---
schema_version: "1"
id: 66122fa37bb28a380494f31640be810eacf23c59c027465bdbbfc028a725d648
title: Add Custom Columns That Include External Data to Pipeline Forecasts
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/sales/264-0-0/forecasts3_custom_columns_your_data.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.forecasts3_custom_columns_your_data.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 88651c3d9fd0e497bcd75761ff8c6d1de5031d908c3c4eae708cd268877792a4
description: Make forecast decisions with all the data that matters to your business, even if that data isn’t maintained in Salesforce. Add external data, such as stretch quotas or internal booking target, and show it in a custom column on the forecasts page. Having all the information used to create forecasts in one place helps you create generate more precise forecasts without having to turn to other resources.
products:
  - Sales Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Add Custom Columns That Include External Data to Pipeline Forecasts

Make forecast decisions with all the data that matters to your business, even if that data isn’t maintained in Salesforce. Add external data, such as stretch quotas or internal booking target, and show it in a custom column on the forecasts page. Having all the information used to create forecasts in one place helps you create generate more precise forecasts without having to turn to other resources.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, and <strong>Unlimited</strong> Editions with Sales</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d19044e70">User Permissions Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d19044e70 ">To manage fields that store the forecast data to reference:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d19044e70 ">Manage Forecasting Custom Data</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d19044e70 ">To view the Forecasts Settings page:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d19044e70 ">
              <p>View Setup and Configuration</p>
              <p>AND</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">View All Forecasts OR Allow Forecasting OR
                delegated forecast manager</p>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d19044e70 ">To create and manage a forecast type:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d19044e70 ">Customize Application</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

Add up to 5 custom columns to a forecasts page that includes any combination of columns that show custom calculations or reference data.

Before adding the custom column to a forecast type, ensure that custom number or currency fields are available in the Forecasting Custom Data object.

1. From Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter Forecasts Settings, and then select **Forecasts Settings**.
2. Under Available Forecast Types, select **Manage Custom Columns** from the quick actions for the forecast type you want to add your own data to.
3. Click **Add Custom Column**.
4. Select **Reference Data** as the column type.
5. Select the custom field that has the data you want to show. Only custom currency and custom number fields in the Forecasting Custom Data object are available to select.
    
    Ensure that the column name helps to identify the data available in the column and that the data type matches the type of data available in the field.
6. Save the custom column and click **Done** to return to the Forecast Settings page.
7. To position the column in the correct order in the forecast summary, choose **Select Columns to Display** from the quick actions menu for the forecast type.

#### See Also

- [Managing External Data to Include in Pipeline Forecasts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sales.forecasts3_custom_columns_your_data_manage.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Add external data, such as stretch quota or internal booking target to Salesforce so forecast managers have all the information they need when reviewing their sales projections. The data you add can be added as a column in the forecast summary and can be unique to each forecast type.")