How to get prior MaxString

[m_perreault]

Hi All,

I have a series of periods

2018Q1

2017Q4

2017Q3

.....

I want to be able to get the prior period.  So to get the max period I am using for example

Sum(Period = {"$(=Maxstring(Period))"}Balance) but I cannot use

Sum(Period = {"$(=Maxstring(Period)-1)"}Balance)

Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this?

Thanks,

Mark

[m_perreault]

Saw this post

which suggests

Load *

Autonumber(Period) as PeriodNum

Resident table

Order by Period;

and then using PeriodNum in set analysis.