Defining Accounting Calendars

This topic provides an overview of accounting calendar setup, lists common elements, and discusses how to:

Define a base calendar.
Modify or add detail calendars.
Define summary calendars.
(Optional) Define business calendars.
(Optional) Define daily calendars.
(Optional) Define budget calendars.
Define calendar frequencies.
Define frequency details.
Define timespans.

Pages Used to Define Accounting Calendars

Page Name	Definition Name	Navigation	Usage
Calendar Builder	CALENDAR_BUILDER	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Calendar Builder	Define a base calendar to be used by other calendars that you create. The calendar that you create is by default a detail calendar.
Detail Calendar	DETAIL_CALENDAR1	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Detail Calendar	Modify or add detail accounting calendars that match or differ from your general ledger calendars.
Summary Calendar	SUMMARY_CALENDAR	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Summary Calendar, then select Summary Calendar	Define a summary calendar to group or combine periods from detail calendars.
Summary Budget Period Calendar	SUMMARY_BP_CAL	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Summary BP Calendar, then select Summary Budget Period Calendar	Define a summary budget period calendar to group or combine periods from detail calendars.
Business Day Calendar	BUS_CALENDAR	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Business Day Calendar	Define a business calendar to specify your normal business week and the holidays observed by your banks.
Daily Calendar	DAILY_CALENDAR	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Daily Calendar	Define a daily calendar for reporting purposes.
Budget Calendar	CAL_BP_TBL	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Budget Calendar	Define a budget calendar for controlled budget processing.
Frequency Definition	PF_FREQUENCY_DEFN	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Frequency, then select Frequency Definition	Define calendar frequencies. Add and modify frequency definitions.
Frequency Details	PF_FREQUENCY_DTL	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Frequency Details	Define frequency details by assigning the frequencies to calendars.
TimeSpan	TIME_SPAN	select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select TimeSpan	Define timespans.

Understanding Accounting Calendar Setup

In PeopleSoft systems, you can establish an accounting period configuration based on the beginning and ending period dates that you normally use and combine these periods to create accounting calendars. These calendars define the time periods to which you post transactions or create reports for different ledger group and business unit combinations. You select the calendar that defines the periods for a business unit and ledger group combination.

You can maintain an unlimited number of accounting periods over any span of years. You can maintain traditional monthly periods, including an additional adjustment period, or you can define your own periods.

Note: In the PeopleSoft EPM product line, calendars are used mostly for reporting. However, for the system to properly handle data (for example, general ledger data) from your transaction database, you must be sure that the detail calendars match those in your transaction accounting system. You can move calendars from your PeopleSoft transaction database into your PeopleSoft EPM database using PeopleTools such as Data Mover.

The PeopleSoft system supports multiple calendars, so you can keep one calendar for actuals, another for budget and forecast activity, and still others for special reporting needs. Because you store calendars in tables, you can share them across business units, helping to provide consistency in period dates and easing the process of acquisition and consolidation.

PeopleSoft uses the following calendar definition options:

Calendar Builder

Use to create a base calendar from which to create other calendars such as the detail calendar.

Detail Calendar

Define detail calendars that include the number and duration of accounting periods in your fiscal year and the beginning and ending dates for each period. These calendars also identify the adjustment periods for the calendar.

Summary Calendar

Use summary calendars to group detail calendar periods for inquiries and reporting, such as for quarterly reports and semiannual reviews. In this way, your financial information is always ready to be summarized into the timespans that you use most frequently.

(Optional) Business Calendar

Use to create the business or working calendar that identifies holidays and non work days.

(Optional) Daily Calendar

Use for reporting purposes.

(Optional) Budget Period Calendar

Use to manually define fiscal and non fiscal detail budget period calendars.

Calendar Frequencies

Use to define frequency relationships among multiple calendars. You can use frequencies to create multiple relationships among calendars or assign a frequency designation to a calendar. For example, you might have a calendar with a quarterly frequency. This quarterly frequency might be based on the monthly detail calendar.

Timespans

Timespans control the number of periods for which data can be extracted from the ledger table. They enable you to easily select and retrieve information for use in allocations and inquiries. Many timespans are expressed relative to the current period, so that they automatically adapt the content of a report to the date it is produced. Others are defined for specific periods. While many commonly used timespans are included in your PeopleSoft system, you can define additional timespans on the TimeSpan page as necessary.

Common Elements Used to Define Accounting Calendars

Periods Per FY (periods per fiscal year)

Enter the number of periods in an accounting year for a calendar.

Description

Enter a description. The description appears on prompt lists, inquiries, and reports.

Descr (description)

Enter a detailed description of the calendar.

Calendar Builder Page

Use the Calendar Builder page (CALENDAR_BUILDER) to define a base calendar to be used by other calendars that you create. The calendar that you create is by default a detail calendar.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Calendar Builder

Image: Calendar Builder page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Calendar Builder page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Begin Date

Enter the beginning date for the calendar. The system uses this date and the end date to create the range of periods for the calendar.

End Date

Enter the end date for the calendar. The system uses this date with the begin date to create the range of periods for the calendar.

Start Fiscal Year

The system enters a default year for this field based on the year that you enter in the begin date field.

Calendar Method

Select one of the following options to determine the number of periods in the calendar: daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or yearly. For example, a daily calendar has 365 periods and a quarterly will have 4 periods. The system updates to display the number of periods in the Periods Per FY (periods per fiscal year) field.

Monthly Allocation Type

Use to select the appropriate period allocations for a monthly calendar. Select from the following: 12 period Calendar, 13 period Calendar, 445 Calendar (4 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks), 454 Calendar (4 weeks, 5 weeks, 4 weeks), or 544 Calendar (5 weeks, 4 weeks, 4 weeks).

Generate

Click this option to have the system generate the calendar. The generated calendar periods display begin and end dates in the grid at the bottom of the page.

Period Name and Abbreviation

Use these fields to change the generated calendar period name and abbreviation if applicable.

Note: As you define calendars, keep in mind that in all instances in which a PeopleSoft EPM warehouse business unit is related to a general ledger business unit, the calendars for the business units should be the same. Warehouse business units are described elsewhere in this topic.

After you have saved a calendar using the calendar builder, you can only modify the calendar description or long description on the Calendar Builder page. If you need to modify the saved calendar further, use the other calendar pages, (for example the Detail Calendar page).

By default, a calendar that you create with the Calendar Builder is a detail calendar.

Detail Calendar Page

Use the Detail Calendar page (DETAIL_CALENDAR1) to modify or add detail accounting calendars that match or differ from your general ledger calendars.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Detail Calendar

Image: Detail Calendar page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Detail Calendar page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

You create detail calendars using the Calendar Builder. Use this page to modify calendars after they have been created.

Periods per FY (periods per fiscal year)

Displays the appropriate number of periods for the calendar. For example, 4 indicates a quarterly calendar.

End Date Default

This setting specifies which periodic intervals the system creates. Values are: month, bimonth (bi-monthly), quarter, semi-annual, year, and days.

If you select days, enter the number of days to include in the calendar.

The system uses the end date default setting to populate the subsequent begin and end date values in the grid at the bottom of the page.

Detail Periods

Displays the detail periods for the calendar, including the begin and end dates, period name, and abbreviation.

Adjustment Periods

Displays any adjustment periods defined for the calendar, including the period name and abbreviation.

When you enter period dates, you can define monthly calendar periods or any fiscal period that matches your accounting calendar (such as weekly or bimonthly) as long as the beginning and ending dates of successive periods don't overlap. Every day of the year must be included in a period; you cannot leave gaps between period dates. Make sure that your detail calendar includes a period for the oldest transaction that you want to enter. After installing your PeopleSoft system, you might want to make this earliest date more restrictive.

You will need to return to this page to enter ensuing years manually. You can enter several years at a time or treat the task as part of your end-of-year system maintenance.

After you define your detail calendar, you can use it to manage open periods for the generation of journals. You can also use it to define the periods that store summarized results in a summary ledger.

Note: The MODEL calendar delivered with your system contains data from 1957 to 2025. You can use the MODEL calendar rather than entering your own data; if you do so, make a copy of MODEL first, and make changes to the copy.

Summary Calendar Page

Use the Summary Calendar page (SUMMARY_CALENDAR) to define a summary calendar to group or combine periods from detail calendars.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Summary Calendar, then select Summary Calendar

Image: Summary Calendar page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Summary Calendar page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Consider the following when setting up summary calendars. A quarterly summary calendar, for example, might have four periods, each consisting of three periods from a monthly detail calendar. A summary calendar can also combine cumulative detail calendar accounting periods to create year-to-date balances. Summary calendars are especially useful for determining how your models will roll up for reporting purposes. As with detail calendars, you can include as many fiscal years as you need in one summary calendar.

Enter a description and periods per fiscal year to specify the number of periods in the accounting year for this calendar.

Detail Calendar

Select the ID of the detail calendar on which this calendar is based. Every summary calendar must be based on a detail calendar.

Supply the fiscal year, period, period name, and abbreviation.

From Budget Period and To Budget Period

Enter the detail calendar periods to be summarized in each summary period.

Note: You can define as many years on a calendar as necessary. Be sure to include any years that you use to store historical information.

Summary Budget Period Calendar Page

Use the Summary Budget Period Calendar page (SUMMARY_BP_CAL) to define a summary budget period calendar to group or combine periods from detail calendars.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Summary BP Calendar, then select Summary Budget Period Calendar

Image: Summary Budget Period Calendar page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Summary Budget Period Calendar page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Summary calendars are especially useful for determining how your models will roll up for reporting purposes. Enter a description, budget period, and from/to periods to specify the number of budget periods in the accounting year for this calendar.

Business Day Calendar Page

Use the Business Day Calendar page (BUS_CALENDAR) to define a business calendar to specify your normal business week and the holidays observed by your banks.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Business Day Calendar

Image: Business Day Calendar page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Business Day Calendar page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Normal Business Days

Select the business days of the week to include.

Notes

Enter any notes to further describe this calendar.

In the grid at the bottom of the page enter a row for each holiday on which you know businesses won't operate.

Year and Date

Specify the year and date for any holidays that you include.

Holiday Name

Enter the name of the holiday on which your business does not operate.

In multinational corporations, you accommodate the various locations and different holidays observed by defining as many business calendars as you need for each SetID.

Note: Business calendars determine the number of workdays in each month, for reporting purposes only.

Note: If you use PeopleSoft Asset Liability Management, Funds Transfer Pricing, or Risk-Weighted Capital, you must create a business day calendar to define your holidays.

Daily Calendar Page

Use the Daily Calendar page (DAILY_CALENDAR) to define a daily calendar for reporting purposes.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Daily Calendar

Image: Daily Calendar page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Daily Calendar page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Create

Click to access the Create Detail Periods secondary page, on which you can enter the fiscal year and start date for creating daily periods.

Update

Click to access the Create Detail Periods secondary page, on which you can enter a new fiscal year.

Remember to set up a calendar for each fiscal year. To display the detail periods for existing calendars, click the Update button.

Note: For leap years, you must change the periods per fiscal year value from 365 to 366 to create the last period for the leap year (for example, December 31, 2004).

Budget Calendar Page

Use the Budget Calendar page (CAL_BP_TBL) to define a budget calendar for controlled budget processing.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Budget Calendar

Image: Budget Calendar page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Budget Calendar page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

For budget calendars, you might want to enter a descriptive calendar ID such as AN for an annual calendar budget.

Enter the budget periods, begin and end dates, and period names.

Frequency Definition Page

Use the Frequency Definition page (PF_FREQUENCY_DEFN) to define calendar frequencies. Add and modify frequency definitions.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Frequency, then select Frequency Definition

Image: Frequency Definition page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Frequency Definition page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Define frequencies by adding a row with a description or by updating an existing description.

Note: The frequencies you define on this page will comprise the list of valid values in the Frequency Details page.

Frequency Details Page

Use the Frequency Details page (PF_FREQUENCY_DTL) to define frequency details by assigning the frequencies to calendars.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select Frequency Details

Image: Frequency Details page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Frequency Details page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Calendar ID

Select a calendar. The calendar ID that you select represents the calendar that you want to associate with the frequency. You can have more than one frequency defined for a single calendar. The system updates to display calendar detail.

You can also specify all frequencies that are associated with any other frequency definition for this frequency group. You can define frequency relationships across multiple calendars.

Process

Select for any of the accounting periods that you want to process.

Timespan Page

Use the TimeSpan page (TIME_SPAN) to define timespans.

Navigation

select EPM Foundation, then select EPM Setup, then select Common Definitions, then select Calendars, then select TimeSpan

Image: Time Span page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Time Span page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Start Year and Start Period

Enter the appropriate value. The value that you enter depends on the type that you select.

End Year and End Period

Enter the appropriate value. The value that you enter depends on the type that you select.

Type

Select from the following:

Absolute Period or Absolute Year: You can enter any year or period that has been defined in the timespans calendar.

Relative to Current Period or Relative to Current Year: Enter 0 as the period or year to select the current year or period, -1 to indicate the previous year or period, 1 to indicate the next, and so forth.

Use Scenario Calendar

Select this check box to use the specified scenario calendar with this timespan. This enables you to have a scenario-based timespan.

Include Balance Forward

Select this check box if you use nVision for the consolidation ledger or any ledger with balance forward accounts. If you select this check box, nVision will compute ledger balance.

Calendar ID

Select the calendar that you want to use with this timespan.

Note: Balance forward accounts store balance forward amounts. For example, in your regular accounting system you might want to specify asset, liability, and equity accounts as balance forward accounts, but not revenue or expense accounts. The account balance forward function rolls forward the accounts on any date specified for flexible year-end processing.

See the product documentation for PeopleSoft EPM: Global Consolidations