The date comparison feature will allow users to compare metrics across 5 date ranges. Let’s have a look at the available features & functionalities
How to compare data for multiple Date Range?
To get started, you’ll need to select the primary date range & then click on “+Add date compare”.
Once done, you’ll select the date range in the date comparison block 1 via 3 ways
- Manual selection by clicking on the date range (static)
- Select “Same date range (X days before the above range)” from the dropdown.
- Select “Current Sheet Cell” from the dropdown.
While the method “1” will allow you to have a static date range while method “2” will be a dynamic date range. (will change dynamically on scheduled)
Method 1: This is as simple as clicking on the input box & selecting the date range. The valid date format is YYYY-MM-DD. If you want to select a single date, simply enter the single date value in the same format as above.
Method 2: On selecting the dropdown option “Same date range (X days before the above range)“, the date range before the previous block will be populated.
For Eg: If the date range in the previous block is 2020-09-07 to 2020-09-13, then the current block will be 2020-08-31 to 2020-09-06 & so on…. (Refer the image below)
Here X is simply the date Gap between the start date of the current date block & the end date of the previous date block.
Method 3: When “Current sheet cell” is selected, you can input the sheet cell A1 notation such as “A1 to B1”. Make sure the format is valid.
Comparison Value
There are 3 types of comparison values
- Actual Value
- Absolute Change
- Percentage Change.
1.) Actual value: It is simply the exact value of the metrics in the previous date ranges.
2.) Absolute change: It will represent the difference in value between the original date & the previous date.
2.) Percentage change: It will represent the difference in percentage value between the original date & the previous date.
Have a look at the output of all 3 options below:
When the data is imported to the sheet, D1 will represent the primary date range, D2 will represent the first date comparison & so on…
Examples:
1.) Week On Week Comparison
Simply select Last week in the primary date range & then select the “Same date range (X days before the above range)” in the date comparison block. (Where X = 1).
2.) Day wise Comparison
Same as before, you can select yesterday in the primary date range & then select the “Same date range (X days before the above range)” in the date comparison block. (Where X = 1).
3.) Same Day – Last week Comparison
If you want to compare Monday vs Last Monday, etc… You can select a day in the primary date range & then select the “Same date range (X days before the above range)” in the date comparison block & X as 7.
4.) Weekday Comparison
If you want to compare weekdays across several weeks, you can select a Monday to Friday in the primary date range & then select the “Same date range (X days before the above range)” in the date comparison block & X as 3.
5.) Weekend Comparison
Similarly, for weekends comparison, you can select a Saturday & Sunday in the primary date range & then select the “Same date range (X days before the above range)” in the date comparison block & X as 6.
6.) Bi-Monthly Comparison
You can select a first 15 days in the primary date range & then select the “Same date range (X days before the above range)” in the date comparison block & X as 1.
7.) Last X Days comparison
You can even compare the last 2 days vs last to last 2 days & so on. Select a last X days in the primary date range & then select the “Same date range (X days before the above range)” in the date comparison block & X as 1.
For more advanced use cases, you can utilize the “Current Sheet Cell” option.