Welcome to CB Predictor Version 1.3.2, a new addition to the Crystal Ball suite of products that takes statistically complex methods of time-series forecasting and makes them easily available from a wizard-driven application within Excel.

Forecasting is an important part of many business decisions. Every organization needs to set goals, try to predict future events, and then take actions that will hopefully fulfill the goals. As the timeliness of market actions becomes more important, the need for accurate planning and forecasting throughout an organization is essential to get ahead. The difference between good and bad forecasting can affect the success of an entire organization.

If you have historical data in your spreadsheet, CB Predictor will analyze your data for trends and seasonal variations. It will then predict future values based on this information. You will be able to answer questions such as, "What are the likely figures for next quarter's sales?" or, "How much material do we need to have on hand?" With CB Predictor, you will no longer have to pull these numbers out of thin air. Instead, you can rely on robust, statistically proven techniques to accurately create these predictions.

To get started, all you need is a spreadsheet full of historical data. The next step is to read the rest of this file and then proceed to the tutorials in Chapter 1 of the CB Predictor User Manual.

CHANGES AFFECTING THE USER MANUAL

None.

INSTALLATION ISSUES

Installing CB Predictor On A Different Drive Than An Earlier Version

If you previously installed CB Predictor on your computer, and are now installing CB Predictor on a different drive, you will see several errors caused by the program and the toolbar pointing to the old location.

To avoid this problem, before you install the new version of CB Predictor:

In Excel, uncheck CB Predictor in the Tools > Add-Ins dialog.
Remove the CB Predictor toolbar from Excel by deleting CB Predictor from the View > Toolbars > Customize > Toolbars dialog.
Exit Excel.
Uninstall the previous version of CB Predictor using the Windows Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs utility.
Install the new version of CB Predictor.

Uninstalling CB Predictor

To uninstall CB Predictor:

If you have Excel set up to start CB Predictor automatically, in Excel, select Tools > Add-ins and uncheck the box next to CB Predictor.
Then, in Windows, launch the Add/Remove Programs utility (Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs)
Follow the uninstallation directions.

DEMONSTRATION SOFTWARE

The CD Browser on your CD-ROM includes the following demonstrations:

Crystal Ball Standard Quick Demo
Crystal Ball Professional Quick Demo
CB Predictor Quick Demo
Engineering Quick Demo
Finance Quick Demo
Financial Planning Quick Demo
Insurance Quick Demo
Pharmaceutical Quick Demo
Telecommunications Quick Demo

These "Quick Demos" demonstrate the business value of Crystal Ball (Standard and Professional Editions) and CB Predictor. The demos are created in a self-guided, slideshow format, and are relatively short and easy to follow.

EVALUATION SOFTWARE

You can install evaluation versions of any of our software products using the CD Browser on your CD-ROM.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS

If you have questions or problems concerning this product, feel free to contact us:

In the United States:

Oracle Crystal Ball Global Business Unit
7700 Technology Way
Denver, Colorado 80237
USA

Main number: +1.303.334.4000 (Switchboard only – no technical support)
US Sales: +1.719.757.2173
Support: +1.303.334.7599 or +1.800.373.5885
Fax: +1.303.334.7598
CBSalesNA_ww@oracle.com
cbsupport_ww@oracle.com

Web-site: www.crystalball.com

For a current list of international dealers and distributors:
http://distributors.crystalball.com

All other countries, please contact Decisioneering, Inc. in the United States.

THANK YOU

We hope that you enjoy working with CB Predictor and wish to thank you for using Decisioneering's products! Please be sure to visit our website for up-to-date news and information.

Support Center > Knowledgebase > Time-series Forecasting (CB Predictor) > CB Predictor ReadMe File