Concept: Flexible Time Modeling
Time in your planning model defines the start and end of a version, sets the columns visible in standard sheets, creates elements in reports, restricts import ranges, establishes parameters for use in Integration, and much more. By default, any choices you make involving time rely on the standard fiscal Month/Quarter/Year time granularity.
To configure your organization's calendar to accommodate your business processes, define your own time periods in an Excel spreadsheet. Then go to Modeling > Time and upload the spreadsheet.
How Flexible Time Modeling Works
Time Strata
Time strata are the levels of time that roll up to each other from smallest time period to the largest. You can create up to 8 time strata.
Example Strata: Day > Week > Month > Quarter > Half Year > Fiscal Year.
A stratum is an individual level of time, with its own name and code. It might be named "Quarter" and have a code of "QTR".
Select which stratum is the default for your standard sheets and general ledger accounts. The strata you configure also make it possible to enable Model Dependent Time -- allowing you to choose the time strata individual modeled or cube sheets roll up to.
Each stratum has the following properties, all of which are editable:
- Name of stratum (e.g. "Quarter")
- Code for stratum (e.g. "Qtr")
- Shortname for stratum (e.g. "Q")
By default, an instance contains three strata:
- Month
- Quarter
- Year
Time Periods
Time Periods are collections of consecutive days with established start and end dates. The smallest possible time period is one day.
Example Periods: Wk1-2016, Wk2-2016, Jan-2016, Period1-2016, 2016
No two periods in the same stratum are allowed to contain the same day. All periods must be contiguous without gaps. Every time period of a higher stratum must contain at least one time period on each lower stratum. Each time period on a stratum must roll up to exactly one time period on each higher stratum. Time must be a strict hierarchy and cannot be ragged.
13 Period Calendar Example
Retail, consumer goods, restaurant chains and other businesses frequently adopt a calendar of 13 four-week periods for a fiscal year. Such a calendar divides the year into equally sized periods, instead of 12 months of varying lengths. The 13 period calendar has the same number of weeks in each period and the same number of each of the days of the week. A P&L statement for this calendar reflects the sales of four Mondays, four Tuesdays, four Wednesdays and so on, within each period. This equally divided calendar allows for more meaningful performance comparisons.
Click here to download an example xlsx file of a 13 Period calendar.
Academic Calendar Example
Many educational institutions use a trimester-based academic year. A fiscal calendar with three consecutive trimester/break sequences allows matching expense, operational and revenue patterns to the academic year. In-session and break weeks fall within their own fiscal periods, making comparisons easier. Such a fiscal year might look like the following:
- 1st trimester = 15 weeks
- 1st break = 2 weeks
- 2nd trimester = 15 weeks
- 2nd break = 2 weeks
- 3rd trimester = 15 weeks
- 3rd break = 3 weeks
Click here to download an example xlsx file of an Academic calendar.
4-4-5 Calendar Example
The name of this calendar represents how weeks (4 weeks + 4 weeks + 5 weeks) can be organized into months. It is commonly used for performing weekly and period analysis to measure the effect of marketing campaigns.
The 4-4-5 pattern repeats in each quarter for the rest of the fiscal year.
Other variations of this calendar use a pattern of 4-5-4 and 5-4-4.
Click here to download an example xlsx file of a 4-4-5 calendar.
Half Year Calendar Example
Half year calendars divide the year in two parts at the highest granularity. Lower granularities, like quarters or months, then roll up to the half year. In some countries half year reporting is an accounting standard. Half year calendars are also useful for season-driven companies, such as fashion retail.
This example shows months rolling up to quarters, which then roll up to the half year.
Click here to download an example xlsx file of a half year calendar.