J.1 Aggregation Methods

Aggregation Methods are assigned as attributes to Financial Elements.

A dimension attribute, the Aggregation Method is itself a simple dimension and is defined by a list of values. The Aggregation Method dimension is reserved (meaning that you may not modify its membership). Additionally, the Aggregation Method is a required attribute of the Financial Element (meaning that an Aggregation Method needs to be assigned to each Financial Element). An Aggregation Method is already assigned to each reserved Financial Element and you may not modify reserved Financial Elements. However, you must assign an Aggregation Method to any user-defined Financial Element that you create. The members of the Aggregation Method dimension are as follows.

• Add: For Financial Elements having the “Add” Aggregation Method, each YTD value is calculated as the sum of each preceding month. For example, the YTD value for the fourth month of a Fiscal year for which the Financial Element has the Aggregation Method of “Add” is the sum of the amounts of the first, second, third, and fourth month of the Fiscal year.
• Average: For Financial Elements having the “Average” Aggregation Method, calculate each YTD value as the average of each preceding month. For example, the YTD value for the fourth month of a Fiscal year for which the Financial Element has the Aggregation Method of “Average” is the average of the amounts of the first, second, third, and the fourth month of the Fiscal year.
• Average by Days Weighted: For Financial Elements having the “Average by Days Weighted” Aggregation Method, calculate each YTD value as the weighted average of each preceding month. For example, the YTD value for the fourth month of a Fiscal year for which the Financial Element has the Aggregation Method of “Average by Days Weighted” is [(Amount of the first-month x 31) + (Amount of the second-month x 28) + (Amount of the third-month x 31) + (Amount of the fourth-month x 30)] / (31 + 28 + 31 + 30). “Average by Days Weighted” calculations are not adjusted to using 29 days in leap years.
• Beginning or Last: For Financial Elements having either the “Beginning” or “Last” Aggregation Method, each YTD value is equal to the value for MTD for the same month. For example, the YTD value for the fourth month of a Fiscal year for which the Financial Element has the Aggregation Method of “Beginning” or “Last” is simply the amount fourth month of the Fiscal year.

The above descriptions are general in that they assume a normal calendar configuration (for details on configuring a fiscal year calendar that does not begin in January and/or has a duration other than 12 months, see Fiscal Year Information).