---
title: Setting Up Your Data Overview
description: "> Marked content is Forecast Pro TRAC only Forecast Pro supports reading in data from multiple sources (Excel, Text, ODBC) and in multiple formats, including transactional formats.  Please see [Selecting a Data Format](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/reading-in-your-data/selecting-a-data-format/)** **for more details. The only required input to generate…"
url: "https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/reading-in-your-data/reading-in-your-data-overview/"
updated: "2024-12-20"
category: Reference / Setting Up Your Data
---

# Setting Up Your Data Overview

> Marked content is Forecast Pro TRAC only

Forecast Pro supports reading in data from multiple sources (Excel, Text, ODBC) and in multiple formats, including transactional formats.  Please see [Selecting a Data Format](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/reading-in-your-data/selecting-a-data-format/)** **for more details.

The only required input to generate forecasts in Forecast Pro is historic data for the variable you want to forecast (e.g., demand or sales).  The specifics for how to set up your historic data for each available format are detailed in [Setting up the Historic Data](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/setting-up-the-historic-data/setting-up-the-historic-data/).

When you set up your historic data, you will want to think carefully about how you might want to organize your data into a data hierarchy. It is not necessary to define a hierarchy, but most users find it very helpful. Your data hierarchy consists of multiple attributes that allow you to aggregate your data into higher level groupings. Your hierarchy may include as many attributes as you need, but we recommend that you keep your hierarchy as simple as possible to optimize performance.

[Defining the Hierarchy](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/setting-up-the-historic-data/defining-the-hierarchy/)

You are also able to read in a wide array of optional information that will help you improve your forecasts or your forecasting process.  Optional data inputs include:

- [TRAC] [Conversion Factors](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/conversion-factors/)
- [TRAC] [External Data](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/external-data/)
- [Explanatory Variables](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/explanatory-variables/) (for regression and machine learning)
- [TRAC] [Custom Filter Fields](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/custom-filter-fields/)
- [TRAC] [Definitions](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/definitions/)
- [Overrides](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/override-files/)
- [Helper Files](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/helper-files/)
- [Modifier Files](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/modifier-files/)
- [TRAC] [Mapping Files](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/optional-data/mapping-files/)

Each of the above optional data sections details the required format for each file type and a brief description of what it can be used for.

Once you have created your historic data file and any other optional data inputs, you are ready to use Forecast Pro. Your data is ready to be read and forecast using the Data Manager.

[Using the Data Manager](https://www.forecastpro.com/documentation/forecast-pro-trac/reading-in-your-data/using-the-data-manager/)