Add a Comparison Value Column to a Report

You can view the same data for two different time periods side-by-side in a report by adding a comparison value computed field.

You can specify the time periods used, and change them while running the report to view the data for different time periods. For example, you could have a report that shows the number of incidents created in the current week and the number of incidents created in the previous week. You could then run the report again to compare numbers of incidents created in the current month and previous month.

After you add a comparison value column to a report, the Comparison button on the Home tab becomes active and you can select the comparison time period. The comparison time period is relative to the time specified in a required date filter you must add to the report.

1. Add an output column that returns values you want to compare. For example, if you want to compare the number of incidents created from one week to the next, you could add a column for count to return a count of incidents.
2. Expand the Computed Fields tree in the data dictionary.
   Tip: You can also add comparison columns by clicking the column you want to compare on the design surface, clicking the Design tab, clicking the arrow on the Insert Column button, and then selecting the column you want to add.
3. Click the column you want to compare.
4. From the right side of the data dictionary, drag Comparison Value (column name) and drop it on the design surface.
5. Click the Home tab.
6. Click Comparison and select Edit Comparison Date Offset.
7. Do one of the following:
   • Enter the relative value you want to use for the default comparison date offset. For example, entering -1 Weeks Exactly returns values in the comparison value column that are derived from data that's exactly one week earlier than the data returned in the column that's being compared.
   • Click the Calendar to specify relative date and time values. See Filter Date Ranges.

   When you run the report, the default comparison date offset can be changed on the Search window. This lets you to run the report several times to compare different time periods.

8. Click OK.
9. Add a fixed or runtime selectable date filter to the report. This date filter is used to filter the data returned in the column being compared and determines the time period that the comparison column’s relative comparison date offset is based on.