This is what happens in the video
When you export forecast data to Excel in Business Central, you control exactly which columns come along. The export uses a default setup that decides what to include, and the column names tell you what each one means. If you add more columns, you get a wider sheet with more reference data to work from. The only column that matters when you import the data back is the one called New Forecast. The extra columns are there to help you make a more accurate forecast, not to change anything technically.
Choosing which columns to include in the Excel export
When you export to Excel, you decide which fields and columns are included. There is a default setup that determines what to include and what to leave out, and the column names show what each field means.
If you include all the available columns, such as New Forecast, Revenue, Forecast Two Years Ago and so on, you simply get a longer or wider sheet. In a typical scenario you might still use three periods but select all columns. The more columns you select, the more complex the export looks, but it also gives you more useful information to work with.
How the columns map to forecast periods
When you open the exported Excel sheet, the bolded columns each reflect one period. Among the columns you will find things like Forecast Two Years Ago, Revenue Two Years Ago and Quantity Sold Last Year. These historical figures are there to help you be more accurate when you create the new forecast, since you can see past performance right next to the field you are filling in.
What happens when you import the sheet back
When you import the Excel sheet again, Business Central automatically reads the column called New Forecast. That is the only column it applies on import. All the other columns are purely for reference.
From a technical perspective, the number of columns you include makes no difference to the result. It is only a matter of overview and performance. Add the columns that help you work, and keep the sheet leaner if you want it to be faster and simpler to handle.
Q&A
Which Excel columns affect the import back into Business Central?
Only the column called New Forecast is applied when you import the sheet. All other columns are reference data and do not change anything on import.
Why would I include extra columns in the forecast export?
The extra columns, such as Revenue Two Years Ago or Quantity Sold Last Year, give you historical context so you can make a more accurate forecast. They do not affect the import.
Does adding more columns change anything technically?
No. Adding more columns only affects your overview and the performance of the sheet. The result of the import is the same regardless of how many columns you include.
How do the columns relate to the forecast periods?
Each bolded column in the exported sheet reflects one period, so you can see figures like forecast and revenue for previous periods alongside the new forecast you are entering.