Managing period settings for the database calendar
The Metrics Management calendar contains period settings for each period type in the database. Period settings define which periods are available for user data entry, and the default data that displays in Metrics Management.
Period settings include locked, completed, and current periods, and the dashboard period range. The following list describes these settings:
The locked period indicates that users cannot enter data prior to and including this period. Locking a period ensures data integrity.
The completed period indicates that data is complete for this period and prior periods. By default, books, maps, and views display the completed period. The completed period contains completed data and is most suitable for data display.
The current period indicates the period for which data is entered. Measures data can appear incomplete for the current period, depending on when individual departments or locations enter or import data into Metrics Management.
The dashboard period range defines the range of data available for data entry in the dashboard.
Before deploying a database to a production environment, define initial settings for the locked and completed periods. After the database is in production, the system specialist manually updates period settings as users complete period data entry. Actuate recommends that you pick a specific date after the end of each period to change the period settings.
Settings for each period type are independent of each other. For example, locking the last month in a quarter does not lock that quarter.
Calendar Settings also supports defining how estimated or partial data appears for dates beyond the completed period. Metrics Management data charts display a vertical, dashed line to mark the end of the completed period. You can choose to use an asterisk to mark the end of the completed period in data tables. You can also provide text that explains the purpose of the asterisk. Metrics Management dashboards display the asterisk and text as a footnote.
How to manage period settings for the database calendar
1 Choose Setup➛Configure.
2 In Calendar Settings, choose Edit. Calendar Settings appears, as shown in Figure 1‑18.
Figure 1‑18 Configuring calendar settings for a database
3 From the Period type column, select a period type to edit. For example, select Years. Select a locked, completed, and current period. Then, in Dashboard period range, perform one of the following tasks:
To specify a date range for data entry in the dashboard, select a period range value. For example, select This Year to Date.
To allow data entry for only the completed period, select Default.
To make Direct Data Entry unavailable to the dashboard, select <None>.
4 Define period settings for the remainder of the period types. For example, define period settings for Quarters, then Months. Then, choose OK.
5 In Beyond the completed period, shown in Figure 1‑19, perform any of the following tasks:
To show the base comparison series for beyond completed data, choose Show base series data.
To show an asterisk beside beyond completed data, choose Indicate periods with an asterisk. In Display this footnote, provide text explaining the meaning of the asterisk.
Figure 1‑19 Configuring beyond completed period settings
The locked period indicates that users cannot enter data prior to and including this period. Locking a period ensures data integrity.
