Periods: basic concepts
Definition¶
The period is a time dimension representing the basic unit used to break down the tax year. Periods normally represent months.
Subdivision into periods¶
In addition to the default subdivision into 12 periods, it is also possible to create custom periods. For example, it may be useful to create the following periods:
- 13 periods for companies that complete periodic reporting every four weeks
- single weeks
- quarters
- half-years
In Tagetik, it is possible to create up to 99 periods.
Period length¶
It is not possible to define aggregation structures in the period dimension. However, it is possible to define reports that aggregate data in quarters or four-month periods using the ‘period length’ attribute. To do this, it is necessary to set a “monthly” period length. The report displays the monthly data calculated based on the cumulative figures present in the database.
IMPORTANT: ‘period length’ is not a mandatory attribute. If this is not specified, ‘LUN_0’ - cumulative in the CPM and ‘LUN_1’- Monthly in the Analytical Workspace will be set by default.
Example of how ‘period length’ may be used
In this example, it is necessary to insert monthly data:
| Quarter | Months | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January-March | € 100 |
| Q2 | April-June | € 150 |
| Q3 | July-September | € 250 |
| Q4 | October-December | € 300 |
The user may calculate and manually insert cumulative data.
| Month | Four months | Cumulative value calculated |
|---|---|---|
| March | Q1 | € 100 |
| June | Q1+Q2 | € 250 |
| September | Q1+Q2+Q3 | € 500 |
| December | Q1+Q2+Q3+Q4 | € 800 |
However, this method is liable to calculation errors or data entry errors.
Alternatively, it is therefore possible to use the ‘LUN 3 - Quarter’ period length attribute. This allows you to insert quarterly data and the system will automatically calculate the cumulative figures.
Period length values¶
Please find below the period length values that may be used. The period n indicates the period defined as a filter in the template.
| Length | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LUN_0 cumulative | Default value in the CPM. The system does not carry out any calculation and the amount shown coincides with the amount in the database. In the Analytical Workspace (AW), the cumulative data are calculated by taking into account the figures from the end of the previous period to the current period. | In both the CPM and Analytical Workspace (AW) multidimensional matrices, the cumulative data are calculated by taking into account the figures from the end of the previous period to the current period. |
| LUN_1 Monthly | The cumulative data are calculated taking into account the amount of period n and the amount of period n-1. | Used for scenarios whose open periods are from 01 to 12. |
| LUN_2 Bimonthly | The cumulative data are calculated taking into account the amount of period n and the amount of period n-2. | Used for scenarios whose open periods are 02, 04, 06, 08, 09 and 12. |
| LUN_3 Quarterly | The cumulative data are calculated taking into account the amount of period n and the amount of period n-3. | Used for scenarios whose open periods are from 03, 06, 09 and 12. |
| LUN_4 Every four months | The cumulative data are calculated taking into account the amount of period n and the amount of period n-4. | Used when weeks are managed as part of the periods. |
| LUN_5 Every five months | The cumulative data are calculated taking into account the amount of period n and the amount of period n-5. | Used when weeks are managed as part of the periods. |
| LUN_6 Half-yearly | The cumulative data are calculated taking into account the amount of period n and the amount of period n-6. | Used for scenarios whose open periods are 06 and 12. |
| LUN_12 Annual | The cumulative data are calculated taking into account the amount of period n and the amount of period n-12. | Used for scenarios that only have period 12. |
| LUN_QTD Quarter to date | cumulative data are calculated from the end of the previous quarter to the current period. | - |
| LUN_STD Semester to date | The cumulative data are calculated from the end of the previous half-year period to the current period. | - |
| LUN_LYD Life to date | The cumulative data are calculated from minus infinity to the current period. | Useful for multi-year projects. |
Relationship between periods and scenarios¶
To create the Tagetik time dimension, a period must be related to a scenario. For example, if the 2018 tax year is subdivided into 12 periods, the scenario 2018ACT / Period 01 may indicate the first period of the final figures for the 2018 tax year, the scenario 2018ACT / Period 02 may indicate the second period and so on.