Period templates (form)

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Click Organization administration > Common > Calendars > Period templates.

Use this form to create and set up a period template. You can use a period template to filter and display existing data in predefined periods. The period template provides an overview of large amounts of data that may extend over a long time.

The period template only displays data. There is no effect on the data itself or on data generation in Microsoft Dynamics AX. Therefore, you can also delete a period template when you want to stop using it.

You can create a period template and use it to display the master planning requirements, for example. The requirements are then distributed and displayed according to the periods that you define. The format of the period template gives structure and visibility to a potentially large volume of requirements data.

The following tables provide descriptions for the controls in this form.

Tabs

Tab

Description

Advanced settings

Set parameters for the selected period template.

Periods

Create and define the periods for the period template.

Note

Press the down arrow key to create a new line. In the new line, the default period type is Day, but you can change it. When you save a line, Microsoft Dynamics AX verifies the sequence of the lines. The current line must be the same length as, or longer than, the period type of the previous line. Otherwise, an error message is displayed, and you cannot save the line. The correct sequence of periods is as follows:

  • Backlog

  • Day

  • Week

  • Month

  • Outlook

Simulation

The run-time–generated periods that you define on the Periods tab.

Buttons

Button

Description

Move up

Move the selected line up one line in the list.

Move down

Move the selected line down one line in the list.

Fields

Field

Description

Legal entities

Select the company to which the period template applies.

Name

Enter a unique identifier for the period template. You must complete this field.

Default

Define the period template as the default template.

Fixed start

When you use the Day period, you can select the day of the week on which the period starts. The selection in this field can also affect the length of the period that is defined.

Example

Select Monday in this field, select Day in the Period field, and then enter 5 in the Number of periods field. The five-day period starts on Monday. If the current weekday is Wednesday, the template will display eight days going forward: three days (Wednesday through Friday) to finish the current week, and five days (Monday through Friday) for the period of the fixed start day.

If two separate Day periods are defined, this field applies only to the first period. If you do not use the Day period, this field has no effect.

Working time template

Select a working time template to use. If you leave the field blank, Microsoft Dynamics AX uses a seven-day work week.

Period

Select the period that you want to set up. The options are as follows:

  • Day – The period starts on the first open workday according to the working time template that you select. The period ends on the day + (the number of periods – 1).

  • Week – If the previous period is a day, the period starts on the To date value + 1. If the previous period is a week, the period starts on a Monday. The period always ends on Sunday.

  • Month – If the previous period is a day or a week, the period starts on the To date value + 1.

  • Quarter – The fixed quarter periods are January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December. The quarter starts on the last period + 1 and ends on the last day of the quarter.

  • Year – The calendar year.

In addition, Microsoft Dynamics AX displays the following periods:

  • Backlog – The period has an open start date and ends the day before the first day of the period.

  • Outlook – The period starts after the last period ends and has an open end date.

When you select a period, the Number of periods field and the Period description field are automatically filled in.

Number of periods

Enter the number of periods that you want to set up. The field contains the default value of 1, but you can change it for the Day, Week, Month, Quarter, and Year periods. For the Backlog and Outlook periods, the number of periods that is shown is always 1.

Create lines

Create multiple periods that correspond to the number of periods that you define. If you do not select the check box, one period is created to cover the number of periods that you define.

Example

Select Month in the Period field, and enter 6 in the Number of periods field. If you select the Create lines check box, six period lines are created, one for each of the six months. If you do not select the check box, one period line is created to cover the six months.

Period description

A description of the period that you define. When you select a period, Microsoft Dynamics AX fills in this field automatically with normal text and system values that correspond to the period that you select. The text and values are returned at run time when you access and use a period template. The system values are as follows:

  • %1 – The name of the starting day.

  • %2 – The name of the ending day.

  • %3 – The number of the starting week.

  • %4 – The number of the ending week.

  • %5 – The name of the starting month.

  • %6 – The name of the ending month.

  • %7 – The name of the starting year (calendar year).

  • %8 – The name of the ending year (calendar year).

Example

Select Day in the Period field, and enter 3 in the Number of periods field. Do not select the Create lines check box. The Period description field displays the following information: Days %1 - %2. If the current weekday is Monday, the Period description field displays the following information at run time: Days Monday - Wednesday.

Calculation date

The date when the period template is calculated. The default setting is the current date, but you can change it.

Direction

Define whether the period template is calculated for a future period or a past period. The options are as follows:

  • Forward – The period template is calculated from the calculation date and forward in time.

  • Backward – The period template is calculated from the calculation date and backward in time.

From date

The start date of the defined period. This date is the same as the calculation date.

To date

The end date of the defined period.

Open days

The number of working days that occur during the defined period.

Announcements: To see known issues and recent fixes, use Issue search in Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services (LCS).