---
title: "Get Started with Your Forecast with Templates"
canonical: "https://support.55degrees.se/space/SP/4456185859/Get%20Started%20with%20Your%20Forecast%20with%20Templates"
format: markdown
---
🧙♂️ To get started with your forecast, our **Forecast Templates** give you a **guided**, *simple* way to make reliable group forecasts without starting from scratch.
Just pick a template that fits your needs, fill in a few details in an easy form, and get a ready-to-go group forecast. You can always switch to advanced settings if you want more control 😉
### What You Can Do with Templates
- Make consistent group forecasts quickly using tried-and-true defaults.
- Cut down setup mistakes and help new users get started easier.
> ℹ️ For full control over all options 👉 Create your forecast with the **Advanced setup **
### Available Templates
We started with templates for common portfolio forecasting cases. These are based on our [Group Forecast Recipe Book](https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863219/Recipe+Book) (where these forecast are created from scratch using the Advanced Setup).
> ℹ️ Tip - Start with the template that fits your situation best. You can always tweak it after creating the forecast by **Editing** it or switch to Advanced mode for more detailed control.
### How to Create a Forecast Using a Template
Open Portfolio Forecaster and click ‘Create Group Forecast’. You’ll now see our the new forecast creation screen.
1. Pick a template. Each one has a description of when to use it and what info you’ll need to provide.
2. Fill in the template.
**Name:** Give your Group Forecast a unique name.
**Project or Board:** Choose the **data source** of your Parent Items.
**Forecasted Item Type:** Choose the **Parent Item Type to be forecasted**.
**Work Item Type:** Choose the **Child Item Type to be forecasted**.
3. Review your choices and generate the forecast. The app will create a group forecast based on the template and your inputs.
> ℹ️ **Defaults**: At the bottom of the page, you will see the default values included in the template
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ 
#### How to Edit a Forecast
### Templates and Examples
> Macro (refined-tabs)
>
> > Macro (refined-tab)
>
> #### 📦 Full Epic Delivery in a Space/Board
>
> 
>
> - The goal of the Full Epic Delivery is to Forecast when selected Epics will be fully done by teams in the chosen space or board.
> - Typical inputs would include a Space or Board, Epics, teams working on the board and a past throughput window.
> - The template is set to use past completed items per time period to run a Monte Carlo simulation; assumes normal work schedule with configurable days off.
> - This template offers the ability to
>
> > ✅ This template offers the ability to use work items from a **different board or space for the historical throughput**. To do this, toggle the Throughput button and then select your Source and Issue types you want to use for the historical throughput.
>
> 
>
> **Example A: Deliver all Epics in Project X**
>
> 1. Pick the Full Epic Delivery template and choose Project X’s board.
> 2. Filter for the Epics you want (or paste a saved filter). Pick all teams working on the board.
> 3. Choose a 90-day past window for throughput, then generate. Check percentile dates and capacity hotspots.
>
> > ℹ️ Check out the Recipe: [https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863402/Forecast+Full+Epic+Delivery+in+a+Jira+space+(or+board)](https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863402/Forecast+Full+Epic+Delivery+in+a+Jira+space+(or+board))
>
> > Macro (refined-tab)
>
> #### 🤝 Single Team’s Work on Shared Epics
>
> 
>
> - The goal of the Single Team Work is to estimate delivery dates for the part of Epic work done by one team when Epics are shared.
> - Typical inputs would include a team, list or filter of shared Epics, team throughput or cycle time, percent of team time on these Epics.
> - The template is set to focus on team-specific throughput; lets you set percentage contribution per Epic to avoid overestimating capacity.
>
> > ✅ This template offers the ability to break down your work more into segments using **Team or Label**. To do this, toggle the Breakdown button and then select your Breakdown Type and Value.
>
> 
>
> **Example B: One team on shared Epics**
>
> 1. Pick the Single Team’s Work on Shared Epics template and select your team.
> 2. Choose the Epics and set your team’s percent contribution (like 40%).
> 3. Use your team’s past throughput; adjust calendar if needed. Generate and share confidence ranges with stakeholders.
>
> > ℹ️ Check out the Recipe:[https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863332](https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863332)
>
> > Macro (refined-tab)
>
> #### 📈 Program-Level Work
>
> 
>
> - The goal of Program Level Work is to give a forecast across teams and Epics at the program level, combining team capacities and dependencies.
> - Typical inputs would include program scope (JQL/filter), teams involved, team calendars, past throughput per team, dependency info.
> - The template is set to add up team-level throughput; support staggered start dates and different schedules per team.
>
> **Example C: Program-level cross-team plan**
>
> 1. Pick the Program-Level Work template. Choose the program scope that covers all Epics.
> 2. Add teams involved and check their calendars. Map dependencies if you track them.
> 3. Generate the forecast. Check team contributions and overall delivery ranges; adjust scope or capacity to test ideas.
>
> > ℹ️ Check out the Recipe: [https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863247](https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863247)
---
### When to Use the Advanced Setup
Use Advanced setup if you want to:
- Change distributions (like switching between throughput and cycle-time simulations).
- Set up complex scope rules (nested filters, exclusions).
- Adjust simulation settings (iterations, burn-in, confidence bands) beyond template defaults.
- Model advanced capacity cases (interruptions, work-in-progress limits, parallel work limits).
### Best Practices
> ℹ️ **Quick tips:**
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ - Use recent and relevant past data for your historical throughput. Try to avoid unusual disruption periods.
> ℹ️ - Choose your scope carefully. For Epic forecasts, make sure your Epics represent clear outcome chunks, not big, vague containers.
> ℹ️ - Match team calendars and days off to get realistic dates.
### FAQ
Can I save my own custom template?
Not yet. Right now, we focus on curated templates for common cases. But you can duplicate a forecast you made and tweak it for future use.
Can I switch from a template-created forecast to Advanced mode later?
Yes. Advanced mode is always available from the forecast settings, so you can fine-tune or go beyond the template defaults.
What if my scenario doesn’t match a template?
Choose Advanced setup to handle any unique or complex case. Or pick the closest template to save time, then customise.
How are dates determined in the forecast?
Dates come from Monte Carlo simulations using your chosen data (like throughput or cycle time), team calendars, and scope. The results show completion ranges based on percentiles, not single dates.
### Troubleshooting
| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| I don’t see data for my team or project. | Make sure your data source includes completed items and you have permission to access them. |
| Confidence ranges seem too wide. | Try using a longer or more typical historical window, narrow your scope, or check for mismatched team calendars. |
| The forecast feels too optimistic. | Use higher percentiles when sharing (like 85th or 95th), check contribution percentages, and confirm dependency assumptions. |
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### Related Resources
- [https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863402/Forecast+Full+Epic+Delivery+in+a+Jira+space+(or+board)](https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863402/Forecast+Full+Epic+Delivery+in+a+Jira+space+(or+board))
- [https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863332/Forecast+a+Single+Team%E2%80%99s+Work+on+Shared+Epics](https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863332/Forecast+a+Single+Team%E2%80%99s+Work+on+Shared+Epics)
- [https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863247/Forecast+Program-Level+Work](https://support.55degrees.se/space/SPP/3964863247/Forecast+Program-Level+Work)