Functions for period intelligence

These functions perform specific operations on financial periods, and return the result. You can use these to select, process, and calculate financial periods in imports, reports, or models.

All PERIOD functions are unique to XLReporting, creating functionality that does not exist in Excel.

✭ Tips:

These functions require that you use a YYYY-MM convention for the naming of periods (e.g. 2019-02). You can use PERIODNAME to give them a friendly name in reports, but internally (in data sets) the periods must follow the YYYY-MM convention.
These functions fully support fiscal years that deviate from calendar years. You can set an optional parameter in SELECTPERIOD that indicates the fiscal start month (1-12) within the calendar year. All other PERIOD functions will respond accordingly.
Valid periods can be between 00 and 15. This enables you to use a special period for opening balances and year-end closing, as well as support fiscal years with bespoke number of periods (such as 4-4-5 periods).

ADDPERIOD ❖ XLReporting

Adds the given number of periods to a given period. If the number is negative, it will be substracted from the given period.

ADDPERIOD(data, number)

Example:
data = "2019-01"
ADDPERIOD(data, 2) = "2019-03"

GETPERIOD ❖ XLReporting

Returns the period selected by the user in response to a SELECTPERIOD function, or a period derived from that user selection.

GETPERIOD(type)

Type:
"PER" = this period (default)
"PREV" = previous period
"NEXT" = next period

"LY.PER" = this period last year
"LY.PREV" = previous period last year
"LY.NEXT" = next period last year

Example:
GETPERIOD() returns the period selected by the user.

PERIOD ❖ XLReporting

Converts the given date to a period name (YYYY-MM) using calendar months.

In most cases, XLReporting automatically recognizes the used date format and converts text strings to dates. In some cases, if the date format is not correctly interpreted, you can set the type parameter to specify the date format.

PERIOD(data, type)

Type:
"DMY" = day-month-year
"MDY" = month-day-year
"YMD" = year-month-day
"MMY" = month as a word (e.g. Feb 2019)

Example:
data = "3-1-2019"
PERIOD(data, "DMY") = 2019-01

PERIOD445 ❖ XLReporting

Converts the given date to a period name (YYYY-MM) using a week-based accounting calendar.

XLReporting will calculate the period number by comparing the given date to the given start date of a financial year, applying the given type of week calendar. The function allows the start of financial years that fall a couple of days before or after January 1st.

Alternatively, if you pass a period name, the function will convert this to the start date and end date (YYYY-MM-DD) of that given period, separated by a comma.

PERIOD(data, start, type)

Type:
"445" = 4-4-5 periods (default)
"454" = 4-5-4 periods
"544" - 5-4-4 periods

Examples:
data = "2019-01-29"
PERIOD445(data, "2019-01-01") = 2019-02
PERIOD445(data, "2018-12-31", "454") = 2019-02
PERIOD445("2019-01", "2019-01-01") = 2019-01-01,2019-01-28
PERIOD445("2019-01", "2018-12-31") = 2018-12-31,2019-01-27

PERIODNAME ❖ XLReporting

Returns a friendly name for the given period.

If you set a fiscal year via the SELECTPERIOD function, both years will be combined in the period name.

You can also set the starting period of a fiscal year as the type parameter to combine both years in the period name.

PERIODNAME(data, type)

Type:
"Y" = fiscal year (default)
"Q" = fiscal quarter (YYYY QQ)
"P" = fiscal period (YYYY PP)
"W" = week number (YYYY WW)
"M" = month name (MMM YYYY)
"C" = calendar month (without year)
"N" = period number (without year)
2-15 = fiscal year start

Examples:
data = "2019-08"
PERIODNAME(data, "Y") = "2019"
PERIODNAME(data, "Q") = "2019 Q3"
PERIODNAME(data, "M") = "Aug 2019"
PERIODNAME(data, 6) = "2019/20"

PERIODRANGE ❖ XLReporting

Returns an array of period names starting at the given period for the given number of periods. The returned data has the same structure as a cell range or data array, which enables you to pass this data directly into a dropdown editor or other functions that expect a cell range or data array. You can optionally pass an interval (default is 1).

If you provide the optional period parameter, the function will check if that period falls within the range of periods, and return either that period (true) or nothing (false).

You can use the returned value by itself or as a condition inside an IF formula.

PERIODRANGE(data, number, interval, period)

Examples:
PERIODRANGE("2019-01", 3) = "2019-01", "2019-02", "2019-03"
PERIODRANGE("2019-01", 3, 12) = "2019-01", "2020-01", "2021-01"
PERIODRANGE("2019-01", 3, 12, "2020-01") = "2020-01"

PERIODS ❖ XLReporting

Calculates the number of periods between the 2 given periods. You can either pass dates, periods (YYYY-MM), or years (YYYY) as parameters.

PERIODS(data, period)

Example:
data = "2019-01"
PERIODS(data, "2019-03") = 2

PERIODSUM ❖ XLReporting

Returns the total sum of amounts based on the given period type and the selected period.

This function requires that you also use a SELECTPERIOD function in a filter to allow the user to select a period. Both functions work together in filtering and calculating the appropriate period amounts based on the selected period.

If you use this function in a Report, the data parameter references the field for which you want the sum for the given period. If you use this function in a Model, the data parameter needs to reference a cell range or data array of multiple rows and 2 columns, of which the 1st column needs to contain the period, and the 2nd column needs to contain the amounts of which you want the sum for the given period.

If you set a fiscal year via the SELECTPERIOD function, the period sums will be adjusted accordingly.

Optionally, you can also provide a logical condition, in which case amounts are only counted if the condition is met.

PERIODSUM(data, type, condition)

Type:
"PER" = this period (default)
"PREV" = previous period
"NEXT" = next period
"YTD" = year-to-date
"FY" = full year

"OPEN" = opening balance this year (= closing balance of preceeding year)
"MOV" = movement this period
"MOVP" = movement previous period
"TOGO" = year-to-go

"LY.PER" = this period last year
"LY.PREV" = previous period last year
"LY.NEXT" = next period last year
"LY.YTD" = last year to date
"LY.FY" = full last year

"LY.OPEN" = opening balance last year (= closing balance of preceeding year)
"LY.MOV" = movement this period last year
"LY.MOVP" = movement previous period last year
"LY.TOGO" = last year-to-go

"PTD" = period-to-date (you must select a full date in SELECTPERIOD)
"LY.PTD" = period-to-date last year (you must select a full date in SELECTPERIOD)

"FR.TO" = from to period (you must call the function as PERIODSUM(data, type, condition, from, to) and specify the from and to period either as YYYY-MM or as a number from 1 to 12 in which case XLReporting will apply the selected year)

"ROLL" = rolling number of periods, relative to (and including) the selected period (you must call the function as PERIODSUM(data, type, condition, periods) and specify the number of periods as positive for future periods, or negative for past periods, or )

Examples:
(assuming the selected period is 2019-03)

PERIODSUM(data, "PER") returns the sum for 2019-03
PERIODSUM(data, "YTD") returns the sum for 2019-01 to 2019-03

PERIODSUM(A2:B100, "PER") returns the sum for 2019-03

PERIODSUM(data, "YTD", Unit="100") returns the sum for 2019-01 to 2019-03 only for Unit "100"

PERIODSUM(data, "FR.TO", "", "2019-02", "2019-03") returns the sum for 2019-02 to 2019-03
PERIODSUM(data, "FR.TO", "", 2, 3) returns the sum for 2019-02 to 2019-03 assuming the selected period falls in 2019

PERIODSUM(data, "ROLL", "", 3) returns the sum for 2019-03 to 2019-05

PERIODSWITHIN ❖ XLReporting

Calculates the number of periods that the from and to periods fall within the given period range. You can either pass dates, periods (YYYY-MM), or years (YYYY) as parameters. If you omit either the from or to parameter, it will be assumed to fall within the given period range.

PERIODSWITHIN(data, period, from, to)

Example:
data = "2019-01"
PERIODSWITHIN(data, "2019-03", "2019-02", "2019-04") = 2

SELECTPERIOD ❖ XLReporting

Prompts the user to select a period from a list of periods.

This function is required, and selection is mandatory, if you want to use the PERIODSUM functions. Both functions work together to identify, filter, and process the appropriate calculations based on the selected period.

Optionally, if you use fiscal years that deviate from calendar years, you can pass the start month (1-12) as an optional parameter. This will automatically adjust the period names and period sums that will be returned by the PERIODNAME and PERIODSUM functions.

SELECTPERIOD(start)

Examples:
SELECTPERIOD() prompts the period selected by the user.
SELECTPERIOD(3) returns the period selected by the user, with fiscal years running from March up to February.

SETPERIOD ❖ XLReporting

Sets the given period number within the year of the given period.

Optionally, if you use fiscal years that deviate from calendar years, you can pass the start month (1-12) as an optional parameter. This will automatically adjust the period that will be returned.

SETPERIOD(data, period, start)

Examples:
data = "2019-04"
SETPERIOD(data, 12) = "2019-12"
SETPERIOD(data, 12, 7) = "2019-06"

THISPERIOD ❖ XLReporting

Returns the period based on today's date, plus or minus the given number of periods (optional).

THISPERIOD(number)

Examples:
today = 10-dec-2019
THISPERIOD() = 2019-12
THISPERIOD(-6) = 2019-06

THISYEAR ❖ XLReporting

Returns the year based on today's date, plus or minus the given number of years (optional).

THISYEAR(number)

Examples:
today = 10-dec-2019
THISYEAR() = 2019
THISYEAR(-1) = 2018

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