to be used in the distribution.
    Interval
    Select the type of interval over which the distribution is spread from the drop-down list.
    Distribution Mode
    Select Normal or Inverse mode from the drop-down list. Normal works with the traffic pattern normally. Inverse is the opposite of the normal distribution pattern, with the highest points becoming the lowest and the lowest becoming the highest.
    Use Day Part Distributions
    Select this check box to populate the Day Part drop-down lists based on the Day Part definitions.
  4. Select one of these options:
    • Enter distribution manually if you want to supply the amounts of the volume indicator for each time interval.
    • Automatically generate distribution when you want the system to continuously and automatically regenerate the distribution for each forecast based on the previous eight weeks of normal sales for the given day.
    • Generate distribution from historical results when you want the system to generate the distribution from historical results.
    • Day Part Automatic if you plan to use the Workload by Day Part screen.
  5. If you selected the Generate distribution from historical results option, specify additional information:
    1. Select the location option from which the historical data is retrieved:
      • Generate distribution using results from to base the results from one location. Select the location with the results on which the distribution is based using the lookup.
      • Generate distributions for this location using each location's results data to generate the distribution based on the results data of all locations.

    2. Specify the dates of up to five time periods for which the results can be included in the distribution in the Use results from the period and through fields.
    3. Select the days of the week on which to base the results from the Use data from drop-down list:
      • A specific day of the week to base the results from that day
      • All Days to use the data from every day
      • Weekends Only to only use the data from weekends
      • Weekdays Only to only use the data from weekdays
    4. Select the Include Special Days check box to include data from special days as well as the days that are selected in the Use Data from drop-down list.
  6. Click Next.
    The selected intervals are displayed on the Distribution Details page. For example, you could have a new manual distribution with hourly intervals.
  7. Specify the amounts of the volume indicator for each interval if you are adding intervals manually or adjust intervals as necessary if you are using historical data. The percentages are automatically adjusted to reflect the amount in each interval.
  8. Select the day part to which the distribution amounts apply from the corresponding drop-down list, if necessary.
  9. Click Save.