Set Analysis with Dates - Previous Months based on current date

[#1]

I'm trying to get results based on a current date (YTD, most recent full Month/Quarter etc.) using the following...

Set vCurrentDate= Date('22/02/2015', 'DD/MM/YYYY')  // This would not be hard coded but as this is an example it serves the purpose.

With the following Set Analysis equation I get the desired result

='Current Month when date Hard Coded : ' & MaxString({< Date={'22/02/2015'} >} Date) // Returns 22/02/2015

But this just returns the maximum result stored in the calendar.

='Current Date using vCurrentDate : ' & MaxString({ <Date={"=$(vCurrentDate)"}> } Date)

I've tried various formats and achieved nothing. i.e. Date={'$(vCurrentDate)'} etc.

See attached App for issues and CSV used for Dates

[rubenmarin]

Hi Colin, transforming each expression:

='vCurrentDate : ' & $(vCurrentDate) is transformed as ='vCurrentDate : ' & 22/02/2015 <-- This is a division: 22 / 2 = 11 / 2015 = 0.00549...
Following operators priority division and multiplication are executed before addition and substration, and the '&' used for concatenate strings is treated as an 'addition' of strings, so first it does the division and then the contenation of the result as a string

='vCurrentDate : ' & '$(vCurrentDate)' is transformed as ='vCurrentDate : ' & '22/02/2015' <-- This is a concatenation of two strings

='vCurrentDate : ' & Num('$(vCurrentDate)') is transformed as ='vCurrentDate : ' & Num('22/02/2015') <-- QV is smart enough to interpret the string as a date and returns it's numerical value of 42057

[rubenmarin]

Just one detail, for other users loking for the same question, the answer you marked as correct is the one I pasted wrong.

[#4]

Updated, thanks again!

If it looks like a duck....