Apply a custom period

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-off timeframe, such as the duration of a sales promotion. 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.

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. The previous period automatically updates accordingly (one year earlier) but you can change those dates too, if required.

5. 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. 

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6. (Optional) Save the results as a favorite to include the custom period.

Example 1 - View a range of months

Apply a custom period in the Purchases database to identify customers who have purchased products during the summer season (in the northern hemisphere).

1. Select the Customer dimension. 

2. Ensure you are in Period mode, then click Period > Custom.

3. 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.

4. Click Apply. The grid updates to display only customers who purchased products during the summer. The columns will be June, July and August, from left to right (unless you selected the Reverse option) and the date range displays in the status bar.

Example 2 - Compare data for sections of months

Apply a custom period in the Sales database to compare products sales for the first half of October compared with the first half of September.

1. Select the Product dimension. 

2. Ensure you are in Period mode, then click Period > Custom.

3. In the Custom Period window, select Day.

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

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

6. 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) 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. 

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