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If the dates you want aren't listed in the period dropdown, you can apply a custom period to current analysis. This is a temporary date range and isn't added to your period dropdown, but if you save the results of your query as a favorite the custom period will be included. To add your own date range to the dropdown, choose 'Add' instead of 'Custom'.

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titleFixed and dynamic dates

Custom period dates are fixed, i.e., you can set a date as 'January 2016', for example, but you can't define, say, 'last month''.

If you want a dynamic date range you can use offset dates, which are available when you add your own defined period in Phocas. This option allows you to set a date (or date range) based on today's date, so that the data updates.

Uses of a custom period

Insert excerpt
Select a defined period
Select a defined period
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If the dates you want aren't listed in the Period menu, you can either add your own defined period to the list (if you have permission) or apply a custom period to current analysis. A custom period is a temporary date range, so it is not added to the list in the Period menu. However, if you save the results of your query as a favorite, the custom period will be included.

Applying a custom period is a useful way of seeing data for

a one

a one-off timeframe

(

, such as the duration of a sales promotion

), e.g.

. For example, a range of months,

 

sections of months,

 

one month at a time, and so

on, depending on what period types are available in the database.

How to apply a custom period 

Step 1. Select Period > Custom, as shown below. 

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Step 2. In the custom period window:

Select a time unit (e.g., month, day, etc). The available period types will

on, depending on what period types are available in the database.

Custom period dates are fixed, for example, ‘January 2023' as opposed to 'last month'. They update when you move into the next period, such as a 'February 2023’.

Apply a custom period in Period mode

The Period menu works in conjunction with Period mode to display data for selected time periods in the grid.

  1. Click the Period menu and select Custom.

  2. In the Custom Period window, select the period type (time unit), such as year, month or day. The period types that are available depend on what was set up by your

administrator when the database was created

  1. administrator when the database was created.

  2. (Optional) Select the Reversed checkbox. By default, time units (years, months, weeks or days) display in the grid in chronological order from left to right. To avoid having to scroll across to the most recent time unit, you can reverse the display order.

  3. Select a start and end date for your current period.

 

  1. The previous period automatically

adjust to these dates, but

  1. updates accordingly (one year earlier

. You can keep these dates or enter a different previous period.Apply. 
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The data in the grid will update accordingly and the Period button will display 'Custom'. The period range(s) you have set will appear in the status bar. 
If you save

  1. ) but you can change those dates too, if required.

  2. Click Apply. The Custom option displays in the Period menu and the grid updates to display the data for that period. The period range you set displays in the status bar above the grid. 

    Image Added

  3. (Optional) Save the results as a favorite

,

  1. to include the custom period

will be included

  1. .

 

Example 1 - View a range of months

You may want to view

Apply a custom period in the Purchases database to identify customers who have purchased products during

a particular season. To do this:Select a database and a 

the summer season (in the northern hemisphere).

  1. Select the Customer dimension. 

Make sure

  1. Ensure you are in

period

  1. Period mode, then

select

  1. click Period > Custom.

Choose Month and set your start and end dates. E.g., if you want to see data just for summer (in the northern hemisphere), set current period to start in June and end in August. (The previous period will default to Jun-Aug

  1. In the Custom Period window, select Month and set the Current period start date to June and the end date to August. The Previous period will default to June to August in the previous year.

) 

  2. Click Apply.


Only

  1. The grid updates to display only customers who

have

  1. purchased products during the summer

will be displayed on the grid

  1. . The columns will be June, July and August, from left to right (unless you

have ticked reverse order). The Period button changes to Custom and the actual dates will appear in the status bar.

  1. selected the Reverse option) and the date range displays in the status bar.

Example 2 - Compare data for sections of months

You can

Apply a custom period in the Sales database to compare products sales for

part of a month, e.g.,

the first half of October compared with the first half of September.

The period types available

Select a database and a 

  1. Select the Product dimension. 

Make sure

  1. Ensure you are

in period

  1. in Period mode, then

select 

  1. click Period > Custom.

  • Choose Day and set your start and end dates. In the example below, we have set current period to start on 1 October 2016 and end on 16 October, and the previous period to start on 1 September and end on 16 September. 
    • Apply.
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    The grid will

    1. In the Custom Period window, select Day.

    2. Set the Current period start date to 1 October 2022 and the end date to 16 October 2022.

    3. Set the Previous period start date to 1 September 2022 and the end date to 16 September 2022.

    4. Click Apply. The grid updates to display all products sold during the first half of October (Current Period column) and the first half of September (Previous Period

    column). The Period button changes to Custom, and the actual dates will appear in the status bar.

    View one month at a time 

    To view a single month the start and end need to be the same, as shown in the example below. 

    Image Removed

    How stream mode affects period settings

    In Use Stream mode, you see different options in the settings window.

    E.g., if you are in Stream mode with 'Sales' and 'Budget' selected, the dialog will contain options that allow you to set a start and end date for each of the streams. It also allows you to choose between day, month or year. 

    Image Removed

     

    1. column) and the date range displays in the status bar.

    Example 2 - View one month at a time 

    To view a single month, the start and end need to be the same, as illustrated in the image below. 

    Image Added