Planning & Budgeting Setup

For power users wanting to start using the product after these steps have been completed, please see Getting Started with Planning & Budgeting.

Planning Database

FastClose needs a SQL Server database in which to store the planning & budgeting data, even if the ERP is in the cloud or in a different type of database. This database can be created on the same SQL Server which hosts the FastClose repository database.

If there is only one ERP instance and therefore only one ERP connection in FastClose, th repository database can be used as the planning database. However, if there are multiple ERP instances, such as development and production, or for different regions or companies, then each one will need its own planning database.

Create or select a SQL Server database for planning now.

Give the SQL Server login that FastClose uses the db_owner role for the planning database:

If the FastClose server uses Trusted Authentication to connect to SQL Server, please grant the relevant domain user or group the db_owner role.

Licence Key

FastClose licence key needs the 'PLN' module for planning & budgeting to be available. In the Licencing page of the Admin web app, look for the code 'PLN':

If it does not have this, please contact FastClose Support for an updated licence key.

Catalog Override

If planning is being added to pre-existing FastClose installation and the installation has been customised using a 'catalog override' file, it is possible that the override is incompatible with planning and will need adjustment.

Check for an override in the Catalogs page of the Admin web app:

If the yellow box circled above has text in it then there is an override catalog. Please contact FastClose Support to have us verify and update the override file as necessary.

Data Source and ERP Connection

Click on Create New Data Source and choose 'New Planning Data Source'.

Choose a name for the new data source, which can be simply "Planning" if only creating one. The name needs to be unique amongst the data sources and will only appear in the Admin web app. Fill in the other database connection details: server name, database name, username and password, and click Save.

Now navigate to the ERP Connections page, within Connections. Assuming there is already at least one ERP connection defined, edit that connection and associate the new planning data source with it:

GL Budgeting Templates & Solutions

FastClose has some predefined starter templates and solutions to help users get going with planning & budgeting. Please ask FastClose Support for these if you haven't already been sent them.

Launch the FastClose Designer desktop client app and log in as an administrator. Close the Home dialog, then click Import Templates in the Advanced tab of the ribbon. Select the budgeting templates file provided and click Open.

After that, click Import Solutions in the Advanced tab of the ribbon, select the budgeting solutions file provided and click Open.

There should now be a selection of GL budgeting templates and solutions available in the Home dialog, for example:

That's the end of the administrative setup, to carry out a test submission, follow the guidance in Getting Started with Planning & Budgeting.