# ReferenceDay The setting defines which day in January to set as reference day to define week 1. In other words, this setting prescribes how many days in week 1 must be dates within January. Syntax: ReferenceDay `ReferenceDay` sets how many days are included in the first week of the year. `ReferenceDay` can be set to any value between `1` and `7`. Any value outside of the `1-7` range is interpreted as the midpoint of the week (`4`), which is equivalent to `ReferenceDay` being set to `4`. If you do not select a value for the `ReferenceDay` setting, then the default value will show `ReferenceDay=0` which will be interpreted as the midpoint of the week (`4`), as seen in the `ReferenceDay` values table below. The `ReferenceDay` function is often used in combination with the following functions: Related functions | Variable | Interaction | | --- | --- | | [BrokenWeeks](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/BrokenWeeks.htm) | If the Qlik Sense application is operating with unbroken weeks, the `ReferenceDay` variable setting will be enforced. However, if broken weeks are being used, week 1 will begin on January 1 and terminate in conjunction with the `FirstWeekDay` variable setting and ignore the `ReferenceDay` flag. | | [FirstWeekDay](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/FirstWeekDay.htm) | Integer that defines which day to use as the first day of the week. | Qlik Sense allows the following values to be set for `ReferenceDay`: ReferenceDay values | Value | Reference day | | --- | --- | | 0 (default) | January 4 | | 1 | January 1 | | 2 | January 2 | | 3 | January 3 | | 4 | January 4 | | 5 | January 5 | | 6 | January 6 | | 7 | January 7 | In the following example the `ReferenceDay = 3` defines January 3 as the reference day: `SET ReferenceDay=3; //(set January 3 as the reference day)` For more information about using inline loads, see [Using inline loads to load data](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Scripting/inline-loads-qs.htm). ## Regional settings Unless otherwise specified, the examples in this topic use the following date format: MM/DD/YYYY. The date format is specified in the `SET DateFormat` statement in your data load script. The default date formatting may be different in your system, due to your regional settings and other factors. You can change the formats in the examples below to suit your requirements. Or you can change the formats in your load script to match these examples. For more information, see [Modifying regional settings for applications and scripts](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Apps/regional-settings-in-apps.htm). Default regional settings in applications are based on the user profile. These regional format settings are not related to the language displayed in the Qlik Cloud user interface. Qlik Cloud will be displayed in the same language as the browser you are using. If you are an application creator, you can set the default region for applications you create. For more information, see [Setting your preferred regional settings for creating apps and scripts in Qlik Cloud Analytics](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/UserInterface/Languages.htm#Setting). Examples: If you want ISO settings for weeks and week numbers, make sure to have the following in the script: ``` Set FirstWeekDay=0; Set BrokenWeeks=0; Set ReferenceDay=4; // Jan 4th is always in week 1 ``` If you want US settings, make sure to have the following in the script: ``` Set FirstWeekDay=6; Set BrokenWeeks=1; Set ReferenceDay=1; // Jan 1st is always in week 1 ``` ## Example 1 - Load script using the default value; ReferenceDay=0 [](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/ReferenceDay.htm) #### Load script and results Overview Open the Data load editor and add the load script below to a new section. The load script contains: * The `ReferenceDay` variable that is set to `0`. * The `BrokenWeeks` variable that is set to `0` which forces the application to use unbroken weeks. * A dataset of dates from the end of 2019 to the start of 2020. Load script ``` SET BrokenWeeks = 0; SET ReferenceDay = 0; Sales: LOAD date, sales, week(date) as week, weekday(date) as weekday Inline [ date,sales 12/27/2019,5000 12/28/2019,6000 12/29/2019,7000 12/30/2019,4000 12/31/2019,3000 01/01/2020,6000 01/02/2020,3000 01/03/2020,6000 01/04/2020,8000 01/05/2020,5000 01/06/2020,7000 01/07/2020,3000 01/08/2020,5000 01/09/2020,9000 01/10/2020,5000 01/11/2020,7000 ]; ``` Results Load the data and open a sheet. Create a new table and add these fields as dimensions: ` date week weekday ` Results table | date | week | weekday | | --- | --- | --- | | 12/27/2019 | 52 | Fri | | 12/28/2019 | 52 | Sat | | 12/29/2019 | 1 | Sun | | 12/30/2019 | 1 | Mon | | 12/31/2019 | 1 | Tue | | 01/01/2020 | 1 | Wed | | 01/02/2020 | 1 | Thu | | 01/03/2020 | 1 | Fri | | 01/04/2020 | 1 | Sat | | 01/05/2020 | 2 | Sun | | 01/06/2020 | 2 | Mon | | 01/07/2020 | 2 | Tue | | 01/08/2020 | 2 | Wed | | 01/09/2020 | 2 | Thu | | 01/10/2020 | 2 | Fri | | 01/11/2020 | 2 | Sat | Week 52 concludes on Saturday, December 28. Because `ReferenceDay` requires January 4 to be included in week 1, week 1 therefore begins on December 29 and concludes on Saturday, January 4. ## Example - ReferenceDay variable set to 5 [](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Scripting/NumberInterpretationVariables/ReferenceDay.htm) #### Load script and results Overview Open the Data load editor and add the load script below to a new section. The load script contains: * The `ReferenceDay` variable that is set to `5`. * The `BrokenWeeks` variable that is set to `0` which forces the application to use unbroken weeks. * A dataset of dates from the end of 2019 to the start of 2020. Load script ``` SET BrokenWeeks = 0; SET ReferenceDay = 5; Sales: LOAD date, sales, week(date) as week, weekday(date) as weekday Inline [ date,sales 12/27/2019,5000 12/28/2019,6000 12/29/2019,7000 12/30/2019,4000 12/31/2019,3000 01/01/2020,6000 01/02/2020,3000 01/03/2020,6000 01/04/2020,8000 01/05/2020,5000 01/06/2020,7000 01/07/2020,3000 01/08/2020,5000 01/09/2020,9000 01/10/2020,5000 01/11/2020,7000 ]; ``` Results Load the data and open a sheet. Create a new table and add these fields as dimensions: ` date week weekday ` Results table | date | week | weekday | | --- | --- | --- | | 12/27/2019 | 52 | Fri | | 12/28/2019 | 52 | Sat | | 12/29/2019 | 53 | Sun | | 12/30/2019 | 53 | Mon | | 12/31/2019 | 53 | Tue | | 01/01/2020 | 53 | Wed | | 01/02/2020 | 53 | Thu | | 01/03/2020 | 53 | Fri | | 01/04/2020 | 53 | Sat | | 01/05/2020 | 1 | Sun | | 01/06/2020 | 1 | Mon | | 01/07/2020 | 1 | Tue | | 01/08/2020 | 1 | Wed | | 01/09/2020 | 1 | Thu | | 01/10/2020 | 1 | Fri | | 01/11/2020 | 1 | Sat | Week 52 concludes on Saturday, December 28. The `BrokenWeeks` variable forces the application to use unbroken weeks. The reference day value of `5` requires January 5 to be included in week 1. However, this is eight days after the conclusion of week 52 of the previous year. Therefore, week 53 begins on December 29 and concludes on January 4. Week 1 begins on Sunday, January 5.