Every mod file has a file type, and only Primary files count as the source of truth: they feed ModWatch, benchmarking and the Executive Summary report. Mod Advisor sets the file type automatically, and you can change it.
Primary: created when you import a bureau worksheet. The only file type that feeds ModWatch, benchmarking and the Executive Summary.
Future: created when you create a future mod.
Historical: created when you create a historical mod.
Scenario: created when you duplicate a mod.
Imported: created when you bring in data from a third-party source.
Primary files
Any Primary file is added to the ModWatch dashboard automatically.
Benchmarking reports, the Benchmarking dashboard and the Executive Summary report only work on Primary files.
Each rating effective date and calculation type can have only one Primary file. Two NCCI Primary files with a 1/1/26 rating effective date, for example, produce an error.
Scenario, future and historical files
These are working copies, so Mod Advisor doesn't treat them as the source of truth or use them in benchmarking. A future mod often becomes next year's official mod; when the bureau releases it, import the new worksheet as the Primary file, or change the future mod's file type to Primary.
How to change a file type
From the dashboard, open the Actions menu on the mod file.
Select Edit Mod Data.
Choose the new file type: Primary, Scenario, Future, Historical or Imported.
Save.
Keeping file types correct matters: a Scenario file wrongly marked Primary will skew your benchmarking and ModWatch trend.