System functions

These functions are a collection of general-purpose tools. They can be used to obtain information in XLReporting, to add objects to reports and models, and to set specific rules for reports and models.

COLNUM ❖ XLReporting

Returns the column number (or column name) in the sheet (only available in models).

COLNUM(type)

Type:
0 = column number (default)
1 = column name

Example:
COLNUM() = 5
COLNUM(1) = "E"

CUMULATE ❖ XLReporting

Returns the cumulative value (running total) of the field (in a report, query, or import).

If you use this function for multiple fields in the same report, query, or import, you can provide the optional name parameter to either keep them apart, or purposely add multiple fields into the same total.

You can optionally set the reset parameter to 1 when you want to start a new running total within the same report, query, or import.

CUMULATE(data, name, reset)

Example:
CUMULATE(data) = 300 if the field on all rows up to the current row adds up to 300.

GUID ❖ XLReporting

Returns a system-generated globally unique identifier (also known as universally unique identifiers). GUIDs are used in computer systems all over the globe. XLReporting generates the latest standard (v4) GUIDs which consist of 36 characters. You can use this function whenever you need to generate a unique ID.

Please note that by its very nature this function will return a different value every time a model or report is re-opened or recalculated.

GUID()

Example:
GUID() = "a1aee3e0-8b55-4827-5322-0795c48f5376"

HASH ❖ XLReporting

Returns a hash output ("fingerprint") computed from the given variable-length text. This process is irreversible, meaning the original text cannot be derived from the hash output. The operation is case-sensitive. Hashes can be used to encrypt a text, or to create a short representation of a text.

Please note that this function will always return the same hash output for a given text, but given the nature of this operation there is a small risk of "collision" where 2 different texts may result in the same hash output.

HASH(data)

Example:
HASH("this text is an example") = "182jm0s"
HASH("this text is another example") = "1ulfc88"

HELP ❖ XLReporting

Renders a clickable button that opens the given help page in the help center, in a separate window.

You need to specify the page name on the help center (the lst section in the URL), not a full web page address. The optional text parameter defines the button label. If this is omitted, the button will show a default Help label.

HELP(data, text)

Examples:
HELP("dashboard")

✭ Tip:

You can also use this function in the description field of Define objects, combining it with text. For example: To learn more about this report, click HELP("dashboard")

HIDECOLUMN ❖ XLReporting

Controls the visibility of columns in the given range in Run model and using the optional type parameter, you can show a button to enable the user to hide or show those columns. You can also provide an optional text label in the button.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models. The visibility is set when the model is being generated.

HIDECOLUMN(range, range, .., type, text)

Type:
0 = show initially, allow user to hide/show (default)
1 = hide initially, allow user to show/hide
2 = always hide, no user choice
3 = always show, no user choice

Examples:
HIDECOLUMN(C3:D3)
HIDECOLUMN(C3:D3, T3:U3)
HIDECOLUMN(C3:D3, 1, "Show")
HIDECOLUMN(C3:D3) + "Click me"
HIDECOLUMN(C3:D3, IF(SELECTEDPERIOD()>"2019-03", 2, 3))

HIDEROW ❖ XLReporting

Controls the visibility of the rows in the given range in Run model and using the optional type parameter you can show a button to enable the user to hide or show those rows. You can also provide an optional text label in the button.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models. The visibility is set when the model is being generated.

HIDEROW(range, range, .., type, text)

Type:
0 = show initially, allow user to hide/show (default)
1 = hide initially, allow user to show/hide
2 = always hide, no user choice
3 = always show, no user choice

Examples:
HIDEROW(A3:A5)br/>HIDEROW(A3:A5, A20:A22)
HIDEROW(A3:A5, 1, "Show")
HIDEROW(A3:A5) + "Click me"
HIDEROW(A3:A5, IF(SELECTEDPERIOD()>"2019-03", 2, 3))

HIDESAVE ❖ XLReporting

Hides or shows the Save button in models. This is only applicable in Run models for models that contain import queries and editors, which by default will show the Save button. Using this function you can (temporarily) stop the user from saving the model, based on some logic in your model, and show the button again when the logic changes. Or you can use this function to open a model as readonly, based on certain criteria.

By default, the cells remain editable even when the Save button is hidden. If you set the optional lock parameter, all cells will automatically be locked when the Save button is hidden, making the model effectively readonly. If the Save button is visible, this parameter has no effect.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models. The function returns no value into its cell, but will control the visibility of the Save button.

HIDESAVE(type, lock)

Type:
0 = show the save button (default)
1 = hide the save button

Lock:
0 = don't lock cells (default)
1 = lock all cells if type=1

Example:
HIDESAVE(1)
HIDESAVE(B5=1, 1)

HYPERLINK

Renders a clickable hyperlink to an external web page, by providing a full URL to a web page (only secure links using https:// are allowed).

HYPERLINK(data, text)

Example:
HYPERLINK("https://www.mydocs.com/doc.pdf", "My document")

ICON ❖ XLReporting

Renders a three-state colored icon indicating a negative, neutral, or positive result. This is useful to create visual KPI's. You can pass a negative value, zero, or a positive value, which will render the appropriate icon from the selected type in red (negative), yellow (zero), or green (positive) color. The optional type parameter defines the icon type (see below).

The optional scale parameter defines the scale of tolerance for a neutral result and the color for positive and negative results. For example, if you specify 1000, the given value will be divided by 1000 and converted to an integer number before the result is evaluated. This ensures that values under 1000 show a neutral icon. If you specify a negative scale, negative results are shown as green, and positive results as red.

ICON(data, type, scale)

Example:
ICON(100, "arrow")
ICON(B1*C1, "check", 1000)

✭ Tip:

You can also specify a scale under 1. For example, if you are comparing percentages, you should specify a scale of 0.01

IMAGE ❖ XLReporting

Renders an image from a collection of 1.000 FontAwesome icons, 300 XLReporting icons, 50 application logo's, or any 3rd-party URL-based image.

You can enter any of the below:

• a FontAwesome icon name (e.g. "star")
• an XLReporting icon (starting with "web/")
• an application logo (starting with "logo/")
• a full image URL (images are only allowed over https://)
• the alias "@logo" (which will show the default tenant logo)

By default, icons will have a grey color. You can change that by setting the optional color parameter to either a color name or hex code.

You can also use this function in the description field of Define objects, combining it with text to explain the use of the object to users.

You can view all icon collections at:
FontAwesome icons
XLReporting icons (part 1)
XLReporting icons (part 2)
XLReporting icons (part 3)
XLReporting icons (part 4)
XLReporting icons (part 5)
Application logos

IMAGE(data, color)

Example:
IMAGE("star")
IMAGE("star", "green")
IMAGE("logo/excel.png")
IMAGE("https://www.example.com/image.png", "red")
IMAGE("@logo")

✭ Tip:

As this function behaves the same as any other function, you can combine it with other functions, values, or cell references. For example, you can make the color dynamic by using IMAGE("star", IF(A1>100, "green", "red"))

LINK ❖ XLReporting

Renders a clickable link to either a menu item or an external web page.

You can either select an menu item and optionally pass user selection values, or enter a full URL to a web page (only secure links using https:// are allowed).

You can use this function to provide navigation links from one model or report to another (target) model or report, for example to provide a different layout or detail on selected data. You can pass optional select values to the target model or report, separated by a comma. For example: Period=2019-12,Type=P&L. User selection values can be constructed dynamically in models (using cell functions) and in reports (using convert expressions). If you don't explicitly specify selection values, the current user selections will be used as default.

Please note that you can only specify selection values on fields that are defined as user selections (using SELECT or SELECTPERIOD) in the target model or report.

If you set the optional popup parameter to 1, the (target) model or report will be opened in a separate browser window. Links to external web pages will always be opened in a separate browser window.

You can set an optional text label in the button. In a model, you can style this link any way you want by using cell formatting.

You can also use this function to build a model that contains your own custom menu, as an alternative to using the standard menu. You can organise and style the menu items as required, combine it with other information, and add this model to a dashboard.

You can also use this function in the description field of Define objects, combining it with text to explain the use of the object to users.

LINK(data, text, select, popup)

Example:
LINK("r1")
LINK("r1", "Drilldown", "Period=2019-12")
LINK("r1", "Drilldown", "Period=2019-12", 1)
LINK("https://www.mydocs.com/doc.pdf", "My document")

✭ Tip:

As this function behaves the same as any other function, you can combine it with other functions, values, or cell references. For example: ="See this link: " + LINK("https://www.mydocs.com/doc.pdf", "My document")

LOCKCOLUMN ❖ XLReporting

Tests a user-defined condition and if true, locks the editors in the subsequent or preceeding number of columns on the same row in Run model. The number can be positive to lock subsequent columns, or negative to lock preceeding columns. If locked, this is indicated by a padlock icon.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models, and the number has to be static value (it can not be a calculation or result of a nested function).

LOCKCOLUMN(data, number)

Example:
LOCKCOLUMN(G1 = 0, 2)
LOCKCOLUMN(G1 > 1, -2)

LOCKROW ❖ XLReporting

Tests a user-defined condition and if true, locks all editors on the same row in Run model. If locked, this is indicated by a padlock icon.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models.

LOCKROW(data)

Example:
LOCKROW(G1 = 0)

NOPRINT ❖ XLReporting

Show the given data on screen, but hide it in prints and PDF exports. You can use this to prevent sensitive information from being exported outside XLReporting. This function is similar to PRINT("hidecell", value) but does not show any icons on screen.

NOPRINT(data)

Example:
NOPRINT(G1)

OBJECT ❖ XLReporting

Returns various information about the currently selected object.

You can also use this function in the description field of Define objects, combining it with text to explain the use of the object to users.

OBJECT(type)

Type:
name        = object name (default)
id          = object id (unique internal reference)
description = object description
active      = status (1=active, 0=locked)
group       = the group that this object belongs to
version     = the current version

Example:
OBJECT() = "P&L report"
OBJECT("id") = "r1"

✭ Tip:

The object name and description can be changed by users at any time. If you want to uniquely identify an object, you should refer to the system-generated object "id" which will never change during the lifetime of an object.

PAGEBREAK ❖ XLReporting

Defines a page break when printing model or exporting to PDF (only available in models). You can place this function in any cell on a row. This function has no parameters, and is effectively an alias to PRINT("page").

PAGEBREAK()

Example:
PAGEBREAK()

PERMIT ❖ XLReporting

Returns true if the given permit has been assigned to the user in the current session, through at least one of the user roles that have been assigned to the user, else false.

PERMIT(data)

Example:
PERMIT("save") returns true if at least one of the roles that have been assigned to the current user contains the permit "save".

PREVIOUS ❖ XLReporting

Returns the value of the field on the previous data row (in an import, query, or report).

If you use this function for multiple fields in the same import, query, or report, you can provide the optional name parameter to either keep them apart, or purposely share previous data between different fields.

This function is useful if you want to compare the value on the current row to the value on the previous row, for example to detect if a grouping has changed.

Please note that this is done on the underlying data rows, which is useful in imports, but not necessarily useful in reports or queries because the underlying data is aggregated and sorted.

PREVIOUS(data, name)

Example:
PREVIOUS(data) to show the value of the previous row on the current row
IF(data = PREVIOUS(data), "New group", "Old group") to detect when a new grouping has started, based on the value in this column changing from one row to the next.

PRINT ❖ XLReporting

Defines layout instructions when printing models or exporting to PDF (only available in models). This only takes effect in prints and PDF exports, on the screen you will see icons as placeholders. You can place this function in any cell on a row.

Page numbering is automatic, starting at 1 and numbering sequentially through all pages of all printed sheets in the model. Hidden sheets are excluded from page numbering. Within a model, you can also set a custom start page number by calling this function with the start parameter. The page numbers will increment from that number onwards.

PRINT(type, value)

Type:
page       = start a new page (default)
same       = keep a section of rows together on the same page, if possible
freeze     = freeze this row, and repeat it on every subsequent page (e.g. table header)
number     = placeholder for dynamic page numbers
total      = placeholder for total number of pages
start      = use value as the starting page number
concept    = print a "concept" watermark
hiderow    = hide this entire row
hidecolumn = hide this entire column
hidesheet  = hide this entire sheet
hidecell   = show the value on screen, but hide it in print and PDF

Example:
PRINT("page")

RANDBETWEEN

Returns a random integer number between the 2 numbers you specify (both inclusive).

Please note that by its very nature this function will return a different value every time a model is re-opened or recalculated.

RANDBETWEEN(number, number)

Example:
RANDBETWEEN(1, 100) = 73

RANDOM

Returns a random fractional number between 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive).

Please note that by its very nature this function will return a different value every time a model is re-opened or recalculated.

RANDOM()

Example:
RANDOM() = 0.4464553

RECALC ❖ XLReporting

Recalculates this field at every report subtotal level and report totals. This only has effect in Reports.

By default, field expressions are calculated at the underlying source data, its results are aggregated in reports, and subtotals and report totals are then calculated as per the setting in the report layout (e.g. sum, average, count etc). This does not always produce mathematically correct results, particularly when the expression includes a division operation.

For example: if an expression is "quantity * price", its result can perfectly be summed at any subtotal level. However, if an expression is "profit / revenue", the default subtotal operation does not work: we can't just sum percentages, we need to recalculate this formula at every subtotal level and report totals.

XLReporting automatically recalculates any expression that contains a division or the PERCENT function (which effectively performs a division). All other expressions follow the default subtotals and report totals setting. In cases where you want to explicitly force an expression to be recalculated, you should wrap your formula within a RECALC() function.

RECALC()

Example:
RECALC(profit / revenue)

REPEAT ❖ XLReporting

Repeats the value of the field on the previous data row (in a report, query, or import) if this row has no value, else returns the value of the field on the current row.

If you use this function for multiple fields in the same report, query, or import, you can provide the optional name parameter to either keep them apart, or purposely share previous data between different fields.

This function is similar to the Repeat previous values option in Define imports, but provides a finer level of control, and can be used not just for imports, but for reports and model queries as well.

REPEAT(data, name)

Example:
REPEAT(data) = "4000" if the field on this row has no value and same field on the previous row contained "4000".

ROLE ❖ XLReporting

Returns true if the given user role has been assigned to the user in the current session, else false.

ROLE(data)

Example:
ROLE("Administrator") returns true if at least one of the roles that have been assigned to the current user is called "Administrator".

ROWACTION ❖ XLReporting

Generates buttons that enable the user to add, copy, delete, and move rows in Run model. This function can also be used to lock all edits (buttons and cell editors) on the same row, based on a logical condition (for example, a validation of data). If locked, this is indicated by a padlock icon.

The add, copy, delete, move, and lock parameters each represent a separate action, and they can be either a constant value (0 or 1), or a logical condition.

• add inserts a new row with all defined formulas, cell styles, and cell locks, but without any values.
• copy inserts a new row with all defined formulas, cell styles, and cell locks, with the values copied from the current row.
• delete deletes the current row, and remembers the values on this row (it works the same as a "cut & paste" operation).
• move inserts a new row with all defined formulas, cell styles, and cell locks, with the values copied from the most recently deleted row.
• lock locks all edits (buttons and cell editors) on the same row.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models.

ROWACTION(add, copy, delete, move, lock)

Example:
ROWACTION(1, 0, 0)
ROWACTION(G1=1, 0, 0, 0, H1>1)

ROWNUM ❖ XLReporting

Returns the row number from the retrieved data (when used in imports, reports, or model queries), or the row number in the sheet (when used in models).

Please note that there is no guarantee as to the sort order of source data for imports, reports, or model queries. If you want to generate the row number in a particular order, you need to call SORT as well.

ROWNUM()

Example:
ROWNUM() = 5

SAVEACTION ❖ XLReporting

Defines an action to be taken when the model is saved. This is only applicable in Run models for models that contain import queries. Using this function you can add a custom message to the "Save models" entry in the activity log, or show an on-screen notification to the user, or optionally send an email with the given message and subject.

Please note that there can only be onle single SAVEACTION of each type in a model.

SAVEACTION(type, message, subject, email)

Type:
0 = no action (default)
1 = add message to activity
2 = send email
3 = show notification (success)
4 = show notification (error)

For type 1, 3, and 4 only the message parameter is required. For type 2, all parameters are mandatory. If you want to send an email to multiple addressees, you can separate them with a semi-column. For security concerns, you can not use more than 5 addressees.

Examples:
SAVEACTION(1, "User changed status") = will add this message to the activity log
SAVEACTION(B4 > 10, "User changed status to " + LEFT(B5, 10)) = will add this dynamic message
SAVEACTION(2, "User changed status", "Please approve", "john.doe@example.com") = will add this message as well as send an email to the designated user

SCORECARD ❖ XLReporting

Renders a scorecard with a value, a given title and label, and optionally a goal indicator and text color. As you can combine this function with other functions and formulas, you can create dynamic KPI indicators. If you set the optional goal parameter, a positive indicator will show if the data is higher, and a negative indicator if the data is lower. You can also set the text color with the optional color parameter using either a color name or hex code. You can also set the text color using cell formatting in models.

Please note that scorecards have a fixed size of 200x200px, so you may need to set the cell width and height accordingly, or merge multiple cells.

Type:

 0 = result is neutral
<0 = result is negative
>0 = result is positive

SCORECARD(data, title, label, goal, color)

Example:
SCORECARD(70, "Gross margin", "as % of sales", 65, "green")

SELECTED ❖ XLReporting

Returns the value selected by the user in response to a SELECT function. You need to specify the field name (or field id) that was used by the SELECT() function.

You can also pass the alias @file as name to retrieve the most recently selected file name used in an import.

If you do not provide the name parameter, the function will return a formatted text with the currently selected value for every field that has a SELECT function (this can often be useful for headers in models).

SELECTED(name)

Example:
SELECTED("Company") = "US"
SELECTED() = "Period: 2019-03, Company=US"
SELECTED("@file") = "File: mydata.xlsx"

SELECTEDPERIOD ❖ XLReporting

Returns the period selected by the user in response to a SELECTPERIOD function.

SELECTEDPERIOD()

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

SETTING ❖ XLReporting

Returns true if the given setting exists in the global settings of the tenant (or its value if defined), else false.

SETTING(data)

Examples:
SETTING("save") returns true if a setting "save" exists in the global settings.
SETTING("vat") returns 21 if a setting "vat=21" exists in the global settings.

SORT

Sorts the given cell range or data array, or underlying source data.

This function can also be used in Convert the data in reports, queries, and imports. In most scenarios, the sort order is irrelevant, as reports are sorted at aggregate levels according to the defined report layout. Sorting the data is only relevant if you want to process the underlying source data in a specific way (for example, looking for repeated, sequential, empty, or duplicate values, and apply some custom logic to that). Sorting will be applied before any of the other functions are executed. It is important to understand that this function (even though it is defined for just one field) expands its scope and will affect the entire source data. You can only define this function for one single field within any given import, report, or query.

SORT(data, type)

Type:
0 = ascending order (default)
1 = descending order

Example:
SORT(A1:A10)
SORT(data)

SORTBY

Sorts the given cell range or data array based on the values in another cell range or data array.

SORTBY(data, range, type)

Type:
0 = ascending order (default)
1 = descending order

Example:
SORTBY(A1:A10, B1:B10)

SPARKLINE ❖ XLReporting

Renders a sparkline (a small chart) based on a range of values. By default, the sparkline will have a black color. You can change that by setting the optional color parameter to either a color name or hex code.

SPARKLINE(data, type, color)

Type:
"line"
"area"
"bar"
"pie"
"spline"
"splinearea"

Example:
SPARKLINE(data, "line")
SPARKLINE(data, "line", "blue")

SLIDER ❖ XLReporting

Renders a slider chart, which indicates the position of a given value within a scale. The min and max parameters are optional and determine the scale. If they are omitted, the scale defaults from 0 to 100. The optional type parameter defines the marker type (see below).

SLIDER(data, min, max, type)

Example:
SLIDER(70, 10, 100, "star")

TENANT ❖ XLReporting

Returns various information about the tenant in the current session.

You can also use this function in the description field of Define objects, combining it with text to explain the use of the object to users.

TENANT(type)

Type:
name     = tenant name (default)
id       = tenant id (unique internal reference)
address  = tenant address
postcode = tenant postcode
city     = tenant city
country  = tenant country
industry = tenant industry
settings = global settings of the tenant
type     = type of tenant (Standard, Sandbox, Trial, Partner, Client)
version  = application version
server   = server information
region   = data region (AP, EU, US)
version  = application version

For preset configurations only:
segment1 = the name of segment1
segment2 = the name of segment2

Example:
TENANT() = "Our Company"
TENANT("server") = "303.eu"

TOOLTIP ❖ XLReporting

Renders a tooltip that shows a popup with the given text when the user hovers over the tooltip icon. The text parameter can be a string or an expression.

By default, the tooltip will be rendered with a default icon, but you can choose another icon from the FontAwesome collection by providing the icon name as the icon parameter (e.g. "star").

By default, the icon will have a blue color. You can change that by setting the optional color parameter to either a color name or hex code.

You can also use this function in the description field of Define objects, combining it with text to explain the use of the object to users.

TOOLTIP(text, icon, color)

Example:
TOOLTIP("Hello, here is a tip")
TOOLTIP("Warning, read this first", "star", "red")

TOPX ❖ XLReporting

Sorts the given cell range or data array, or underlying source data, and limits the number of returned rows. The limit parameter is optional and defaults to 10.

This function can also be used in Convert the data in reports, queries, and imports to limit the underlying source data. The limit will be applied before any of the other functions are executed. It is important to understand that this function (even though it is defined for just one field) expands its scope and will limit the entire source data. You can only define this function for one single field within any given import, report, or query.

TOPX(data, limit, type)

Type:
0 = descending order (default)
1 = ascending order

Example:
TOPX(A1:A10, 5)
TOPX(data, 20) = top 20 items in underlying source data

TOTAL

Applies automatic subtotal and total formules in reports and queries. This function is used automatically where needed, and not intended to be used manually.

TOTAL(data)

TRANSPOSE

Inserts values from the given cell range, a comma-delimited list, or a formula into a range of subsequent rows or columns in a model, starting at the current cell. The type parameter determines whether the values will be transposed into rows or into columns, and whether a new row or column will be inserted for every value. The number parameter is optional and specifies how many columns or rows you want to transpose.

This only takes effect when the model is being generated in Run model. In Define model, the cell that contains this function only shows information.

You can use this function in 5 different ways:

• If you reference a cell range, the transposed cells will contain formula references to the original cells, enabling you to create very dynamic models. Once generated, the model will contain as many transposed cells as there are cells in the given cell range.
• If you provide a comma-delimited list of values, the transposed cells will contain static texts. Once generated, the model will contain as many transposed cells as there are non-blank values in the given list.
• If you provide an embedded formula text, all transposed cells will contain that formula. You can include the placeholder [item] in your formula text which will be replaced with a sequential number (starting at 1) for each transposed cell. You need to start the formula with = and place it entirely within quotes (e.g. "=ADDPERIOD(A1, [item])" because you only want that formula to be executed once the transposed cell has been created, and not when you're typing it.
  
  When using an embedded formula text, you need to set the number parameter to specify how many columns or rows you want to transpose.
• If you provide the SELECTED() function, the transposed cell will contain the (single or multiple) values that the user has selected.
• If you provide the PERIODRANGE() or YEARRANGE()function, the transposed cell will contain the range of periods or years you define. Once generated, the model will contain as many transposed cells as there are periods in the range you defined.

If you provide a static list of values (a cell range or comma-delimited list, you don't have to provide the number parameter. But it is required if you use a dynamic list of values or embedded formula texts.

Other than as mentioned above, you can not combine this function with any other functions in the same cell, and the function can not insert dynamic query data. It is important to understand that this function will be executed before any queries are being run.

TRANSPOSE is similar to DCOLUMNS and DROWS but for static data. If you want to insert dynamic query data into rows or columns (as opposed to a cell range or comma-delimited list), you should use the DROWS or DCOLUMN function.

TRANSPOSE(range, type, number)

Type:
0 = overwrite cells in existing rows (default)
1 = insert new row for every value

2 = overwrite cells in existing columns
3 = insert new column for every value

Examples:
TRANSPOSE(A1:F1, 1)
TRANSPOSE("Actual,Budget,Variance", 3)
TRANSPOSE("=ADDPERIOD(2019, [item]), 3, 6)
TRANSPOSE(PERIODRANGE("2019-01", 6), 3)
TRANSPOSE(PERIODRANGE(SELECTED("Period", 6), 3)

USER ❖ XLReporting

Returns various information about the user in the current session. You can either lookup a system field (see the list of below types) or the name of a custom property.

You can also use this function in the description field of Define objects, combining it with text to explain the use of the object to users.

USER(type)

Type:
name     = user name (default)
email    = user email
id       = user id (unique internal reference)
login    = type of user (1=API login, 0=manual login)
roles    = all roles that have been assigned to this user
permits  = all permits (custom rights) that have been assigned to this user
group    = the group that this user belongs to
ip       = user IP address
browser  = user browser
language = user language
platform = user platform
signon   = signon method

Examples:
USER() = "john doe"
USER("email") = "john.doe@mycompany.com"
USER("country") = "UK" (if you saved a property "country=UK" on this user)

VALUE

Returns the value that is passed as a parameter, validated against its data type. This is mostly used in imports to define constant values.

VALUE(data)

Example:
VALUE("price") returns "price"
VALUE(34) returns 34