Use Relative Dates for Time in Cube

Relative dates let you select dynamic time periods (like "Last 3 Months" or "Current Quarter") that automatically update based on the current date. Instead of picking specific static members like "Jan-26" or "Q1-26," you define a rolling window that stays current every time you refresh your data.

Relative dates are available in Boards widgets and in the Excel and Google Sheets Spreadsheet Apps.

Before you start

Relative dates apply to the Time dimension only. Other dimensions (Account, Department, Scenario, etc.) continue to use static member selection.

When building a widget in Boards or a range in the Spreadsheet Apps, you place dimensions into three areas:

• Rows and Columns determine the layout of your data. Time members placed here display as individual rows or columns.
• Filters narrow your data to a specific scope. A time member placed here aggregates the result into a single value.

This distinction matters because relative dates behave differently depending on where you place the Time dimension.

How relative dates work

Relative dates use three components to define a rolling time window:

Direction: Last, Current, or Next

• Last looks backward from the current date.
• Current selects the present period.
• Next looks forward from the current date.

Count: A number (1 through 99) that defines how many periods to include. "Current" does not require a count.

Period type: Month, Quarter, or Year.

Combining these produces selections like "Last 3 Months," "Current Year," or "Next 2 Quarters."

Include this period

When using Last or Next, an optional "Include this period" checkbox shifts the range to include the current period.

For example, if today is February 2026 and you select "Last 3 Months":

• Without "Include this period": Nov-25, Dec-25, Jan-26
• With "Include this period": Dec-25, Jan-26, Feb-26

The same logic applies to quarters and years. "Last 1 Quarter" with "Include this period" checked returns the current quarter plus the previous quarter.

Select relative dates in Boards

1. Create or edit a widget and open the Time dimension in the Widget Editor.
2. In the Time member selector, click the Relative Dates link below the static member tree.
3. Choose Last, Current, or Next using the tabs at the top of the panel.
4. Enter a count (for Last or Next) and select a period type: Month, Quarter, or Year.
5. If desired, check Include this period to shift the range forward.
6. Click Select. The relative date appears as a chip in the Time field (for example, "Last 3 Months").

The widget resolves the relative date to the correct time members on every load and refresh.

Select relative dates in the Spreadsheet Apps

1. Create or edit a range and open the Time dimension in the Range Builder sidebar.
2. Click the Relative Dates link in the Time member selector.
3. Choose Last, Current, or Next, set the count and period type, and toggle "Include this period" as needed.
4. Click Select. The relative date appears as a chip in the Time field.

When you fetch, the range resolves the relative date into the correct time members based on the current date. Every subsequent fetch recalculates the window automatically.

Behavior in Filters vs. Rows and Columns

Relative dates behave differently depending on where you place the Time dimension.

In Filters

Filters support single-period relative dates only, such as "Last Month," "Current Quarter," or "Next Year." Multi-period selections (like "Last 3 Months") and time shortcuts are not available in Filters.

Selecting a new relative date in Filters automatically replaces the previous selection.

In Rows or Columns

Rows and Columns support the full range of relative dates, including multi-period selections like "Last 3 Months" or "Next 2 Quarters." You can also select multiple relative dates simultaneously.

Each relative date resolves into discrete time members that display as individual rows or columns. For example, "Last 3 Months" in Columns (with today as February 2026 and "Include this period" checked) displays three separate columns: Dec-25, Jan-26, and Feb-26.

Time shortcuts (YTD, QTD, TXM, etc.) are also only available when Time is in Rows or Columns.

Resolution examples

The following examples assume today's date is February 2026 and a standard calendar year.

Single-period selections (available in Filters, Rows, or Columns)

Multi-period selections (Rows and Columns only)

Each resolved period displays as its own row or column. The "Include this period" toggle determines whether the current month, quarter, or year is included in the range.

Note: For customers with non-standard fiscal calendars, Cube resolves relative dates based on your configured fiscal periods, not the standard calendar year.

Important details

Auto-refresh

Relative dates recalculate on every widget load (Boards) and every fetch (Spreadsheet Apps). You do not need to manually update time selections when a new month or quarter begins.

Data access

Resolved time periods are subject to your Data Access scope. If a relative date resolves to a period your account does not have access to, that period returns no data. No error is displayed.

Empty time ranges

If a relative date resolves to periods outside the Cube's existing time range (for example, "Last 10 Years" when data only goes back 3 years), only the periods that exist in the system are returned. No blank rows, columns, or errors are generated.

Moving Time between Filters and Rows/Columns

If you move the Time dimension from Rows or Columns to Filters, any multi-period relative dates or time shortcuts are cleared. You will need to reselect a single-period relative date for the Filter.

Time Shortcuts

Time shortcuts like YTD (Year to Date), QTD (Quarter to Date), and T3M (Trailing 3 Months) are available directly from the Time dimension member tree. When you hover over a time member, a Shortcuts option appears next to it. Clicking "Shortcuts" opens a sub-menu with the available shortcut options for that member.

These are the same shortcuts available in the Spreadsheet Apps today, but you no longer need to type the syntax manually.

Time shortcuts are available when the Time dimension is in Rows or Columns only. They are not available in Filters.

Available shortcuts

The shortcuts available depend on the level of the time member:

Leaf-level time members (for example, Oct-24, Nov-24):

• YTD (Year to Date)
• QTD (Quarter to Date)
• TXM (Trailing X Months): T3M, T6M, T9M, T12M
• NXM (Next X Months): N3M, N6M, N9M, N12M
• ROY (Rest of Year)
• LTD (Lifetime to Date)

Parent-level time members (for example, Q1-24, 2024):

• YTD (Year to Date)
• ROY (Rest of Year)
• LTD (Lifetime to Date)

QTD, TXM, and NXM are not available at the parent level.

How to use shortcuts

1. In the Time dimension member selector, expand the tree to the time member you want to apply a shortcut to.
2. Hover over the time member. A Shortcuts option appears to the right of the member name.
3. Click Shortcuts to open the sub-menu. For TXM and NXM, a nested sub-menu displays the preset options (T3M, T6M, T9M, T12M, and the N equivalents).
4. Select a shortcut. It appears as a chip in the Time field (for example, "Q1-25 YTD").

Multiple shortcuts can be selected when Time is in Rows or Columns. Each shortcut resolves independently.

Shortcut values calculate the same way they do in the Spreadsheet Apps. For a detailed reference on how each shortcut resolves, see Use spreadsheet shortcuts for time-based analysis.

Related articles

• Use spreadsheet shortcuts for time-based analysis
• Create and Configure Widgets in Boards
• Use Board Filters in Cube Boards
• Time rollup types
• Supported date formats for Cube ranges