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 2014' or 'End: March 2014' 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 as part of defining a measure (for custom mode or advanced search). You will be presented with a slightly different window depending what you are doing, but the concept is the same.
What would I use an offset date for?
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How to apply offset dates
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.
Special - choose one of four 'matches' ('First Day', 'Last Day', 'Match Today' or 'Match Yesterday') and offset that match against a chosen month. 
QU: not sure if these points below are necessary, or suitable for customer doc? (I think these can stay TL)
- 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?
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Commonly used date settings.What would I use an offset date for?
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How to apply offset dates
For all period types other than 'day', enter the offset date as a number. The timeframe will be displayed in words next to the offset field, e.g., if you select 'Month' as your time unit, an offset of 0 means the current month, an offset of -2 would be two months ago (as shown in the image below), and so on. You can choose to set both the start and end dates as offsets, or just one. 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.
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 matchFirst 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?
xxxxx
Examples of date settings
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Common default settingsNote: These settings are designed to work into the future, without needing to adjust them every month or every year.
Offset date settings
'Special' date settings
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Common default settings
Note: These settings are designed to work into the future, without needing to adjust them every month or every year.
Example | Time unit |
|---|
| Current |
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| Previous | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | Special. Choose match today of month -1 |
Examples of offset
Offset date settings
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 |
'Special' date settings
Option |
|---|
Offset | What is displayed | |
|---|---|---|
First Day | -3 | First day of 3 months ago |
Last Day | 1 | Last day of next month |
Match Today | 4, -1, -3 | Today 4 months ahead, Today last month, Today 3 months ago |
Match Yesterday | 5, 1, -2 | Yesterday 5 months ahead, Yesterday next month, Yesterday 2 months ago |
Match Today | 0 | Today |
Match Yesterday | 0 | Yesterday |