Creating a KBI in Forecast Structure

You can create a KBI in the KBIs view of the Forecast Structure screen.

In the upper-left corner of the screen, select Access your applications ( ).
The menu expands.

Select Setup > Forecast Structure.
The Forecast Structure screen appears. The KBIs view is the default view for the screen.

In the Forecast Structure menu pane, select KBI ( ).
The KBIs view appears.

In the KBIs section, select the Add KBI ( button ) button.
The Add KBI dialog box appears.

Note: The RMS software automatically creates a code for the new KBI. A code is required for all KBIs in RMS.

Click here for field descriptions.

Fields on the KBI Details section

Field	Description	Notes
Name	Name of the KBI.	Required.
Code	Code associated with the KBI.	Required.
Master Code	Allows a corporate user to assign one code for multiple KBIs that are common to the company but labeled differently at the property level.
Show In	The software module in which the KBI is shown.
Units	Unit of measure associated with the KBI.

Tabs on the KBI Set Config section

General tab fields

General tab of the KBI Set Config section in Forecast Structure

Fields on the General tab of the KBI Set Config section

Field	Description	Notes
General	Enter general configuration setting for the KBI set.
Type	Type of KBI. Options include: Calculated Input Percent of Base Separate	Your selection determines which other tabs appear in the KBI Set Config section.
Fcst Flow Plan	Forecast guest demand tied to the KBI.
Actual Flow Plan	Actual guest demand tied to the KBI.
Notes	Custom notes about the KBI.
Labor	Enter KBI Set configurations for the Labor module.
Type	Type of KBI. Options include: Calculated Input Percent of Base Statistical
Environmental	Select whether to include the forecast environments for this KBI.
Include in available market data	Select whether the KBI is included in the total available market data in the Revenue Center Report.
Show in Wizard	Select whether you can see this KBI when using wizards.
Show in Re-Forecast	Select whether you can see this KBI when re-forecasting.
Budgeting	Enter KBI Set configurations for the Budgeting module.
Type	Type of KBI. Options include: Calculated Input Percent of Base
Units Account	Account that is tied to the units for the KBI.
Revenue Account	Associated account that holds revenue for the KBI.
Primary	Select whether the KBIs have no external dependencies and are used to drive other KBIs.

Formula tab fields

Formula tab of the KBI Set Config section in Forecast Structure

Fields on the Formula tabs (Formula, Labor Formula, Budget Formula) of the KBI Set Config section

Field	Description	Notes
Formula buttons
Insert KBI	Build your formula by choosing KBIs from a list. The fields in the resulting dialog box include: Search—Search for a KBI. Table—Table of available KBIs: KBI Name—Name of the KBI. Code—Unique identification code associated with the KBI. Item In Use—Whether the KBI is in use. Check marks appear next to KBIs (including nested KBIs) that have already been included in the current formula. This indicator prevents you from unintentionally duplicating the use of a KBI in a formula. Note: An information icon ( ) with a tooltip indicates whether KBIs are already included with the same Days Offset in the current formula. Days to offset—Once you have selected a KBI, there are three choices for the value you want to give it: Previous day's value [expressed as a negative number]. Current day's value [expressed as 0]. Future day's value [expressed as positive numbers 1,2,3, and so on].
Insert Operator	Enter the type of operation you want to perform: Addition ( + ) Subtraction ( − ) Multiplication ( * ) Division ( ⁄ ) Modulo ( % ) (divide and return the remainder)
Insert Function	Choose from a predefined set of functions. Depending on the function you choose, different dialog boxes appear.
Formula Builder	Opens a wizard that guides you through the steps of building a formula. The Formula Builder works best when creating new formulas rather than editing existing formulas. A KBI Value—Choose a KBI to insert into the formula. A Special Function—Choose a function to insert into the formula. Numeric Constant—Use a specific number in the calculation. Note:Unifocus recommends using the Formula Builder to create formulas. Using the Formula Builder will ensure that you are using the correct syntax.
Clear	Clears the formula field to start over. Note: This function clears the whole field, not just a portion of the formula.
Formula display
Formula field	Displays the complete, editable formula that you build using the buttons. You can manually edit the formula in this field.
Formula Preview	Displays the complete, read-only formula that you build using the buttons.	Read-only.

Percent of Base tab fields

Percent of Base tab of the KBI Sets Config section

Fields on the Percent of Base tabs (Percent of Base, Budget Percent of Base) of the KBI Set Config section

Field	Description	Notes
Base KBI	Select the KBI that the Percent of Base KBI calculation is based on. For example, if you choose XXX as the Base KBI, and you enter 38 in the Sunday field of Period 1, the value for the KBI you are creating will be 38% of XXX.
Copy Down	Applies the selected value to all lines below.
Copy Right	Applies the selected value to all lines to the right.
Copy	Options include: Copy for full day Copy for full period Copy right and down Copy Column Right
Clear	Options include: Clear Cell Clear Row Clear Column Clear All
Percentage table
Period	Financial period.	Read-only.
Weekdays	Enter percentages by weekday.

Environmental tab fields

Environmental tab of the KBI Set Config section in Forecast Structure

Fields on the Environmental tab of the KBI Set Config section

Field Description Notes

Field	Description	Notes
Environment	A list of the environments that were previously configured. Environments represent special circumstances that allow you to separate historical data in the forecasting process. Normally an environment affects one or more areas within the property but not necessarily the entire property. For more information, see Environments.
Flow Plan	A list of the flow plans that were previously configured. Flow plans represent a group of flow patterns that are used by RMS for labor planning purposes. The purpose of a flow plan is: 1) to specify which flow patterns will be associated with which weekdays for a specific KBI and 2) to specify the period of time this flow pattern/flow plan association will be effective. For more information, see Flow Plans.

Environment

A list of the environments that were previously configured. Environments represent special circumstances that allow you to separate historical data in the forecasting process. Normally an environment affects one or more areas within the property but not necessarily the entire property.

For more information, see Environments.

Flow Plan

A list of the flow plans that were previously configured. Flow plans represent a group of flow patterns that are used by RMS for labor planning purposes. The purpose of a flow plan is: 1) to specify which flow patterns will be associated with which weekdays for a specific KBI and 2) to specify the period of time this flow pattern/flow plan association will be effective.

For more information, see Flow Plans.

Statistical tab fields

Statistical tab of the KBI Set Config section in Forecast Structure

Fields on the Statistical tab of the KBI Set Config section

Field	Description	Notes
Individual Day Configuration	If turned on ( ), you can configure every day of the week separately. If turned off ( ), there is a single configuration area where you configure once, and the information is copied to the other days of the week.	Default: Off ( ).
Weekday selector	Select the day of the week.	Weekdays are available for selection only if Individual Day Configuration is turned on ( ).
Statistical method selector	Options include: Regression—Use regression analysis to perform the calculations. Options include: Related KBI—Select a KBI(s) whose data will be analyzed to determine the value of the KBI you are configuring. Operation—Select the type of mathematical operation to be performed. Add—Add to the current value of the independent value to the KBI you are forecasting. Independent—Indicates that the associated KBI name is an independent value to be used in the regression calculation. Subtract—Subtract the current value of the selected KBI from the KBI you are forecasting. Trend Adjusted Exponential Smoothing—Use trend adjusted exponential smoothing (TAES) to perform the calculations. For more information, see Trend-Adjusted Exponential Smoothing. Options include: Related KBI—Select a KBI with data that will be averaged to determine the value of the KBI you are configuring. Usually, the KBI you select is the KBI you want to forecast using TAES. (For example, if you want to use a TAES to forecast Dinner Covers (KBI 101), select Dinner Covers as the related.
Add	Adds a regression-related KBI.
Daily values table
Related KBI	Select a KBI(s) with data that will be analyzed to determine the value of the KBI you are configuring.
Operation	The mathematical operation applied to the KBI.
Delete	Deletes the value.

Related KBIs tab fields

Related KBIs tab of the KBI Set Config section in Forecast Structure

Fields on the Related KBIs tab of the KBI Set Config section

Field	Description	Notes
Search	Search for KBIs. The list updates as you type.
KBI Name	Name of the related KBI.	Read-only.
KBI Code	The shorthand code that was assigned to the KBI.	Read-only.
Usage Type	Method by which the KBI in the table is used in relation to the selected KBI.	Read-only.
Relationship	Displays the relationship of the KBIs: Uses selected KBI—The KBI in the table uses the selected KBI in the KBI list. The selected KBI in the list is used by the KBI in the table in other areas of the software. Used by selected KBI—The KBI in the list uses the KBI in the table. The KBI in the table is used in calculations for the selected KBI in the list.	Read-only.
Labor/Budget	Whether the KBI is used in the formula for Labor, Budgeting, or both (Labor and Budgeting).	Read-only.

Related Labor Standards tab fields

Related Labor Standards tab of the KBI Set Config section in Forecast Structure

Fields on the Related Labor Standards tab of the KBI Set Config section

Field	Description	Notes
Search	Search for job and assignment labor standards that use the selected KBI. The list updates as you type.
Job Name	Job and assignment labor standards that use the selected KBI. Double-click the job name to open the Labor Standards screen to the labor structure level of the selected job or assignment. For more information, see Labor Standards.
Labor Structure Path	Location of the job or assignment in the labor structure.	Read-only.
Code	Labor structure code associated with the job or assignment.	Read-only.
Standard Set Usage	Opens a Standard Set Usage Details pane for the selected job or assignment. This pane includes a table that lists each standard set. Each standard set displays Yes or No to indicate whether the KBI is used in the set.

In the Name field, enter a name for the KBI.
(Optional) In the Master Code field, enter one code for multiple KBIs that are common to the company but labeled differently at the property level.
(Optional) From the Show In drop-down list, select the RMS module in which the KBI is shown.
(Optional) From the Units drop-down list, select the unit of measure associated with the KBI.
Complete the KBI configuration tabs and fields at the bottom of the dialog box. The available tabs and fields depend on the KBI that you are creating. The General tab appears by default. Tabs and fields update based on your selections.
Select Submit.
The dialog box closes, and the new KBI is added.