Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ)
Features and Functionalities
Licensing Forecast Pro
Data Input and Output
Compatibility with Other Applications
Installation Issues
Do I need to have
knowledge of statistics or economics to use Forecast Pro?
Forecast Pro is very easy to learn and easy to use. It does not
require a background in forecasting, statistics, or economics. Forecast
Pro’s built-in expert selection system analyzes your data,
selects the appropriate forecasting technique, builds the model
and calculates the forecasts – it even explains its reasoning
in ordinary English!
Is it possible to get a live demo of Forecast Pro?
Yes. If you are familiar with what Forecast Pro offers, and want
to take action to learn more, you may request a free live demo over
the Web—even using our own data. For more information about
Forecast Pro demos, click here.
How can
I try Forecast Pro with my own data?
If you are interested in trying out Forecast Pro risk-free, take
advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee! Order a full working
version of Forecast Pro and test it with your data. If for any reason
you are unsatisfied with your order, return the software and receive
a full refund of your purchase.
After I license
the software, how do I get started?
The best way to learn Forecast Pro is to work through the tutorial
section of the Forecast Pro manual. The comprehensive tutorial consists
of structured lessons using sample data that guide you step-by-step
through all operations of the program. Most users acquaint themselves
with Forecast Pro’s general forecasting capabilities within
hours of installing the program.
Most Forecast Pro users never undergo any formal product training,
however, for those who want to get off to a “flying start” BFS offers
Forecast Pro one-day training workshops. These popular classes are
held frequently at various locations in North America and Europe. Click
here to learn more about the different training opportunities
we offer.
What forecasting
methodologies does Forecast Pro offer?
The Forecast Pro family of products offers a full range of forecasting
methodologies designed to meet most business forecasting needs.
Consult Which Edition of
Forecast Pro is Right For You? for a list of the methodologies
offered in each edition.
Is Forecast Pro available in languages other than English?
Yes — French, German, Japanese and Spanish versions of Forecast
Pro are also available. Please consult our International Distributor
listing for more information.
Are on-site product training and consulting services available?
Yes. In addition to the public product training workshops offered
regularly, we offer on-site training and consulting at your location.
Please contact us for more information about these services.
How much does Forecast Pro cost?
Forecast Pro is an affordable forecasting solution, with pricing
starting at $795 USD. Please consult the ordering page for pricing
details on the entire Forecast Pro product family.
Are academic discounts available?
Yes, we offer special discounts for qualified academic users as
well as site licenses for qualified academic institutions. Please
contact us if you are interested in using Forecast Pro in an academic
setting.
How do I get my data into
Forecast Pro?
Forecast Pro imports data in a variety of flexible, easy-to-create formats including Excel and Lotus spreadsheets, Text files and ODBC. These flexible formats allow you to easily import and export data from virtually any source.
How do I save my forecasts
and output the results from Forecast Pro?
Forecast Pro makes it easy to save your forecasts and output your
results. The forecasts, confidence limits and safety stock values
can be saved to spreadsheet files (including Excel and Lotus spreadsheets),
ASCII text files, XML database files and ODBC-compliant relational
databases.
The audit trail which contains a detailed narrative from Forecast
Pro’s expert system about which forecasting model was chosen
and how for each series forecasted can be edited, printed or saved
to disk at any time.
Forecast Pro Unlimited provides additional ways to document your
work:
- Item reports can capture any information found in the forecast
report in a concise format.
- Forecast document files allow you to save your current forecasting
session and return to it later or share it with colleagues.
- Forecast override files allow you to save forecast overrides,
along with supporting comments, and recall them in a future session.
What operating
systems is Forecast Pro compatible with?
Forecast Pro is fully compatible with all the latest Microsoft
Windows operating systems, including Windows 2000,
XP, and Vista operating systems.
What databases
can Forecast Pro be used with?
Forecast Pro can be used with virtually any database system, including
Microsoft Access, SQLServer and Oracle. Data transfer (from your
database to Forecast Pro and back) can be accomplished using spreadsheet
files or ASCII text files. You can even link Forecast Pro directly
to your database using an ODBC connection.
Can I integrate Forecast Pro with other software systems (such as ERP, DP and SCM solutions)?
Yes. Integrating Forecast Pro with your existing software systems
is straightforward. Forecast Pro has been formally integrated into
many commercially available systems— consult our partner solution
listing for applications which have integrated Forecast Pro as the
“forecasting engine” of choice.
Can I embed Forecast Pro into a custom application my firm is developing?
Yes. As the market leader in business forecasting software, Forecast
Pro is the obvious choice for software developers looking to add
state-of-the-art forecasting to their applications. Click here to
learn how you can integrate Forecast Pro’s powerful forecasting
technology with your application.
How easy is it to install
Forecast Pro?
Installing Forecast Pro is quick and very easy. The Forecast Pro
CD contains an automatic Windows-based installation program, which
guides you step-by-step in installing the program.
What are
the minimum system requirements to run Forecast Pro?
Forecast Pro is a 32-bit program that runs under all current Windows
platforms. Forecast Pro requires a minimum of 64 MB of RAM and 30
MB of hard disk space. With such modest hardware requirements, Forecast
Pro can run on virtually any Windows-based computer!
Must I
install the program from CD? Can I download the installation files
from a website?
Although the most common method of installing the program is from
CD, you can also download the latest installation files from the
Forecast Pro website. Please contact
us for detailed instructions on how to do this.
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