> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.phocassoftware.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.phocassoftware.com/flex-modes/customize-your-view/change-the-period.md). # Change the period {% hint style="success" %} Periods are a core concept in Phocas. Read the [Periods](/basics/getting-started/periods.md) page to learn how periods work and about the different types of periods. {% endhint %} In Phocas, a *period* defines the range of dates included in your analysis. You can select a predefined period that's available in the database, add your own user-defined period, or apply a custom period. ## Apply a predefined period Apply a predefined period to quickly view your data for a date range set up for the database by your administrator. 1. Click the **Period** menu. 2. Select the period you want to apply. The selected period displays in the **Period** menu and the grid updates with data for that date range.

The current month's local values displaying for each sales rep

## Apply a custom period Apply a custom period when you want to use your own date range for the current analysis without adding it permanently to the **Period** menu. 1. Click the **Period** menu > **Select dates**. 2. Select the period type: **Year**, **Quarter**, **Month**, **Week**, or **Day**.\ **Quarter** (calendar year) and **Week** (Sunday to Saturday) are default period types. To customize these period types, add a user-defined period instead. 3. Select the **Start** and **End** of the date range. You can use **fixed** or **dynamic** dates. 4. Click **Apply**. The custom period displays temporarily in the **Period** menu and the grid updates with data for that date range. ### Use a fixed date range Use a fixed date range when you need precision, repeatability or historical consistency. A fixed date range has a set start and end date. The dates don't change when you redo the analysis or open a favorite later. Examples include: * Annual sales for the 2025 financial year. * A marketing campaign that ran from March 15 to April 30, 2025. * Sales in January 2024 compared with January 2025. #### Example: Analyze sales during the summer Suppose you want to identify customers who purchased products during the summer season (in the northern hemisphere). 1. Select the **Month** period type. 2. Select June 2025 as the **Start** month and August 2025 as the **End** month. 3. Click **Apply**.

### Use a dynamic date range Use a dynamic date range when you need automation, recency or ongoing monitoring. A dynamic date range updates automatically based on when you run the analysis. If you save the view as a favorite, you get a set-and-forget analysis that continues to update with the latest applicable data. Examples include: * A sales dashboard showing the last 7 days' revenue. * An inventory report tracking stock levels in the month to date (MTD) or quarter to date (QTD). * A weekly performance review always looking at the previous week. Common dynamic date ranges include *Last 30 days*, *Month to date (MTD)*, and *Year to date (YTD)*. For the **Day** period type, you can also select special dynamic dates: * **First day**: Always the first day of the month. * **Last day**: Always the last day of the month. * **Match today**: The same day number as today. For example, the 29th of each month. * **Match yesterday**: The same day number as yesterday. For example, the 28th of each month. The following examples show some common dynamic periods you can add to your analysis:

Example 1: Last month

Suppose today is in the month of September and you want to view the Sales performance of the previous month. Next month (October), you'll want to see September's sales values, and so on. 1. Select the **Month** period type. 2. Click **Use dynamic dates** at the bottom of both the **Start** and **End** calendars. By default, the **Relative** dynamic option is selected for both. 3. Leave **Last month** selected for the **Start** and change the **End** to **Last month**. 4. Click **Apply**.

Example 2: Rolling 12 months

Suppose you want to view sales data for the current month and previous 11 months. Going forward, you want this 12-month period to update automatically. 1. Select the **Month** period type. 2. Click **Use dynamic dates** at the bottom of both the **Start** and **End** calendars. By default, the **Relative** dynamic option is selected for both. 3. Change the **Start** to **11 months ago** and the **End** to **This month**. 4. Click **Apply**.

Example 3: Last 3 years

Suppose today is in the month of September and you want to view the sales data for the last 3 years. Going forward, you want to see the current year and previous 2 years' sales data on any given day. 1. Select the **Year** period type. 2. Click **Use dynamic dates** at the bottom of both the **Start** and **End** calendars. 3. Change the **Start** to **2 years ago** and the **End** to **This year**. 4. Click **Apply**.

Example 4: Last 7 days

Suppose today is September 29 and you want to view the sales data for the last week (7 days). Going forward, you want to see the past weeks' sales data on any given day. 1. Select the **Day** period type. 2. Click **Use dynamic dates** at the bottom of both the **Start** and **End** calendars. By default, the **Relative** dynamic option is selected for both. 3. Change the **Start** to **6 days ago** and leave the **End** as **Today** (default). 4. Click **Apply**.

Example 5: Financial year-to-date

Suppose your financial year runs from April to March and you want to see this year's financial performance so far (September). Going forward, you want to see data for the financial year to date on any given day. 1. Select the **Month** period type. 2. Click **Use dynamic dates** at the bottom of both the **Start** and **End** calendars. By default, the **Relative** dynamic option is selected for both. 3. Select **Recent** > **Most recent** > **April** for the **Start**. 4. Leave **Relative** > **This month** (default) selected for the **End**. 5. Click **Apply**.

Example 6: Yesterday

Suppose you want to quickly review the previous day's data on any given day. 1. Select the **Day** period type. 2. Click **Use dynamic dates** at the bottom of both the **Start** and **End** calendars. By default, the **Relative** dynamic option is selected for both. 3. Select **Special** > **Match yesterday** for both the **Start** and **End**. 4. Click **Apply**.

## Add a user-defined period {% hint style="info" %} If you think your defined period would be useful to other users, ask your administrator to set up a new [period type](/administration/periods-administration/period-types.md) in the database, so all users (provided they have permission) can see it in the **Period** list. {% endhint %} Add a user-defined period when you want to save a date range and make it available for reuse in the **Period** menu. 1. Click the **Period** menu, then click **Add**. 2. Enter a name for the period. 3. Select how you want to define the period: * **Year**, **Month** (calendar year) or **Day** (Sunday to Saturday): Set the start and end using fixed or dynamic dates. See the examples in **Apply a custom period** above, which also apply to user-defined periods. * **Custom period types**: Select a period type set up by your administrator, then select the start and end periods. To make the range dynamic, select **Dynamic** and set the start or end period relative to the current period. See the examples below.

Custom period types are set up and managed in the Administration module

4. Click **Add**.

The grid updates with data for that date range and the new period displays under **User defined** in the **Period** menu, where you can select it whenever you want to use it.

Product sales data for the user-defined date range

You can edit or delete a user-defined period from the **Period** menu. The following examples show how to use **Custom period types**:

Example 1: Financial quarter

Suppose your administrator has set up **Quarters** as a custom period type and you want a user-defined period for the second half of the financial year. 1. On the **Custom period types** tab, select **Quarters**. 2. Select **2026-Q3** as the **Start period**. 3. Select **2026-Q4** as the **End period**. 4. Click **Add**. The user-defined period includes both quarters.

Example 2: Rolling 4-4-5 periods

Suppose your administrator has set up a **4-4-5 Periods** custom period type and you want a rolling user-defined period covering the current accounting period and the previous three periods. 1. On the **Custom period types** tab, select **4-4-5 Periods**. 2. For **Start period**, select **Dynamic**, then select **3 periods ago**. 3. For **End period**, select **Dynamic**, then select **This period**. 4. Click **Add**. The user-defined period always covers the current accounting period and the previous three periods.

## Do more with periods You can use periods in other ways to customize your analysis. Explore these related options: * Use [Variance mode](/flex-modes/customize-your-view/switch-modes.md#variance-mode) to compare two periods and analyze the variance between them. Turn on **Show all periods** to break down the selected period and identify where the variance occurred. * In any mode, add a [measure column](/flex-modes/manage-columns.md#add-a-measure-column) to the grid, then change the period that applies to that column. This allows you to view the same stream of data for two different periods. * In the [grid settings](/flex-modes/customize-your-view/manage-grid-settings.md): * Turn on **Reverse the period** to reverse the order of the period columns in the grid. * Turn on **Period to date** to include transactions up to the same date in each comparison period. This aligns the periods to the same point in time. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.phocassoftware.com/flex-modes/customize-your-view/change-the-period.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.