Compare User Selected Date Periods

[DonalMc]

I have been asked to provide the ability to compare data from two user selected date periods.

For eaxmpler, Google Analytics has a nice feature whereby a user can select  two date periods and compare them (see image below).

When this is enabled, the data for second date period is overlayed on the initially displayed one.

Has anyone every achieved anything like this in PBI?

I'm guessing probably not!

Am I correct in my belief that comparing custom or user selected date periods is something that Power BI is not very strong in?

Right now, I think my best option is to add a date slicer and have the user open the report page in two windows.

Thanks,

Donal

[v-jiascu-msft]

@DonalMc,

Hi Donal,

This could be easy with DAX formula. Please have a look at the example. 

1. It compares totals of quantity between January 2007 and February 2007;

2. The formula is:

QuantityInLastMonth =
CALCULATE ( SUM ( 'Sales'[Quantity] ), DATEADD ( 'Date'[Date], -1, MONTH ) )

3. This formula compares the same day between different months. One note: due to the end day of each month are different, the bigger day will inherit the smaller day. For instance, the date of last month for 5.31 would be 4.30. 

4. If you can provide more details, we can find a solution. The details could be how to handle the compare between 5.31 with last month. 

Best Regards!

Dale

[DonalMc]

Hi Dale,

Thanks for the response. It is a nice suggestion for comaring the previous month and if this suits some they should also look at SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR.

I am looking for something a little more dynamic re selecting the date periods, for example, a manager might want to compare February of this year with March of last year (there could be sound reasons for wanting this!).

Tbh, I think this would require a new type of page in PBI.

Thanks,

Donal

[DonalMc]

I've added to the Power BI Ideas site.

See https://ideas.powerbi.com/forums/265200-power-bi-ideas/suggestions/31533079-compare-date-ranges-page