The Offset date option allows you to set a date (or date range) based on today's date, so that the data continues to update. Instead of a fixed date such as 'Start: January 2016' or 'End: March 2016' you can define a dynamic range such as 'year to date' or 'Last month'.
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When offset dates are available
Offset dates are available when adding a period to the defined period list and when setting period option for custom . You depending what you are doing, Offset dates are also available to administrators when setting a defined period across a database.How to apply offset dates
For all period types other than 'day', enter will be displayed field, e.g. '' shown choose to Save & Apply.See below for information about setting day-based date ranges.
Offset options for day-based date ranges
When you are defining a date range using 'Day', you can choose from Actual, Offset and Special options.
Actual - choose the required date.
Offset - enter or select a number of days.
Tip. A quick way of getting the correct offset value is to set an actual value and then switch to offset. It will set the offset value to match the previously selected date.Special - choose one of four 'matches' ('First Day', 'Last Day', 'Match Today' or 'Match Yesterday') and offset that match against a chosen month.
About each match
First Day: First day of the offset month.
Last Day: Last day of the offset month.
Match Today: Tries to match today's date in the offset month.
If today is the 13th, you will get the 13th of the offset month.
If today is the 29th, 30th or 31st and a direct match is unavailable, you will get the closest match.
Match Yesterday: Tries to match yesterday's date in the offset month.
If yesterday is the 12th, you will get the 12th of the offset month.
If today is the 1st, you will get the last day of the month prior to the offset month.
If yesterday is the 29th or 30th and a direct match is unavailable, you will get the closest match.
When do I choose a special date over an offset date?
- The offset option is essentially a day offset (either forwards or backwards from 'today'. You could choose this option to set a rolling 7 day period, for example.
- The special option allows you to choose a day that is based on a month offset (choosing a certain type of day in a particular month). For example, you would choose this option for analysing month-to-date.
- See the video below.
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Examples of date settings
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Common settings
Note: These settings are set-and-forget
Common offset settings for months and years
The settings in the following table are ‘set-and-forget’. They are designed to work into the future, without needing to adjust them every month or every year.
Example | Time unit | Current | Previous | ||
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Start | End | Start | End | ||
Calendar Year to Date | Month | Not Offset. Choose January and 'most recent' | Offset: 0 | Not Offset. Choose January and 'second most recent' | Offset: -12 |
Financial Year to Date | Month | Not Offset. Choose start month of financial year, e.g. July and 'most recent' | Offset: 0 | Not Offset. Choose start month of financial year, e.g. July and 'second most recent' | Offset: -12 |
Month to Date | Day | Special. Choose first day of month 0. | Offset: 0 | Special. Choose first day of month -1 (or -12) | Special. Choose match today of month -1 (or -12) |
Example
Time unit
Start
End
Last month | Month | Offset: -1 | Offset: -1 | ||
This month | Month | Offset: 0 | Offset: 0 | ||
Rolling 12 months | Month | Offset: -11 | Offset: 0 | ||
Today | Day | Offset: 0 | Offset: 0 | ||
Yesterday | Day | Offset: -1 | Offset: -1 | ||
Last 7 days | Day | Offset: -6 | Offset: 0 | ||
Last three years | Year | Offset: -2 | Offset: 0 |
Offset options for day-based date ranges
When you are defining a date range using the Day period type, three options are available; Actual, Offset and Special.
Click the date box to display the options window, then select the tab of the option you want to use.
Actual
On the Actual tab, select a specific date.
Offset
This option is essentially a day offset, either forwards or backwards from today. You could select this option to set a rolling 7-day period, for example.
On the Offset tab, enter or select a specific number of days.
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A quicker way of getting the correct offset value here is to select the date on the Actual tab first, then select the Offset tab. The offset value will match the selected date. |
Special
'Special' date examples
Option
Offset
What is displayed
The Special option allows you to select a day that is based on a month offset (selecting a certain type of day in a particular month). This option is useful, for example, when analyzing the month-to-date performance.
On the Special tab, select one of four 'match' options (see table below) and offset that match against a chosen month:
Option | Example | |
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Offset | Offset date displayed | |
First Day -First day of the offset month. | -3 | First day of 3 months ago. |
Last Day - Last day of the offset month. | 1 | Last day of next month. |
Match Today - Tries to match today's date in the offset month. For example, if today is the 13th, you will get the 13th of the offset month. But if today is the 29th, 30th or 31st and a direct match is unavailable, you will get the closest match. | 0 | |
Match Today
0
Today
Match Yesterday
0
Yesterday