How to amend an approved budget forecast in the Budget module?

This article covers how to amend a budget forecast that has already been submitted and approved within the Budget module in iplicit. Because approved forecasts cannot be edited directly, the process involves copying the forecast, amending the copy, and deleting the original. 

Why you cannot edit an approved forecast directly

Once a budget forecast in the Budget module has been approved, iplicit locks it to protect the integrity of the authorised figures. This means you cannot open the forecast and change values directly. Instead, you copy the forecast to create an editable version, amend it, and then remove the original approved forecast.

Think of it like making a photocopy of an important document - you keep the copy to write on, and file away (or remove) the original once you're done.

Step 1 - Copy the approved budget forecast

Copying the forecast creates a new, editable version in the Budget module. It carries across all the original lines, periods and values so you don't have to start from scratch.

1. Navigate to Budget > Budget Forecasts
2. Open the approved forecast you need to amend - you will see 'Approved' displayed in the header
3. Select 'Copy' from the toolbar at the top of the forecast under the three dots
4. In the 'Copy forecast' dialog, enter a new name in the 'Description' field - this helps you identify the amended version
5. If you want to carry across any notes from the original forecast, ensure the 'Copy notes' checkbox is ticked
6. Select 'Apply'

iplicit creates a new forecast with the status 'Open'. This is your working copy.

Step 2 - Amend the copied forecast in the Budget module

The copied forecast opens automatically with 'Open' status, meaning it is fully editable.

1. Make the amendments you need directly within the forecast lines
2. Once your changes are complete, select 'Submit' to send the forecast through the approval workflow

The amended forecast will follow the same approval process as the original.

Step 3 - Delete the original approved forecast

Once the amended copy has been submitted, delete the original approved forecast to avoid two versions existing at the same time. Keeping both creates confusion and may affect reporting within the Budget module.

For full instructions on how to delete a budget forecast, see How to delete a budget forecast in iplicit.