For setting up top-down distribution for planning and actual data, you have the option of specifying a period aggregation for the reference data (using the Aggregate periods indicator).

The following example will seek to demonstrate the difference between distribution with and distribution without period aggregation. It refers to the distribution of actual data but can also be applied to planning data.

The actual data for the periods 01.1999 through 03.1999 that is not posted to specific divisions is distributed to divisions corresponding to the actual data for the periods 01.1998 through 03.1998.