Forecast

Forecast.   New values can be forecasted using the existing values in Serial columns.  

 

Any columns can be set to Serial type by moving to the column and pressing enter to open the Grid edit dialog.   The Serial type is also available on the right click menu.   This type of column is the same as an Input column but is also used as an Output column during forecasting.   If a Serial column is available the Forecast Action is enabled.   This produces the Forecast dialog.   When the dialog is completed the forecasting process begins.   Forecasting can take a long time if many Serial columns are used or if the Grid has many rows. The process first creates a number of extra Engaged rows.   These working locations are used while forecasting runs.   They cannot be edited.   Forecasting creates neural networks for testing as it runs.   When forecasting has finished the extra rows will be changed to Forecast or Risk and will contain the forecasted values.   The estimated risk of the forecast is the number of times the forecast values had to be adjusted before the neural network gave a similar error to that produced prior to the forecast.   Forecast rows can be used in subsequent forecasts.