The Chart function was designed to facilitate the analysis
of an association by selective use of the 59 plus 6 ratios in the financial
profile, over the five years of historical plus the thirty years of forecast
data.
It is certainly easier and arguably more sensible to examine the future projections,
and thereby the underlying assumptions, in "broad-brush"
terms via graphical representation than by studying 35 columns of numbers.
Any particular ratio can be examined and printed off as a time-series chart.
The best way of carrying out good, focused analysis using the Chart facility
is to skim all the ratios then select maybe a dozen which capture the key features
of the financial profile over time for that particular association and that
particular scenario. It is probably better to study these detailed charts after
the Combined Charts, which are based on
some of the most important ratios.
These 35-year charts are also an excellent way of revealing, examining and
evaluating the effects of the underlying assumptions. It is easy to get significant
but unintended and maybe implausible "drift"
over 30 years in the "output variables" through the combination of
seemingly plausible input assumptions. The time-series charts are a good way
of picking up such forecasting 'errors'.