# Distribution rules In addition to the distribution options available in the context menu at the total-level cells, you can formally set global distribution rules for specific rows and columns. Let's start with an overview: ### 1. Apply Weighted Distribution Rule to Rows You can specify how the row grand total or a specific subtotal is to be distributed across all rows. **Step 1: Select Measures** Choose the **input** and **forecast** measures to which the weighted distribution rule should apply. **Step 2: Select Row Dimensions** Specify the **row dimensions** that the rule will be applied to. {% hint style="info" %} The unselected/unspecified measures, row dimensions, or column ranges within the 'Apply to' options will be allocated equally. {% endhint %} **Step 3: Choose the Reference Measure for Weights** Select the **source measure** from which the weights will be derived. You can choose one of the following: * A measure from the **planning sheet** * A measure from an **Infobridge query** * **Manually configure** the reference values **Step 4: Define the Reference Period Range** Select the period range to be used for calculating weights. Choose whether to: * Use the weights from the selected range **as is**, or * Use the **average** weight of that range. **Step 5: Limit the Rows (Optional)** Restrict the weighted distribution to **specific row subtotals** and their **child rows**, if needed. {% hint style="info" %} When the rule is configured for only rows, the column grand total is distributed equally by default. {% endhint %} ### 2. Apply Weighted Distribution Rule to Columns You can specify how the column grand total is to be distributed across all columns. **Step 1: Select Measures** Choose the **input** and **forecast** measures to which the weighted column distribution rule should apply. **Step 2: Choose the Reference Measure for Weights** Select the **source measure** from which the weights will be derived. You can choose one from the following options: * A measure from the **planning sheet** * A measure from an **Infobridge query** * **Manually configure** the reference values **Step 3: Select the Source Row for Weight** Choose the row from which the weight will be derived, or select **Self** to use the row’s existing weight. **Step 4: Define the Period Range** Select the period range to be used for calculating weights. **Step 5: Limit the Columns (Optional)** Restrict the weighted distribution to **specific column periods or ranges,** if needed. {% hint style="info" %} The unselected/unspecified measures, row dimensions, or column ranges within the 'Apply to' options will be allocated equally. {% endhint %} ### 3. Steps to configuring a rule Let's now look at the steps to set a distribution rule in detail: 1. Click on the **Distribution Rule** from the **Plan** tab.

2. **Configure the details for the rule:** **2.1. Rule Name:** Enter a name for the rule. **2.2. Apply to Measures:** Select the measures to which you want to apply the distribution rule. You can choose from all measures, selected measures, all visual columns, or selected visual columns.

* **All Measures:** The distribution rule applies to **all visual measures**, including those already configured and those added later in the planning sheet. It covers both data input and forecast measures, whether they are visible or hidden, based on the selected rows and columns. * **All Visual Columns:** The distribution rule is applied to all visual columns, including those already configured and those added later in the planning sheet. * **Selected Measures:** The distribution rule is applied only to the selected measures. * **Choose Measures:** Select the measures to which the rule will be applied. We will apply the distribution rule to the 'Forecast' measure. * **Selected Visual Columns:** The distribution rule is applied only to the selected columns. * **Choose Columns:** Select the columns to which the rule will be applied.

**2.3. Rule Type:** Here, you can change the rule to other types—locking or min-max rule—if required. **2.4. Apply Distribution Rule to:** Select '[**Rows**](#configuring-row-distribution)' to set a distribution rule across row dimensions and rows; select '[**Columns**](#configuring-column-distribution)' to set a distribution rule across the period and column hierarchies. ### 4. Configuring Row Distribution The following options are available when you want to apply the distribution rule to rows: **2.5. Apply to Dimensions:** Select the row dimensions for which the total value should be distributed. * **All Dimensions:** Distribute the total by weight across all dimensions. * **Selected Dimensions:** Distribute the total by weight only to the selected dimensions. The unselected dimensions will have their values equally distributed.

**2.6. Use Reference From:** Select the measures from which the weights should be derived.

* **Measure:** This option lets you select any measure to derive weights from. * **Choose Measure:** When you choose 'Measures', this drop-down displays a list of all visual measures (data input, formula, or forecast measure) available in the sheet. You can choose one from the list or use the 'Self' option to use the same measure's values as a reference to derive the weights.

**Infobridge Query:** If the planning sheet is integrated with a bridge and you need to reference a **measure from an Infobridge query**, select this option. It should be noted that the Infobridge measure **can be used to derive weight only if the rule is to be applied to a single row dimension (in the previous step).** You also need to **select a query that contains a single row dimension.** In the image below, we used the 'Revenue' measure as a reference to derive weights from Infobridge query 3, which has only one row dimension. This will apply to the 'category' dimension in all of the measures as chosen below:

* **Manual Input:** You can also input sample values from which the weights would be taken. Choose the **Manual Input** option and enter values in the editor window that opens. You can observe that the editor allows you to enter values based on the chosen row dimensions.

* **None:** When you choose 'None', the values are distributed equally. Use this option for equal distribution. **Weights from Period:** This option is applicable when you choose a measure to derive weights. Use this menu to specify from which period the weights should be taken for the chosen measure. You can choose preset options such as 'Current/Previous Year', 'Current/Previous Quarter' and so on. You can also specify a custom period range using the 'Custom' option.

**Operation:** You can use the periods' weights as is or use their average weight. When you select 'Custom', you can specify the period range along with the required operation.

**Limit Weighted Distribution to Select Rows:** Apply the weighted distribution rule to all rows or selected rows.

* **All Rows:** Apply the distribution rule to all row levels in the selected dimensions and measures. This is ideal when you want to distribute the measure's grand total to all chosen row dimensions, by weight. * **Custom:** Apply the distribution rule to specific row levels and their children by using the basic selection filter or advanced group filters. Other row levels are equally distributed. Use this to distribute a row's subtotal based on weight among its children.

**Selection:** In the 'Selection' filter type, select the required rows. Double-clicking a parent row selects/unselects a row with all of its children. Click **Submit.**

**Filter:** In this type, you can select the row dimensions using text conditions such as 'is', 'is not', 'starts with', 'ends with', etc.

* Click on **Add filter** to include more dimensions to filter. * Choose AND or OR to logically combine multiple filter criteria. * Use the **Add group** option to combine multiple groups of filter criteria. #### 4.1. Examples Let's now look at a few examples for row distribution. 1. Distribution weights derived from the *Revenue* measure from the previous year (2024) are applied to **all category dimension rows**. The brand row values are **then** distributed equally.

Distributed weights applied only to category rows

2. The category row values are distributed equally (the unselected dimension); distribution weights derived from the *Revenue* measure from the previous year (2024) were applied only to **all the brand rows thereafter.**

Distribution weights applied to brand rows only

3. The distribution weights are applied to all dimensions in the example below (both Category and Brand). You can also choose 'All Dimensions' from the drop-down instead.

### 5. Configuring Column Distribution The following options are available when you want to apply the distribution rule to columns: **Use Reference From:** Select the measures from which the weights should be derived. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.fabricplan.com/planning-sheets/how-tos/7.-planning-budgeting-and-forecasting/allocation-rules-and-controls/distribution-rules.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.