topic Re: Calendar Tables in App Development

Calendar Tables

Shi — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 15:12:26 GMT

I don't have a clear idea about the calendar tables. How many ways are there to create a calendar table? For example, I know the master calendar fields and autocalendar ... what other ways exist? And when should it be better to use a script or use the main calendar fields? What consequences / effects could I have choosing one or the other way? Thank you very much!

Re: Calendar Tables

eliran — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 12:27:03 GMT

Hi,

I think your'e giving it too much weight.

At the end, it's just another table, and usually really small that being populated quite fast.

It just needs to have all the right data for you, useable flags (YTD, MTD, etc.), the right fields for analysis, both descriptive and numeric, and that's it.

I also like to add to the calendar another table that relies on the same data, and allowing the end user to choose a speicifc period from a single field (Current Year, Previous Year, Last X Month, Last X days, etc.)

This way the user have the ability to set dynamic filters and bookmarks, and even use it in set analysis.

BR,

Eliran.

Re: Calendar Tables

Shi — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 12:46:19 GMT

Hi,

Eliran thanks for your reply. I understand better the difference in use, but in general it does not make difference.

Re: Calendar Tables

singh24447 — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 13:42:09 GMT

Hi Shi,

The main purpose of using Calendar table is to fill up the gaps of dates if exist in date fields and make a continuous date range within a data model.

And there are many ways like linked table, Canonical calendar, Standard Gregorian and etc . these all are having different use cases.

BR,

Surendra

Re: Calendar Tables

Shi — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 14:25:25 GMT

Hi Surendra,

thanks for your reply. I have another question. What is the difference between Master Calendar Fields and Derived Date fields? In which situations I could encounter a problem choosing Derived Date field, or this approach is not reccomended? Thanks again

Re: Calendar Tables

singh24447 — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 15:23:16 GMT

Hi Shi,

There is no difference in Master calendar fields and date fields but you would encounter a problem when you want to show month and week wise data and you are not having sales and other measure for a particular week or month depends upon season sales. So that month or week will not be in our date field(Dimension in chart). So in this case We should use master calendar fields instead of date fields.

Hope this will answer your question.

BR,

Surendra

Re: Calendar Tables

Shi — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 15:38:53 GMT

Yes, thanks Surendra, it's more clear.