See also :  Year on year comparisons with summary calculations



Understanding Calendar Variables

It is a common requirement to build dashboards that display year on year comparisons. Normally we will compare the current year to the previous year. However, when we have periods of unusual trading, perhaps because of a global pandemic or a structural change in the organisation, we may wish to allow the user to easily change the years that are being compared. Calendar variables allow us to display selection lists on dashboards that allow users to easily specify which calendar periods are used in filters.

Creating Calendar Variables

To create a calendar variable, follow these steps:

 

  1. Open the settings screen from the user menu (you will need to be an administrator in your tenant to have access to this screen).
     
  2. Select Subjects in the left-hand tab, then find the subject you want to add the calendar variable to and press the edit button.
  3. Select the Calendar Variables tab, then press the add button to add a calendar variable.
  4. Enter the name of the calendar variable
  5. Select which financial periods you wish the user to be able to check
  6. Select the default value for the calendar variable
  7. Press OK

 

Adding Calendar Variables to a Dashboard

To add a calendar variable to a dashboard, follow these steps.

  1. Add or edit a control panel to on a dashboard.
  2. Click the Calendar Variable button to add a calendar variable to the control panel.
  3. Select the subject that contains the Calendar Variable you want to add.
  4. Select the calendar that will be used to define the periods represented in the Calendar Variable
  5. Select the Calendar Variable you wish to add to the dashboard.
  6. Press OK

 

Using Calendar Variables in a filter

Once a calendar variable has been added to a subject, it can be used in any filter that uses a date column in that subject. The calendar variable can then be used to change the applied filter according to the financial period selected in the calendar variable drop down.

 

To apply a calendar variable to a filter, do the following.

 

  1. Edit the filter on a dashboard object.
  2. Edit or add a filter condition on a date column.
  3. Select Calendar Variable as the type of value
  4. Select as of calendar variable [Calendar Variable Name]

Using Calendar Variables in a Summary Calculation

To apply a calendar variable to a summary calculation, do the following.

  1. Edit the filter on a summary column.
  2. Edit or add a filter condition on a date column.
  3. Select Calendar Variable as the type of value
  4. Select as of calendar variable [Calendar Variable Name]