Formula Functions

You use functions to perform specific tasks that facilitate data processing for the reports. Many functions available in the Analytical Report Manager process the data selected from the data source and return the values to be used in the report.

To use functions in the formula, you can enter them directly in the formula editing area or select them from the list of functions provided in the Formula Editor dialog box (Formulas).

The groups of functions in the formulas are described below.

Conversion Functions

You use conversion functions, summarized in the following table, to convert data from one data type to another.

Function Description and Examples
CBool(x)

Converts an expression defined in a function argument into the Boolean expression. If the expression is zero, False is returned; otherwise, True is returned.

Example: =CBool(A11+B11-C11*0.05) (where A11, B11 and C11 are the links used in a function argument)

CDate(x)

Converts an expression defined in a function argument to a value of the Date type. The CDate function argument should be a valid date expression. CDate recognizes date formats according to the locale setting of the system.

Example: =CDate(A2-B2) (where A2 and B2 are the links used in a function argument)

CStr(x)

Converts an expression defined in a function argument to a string. If the CStr function argument equals null, CStr returns a run-time error; otherwise, it returns a string of characters.

Example: =CStr(A12) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

CDbl(x)

Converts an expression defined in a function argument to a value of the Double type.

Example: =CDbl(A12/B2) (where A12 and B2 are the links used in a function argument)

CSng(x)

Converts an expression defined in a function argument to a value of the Single type. If the expression defined in the function argument lies outside the acceptable range for the Single type, an error occurs.

Example: =CSng(A12) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

CDec(x)

Converts an expression defined in a function argument to a value of the Decimal type.

Example: =CDec(A12*0.15) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

CInt(x)

Converts an expression defined in a function argument to a value of the Integer type.

Example: =CInt(A10) (where A10 is the link used in a function argument)

CShort(x)

Converts a numeric value to a value of the Short type.

Example: =CShort(B2) (where B2 is the link used in a function argument)

CLong(x)

Converts a numeric value to a value of the Long type.

Example: =CLong(B12) (where B12 is the link used in a function argument)

Text Functions

Text functions, described in the following table, are used to perform operations with text strings.

Function Description and Examples
LTrim(string)

Removes all leading spaces or parsing characters from the specified character expression, or all leading zero bytes from the specified binary expression.

Example: =LTrim(CStr(A12)) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

RTrim(string)

Removes all trailing spaces or parsing characters from the specified character expression, or all trailing zero bytes from the specified binary expression.

Example: =RTrim(CStr(A12)) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

Trim(string)

Removes all leading and trailing spaces or parsing characters from the specified character expression, or all leading and trailing zero bytes from the specified binary expression.

Example: =Trim(CStr(A12)) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

Format(format, argument(s))

Replaces the format item in a specified formatting string (format) with the text equivalent of the arguments (arguments).

Example: =Format('Currency: . . . . . . . . {0:C}; Account: . . . . . . . . {1:N}', A1, B1) (where A1 and B1 are the links used as a function arguments; 0, 1 are the specifiers indicating where the arguments will be inserted; C is the currency format specifier; and N is the number format specifier)

UCase(string)

Returns a string that has been converted to uppercase. The string argument is any valid string expression. If string contains a null value, the null value is returned.

Example: =UCase(CStr(A12)) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

LCase(string)

Returns a string that has been converted to lowercase. The string argument is any valid string expression. If string contains a null value, the null value is returned.

Example: =LCase(CStr(A12)) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

InStr(string, findString)

Returns the position of the first occurrence of one string (findString) within another (string).

Example: =InStr(CStr(A12), 'rur') (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

InStrRev(string, findString)

Returns the position of the last occurrence of one string (findString) within another (string), starting from the right side of the string.

Example: =InStrRev(CStr(A12), 'rur') (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

Len(string)

Returns an integer containing either the number of characters in a string or the nominal number of bytes required to store a variable.

Example: =Len(CStr(A12)) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

Left(string, length)

Returns a string containing a specified number of characters from the left side of a string. If string contains the null value, the null value is returned.

Example: =Left(CStr(A12), 3) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

Right(string, length)

Returns a string containing a specified number of characters from the right side of a string. If string contains a null value, the null value is returned.

Example: =Right(CStr(A12), 3) (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

Replace(string, oldValue, newValue)

Returns a string in which a specified substring (oldValue) has been replaced with another substring (newValue).

Example: =Replace(CStr(A12), 'rur', 'eur') (where A12 is the link used in a function argument)

PadLeft(string, width, paddingChar)

Right-aligns the characters in a specified string (string), padding with the specified characters (paddingChar) on the left for a specified total width (width).

Example: =PadLeft(CStr(A12), 3, '%') (where A12 is the link used in a function argument). In this example the PadLeft function adds padding character/s at the begining of the string.

PadRight(string, width, paddingChar)

Left-aligns the characters in a specified string (string), padding with the specified characters (paddingChar) on the right for a specified total width (width).

Example: =PadRight(CStr(A12), 3, '%') (where A12 is the link used in a function argument). In this example the PadRight function adds padding character/s at the end of the string.

Math Functions

Mathematical functions, described in the following table, perform calculations, usually based on input values provided as arguments, and return numeric values.

Function Description and Examples
Abs(x)

Returns the absolute value of a number.

Example: =Abs(A10-B10)

Here A10 and B10 are the links used in a function argument.

Floor(x)

Returns the largest integer that is not greater than the argument.

Example: =Floor(A10-A12)

Here A10 and A12 are the links used in a function argument.

Ceiling(x)

Returns the smallest integer that is not less than the argument.

Example: =Ceiling(A10-C11)

Here A10 and C11 are the links used in a function argument.

Round(x, decimals)

Returns a numeric expression, rounded to the specified precision (decimals).

Example: =Round((A10-B12), 5)

Here A10 and B12 are the links used in a function argument, and 5 is the number of digits after the decimal separator.

Min(x, y)

Returns the smaller of the two values.

Example: =Min(A10, A12) =Min(A10, 12)

Here A10 and A12 are the links used as function arguments)

Max(x, y)

Returns the greater of the two values.

Example: =Max(A12, A14) =Max(A12, 240)

Here A12 and A14 are the links used as function arguments.

Pow(x, power)

Computes the value of x raised to the specified power (power).

Example: =Pow((A12, 2))

Here A12 is the link used as a function argument, and 2 is the power index.

Date and Time Functions

The date and time functions, described below, perform operations on input values and return values of the following types: string, numeric, or date and time.

Function Description and Examples
DateAdd(date, interval, number)
Returns a new date, which is calculated by adding the specified number (number) of time intervals (interval) to the date (date). The interval argument specifies the type of time interval and can be one of the following options:
  • y, yy, yyyy, or year: The specified number (number) of years will be added to the specified date (date).
  • m, mm, or month: The specified number (number) of months will be added to the specified date (date).
  • d, dd, or day: The specified number (number) of days will be added to the specified date (date).
  • h, hh, or hour: The specified number (number) of hours will be added to the specified date (date).
  • n, mi, or minute: The specified number (number) of minutes will be added to the specified date (date).
  • s, ss, or second: The specified number (number) of seconds will be added to the specified date (date).
  • w, ww, wk, or week: The specified number (number) of weeks will be added to the specified date (date).
  • q, qq, or quarter: The specified number (number) of quarters will be added to the specified date (date).

Example: =DateAdd(CDate('31/01/1995'), 'm', -2) =DateAdd(Today(), 'y', 3) =DateAdd(Now(), 'd', 1)

DateDiff(interval, date1, date2)
Returns the count (as a signed integer value) of the specified interval boundaries that are crossed between the specified date1 and date2. The interval argument, which specifies the type of time interval, can be one of the following options:
  • y, yy, yyyy, or year: The time interval is specified in years.
  • m, mm, or month: The time interval is specified in months.
  • d, dd, or day: The time interval is specified in days.
  • h, hh, or hour: The time interval is specified in hours.
  • n, mi, or minute: The time interval is specified in minutes.
  • s, ss, or second: The time interval is specified in seconds.
  • w, ww, wk, or week: The time interval is specified in weeks.
  • q, qq, or quarter: The time interval is specified in quarters.
Day(date)

Returns the day component of the date.

Example: =Day(Now())

DayOfWeek(date)

Returns the day of week for the date.

Example: =DayOfWeek(Today())

DayOfYear(date)

Returns the day of the year for the date.

Example: =DayOfYear(Now())

DayOrdinal(day)

Converts the specified integer value (day) to a string that contains the ordinal number in the current locale. For example, for the English locale, the string contains the short form of the ordinal number, such as 1st or 2nd. For numbers that are less than 1 or greater than 31, the function returns an empty string.

Example: =DayOrdinal(1)

Hour(date)

Returns the hours of the date.

Example: =Hour(Now())

Minute(date)

Returns the minutes of the date.

Example: =Minute(Now())

Month(date)

Returns the month component of the date.

Example: =Month(Now())

MonthName(date)

Returns a string that contains the name of the month extracted from the specified date (date) in the current locale.

Example: =MonthName(CDate('3/12/2018'))

Now()

Returns the current date and time according to the system date and time on the local computer.

Example: =Now()

NowUTC()
Returns the current date and time in the user's time zone. The system extracts the user's time zone from one of the following sources, which are ordered by priority from the highest to the lowest:
  1. The time zone specified for the user in the Time Zone box (General Info tab) of the User Profile (SP203010) form.
  2. The employee calendar selected for the user in the Calendar box of the General Info tab of the Employees (EP203000) form. The time zone of the calendar is specified in the Summary area of the Work Calendar (CS209000) form.
  3. The time zone specified for the site in the Login Time Zone box on the Site Preferences (SM200505) form.

Example: =NowUTC()

Second(date)

Returns the seconds of the date.

Example: =Second(Now())

Today()

Returns the current date according to the system date and time on the local computer.

Example: =Today()

TodayUTC()
Returns the current date in the user's time zone. The system extracts the user's time zone from one of the following sources, which are ordered by priority from the highest to the lowest:
  1. The time zone specified for the user in the Time Zone box (General Info tab) of the User Profile (SP203010) form.
  2. The employee calendar selected for the user in the Calendar box (General Info tab) of the Employees (EP203000) form. The time zone of the calendar is specified in the Summary area of the Work Calendar (CS209000) form.
  3. The time zone in the site preferences, which are specified in the Login Time Zone box on the Site Preferences (SM200505) form.

Example: =TodayUTC()

Year(date)

Returns the year component of the date.

Example: =Year(Now())

Other Functions

The Other functions group includes the following functions.

Function Description and Examples
IIf(expression, truePart, falsePart)

Returns one of two values, depending on the evaluation of the expression: If the expression evaluates to True, the function returns the truePart value; otherwise, it returns the falsePart value.

Example: =IIf((A10-B10)<>0), CStr(A12), 'No data available') (where A10, A12, and B10 are the links used as a function arguments)

IsNull(value, nullValue)

Returns nullValue if value is NULL; otherwise, returns value.

Example: =IsNull(A10, '0') (if A10 is NULL, returns 0; otherwise, returns the A10 value)

NullIf(value1, value2)

Returns NULL if value1 is equal to value2.

Sort(from, to, column)

Returns the values in the specified range of rows in the specified column sorted in ascending order.

Example: Sort('0100','0145','B') (the values in rows from 0100 to 0145 in the B column will be sorted in ascending order)

SortD(from, to, column)

Returns the values in the specified range of rows in the specified column sorted in descending order.

Example: SortD('0100','0145','B') (the values in rows from 0100 to 0145 in the B column will be sorted in descending order)

Sum(from, to)

Returns the sum of the values in the specified interval.

Example: =Sum('A11','A100') (where A11 and A100 are the links used in a function argument)

Switch(expression_1, value_1, expression_2, value_2, ...)

Returns the value (value_n) that corresponds to the first expression (expression_n) that evaluates to True. expression_1, expression_2, and so on are Boolean expressions.

Example: =Switch(((A10-B10)<>0), A12, ((A10-B10)>0), B35)

Application-Specific Functions

This functions are specific for MYOB Advanced.

Function Description and Examples
ExtToInt(object field, object value) Converts the external format of the object field parameter into the internal object presentation (for example, converts AccountCD to AccountID). Both arguments of the ExtToInt function must have the same data type. Example:: =Report.ExtToInt( 'ARAdjusted.AdjdCustomerID', [ARAdjusted.AdjdCustomerID])
ExtToUI(object field, object value) Converts the external format of the object field parameter into the UI format. Both arguments of the ExtToUI function must have the same data type. Example: =Report.ExtToUI('RowBatch.TranPeriodID', @PeriodID)
GetBranchText(branchID)

Returns the branch name in the tenant for the specified branch identifier (branchID).

If the specified branch identifier does not exist, the function returns an empty string.

Example: Report.GetBranchText('SOFT')

GetDefExt(object field) Gets the default value of the object field parameter in the external format. Example: =Report.GetDefExt('OrganizationBranchReportParameters.OrganizationID')
GetDefInt(object field) Gets the default value of the object field parameter in the internal format.
GetDefUI(object field) Gets the default value of the object field parameter in the UI format. Example: =Report.GetDefUI('RowAccessInfo.DisplayName')
GetDescription(object field, object value) Returns the description of the object field parameter as it is defined in the PXSelectorAttribute. Both arguments of the GetDescription function must have the same data type. Example:: =Report.GetDescription('GLTran.AccountID', @AccountCD)
Note: If you use this function for subaccounts, the subaccount description is not available if the By Segment: All Avail. Segment Values lookup mode is specified for the SUBACCOUNT segmented key on the Segmented Keys (CS202000) form.
GetDisplayName(object field) Returns the localized name of the object field parameter. Example:
GetFormat(object field) Returns the data type of the object field parameter. Example: =Report.GetFormat( [APRegister.CuryInfoID] )
GetMask(object field) Returns the mask of the object field parameter. Example: =Report.GetMask('RowTaxPeriodEffective.TaxPeriodID')
IntToExt(object field, object value) Converts the external format of the object field parameter into the internal object presentation (for example, converts AccountID to AccountCD). Both arguments of the IntToExt function must have the same data type.
IntToUI(object field, object value) Converts the internal format of the object field parameter into the UI format. Both arguments of the IntToUI function must have the same data type. Example: =Report.IntToUI('APRegister.FinPeriodID',$ClosedPer)
UIToExt(object field, object value) Converts the UI format of the object field parameter into the external object format. Both arguments of the UIToExt function must have the same data type.
UIToInt(object field, object value) Converts the UI format of the object field parameter into the internal object format. Both arguments of the UIToInt function must have the same data type.
FormatPeriod(object period) Performs ExtToUI data conversion for the object period parameter. This function is used to get the period defined by the report's @StartPeriod and @EndPeriod dates.
FormatPeriod(object period, object period shift) Performs ExtToUI data conversion for the object period parameter with a time shift defined by object period shift argument. This function is used to get the period defined by the report's @StartPeriod and @EndPeriod dates.
FormatYear(object period) Performs ExtToUI data conversion for the object period parameter year part. This function is used to get the period defined by the report's @StartPeriod and @EndPeriod dates.
FormatYear(object period, object period shift) Performs ExtToUI data conversion for the object period parameter year part with a time shift defined by object period shift argument. This function is used to get the period defined by the report's @StartPeriod and @EndPeriod dates. Example: =FormatYear(@StartPeriod, -1) (The function obtains the year of the specified period and shifts the obtained year to the value of the shift. For example, if the @StartPeriod is the year 2014, the expression returns 2013)