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this pg will replace 'Set a custom period' - note change will be needed in help spreadsheet to cater for page name change (separate to issue dev-8694 which is about where in-product help is needed in revamped period dialog etc).

If the dates you want aren't listed in the period dropdown, you can apply a custom period to your 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 in the favorite. If you need to save your own period, choose Add instead of Custom. (See xxxx) 

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titleOffset dates and custom periods

The dates in a custom period are fixed. You can set a date as Start: January 2016/ End: December 2016' , for example, but you cannot define, say, 'last month', or 'year to date'.

If you want the data to continue to update, you need to use offset dates. This option allows you to set a date (or date range) based on today's date, so that the data continues to update.

 The offset dates option when adding a user defined period to the period dropdown list, rather than just applying a custom period.

More about offset dates.

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

campaign. You can set the dates to, for example: 

sales promotion. For example, a range of months

, sections of months

  • one month at a time.

    • How to set a custom period 

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

    Image Removed

    Step 2. In the custom period window:

    Select a time unit (e.g., example, month, day, etc) . 

    , one month at a time, and so 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.

    3. (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.

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

     

    1. The

    dates

    1. previous period

    dates automatically adjust to these dates, but

    1. automatically updates accordingly (one year earlier

    .  You can keep these dates or enter a different previous period.Apply. 
    Image Removed
    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

    1. In the Custom Period window, select 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. 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

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

    1. (unless you 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

    May

    October compared with the first half of

    April

    September.

     

    1. Select

    a database and a 

    1. the Product dimension. 

    Make sure

    1. Ensure you are

    in period

    1. in Period mode, then

    select Period > Custom.
  • Choose Day and set your start and end dates. In the example below, we have set current period to start on 1 May 2016 and end on 16 May, and the previous period to start on 1 April and end on 16 April. 
    • Apply.
    Image Removed
    The grid will

    1. click Period > Custom.

    2. In the Custom Period window, select Day.

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

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

    5. Click Apply. The grid updates to display all products sold during the first half of

    May

    1. October (Current Period column) and the first half of

    April (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 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. 

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    1. September (Previous Period 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