Time

Time Scales

Time scales are used with variables in formulas to fetch the value at a certain moment in time. For example, #New Revenue [This Month] returns the value of New Revenue for that same calendar month. Similarly, #New Revenue [Last Month] returns the previous month's value.

Timescales are relative to the month being forecasted.

For example, if a formula references #Revenue [Last month], then April's entry would reference March's Revenue, May's entry would reference April's revenue, and so on.

There are a number of options for timescales that allow you to build complex and powerful models and forecasts. Keep reading for an explanation of each.

Month

• This Month - Returns the value for the same month.

• Last Month - Returns the value for the previous month

• Months Prior - Specify a number of months prior, e.g: 4 months ago.

• Specific Date - Specify a specific date, e.g: January 2023.

Year To Date

• Year to Date - Returns the value for calendar year to the current date

• Fiscal Year to Date - Returns the value for start of the organization's fiscal year to the current date

Comparison

• This Month vs Last Month - Returns the difference between this month and the previous month, as a number

• This Month vs Last Month (%) - Returns the difference between this month and the previous month, as a percentage

• This Month vs Months Prior - Returns the difference between this month and a month prior, as a number. e.g: this month vs 3 months ago.

• This Month vs Months Prior (%) - Returns the difference between this month and a month prior, as a percentage. e.g: this month vs 3 months ago.

• This Month vs Same Month Last Year - Returns the difference between this month and the same calendar month last year, as a number

• This Month vs Same Month Last Year (%) - Returns the difference between this month and the same calendar month last year, as a percentage

Cumulative

• Last 3 Months - Returns a sum of the previous 3 months

• Last 6 Months - Returns a sum of the previous 6 months

• Last 12 Months - Returns a sum of the previous 12 months

• Last 3 Months Average - Returns an average of the previous 3 months

• Last 6 Months Average - Returns an average of the previous 6 months

• Last 12 Months Average - Returns an average of the previous 12 months

Dates in Formulas