Time settings
Set the granularity, the model date range, and the fiscal year of a planning model in Model settings.
The time settings set the periods of a model. Set them before you write formulas, because a formula runs one time for each period. A time reference such as [t-12] counts periods, so its meaning depends on these settings.
1. Open the time settings
- Go to Scenario planning → open a model.
- Select Model settings.
You can also select More → Time settings, or the gear button (Open model settings) at the top right. The panel opens on the right. The Data sources, Scenarios, and Sharing buttons at the top of the panel open other settings.
2. Set the granularity and the date range
- In Granularity, select Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, or Yearly.
- Under Model date range, set the start date and the end date.
- Select Apply changes.
Eigenn moves each date to the start of its period. In a quarterly model, 15 August 2026 becomes 1 July 2026. The end date is the start of the last period. A monthly range from 1 January 2027 to 1 December 2027 has 12 periods. A model can have up to 1,200 periods.
When you add periods at the end, input variables are blank in the new periods. Formula variables calculate there. Eigenn does not remove a period that holds a stored value, such as a typed input. A new input has 0 in each period, and 0 is a stored value.
3. Set the fiscal year
- Turn on Use fiscal years.
- In Fiscal year starts in, select the first month of the fiscal year.
- Select Apply changes.
The fiscal year changes two formula keywords:
| Keyword | Value | Example with an April start |
|---|---|---|
fiscalmonth | The month of the fiscal year, 1 to 12 | April 2027 is 1. March 2027 is 12. |
fiscalyear | The calendar year in which the fiscal year ends | April 2027 is 2028. March 2027 is 2027. |
With Use fiscal years off, fiscalyear is blank and fiscalmonth is the calendar month.
4. Other settings in the panel
- Last actual date: Sets where actuals stop. See Last actual date.
- Use relative dates names each period column by its position:
Month 1,Month 2, and so on. Start relative dates at 0 starts the count atMonth 0. The count starts at the first model period. Quarter and year total columns keep their calendar names. - Highlight today marks the period column that contains today's date: the header is blue, and the cells have a light tint.
- These display settings do not change values, formulas, or the Last actual date.
Messages
| Message | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| The model end period must not precede the start period. | The end date is before the start date. | Change one of the dates. |
| The selected model range exceeds 1200 periods. | The range has too many periods. | Shorten the range or use larger periods. |
| Stored value variable (period) cannot be safely represented on the new axis. | The change removes or splits a period that holds a stored value. | Keep that period in the range. |
| The Last actual date must remain an exact model period when the axis changes. | The change removes or changes the period of the Last actual date. | Turn off Last actual date, apply, and then change the range. |
When the change is saved, the panel shows "Time settings saved."