This function finds if a timestamp falls within the same month, bi-month, quarter, four-month period, or half-year as a base date. It is also possible to find if the timestamp falls within a previous or following time period.
Syntax:
InMonths(n_months, timestamp, base_date, period_no [, first_month_of_year])
Return data type: Boolean
Arguments:
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| n_months |
The number of months that defines the period. An integer or expression that resolves to an integer that must be one of: 1 (equivalent to the inmonth() function), 2 (bi-month), 3 (equivalent to the inquarter() function), 4 (four-month period), or 6 (half year). |
| timestamp | The date that you want to compare with base_date. |
| base_date | Date that is used to evaluate the period. |
| period_no |
The period can be offset by period_no, an integer, or expression resolving to an integer, where the value 0 indicates the period that contains base_date. Negative values in period_no indicate preceding periods and positive values indicate succeeding periods. |
| first_month_of_year |
If you want to work with (fiscal) years not starting in January, indicate a value between 2 and 12 in first_month_of_year. |
Examples and results:
These examples use the date format DD/MM/YYYY. The date format is specified in the SET DateFormat statement at the top of your load script. Change the format in the examples to suit your requirements.
Example 1:
inmonths(4, '25/01/2013', '25/04/2013', 0)
Returns True. Because the value of timestamp, 25/01/2013, lies within the four-month period 01/01/2013 to 30/04/2013, in which the value of base_date, 25/04/2013 lies.
Example 2:
inmonths(4, '25/05/2013', '25/04/2013', 0)
Returns False. Because 25/05/2013 is outside the same period as the previous example.
Example 3:
inmonths(4, '25/11/2012', '01/02/2013', -1 )
Returns True. Because the value of period_no, -1, shifts the search period back one period of four months (the value of n-months), which makes the search period 01/09/2012 to 31/12/2012.
Example 4:
inmonths( 4, '25/05/2006', '01/03/2006', 0, 3)
Returns True. Because the value of first_month_of_year is set to 3, which makes the search period 01/03/2006 to 30/07/2006 instead of 01/01/2006 to 30/04/2006.
Example 5:
Add the example script to your document and run it. Then add, at least, the fields listed in the results column to a sheet in your document to see the result.
This example checks if the invoice date in the table falls in the bi-month period that includes the base_date shifted forwards by one bi-month period (by specifying period_no as 1).
TempTable:
LOAD RecNo() as InvID, * Inline [
InvDate
28/03/2012
10/12/2012
5/2/2013
31/3/2013
19/5/2013
15/9/2013
11/12/2013
2/3/2014
14/5/2014
13/6/2014
7/7/2014
4/8/2014
];
InvoiceData:
LOAD *,
InMonths(2, InvDate, '11/02/2013', 1) AS InMthsPlus1
Resident TempTable;
Drop table TempTable;
The resulting table contains the original dates and a column with the return value of the InMonths() function.
The search period is 01/03/2013 to 30/04/2013, because the value of base_date is shifted forwards two months from the value in the function (11/02/2013).
| InvDate | InMthsPlus1 |
|---|---|
| 28/03/2012 | 0 (False) |
| 10/12/2012 | 0 (False) |
| 5/2/2013 | 0 (False) |
| 31/3/2013 | -1 (True) |
| 19/5/2013 | 0 (False) |
| 15/9/2013 | 0 (False) |
| 11/12/2013 | 0 (False) |
| 2/3/2014 | 0 (False) |
| 14/5/2014 | 0 (False) |
| 13/6/2014 | 0 (False) |
| 7/7/2014 | 0 (False) |
| 4/8/2014 | 0 (False) |
