Expressions

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Basic structure of a Expression (Formula)

Identifier

It is the name of the field or column involved in the expression, it must be delimited by double quotes.

Examples: "Average Price". "Screw 1\" philips", "Seler"

Value Operand

It's the numerical values. You can use both while values and decimal values. For decimal values, the decimal separator should be the point.

Examples: 1, 1.05, 2.55

Important: Do not use thousand separator in numeric values.

Text Operand

It's the text operands. If you want to use this type of operand in a expression, you must delimit them by the single quotation mark (').

Examples: 'John Snow', 'California', 'Spaghetti'

Date Operand

These are values that express any date. To represent a date in expressions the behaviour is similar to text operands, i.e. the content must be surrounded by single quotation marks ('). However, the mask dd/MM/yyyy must be used.

Examples: '01/01/2019', '14/11/2019', '25/12/2019'

Boolean Operand

They're operators of the true or false type. Normally user to validate, or not, a condition in a more complex expression.

Examples: true, false

Parentheses

Used to group and separate parts of on expression. Expressions within parentheses are processed first.

Example: ("Profit"/"Total Price") + 10

System variable Operand

These are predefined variables in the system. To use the system variables you must precede them by hashtag (#) and delimit them by double quotes("). Currently only the "#null" variable is available and indicates null content.

Example: IF("Product" == "#null";0;20)

Arithmetic Expressions

Arithmetic expressions relate two operands (which can be any the operands described above, or another expression) to make up the sum, subtraction, multiplication or division.

Sum (+)

Add two value operands or another expression result. Represented by the + charecter.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> + <operating or expression result>

Example:

 "Taxes" + "Commissions" - Sums the values of the fields Taxes and Commissions

Subtraction (-)

Subtract two value operands or another expression result. Represented by the - charecter.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> - <operating or expression result>

Example:

 "Price" - "Taxes" - Subtracts the values from the Price and Taxes fields.

Multiplication (*)

Multiplies two value operands or another expression result. Represented by the multiplication charecter *.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> * <operating or expression result>

Example:

 "Quantity" * "Unit Price" - Multiplies the value of the Quantity field by the value of the Unit Price field.

Division (/)

Divide two value operands or another expression result. Represented by the division charecter /.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> / <operating or expression result>

Example:

 "Price" / "Quantity" - Divides the value of the Price field by the value of the Quantity field.

Relational Expressions

Relational expressions compare two operands (value/text or other expression) to assess whether a condition is true or false. Normally used with decision functions, such as IF.

Equality (==)

It compares if two operands are the same, returning true if they are the same or false if they are different. Represented by the equality operator ==.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> == <operating or expression result>

Example:

 IF("Product" == "#null";0;20) - If the Product is null, return the value 0. Otherwise return the value 20

Different (!=)

It compare if two operands are different, returning true if they were different or false if equal. Represented by the differente operator !=.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> != <operating or expression result>

Example:

 IF("Product" != 'Lasagna';0;20) - If the Product is different from Lasagna, return the value 0. Otherwise return the value 20

Greater than (>)

Compares if the first operator (from the left) is greater than the second operator (from the right), returning true if it is greater and false if it is lesser or equal. Represented by the greater operator >.

Syntax:

   <operating or expression result> > <operating or expression result>

Example:

 IF("Gross Value" > 1000;1;0) - If the Gross Value is greater than 1000, returns the value 1, if not the value 0

Greater or equal to (>=)

Compares if the first operator (from the left) is greater or equal to the second operator (from the right), returning true if it is greater or equal and false if it is lesser. Represented by the greater or equal operator >=.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> >= <operating or expression result>

Example:

 IF("Gross Value" >= 2500;100;0) - If Gross Value is greater than or equal to 2500 returns 100, otherwise returns 0

Less than (<)

Compares if teh first operator (from the left) is lesser than the second operator (from the right), returning true if it is lesser and false if it is greater or equal. Represented by the Lesser operator <.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> < <operating or expression result>

Example:

 IF("Gross Value" < 100;50;200) - If Gross Value is less than 100, returns 50 if not 200

Less or equal to (<=)

Compares if the first operator (from the left) is lesser or equal to the second operator (from the right), returning true if it is lesser or equal and false if it is greater. Represented by the lesser or equal operator <=.

Syntax:

 <operating or expression result> <= <operating or expression result>

Example:

 IF("Gross Value" <= 500;100;0) - If Gross Value is less than or equal to 500 returns 100, if not 0

Logical Expressions

Logical expressions group together two operands (Boolean or other expression) to make up a logical expression, in order to evaluate the relationship of two Boolean operators to a true or false result. This type of expression is usually used for decision making, such as IF and with relational expressions.

And Operator (&&)

Executes the logical operation AND between two Boolean values. Both values must return true so that the result of the operation is true. Represented by the && operator.

Syntax:

 <expression> && <expression>

Examples:

 IF(("Price" > 0) && ("Seller" == 'John Snow');450;0) - If Price is greater than 0 AND Seller is equal to John Snow, returns 450 if not returns 0
 IF(("City" != "#null") && ("Product" != 'Lasagna');1;0) - If City is non-null AND Product is different from Lasagna returns 1 if it does not return 0

Or Operator (||)

Performs the logical OR operation between two Boolean values. A two values must be true so that the result of the operation is true. Represented by the operator ||.

Syntax:

 <expression> || <expression>

Examples:

 IF(("Price" > 1000) || ("Profit" >= 50);75;55) - If Price is greater than 1000 OR Profit is greater than or equal to 50 returns 75 if not 55
 IF(("City" != "#null") || ("Product" != 'Lasagna');1;0) - If City is non-null OR Product is different from Lasagna returns 1 if it does not return 0

Denial Operator (!)

Performs the logical negation operation for a boolean value. If the result of the operation is true the negation operator converts to false and vice versa. Represented by the operator !.

Syntax:

 !<expression>

Example:

 IF(!BETWEEN("Delivery Date"; '01/01/2015'; '31/12/2015');2016;2015) - If the Delivery Date is NOT between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2015 returns 2016. If between this period returns 2015

Auxiliary Functions

Basic helper functions are standard system functions and implement useful features for composing complex expressions.

ABS function

Function that returns the absolute numeric value of a base numeric value.

Syntax:

 ABS(<value operator or expression>)

Example:

 ABS("Price" / "Quantity") - Returns the absolute value of Price divided by Quantity

AVG function

Returns the average of the values of a sequence of values. It can be used to return the average of different values of the same row of tables.

Syntax:

 AVG(<expression 1>; <expression 2>; ...)

Example:

 AVG("Taxes"; "Profit"; "Cost") - Returns the average between the sum of the Taxes, Profit and Cost columns

BETWEEN function

Checks whether a value is within the limits of the parameters used. Return true or false.

Syntax:

 BETWEEN(<expression to be tested>; <initial limit>; <end limit>)

Example:

 BETWEEN("Date Issued"; '01/01/2019'; '31/12/2019') - Returns true if Date Issued is between 01/01/2019 and 12/31/2019. Otherwise returns false

COUNT function

Returns number of occurrences (lines) for column or value.

By now this functions works only at Datasource expressions

Syntax:

 COUNT(<expression>)

Example:

 COUNT("Product") - Returns number of occurrences (lines) of products

COUNT_DISTINCT function

Returns number of unique occurrences (lines) for column or value.

By now this functions works only at Datasource expressions

Syntax:

 COUNT_DISTINCT(<expression>)

Example:

 COUNT_DISTINCT("Product") - Returns number of unique (different) occurrences (lines) of products

IF ELSE function (If .... Otherwise ...)

Tests a Boolean expression and applies a condition to true or another condition to false. You need three parameters, separated by semicolons (;). The first parameter is the expression to be tested, the second the value to be applied in case of true, and the third to be applied in case of false.

Syntax:

  IF(<expression to be tested>; <expression if true>; <expression if false>)

Examples:

 IF(BETWEEN("Value";0;100);10;250) - If Value is between 0 and 100 returns 10, if not 250
 IF("Profit" == 0;0;"Profit" + "Taxes") - If Profit equals 0 returns 0, if it does not return the sum between Profit and Taxes
 IF("Product Code" == 3231;0;"Quantity" * 3;"Quantity") - If Product Code equals 3231 returns Quantity plus 3

LOG function

Returns the logarithm of a number on a defined basis. It can be used with only one parameter, in this case the "base 10" logarithm is used . If two parameters are used, the second server to inform the base to be used by the logarithm.

Syntax:

 LOG(<expression>;<base>)

Examples:

 LOG("Profit")- Returns the logarithm of the field Profit
 LOG("Price";2) - Returns the logarithm of the Price field in base 2

MAX function

Returns the largest value between two values.

Syntax:

  MAX(<expression 1>;<expression 2>)

Example:

 "Value" / MAX("Quantity";1) - Divides Value by the largest value between Quantity and 1

MIN function

Returns the smallest value between two values.

Syntax:

 MIN(<expression 1>; <expression 2>)

Example:

 "Value" / MIN("Cost"; 100) - Divides Value by the smallest value between Cost and 100

POWER function

Returns the power of a value in a defined exponent. It can be used with only one parameter, in this case it considers the default exponent 2. If a second parameter is passed, this will be the exponent.

Syntax:

 POW(<expression>; <exponent>)

Examples:

 POW("Profit") - Returns the power of the Profit value.
 POW("Cost"; 3) - Returns the power of the Cost value, raised to 3

RANDOM function

Returns a random number within the range of values passed as arguments.

Syntax:

 RANDOM(<start limit>; <end limit>)

Example:

 RANDOM(10;100) - Returns a random number between 10 and 100

ROUND function

Returns the rounded value of a value column or value.

Syntax:

 ROUND(<value>;<precision>)

Example:

 ROUND("Profit") - If Profit 10.38 returns 10.00
 ROUND(15.65) - Returns 16.00
 ROUND(1.777;1) - Returns 1.8

SQRT function (Square Root)

Returns the square root of a value.

Syntax:

 SQRT(<value or expression>)

Examples:

 SQRT("Profit") - Returns the square root of the value Profit
 SQRT(81) - Returns the square root of 81

LIKE function

Returns true if the desired content is found in the list and false otherwise. It needs two parameters, the first is the data to query and the second is the term to be found. Remembering that it is necessary to use the wildcard operator “%” and surround the term by single quotation mark.

Syntax:

 LIKE(< data>; <term>)

Example:

 LIKE("Product"; '%anh%') - Returns true if the Product contains the term anh or false otherwise

Date Functions

Date functions are operations that take a date as a parameter and also return a date. There are some constants to assist in using date functions, they are:

0: DATE_FIELD_YEAR (Part of the year)
1: DATE_FIELD_MONTH (Month Part)
2: DATE_FIELD_DAY (Daypart)
3: DATE_FIELD_FORTNIGHT (Part of fortnight)
5: DATE_FIELD_WEEK (Part of the Week)

DATE_PART function (Date Part)

Returns part of a date. It needs two parameters, the first is the reference date and the second is the constant that represents which part of the date we want to get.

Syntax:

 DATE_ PART(<date>; <constant representing which part>)

Example:

 DATE_ PART("Issued Date"; 0) - Returns the year portion of the Issued Date

DAY_FROM_TODAY function (Days from today)

Returns a days count backward (negative) or forward (positive) from today. You need a parameter that indicates the number of days to add or subtract.

Syntax:

 DAY_FROM_TODAY(<number of days>)

Example:

 DAY_FROM_TODAY(-1) - Returns yesterday's date

FIRST_DAY_OF function (First day of)

Returns the first day of a grouping. This function has two variations:

With two parameters, the first is the grouping constant from which we want to get the first date (see list above), and the second is the base date.

Syntax:

 FIRST_DAY_OF(<date part>; <base date>)

Examples:

 FIRST_DAY_OF(0;DAY_FROM_TODAY(0)) - Returns the first day of the year from today
 FIRST_DAY_OF(1;"Issue Date") - First Day of Month Based on Issue Date Column

With three parameters, the first is the grouping constant from which we want to get the first date (see list above), the second is the date base modifier from today, and the third is the amount to change the modifier.

Syntax:

 FIRST_DAY_OF(<date part>;<date modifier>;<date modifier value>)

Example:

 FIRST_DAY_OF(1;0;-1) - first day of current month of last year

LAST_DAY_OF function (Last day of)

Returns the last day of a date grouping. This function has two variations.

With two parameters, the first is the grouping constant from which we want the last date (see list above), and the second is the base date.

Syntax:

 LAST_DAY_OF(<date part>; <base date>)

Examples:

 LAST_DAY_OF(0;DAY_FROM_TODAY(0)) - Returns the last day of the year from today.
 LAST_DAY_OF(1;"Date Issued") - Last day of month based on Date Issued column

With three parameters, the first is the grouping constant from which we want the last date (see list above), the second is the date base modifier from today, and the third is the amount to change the modifier.

Syntax:

 LAST_DAY_OF(<date part>;<date modifier>;<date modifier value>)

Example:

 LAST_DAY_OF(1;0;-1) - last day of current month of last year

NEW_DATE function (New date)

Creates a new date. It needs three parameters, the first corresponds to the day (between 1 and 31), the second month (between 1 and 12) and the third the year. The date is created from year to day, ie the day must be valid for the month and year (considering 29/02, the year must be leap).

Syntax:

 NEW_DATE(<day>;<month>;<year>)

Example:

 NEW_DATE(1;4;DATE_PART("Issued Date";0)) - Creates the first April day of the year determined by the current row in the Issued Date column.

NUM_OF_DAYS function (Number of days)

Returns the number of days between two dates. Therefore you need two dates.

Syntax:

 NUM_OF_DAYS(<date 1>; <date 2>)

Examples:

 NUM_OF_DAYS(FIRST_DAY_OF(0;"Issued Date");"Issued Date") - Returns the number of days from the first day of the year, based on the Issued Date column, to the current day, based on the same column.
 NUM_OF_DAYS(FIRST_DAY_OF(1;"Issued Date");LAST_DAY_OF(1;"Issued Date")) - Returns the number of days of the month, based on the Issued Date column.

NUM_OF_MONTHS function (Number of months)

Returns the number of months between two dates. Therefore, two date parameters are required.

Syntax:

 NUM_OF_MONTHS(<date 1>; <date 2>)

Example:

 NUM_OF_MONTHS(FIRST_DAY_OF(0; "Date"); "Date") - Returns the number of months between the first day of the year and the current month, based on the Date column.

PREVIOUS_DATE function (Previous date)

Given a day and a month, returns the last occurrence of that date. That is, if the current date (today) is less than the date passed by parameter (day / month), the return is the date (passed by parameter) of the previous year. Otherwise the return will be the current year date.

Syntax:

 PREVIOUS_DATE(<day>; <month>)

Examples:

 PREVIOUS_DATE(15;12) - Considering that today's date is 14/11/2019, the last time December 15th occurred relative to today's date was 15/12/2018, so this will be the return.

Special Variables

They can be used in conjunction with expressions to create complex calculations. Must be used in double quotation marks (“)

"@count" - Total number of rows that were returned for the component.
"@row" - Current row number
"@sum[column]" - Sum of the indicated column.
- Example: "@sum[Price]" - returns the sum of all rows in the Price column.
"@avg[column]" - Average column, similar to "@sum[column]" / "@count"
"@prev[column]" - Row value before current row for this column
"@totalRowValue[column]" - Value of total row, (if present), from this column.
"@accumCol[column]" - Cumulative value from column to current row. Useful for calculating variable mean.
- Example: "@accumCol[column]" / "@row"

Expressions

Contents

Basic structure of a Expression (Formula)

Identifier

Value Operand

Text Operand

Date Operand

Boolean Operand

Parentheses

System variable Operand

Arithmetic Expressions

Sum (+)

Subtraction (-)

Multiplication (*)

Division (/)

Relational Expressions

Equality (==)

Different (!=)

Greater than (>)

Greater or equal to (>=)

Less than (<)

Less or equal to (<=)

Logical Expressions

And Operator (&&)

Or Operator (||)

Denial Operator (!)

Auxiliary Functions

ABS function

AVG function

BETWEEN function

COUNT function

COUNT_DISTINCT function

IF ELSE function (If .... Otherwise ...)

LOG function

MAX function

MIN function

POWER function

RANDOM function

ROUND function

SQRT function (Square Root)

LIKE function

Date Functions

DATE_PART function (Date Part)

DAY_FROM_TODAY function (Days from today)

FIRST_DAY_OF function (First day of)

LAST_DAY_OF function (Last day of)

NEW_DATE function (New date)

NUM_OF_DAYS function (Number of days)

NUM_OF_MONTHS function (Number of months)

PREVIOUS_DATE function (Previous date)

Special Variables

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