There are several issues that can prevent the Upload Forecast Data Template from loading into Castaway. This article covers the most common causes and how to resolve them, along with general tips for working with the template successfully.
Common Issues
Column headers have been changed
The column headers must match the template exactly. The required headers are:
- Element Name
- UID
- Data Type
- Months (in custom format 'mmm yy')
Column B has been changed
Column B contains the unique identifiers (UIDs) that Castaway uses to import forecast data. Each identifier corresponds to the exact line in Column A. If Column B has been deleted, or if UIDs have been changed or moved out of order, the upload will fail.
An active filter is applied to the upload sheet
Forecast data will not upload correctly if a data filter is applied and limiting the visible data in Excel. Filters can exist on the sheet but must not be active at the time of upload.
The first sheet in the workbook is not the Castaway generated forecast sheet
Castaway reads the first tab in the workbook. Ensure the template tab is always positioned first. Hidden tabs can also cause the upload to fail - search for and remove any hidden tabs before uploading.
A non-supported formula is being used
Many Excel formulas are supported but not all. For a full list of supported and unsupported formulas, refer to the Supported Function List
Too many decimal places in one or more cells
Where the template includes calculations, values may be expressed to a number of decimal places that cannot be processed on upload. Rounding values to 2 decimal places is recommended where calculations are used.
General Tips
- If your upload is unsuccessful, generate a new template from Castaway and paste values only into the new template. Ensure the rows appear in the same order between your old and new template.
- Any changes to a calculation or cash flow method will invalidate an older template, as the UIDs will change for the affected rows. Generate a new template after making element setting changes.
- The template includes forecast data for every available month, making it a useful review tool for checking numbers in bulk and making changes across multiple elements at once.
- Deleting rows from the template is fine. Existing values in deleted rows will remain unchanged in Castaway. For example, you can delete everything except the sales rows if those are the only lines you want to update.
If you need any assistance please contact our support team at: support@castawayforecasting.com