Understanding Timeslices in Clarity: A Comprehensive Guide

In Clarity, timeslices play a crucial role in managing and visualizing time-varying data. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of timeslices, their definition, and how they can be used to enhance your reporting experience.

What is a Timeslice?

A timeslice refers to a specific period or window of time that is used to define the scope of your report or analysis. In other words, it's like a ruler that helps you measure and track changes over time. The key benefits of using timeslices are:

* Up-to-date information: Your reports will always reflect the latest data available.

* Focus on specific periods: You can narrow down your analysis to specific intervals, such as months or quarters.

How to Define a Timeslice

Defining a timeslice involves setting two crucial parameters: Rollover Interval and Expiration Date. The Rollover Interval determines how often the timeslice will move forward in time (e.g., monthly), while the Expiration Date specifies when the timeslice will expire and be updated.

For default timeslices, the system sets the rollover interval. However, for custom timeslices, you can select your preferred interval. The Rollover Interval represents the amount of time the ruler will move to the right when the Expiration date is reached.

Understanding Timeslice Components

A timeslice consists of three main components:

1. From Date: This marks the start of the data window.

2. Slice Period: These are the markings or intervals on your virtual 'ruler.'

3. Number of Periods: This represents the length of the ruler, which corresponds to the number of slices.

Types of Data Supported by Timeslices

Timeslices can be applied to various types of data that change over time, including:

* Actuals

* Allocations

* Availability

* Baseline

* Estimates

* Time Entries

In conclusion, timeslices are a fundamental aspect of Clarity that enable you to effectively manage and analyze time-varying data. By understanding how to define and customize timeslices, you can create more accurate and informative reports that help drive business decisions.

Special thanks to Steve Robinson for his contribution to this topic.

Imaschine timeslice