Specifying forecast parameters

Forecast parameters are saved to the database as a summary interval. When you specify a new forecast, you're actually adding another record to the summary database. If a corresponding summary database exists, Visualizer saves it to that database. If a summary database does not exist, Visualizer creates one. Forecast summaries are easy to pick out because the last two characters of forecasts are _F.

Specifying a new forecast

To define a new forecast period:

1. Select Tools > Forecast Parameters. 
   The Open Forecast dialog box is displayed.
2. Select New Forecast and click OK.
3. Select from the following options to define a new forecast:
   • Period Length— 1, 2, or 4 weeks or 1, 2, or 3 months; the default is 1 week.
   • Number of Periods— 1 to unlimited periods; the default is 12.
   • Forecast Start Date— The year, month, and day when you want the forecast to begin. By default the current date is displayed.
4. Click OK.
   The Forecast Parameters dialog box is displayed.

Defining forecast parameters

The values you specify in the table are absolute (not incremental) values based on the value that you are graphing. For example, the total CPU utilization value is a percent. The workload response rate is time.

1. On the Forecast Parameters dialog box, choose from the following options. Object types vary by platform.
   • Object to Forecast —To specify forecast parameters, choose the Object Type you want.
   • Measure to Forecast —To specify forecast parameters, choose the measurement you want.
   • Forecast periods —Enter values in the table to be saved in the database. The first column represents the forecast periods you defined on the New Forecast dialog box.
2. Click Save and Populate DB. 
   The Save Forecast dialog box is displayed. This option saves the parameters you specified and creates a record in the summary database for them.
3. On the Save Forecast dialog box, specify a meaningful tag to identify the forecast record in the summary database.
4. Click Save for Use with Daily Summary Data to graph your forecast period against data that's summarized daily. This preserves the integrity of graphs when the forecast period is different from the summary period.
5. Click OK in the Save Forecast dialog box.
6. Confirm the directory where you want to save your forecast records. On the Forecast Population Confirmation dialog box, click OK.
   Visualizer displays the number of tables being populated and the percentage of the process completed. It then redisplays the Forecast Parameters dialog box.
7. Click Close.

Alternative methods for specifying new forecasts for datacenter users

MVS Datacenter users have two choices for specifying new forecasts: Use the procedure described in the preceding section.

Use the Datacenter Planner Facility to run a growth plan (panels 8.3, 8.4, 8.5). Use the numbers from the growth plan in the forecast parameters table.

Using an existing forecast

You can modify values in an existing forecast or save an existing forecast to a new name to create a new forecast. When you use an existing forecast, you do not have to enter all the values again.

1. Select Tools > Forecast Parameters.
   The Open Forecast dialog box is displayed.
2. Click Existing Forecast and the appropriate Database Tag.
3. Click OK to access the forecast and its parameter values.
4. Modify or review the forecast table as needed and click Save and Populate a Database .

Cutting, copying and pasting forecast parameter values

To use the forecast parameter values in other applications:

1. Select Tools > Forecast Parameters.
2. The Open Forecast dialog box is displayed.
3. Click Existing Forecast and the name of the forecast whose values you want to use.
4. Use the following keys, buttons, and mouse actions to select and deselect data in the forecast parameters table:
   • Select all—Click in the empty cell at the he ad of the interval column to select all the cells in the table.
   • Select columns—Click in the cell at the top of each column that contains the component name to select all the cells in the column.
   • Select rows—Click in the cell to the left of each row that contains the component name to select all cells in the row.
   • Deselect all—Click outside the selected areas.
5. Do one of the following to move the values to the Clipboard: 
   • Select Edit > Cut (to move the original to the Clipboard).
   • Select Edit > Copy (to move a duplicate of the original to the Clipboard).
6. Switch to the application you want.

7. From the appropriate menu in the active application, click Paste.

   Warning

   Note

   You can also copy values from other applications into forecast parameters tables. Choose Cut or Copy to transfer data from other applications to the Clipboard. Then select Edit > Paste.

Deleting forecasts from the database

Forecasts can become outmoded. You might get a new processor or add DASD, invalidating projections made in your forecast. Delete outmoded forecasts from the database.

1. Select Database > Select.
   The Data Source Selection: ODBC dialog box is displayed.
2. From the list of Available Data Sources, select a data source and click OK. 
   For more information about selecting data sources, turn to Selecting-data.
3. Select Database > Automator > Delete Data.
   The Delete Data Event dialog box is displayed.
4. From the Current Interval List, select the forecast you want to delete.
5. Click Delete.
   The Database Delete Information confirmation dialog box is displayed.
6. Click OK.
   The Delete Database Entry dialog box is displayed.
7. Click Close once you have deleted all the unwanted entries.
8. To return to Visualizer, select File > Exit.