Not all the year periods of the cube and the budget must be the same. For example, a cube can have data for 2010, 2011, and 2012 with 12 months in each year. The budget can be for only one of these years with the same 12 months in it. Alternatively, the budget can run into the future with a greater number of periods than the cube. However, as long as the same periods are used in the budget and the cube, the budget is acceptable.