Hi, With respect to a forecast model with inputs - unless you have a situation where the inputs lead the dependent (eg. unemployment goes up but prices doesn't change until 6 months later) you will need to forecast inputs as well. With respect to the specific ARIMA questions I'd suggest having a look at the documentation: http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/etsug/63939/HTML/default/etsug_arima_sect001.htm and some of the examples - for instance this: http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/etsug/63939/HTML/default/etsug_arima_sect057.htm Regards, Snurre ... View more

As a SAS consultant I've worked with external forecasts in SAS Forecast Server on a number of projects. The main reason has been the company's request to include forecasts generated the way they used to be generated into the forecast flow provided by SAS Forecast Server. For instance, if the company historically has calculated forecasts as simple averages of indexed time periods (the forecast for January is the average of actual values from previous years January) including these as external forecasts in SAS allows you to compare them to forecasts generated by exponential smoothing models, ARIMA models and UCM models. Please let me know if you have further comments or questions. Cheers, Snurre ... View more

Hi, I'm assuming you are using Forecast Server version 3.1. By default Forecast Studio will identify ARIMA models and exponential smoothing models (ESM). The types of default models can be expanded to include unobserved component models (UCM) as well. If you want to consider curve fitting models in your project I would recommend that you build your own model repository containing the curve fitting models you would like to consider. The model reposistory can then be referenced inside Forecast Studio. To build a curve fitting model definition go through these steps: A. Go into the "Modelling View" and select "Add model" in the list of icons B. Select "Curve Fitting" as the type of model you would like to define C. Specify the characteristics of your curve fitting model and click ok. When you're done building the curve fitting model definitions you would like to consider you need to build the model repository containing the model definitions and a model selection list that points to the individual model definitions. The following assumes some familiarity with SAS code and the SAS Management Console. If you do not have that try contacting your SAS administrator. Follow these steps: 1. Open a separate SAS session where you can submit SAS code from the editor. 2. Create a library reference to a place where you want to store your models and repository permanently 3. In Forecast Studio, in the "Modelling View", first delete all models except your curve fitting models. 4. Then select the "Model Selection list code" icon 5. Copy this code and paste it into the editor you opened in step (1). 6. Change the library references in the code from "work.temp" to the library you defined in step (2). 7. Submit the code. 8. If it runs succesfully close SAS and Forecast Studio. 9. To get access to your new modelreposity in Forecast Studio open the SAS Management Console, import the library and set the appropriate user permissions. 10. At this stage it might be necessary to restart the SAS Analytics Platform. 11. To consider your new curve fitting models in a project create a new project. 12. Under "Forecasting Settings" select Model Generation. 13. Check "Models from an external list" and click Browse. 14. If steps 1-13 have been done succesfully you should now be able to locate your library containing model definitions and the model selection list. 15. You can optionally switch off the ARIMA and ESM specifications. 16. Finalize your project settings and run the project. Steps 1-16 might look like it requires some effort but it is actually rather quick to setup. I hope this helps. Thanks, Snurre ... View more