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.

BADGE ❖ XLReporting

Renders a styled badge with the given data (text, date, or number) and color.

The badge will have a default background color. You can change that by setting the optional color parameter to either 1-90 for a reference to the standard color palette, or a color name or hex code The foreground color will be automatically set for optimal contrast.

You can optionally provide an icon to be added to the styled badge. Please refer to the IMAGE function for details on the icons you can use.

BADGE(data, color, icon)

Examples:
BADGE("Text", 6)
BADGE("Text", "green")
BADGE("Text", "#008000")
BADGE("Text", "#008000", "star")

CHANGED ❖ XLReporting

Returns "Yes" if the given cell range on the current row in the sheet has been changed (only available in models). You must refer to the cell range in which you want to detect changes. This function has to be on the same row as the cell range you're referring to. As soon as any cell within that range is edited by the user in Run Model, the value will be set to "Yes".

You can use this function to show which rows have changed, or use it in import queries to determine which rows should be saved into a data set.

CHANGED(data, ..)

Example:
CHANGED(A1:E1) = "Yes"

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

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

CONNECTED ❖ XLReporting

Returns information from the current import connector.

You can use this function in imports to collect information about the connected source system, the selected company, and all authorised companies.

CONNECTED(type)

type:
"name"   = selected company name (default)
"id"     = selected company id (unique internal reference)
"system" = selected source system
"list"   = list of all company id's and names authorised by the user

Example:
CONNECTED() = "Xero Demo Company"
CONNECTED("system") = "xero"

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.

EDITORS ❖ XLReporting

Shows an icon button that opens a popup with the editors in the adjacent number of columns on the same row in Run model. Columns that do not contain an editor are ignored and not displayed in the popup. The names parameter defines the field names, and can either be a cell range or a comma-delimited list of names.

This enables you to combine multiple editors into a single popup editor. The selected values will be written back into the related cells, so this is simply a different route. It enables you to create a visually simpler model by hiding multiple editor columns and showing them as a single popup instead.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models.

EDITORS(names)

Examples:
EDITORS("Field 1,Field 2")
EDITORS(B2:D2)

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")

✭ Tips:

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 only set once (1x time only), when the model is being generated. A typical use case could be to permanently hide columns, or to dynamically show or hide columns based on some runtime value, for example the SELECTED() function.

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 only set once (1x time only), when the model is being generated. A typical use case could be to permanently hide rows, or to dynamically show or hide rows based on some runtime value, for example the SELECTED() function.

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)
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.

This function is dynamic, meaning it will take effect after any edited cell. This enables you to dynamically hide and show the SAVE button as and when the user is entering data into a model, which is an effective way of realtime data validation.

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

Examples:
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).

This function is an alias for the LINK function and thus identical.

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 would ensure 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)

type:

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

✭ Tips:

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)

Icons have a default color. They will follow the cell color in models, but you can also explicitly set the color with the optional color parameter to either 1-90 for a reference to the standard color palette, or a color name or hex code.

Images have their own color which can not be changed. You can use the 2nd parameter to set a fixed height of the image (instead of using its default height). Images will always maintain their original width-to-height ratio.

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)

Examples:
IMAGE("star")
IMAGE("star", "green")
IMAGE("logo/excel.png")
IMAGE("logo/excel.png", 50)
IMAGE("https://www.example.com/image.png", "red")
IMAGE("@logo")

✭ Tips:

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 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 semi-column (;) 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)

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

✭ Tips:

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 adjacent number of columns (either subsequent or preceding) on the same row in Run model. The number can be positive to lock subsequent columns, or negative to lock preceding 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 a static value (it can not be a calculation or result of a nested function).

LOCKCOLUMN(data, number)

Examples:
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

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

✭ Tips:

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)

Examples:
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 use this function anywhere in your model.

This function enables you to dynamically define page numbering, pagination, repeating headers, and paragraphs (widow/orphan control). You can also dynamically hide sheets, rows, columns, and cells when printing or exporting to PDF.

XLReporting will always try to fit the content to the available page width, as following:

• If the content is wider than the page width, all column widths will be reduced proportionally.
• If the content is smaller than the page width, all column widths will be expanded proportionally as long as the difference (the remaining white space) is no more than 30% of the page width. Expanding column widths beyond 30% would stretch the content out of proportion, and possibly affect the height/width ratio of embedded charts, images, and tables. Therefore, in such case the content will not be fit to the page width, and white space will remain at the right margin of the page.
• By default, the width of all visible columns is proportionally adjusted to fit the page width. However, you can overrule that by setting PRINT("adjust") in one column to instruct XLReporting to adjust only the width of that single column. The width of all other columns will remain unchanged, as well as the height/width ratio of embedded charts, images, and tables.

Page numbering is automatic, starting at 1 and numbering sequentially through all pages and sheets in the model. Hidden sheets are excluded from page numbering. You can also specify a specific page number by setting PRINT("number", start) at any place in your model where start is the new page number. The page numbering will continue to increment from that number onwards.

PRINT(type, start)

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
"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
"adjust"     = adjust the width of this column to fit the page width

Examples:
PRINT("page")
PRINT("number")
PRINT("number", 3)

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 icon buttons or a popup menu to 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 type parameters each represent a separate action, and they can be either a constant value (0 or 1), or a logical condition. The type parameter can also have a value of 2 to show the actions as a popup menu instead of as icon buttuns.

• 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.
• type displays the actions as icon buttons (value 0), as popup menu (value 2), or locks all edits (value 1 or true) on the same row.

Please note that this is only applicable in Run models.

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

Examples:
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 or SMS message with the given message and subject.

You can send an email by specifying the recipient email addresses(es). The recipients do not need to be registered users in XLReporting.

You can send a SMS message by specifying the email address of registered users in XLReporting, for example SAVEACTION("Budget rejected", "FYI", "john@mycompany.com"). For security reasons, you can not specify more than 5 recipients, duplicate messages are automatically prevented, and you can send messages ONLY to registered users in XLReporting, who have entered a correct mobile phone number. You can not directly specify other telephone numbers.

If you want to send an email or SMS message to multiple recipients, you can separate them with a semi-column.

Please note that a model can only contain one single SAVEACTION.

SAVEACTION(type, message, subject, email)

type:
0 = no action (default)
1 = add message to activity
2 = send email
3 = show notification of success
4 = show notification of error
5 = show message and send email
6 = show message and send SMS message

For type 1, 3, and 4 only the message parameter is required.
For type 2, 5 and 6 all parameters are mandatory.

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@mycompany.com") = will show a message as well as send an email.

SCORECARD ❖ XLReporting

Renders a scorecard with the given value, title, and options. You can optionally provide a goal value, color, and width. If you set the optional goal parameter, tree-state icons will visualize if the value is higher, lower, or equal to the goal.

The options parameter will be shown below the value within the scorecard. You can optionally provide a label, a suffix, an image, an icon, and the icon scale, all separated by a comma. The label will be shown below the value, the suffix will be shown behind the value, the image will be shown below the title, and the icon is used to visualise how the value relates to the goal (see the icon types), with the (optional) scale defining the scale of tolerance for a neutral result and the color for positive and negative results. For example: setting options to "employed,FTE,chart-line" will show "employed" below the value, with "FTE" next to the value, and a "chart-line" image below the title. Options "employed,FTE,chart-line,circle,1000" will add an "circle" icon based on the goal value and on a scale of 1000. Please refer to the ICON function for more detail.

Scorecards have a default color. In models, they will adopt the cell color, but you can also explicitly set the color with the optional color parameter to either 1-90 for a reference to the standard color palette, or a color name or hex code. You can also set the text color using cell formatting in models.

By default, the width of scorecards is dynamically based on the width of the title, but you can explicitly set the width (in pixels) with the optional width parameter.

SCORECARD(data, title, options, goal, color, width)

Examples:
SCORECARD(70, "Gross margin", "of revenue,%", 65, "green")
SCORECARD(10, "Staff", "employed,FTE,chart-line", 9)
SCORECARD(10, "Staff", "employed,FTE,chart-line,circle,1000", 9)

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)

Examples:
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 a value has been set), 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.

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 type of slider (see below).

Sliders have a default color. They will follow the cell color in models, but you can also explicitly set the color (except for the meter and progress types) with the optional color parameter to either 1-90 for a reference to the standard color palette, or a color name or hex code.

SLIDER(data, min, max, type, color)

type:

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

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

Examples:
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 cell range or data array, or a comma-delimited list of values. By default, sparklines have a black color. You can change that by setting the color with the optional color parameter to either 1-90 for a reference to the standard color palette, or a color name or hex code.

You can also use a single cell editor planner as data for this function. Sparklines will recognise and plot the values of the selected planner, including predefined aliases (such as @month, @quarter, @year etc) and custom planners.

For bar sparklines, you can also set a different color for negative values, using an additional parameter: SPARKLINE(data, type, color, negcolor).

SPARKLINE(data, type, color)

type:
"line"       = line
"area"       = area
"bar"        = column
"pie"        = pie
"spline"     = line (smooth)
"splinearea" = area (smooth)

Example:
SPARKLINE(data, "pie")
SPARKLINE(data, "line", "blue")
SPARKLINE(data, "bar", "blue", "red")

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

Examples:
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 color with the optional color parameter to either 1-90 for a reference to the standard color palette, or 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)

Examples:
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

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

TOTAL

Returns report totals for report queries in models. 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 of values, 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 YEARRANGE(), PERIODRANGE(), or DATERANGE() function as a parameter, the transposed cell will contain the dynamic range of years, periods or dates. Once generated, the model will contain a transposed cell for each item in the defined range.

If you provide a static list of values (a cell range or comma-delimited list of values, 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 of values), 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)

UPDATE ❖ XLReporting

Run and automatically save the given model with the given selections, to recalculate data using the latest logic.

You can use this function to instruct the system to run, recalculate, and instantly save models in a batch, each with different selections. A typical use-case is when you have changed logic or formulas in a model, or if you have imported new source data, and you want to recalculate all data accordingly.

You can pass optional select values to the target model, separated by a semi-column (;) for example: Period=2019-12;Type=P&L. User selection values can be constructed dynamically in convert expressions in a report, based on rows and fields in the report. 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.

This function is similar to LINK, in that it opens a model with certain selections. However, UPDATE goes further in that it also instantly saves the model (similar to when a user would click the Save button), and a series of (same or different) models can be run and saved as part of a batch, each with different selections.

You should use this function in reports, from which you can then run and save models. For example, if your report has 100 rows, it will run and save the specified model with the specified selections for each of the 100 rows. You can either use the same model for all rows, or a different model conditional on the data in your report.

You have to make sure that the models can be saved without requiring user intervention (such as validation), and all mandatory data must exist and be valid.

UPDATE(data, select)

Examples:
UPDATE("m1", "Period=2019-12")
UPDATE("m1", "Period=2020-01")

USER ❖ XLReporting

Returns various information about the user in the current session. You can either lookup a standard 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.

For type name you can optionally provide the user id of another user in the same tenant, to get that user's name. This is not available for any other types.

USER(type, id)

type:
"name"       = user name (default)
"email"      = user email
"id"         = user id (unique internal reference)
"login"      = type of user (1=API login, 0=manual login)
"department" = department
"jobtitle"   = job title
"mobile"     = mobile phone
"roles"      = all roles that have been assigned to this user
"filters"    = all data filters 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 current 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)

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