Comparison Types for Balance Exceptions

Comparison types define the period that you use to determine whether an exception has occurred.

For example, select Average in months as the comparison type and enter 3 in the Comparison Value field. In this scenario, the current month value is compared to the average of the previous three months.

When you're creating balance exceptions, select a comparison type. Some comparison values are preset and you can't change them:

• Current month, Current period, Current quarter, and Current year always have a comparison value of 0.
• Previous period and Previous month have a comparison value of 1.

This table lists each comparison type that you can select and explains how it operates as a basis of comparison.

Comparison Type	How it Operates as a Basis of Comparison
Average in months	Compares the current month to date balance with the average of previous months to date. Only available if you have a Month to Date balance dimension for assignment or payroll relationship.
Current month	Compares values to the total for the current month to date balance. Doesn't use any previous month as a basis for comparison. Only available if you have a Month to Date balance dimension for assignment or payroll relationship.
Current period	Compares values to the total for the current period to date. Doesn't use any previous period as a basis for comparison. Only available if you have a Period to Date balance dimension for assignment or payroll relationship.
Current quarter	Compares values to the total for the current quarter to date. Doesn't use any previous period as a basis for comparison. Only available if you have a Quarter to Date balance dimension for assignment or payroll relationship.
Current year	Compares values to the total for the current year to date. Doesn't use any previous period as a basis for comparison. Only available if you have a Year to Date balance dimension for assignment or payroll relationship.
Previous month	Uses the previous month as a basis of comparison. Only available if you have a Month to Date balance dimension for assignment or payroll relationship.
Previous period	Uses the previous period as a basis of comparison. Only available if you have a Period to Date balance dimension for assignment or payroll relationship.

If you select a Comparison Type of Average in months, you must enter a Comparison Value to determine the number of months that are averaged for the comparison.

Note: A Comparison Value field is shown only for the Average in Months comparison type. It is hidden for other comparison types.

Balance Variance Type

To reference two balances in the balance exception equation, select the Balance variance type on the Create Balance Exception page and then select the Target Balance Name and Target Dimension Name. This is applicable only when the Comparison Type is of type Current Month, Period, Quarter, or Year.

The context values for Target Dimension Name are inherited from the Dimension Name you select on the Create Balance Exception page as the first dimension. No additional contexts are set for Target Dimension Name.