> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.fabricplan.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.fabricplan.com/user-guide/3-create-your-first-planning-app/3-4-create-a-forecast.md).
# 3.4 - Create a forecast
This article explains how to create a forecast in a planning sheet and enter forecast values for open periods.
### Create a new forecast
1. Go to the **Model** ribbon.
2. Select **Forecast**.
3. Configure the forecast settings:
* **Measure Name**: Enter a name for the forecast measure.
* **Forecast Period**: Select the forecast period.
* **Closed Period** and **Open Period**: Configure data for closed and open periods.
Consider this example where,
* Closed periods are configured to use the *Revenue* values.
* Open periods use the **Data Input** option without any default values configured.
4. Select **Create**.
5. You can optionally configure a baseline source for forecast data.
To create a zero-based forecast, leave **Copy Source** empty by setting it to *None*. To use existing data as a baseline, select a source and then choose **Save**.
6. After the forecast is created:
* Closed periods appear in gray and display values from the linked measure (for example, *Revenue*).
* Open forecast periods remain blank since **Data Input** is selected without a default value (Default value: *None*).
### Enter forecast values
1. Double-click the cell for the open period that you want to edit.
2. Enter a value in the formula bar and press **Enter**.
3. By default, forecast values are distributed equally across row and column hierarchies and aggregated to totals.
### Distribute forecast values
1. To apply a different distribution method, select a cell and open the **Distribution** menu.
You can distribute the values by:
* Trend
* Weights from an existing series
2. In this example, the *2026 Forecast* values are distributed using the weights from *2025 Actuals*.
3. The forecast values are updated based on the selected distribution method.
### Related content
To learn more about forecasts, automated period close, and extending time periods, see tutorial [4- Forecasts, rolling forecasts & statistical forecasts](/user-guide/6-forecasts-rolling-forecasts-and-statistical-forecasts.md).
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