Date ranges & plan history
The one date control, fair comparisons, and how far back your plan lets you look.
One date control sets the period on Home and on every analytics page. You pick a preset or your own dates. The comparison with the period before is always worked out for you, so there is never a second date control.
Who can do this: everyone who can see Home or analytics.
Steps#
- Open the date control at the top of the page.
- Pick a preset, or choose your own start and end dates. (On a phone, only the presets are offered.)
- To compare with the period before, switch on Compare. It then reads "vs" and the earlier dates.
The presets are Today, This week (from Monday), This month, This year (the year so far), Last 7 days, Last 30 days, Last 90 days, Last 2 months to Last 6 months, Last 1 year and Last 2 years. The default is Last 7 days. Home offers only the presets of 90 days or less. The Committed orders page leaves out Today.
Fair comparisons#
The period before has the same shape as yours, not just the same length:
- A calendar month meets the calendar month before (1 to 31 March against 1 to 28 February).
- The year so far meets the same days last year.
- A week from Monday meets the same weekdays a week earlier.
- A rolling range, such as the last 7 days, meets the same number of days just before it.
This keeps a 31-day month from being compared with three days of the month before it.
Your plan's history window#
Each plan includes an analytics history window: how far back a report can reach. The app shows you the limit instead of refusing your request:
- Presets beyond your window are grouped in one row: "Longer ranges, from the … plan", with a link to upgrade.
- The custom picker will not accept an earlier start. Its footer says "Your plan's analytics history starts on" and the date.
- A saved or shared link with a range outside your window opens the default range instead. A chip says Showing the default range and explains why.
Comparison with the period before needs the Available on Startup and above grade. Below it, Compare is locked with "Comparing with the period before is not included in your plan." If the period before starts outside your history window, Compare is locked for that range too.
Behind the scenes#
- Days are counted in your own time zone. The X and Z register reports use the store's time zone. Export filters and schedules use UTC.
- Each chart point covers a length of time that follows the range: Hourly up to one day, Daily up to 31 days, Weekly up to 90 days, and Monthly beyond. The chart names it.
Troubleshooting#
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A long preset is missing. | It reaches past your plan's history window. | Look under the "Longer ranges" row, or pick a shorter range. |
| "this date range is outside the analytics history included in your current plan" | The range starts before your window. | Pick a later start date. |
| Compare is locked. | Your plan does not include comparison, or the period before is outside your window. | Pick a shorter range, or check your plan. |
| An order near midnight shows on the day before or after. | Days follow the time zone of the device you are using. | Check the order's own date and time. |