Manage Date Rules

Owned by Kavitha Thangaswamy (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jul 18, 2023 by Pamela Totas (Deactivated)
5 min read

In the Date Rules workspace, you can create, edit and delete custom date rules.

Date rules are used to dynamically generate the date parameters for an associated process. The date rule allows you to specify a date range that offsets the effective date of the server that process the request. For example, date rules are used to calculate relative dates, that is, dates in relation to the current cycle effective date. The date range consists of a start date and an end date. In the case of reporting, many reports only utilize one of the dates when the date rule is applied to them, but in some reports, such as the multi-period or range reports, both dates are used. The date rule works by tracking an effective date and applying two offsets to that date. The first offset is used for the start date, and the second is used for the end date. The date rule also specifies which date to use for reports/processes that require only one date.

 

Create Date Rules

You can create custom date rules to calculate relative dates.

To create date rules:

  1. From the left navigation, click Setup > Metadata > Date Rules.
    You see the Date Rules workspace with the list of available date rules.

  2. On the Home tab, click Create New.
    You see the Create New Date Rule dialog box.

  3. Type a name for the date rule in the Name box.

  4. Type a description about the date rule in the Description box, if required.

  5. Under Start Date section, click the Type list to select the type of start date. Options include:
    - Fixed
    - Calculate
    - Fund Inception Date
    - Fund Fiscal Year to Date
    - Fund Fiscal Quarter to Date (common date)
    - Fund Fiscal Year to Date (common date)
    - Fund Fiscal Quarter to Date (Prior Year)
    - Fund Fiscal Year to Date (Prior Year)
    - Current Business Date.
    Note: If you select Fixed option, you need to enter only the start date and then you can go to the End Date section.
    If you select the Calculate option, then you need to enter the offset parameters.

  6. In the Offset by box, type or select the number for the offset date. Then click the second drop-down to select the offset date type in-terms of Day(s), Week(s), Month(s), Quarter(s) or Year(s). Select Using Business Calendar check box to determine the offset days based on the business calendar.
    This Offset by setting allows you to adjust the start date of a process to run for a certain date in the past or in the future. For instance, if today is January 1st 2018 and you want to create a data rule to run a report prior 15 days, that is December 16th, then you need to set the Offset value as -15 and Offset date type as Days in this particular scenario.
    Note: You can enter positive or negative value for the Offset. Positive numeric values will increase the input date while negative values will decrease the date.

  7. Click the Adjust to list to adjust the input date or the date calculated by the Offset by option. Options include:
    - Week Start
    - Week End
    - Month Start
    - Month End
    - Calendar Year Start
    - Calendar Year End
    - Quarter Begin
    - Quarter End. 

  8. In the Additional Offset by box, type or select the number for the offset date. Then click the second drop-down to select the offset date type in-terms of Day(s), Week(s), Month(s), Quarter(s) or Year(s). Select Using Business Calendar check box to determine the offset days based on the business calendar.
    This Additional Offset setting makes it easier for you to select a particular day of a month. For instance, if the current date is March 1st and you want to run a report for January 15th. Then, you need to set the Offset by option with the default value ‘0’ days, and select Calendar Year Start in Adjust to option and finally enter +14 in the Additional Offset by box. (The Calendar Year Start option will go to January 1st and adding 14 days to that will get the report to run for January 15th).
    Note: You can enter positive or negative value for the Offset. Positive numeric values will increase the input date while negative values will decrease the date.

  9. Repeat the process outlined above for the End Date section, as well.

  10. In Single Date section, select either Start Date or End Date to use in processes where a single date is required. 

  11. Click the Business Calendar Source list to select a business calendar to use for the date rule.
    This option is enabled only if 'Using Business Calendar' checkbox is selected in Start Date or End Date section.

  12. Select Only Include Month Ends in Range check box to include only month ends in date range calculation 

  13. Click the Time Zone list to select a time zone for the date rule. By default, Use default time zone as on server is selected.
    You see all the available list of time zones.

  14. Click Test Now to test and verify the defined date rule.
    This option acts like a checkpoint, which allows you to verify whether the defined date rule is valid or not. If it is not a valid date rule, you can modify the previously defined parameters.

  15. Or else, select the Test when saving checkbox to test the date rule while saving your changes.

  16. Click Save to save the date rule.
    The system creates the date rule and adds it to the available date rules.

Edit Date Rules

In Date Rules workspace, you can view and edit the date rules.

To edit date rules:

  1. From the left navigation, click Setup > Metadata > Date Rules.
    You see the Date Rules workspace with the list of available date rules.

  2. Select the date rule you want to edit and then click Edit in the Home tab.
    You see the Edit Date Rule dialog box.

  3. Review the information, make the appropriate changes, and click OK.
    You see the Date Rules workspace refresh with the list of available date rules.

Duplicate Date Rules

In Date Rules workspace, you can duplicate date rules.

To duplicate date rules:

  1. From the left navigation, click Setup > Metadata > Date Rules.
    You see the Date Rules workspace with the list of available date rules.

  2. Select the date rule you want to duplicate and then click Duplicate in the Home tab.
    You see the Copy Date Rule dialog box.

  3. Provide a name for the date rule and click OK.
    The system duplicates the date rule and lists it in the available date rules.

Delete Date Rules

You can delete date rules from the list of available date rules in the workspace. 

To delete date rules:

  1. From the left navigation, click Setup > Metadata > Date Rules.
    You see the Date Rules workspace with the list of available date rules.

  2. Select the date rule you want to delete and then click Delete.
    You see a confirmation box asking you to confirm the deletion.

  3. Click OK.
    The system deletes the date rule from the system.

Owner who creates the date rule alone can delete it.