---
title: "Distribute targets top-down"
slug: "distribute-targets-top-down"
description: "Learn how to distribute targets down a hierarchy using various methods like Forced Distribution and Ratio on Field for effective target management."
updated: 2026-07-09T02:37:45Z
published: 2026-07-09T02:37:45Z
canonical: "support.fullcast.com/distribute-targets-top-down"
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.fullcast.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Distribute targets top-down

Distribute a target to push a parent node's value down to the nodes beneath it. You set a number at a higher level — a company, region, or segment — and distribute it across the children, continuing down to the reps. Distribution moves values down the hierarchy only.

You distribute from the **Recalculate & Distribute Down** modal, where you choose how far down to distribute, pick a distribution method, exclude any nodes that should not receive a target, and preview the result before applying it.

## Before you begin

- A top-down target with a value at the parent node you want to distribute from.
- If you plan to use Forced Distribution or Ratio on Field, the reference target or metric those methods draw from. See the method descriptions below.

## Choose a distribution method

Set **Distribution Method** in the **Distribute Down** section of the modal. The default is **Do not Distribute**. The four distribution methods are:

- **Ratio on Field** — splits the parent value proportionally based on a metric, such as closed-won pipeline. Selecting this method adds a **Metric** field where you choose the field to split by.
- **Equal** — splits the parent value evenly across all included children.
- **Specific Value** — you enter the exact amount for each child directly in the preview table. Fullcast validates that the child amounts reconcile to the parent value; the **TOTAL** row turns red until they do.
- **Forced Distribution** — distributes a new top-line number using the ratios from a target you already have, so each node keeps its relative share. Selecting this method adds a **Target** field where you choose the reference target. Use this when the total changes but you want to preserve the existing weighting. See [Apply forced distribution](/docs/distribute-targets-top-down#apply-forced-distribution).

## Distribute a target

1. On the Targets list, open the action menu (**⋮**) on your top-down target and select **Recalculate & Distribute Down**.

![The Recalculate and Distribute Down option in the target action menu.](https://cdn.document360.io/369efcf7-66f9-4f6b-9d45-9ca24a5b06cf/Images/Documentation/image-1781622373883.png)

1. In the **Recalculate & Distribute Down** modal, turn on the **Distribute Down** toggle. The modal also has **Effective Date** and **Recalculate** sections — leave those off for a distribution-only run. The **Select Segments** panel on the left shows which nodes the run applies to.
2. Set **Distribution Method** to the method you want — **Ratio on Field**, **Equal**, **Specific Value**, or **Forced Distribution**.
3. Set **Distribution Depth** to control how far values cascade: **Direct Children Only** distributes to the immediate child nodes, and **All Descendant Nodes** cascades down to every node in the branch.
4. Use **Exclude** to remove any nodes that should not receive a target. **Unassigned** is excluded automatically.

![Distribution method, depth, and exclude options in the Distribute Down section.](https://cdn.document360.io/369efcf7-66f9-4f6b-9d45-9ca24a5b06cf/Images/Documentation/image(604).png)

1. Review the **Distribution Percentage** preview. Each node shows its **Name**, **Percentage**, and **Amount**, with a **TOTAL** row at the bottom that updates as you change your choices.

![Distribution percentage preview showing name, percentage, amount, and total.](https://cdn.document360.io/369efcf7-66f9-4f6b-9d45-9ca24a5b06cf/Images/Documentation/image(605).png)

1. Click **Update Target** to apply, or **Cancel** to discard.

When you distribute to the leaf nodes, person-level targets are created or updated to match.

## Apply forced distribution

Use forced distribution to push a new top-line number down your hierarchy using the proportions from a target you already have. Forced distribution keeps each node's relative share from the reference target and applies those same proportions to the new number, so the weighting stays intact while the total changes.

The common situation: your bottom-up plan rolls up to one number, and leadership sets a higher one. For example, your rolled-up quota capacity is $138 million and finance asks for $156 million. Forced distribution spreads the $156 million down the hierarchy in the same proportions as your existing $138 million plan.

### How forced distribution uses two targets

Forced distribution always happens in a top-down target and draws its ratios from a separate target you already built. You do not force-distribute an existing bottom-up target — you create a new top-down target for the new number and point it at the bottom-up target for the proportions.

1. You already have a **bottom-up target** — for example, your quota capacity rolled up from every AE's number.
2. You create a **new top-down target** and set the new top-line number on it.
3. When you distribute the top-down target, you select **Forced Distribution** as the distribution method and choose the bottom-up target in the **Target** field as the reference for the ratios.

Forced distribution then calculates each node's share of the reference target and applies that same share to the new top-line. If the Americas region holds 80% of the bottom-up quota, it receives 80% of the new top-line.

### Steps

1. Make sure you have a bottom-up target to use as the reference for the ratios. At least one child must have a target value — if no children have targets, forced distribution cannot run and returns an error.
2. On the Targets list, open the action menu (**⋮**) on your new top-down target and select **Recalculate & Distribute Down**.
3. Turn on the **Distribute Down** toggle.
4. Set **Distribution Method** to **Forced Distribution**.
5. Set **Distribution Depth** to **Direct Children Only** or **All Descendant Nodes**.
6. In the **Target** field, select the reference target that supplies the ratios — for example, your bottom-up quota capacity target.
7. Use **Exclude** to remove any nodes that should not receive a target. **Unassigned** is excluded automatically.

![Forced distribution method with a reference target selected for the ratios.](https://cdn.document360.io/369efcf7-66f9-4f6b-9d45-9ca24a5b06cf/Images/Documentation/image(606).png)

1. Review the **Distribution Percentage** preview to confirm each node's share, then click **Update Target** to apply.

If you distribute all the way down to the leaf nodes, person-level targets are created or updated to match.

## Related

- [Get started with targets](/get-started-with-targets.md)
- [Create a target](/create-a-target.md)
- [Inside Targets: A Practical Look at the Fullcast Quota Framework](/inside-targets-a-practical-look-at-the-fullcast-quota-framework.md)