Using Relative Dates Mode

In Arcadia Enterprise, the relative date mode in a date filter enables you to select a subset range of dates anchored to a particular date.

This article describes how to use relative date mode in a calendar heat map visual.

In the following example, we demonstrate how to anchor a date to 2015-01-01 and limit the visual output to next two years from this date.

The following steps use a calendar heat map visual, which is built on the dataset Food Stores Inspection in NYC.

  1. In the Visual Designer, in the left menu area, click the New Visual tab.

  2. In the visuals menu, find and click Calendar Heatmap. Make sure you select the Food Stores Inspection in NYC.dataset.

  3. Under Dimensions, select inspection_date, and drag and drop it to the Date shelf of the visual.
  4. Under Measures, select Record Count, and drag and drop it to the Measures shelf of the visual.
  5. Click Refresh Visual.
    Dispalying the Visual Designer and calendar heat map (active) with 'inspection date' in the Dimension shelf and 'record count' in the Measures shelf

  6. Note that the calendar heatmap visual appears in the main area of the interface with inspection dates for three years: 2015, 2016, and 2017.

    Displaying the calendar heatmap visual with inspection dates for 2015, 2016, and 2017

  7. At the top left corner of the Visual Designer, click Save.

    clicking to save
  8. Click Close.
  9. In the Dashboard Designer, click the Filters tab.

  10. Under the Dimensions category, click the inspection_date field.

    Note that this adds a filter to the dashboard. This filter is based directly on the field inspection_date, and has a type timestamp.
    Displaying a dashboard filter. This filter is based directly on the field inspection_date, and has a type timestamp.

  11. Note that the dashboard filter contains the date range for the entire dataset; in this case, it is for three years from 20015-01-01 through 2017-12-31.

  12. On the filter, click the (calendar) icon, and select the Relative Dates option from the menu.

    Selecting Relative Dates option from the dropdown menu of the Date filter
  13. The Relative Date modal window appears. Let us anchor the date to 2015-01-01 and limit the visual output to next two years from this date. Select the following anchor:
    • Anchor to. To specify an anchor, click in the edit field and select a date from the calendar interface. We selected 2015-01-01.
    • The other option is Anchor to Today (default).
  14. Under Units select Years.

    The other options are Days, Weeks, Months, Quarters.

  15. Check Next and enter 2 in the edit box.

    The other options are Previous Year, This Year, Next Year, Custom, Last <number>Years, Year to date.

  16. Click Apply.
    Displaying the options for setting the relative date

  17. Note that the visual output is now limited to two years, starting from the anchor year of 2015, and that the application filter shows the new date range of 2015-01-01 - 2016-12-31.

    From the anchor date of 2015-01-01, displaying the visual output for only the next two years (2015 and 2016).
  18. Name and save the application.
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