Show Dates by 'Index'
What ‘Show Dates by Index’ Does:
When comparing two different time periods (e.g., Q4 vs. Q3), the standard view displays the data across a chronological timeline. The Show by Index option overlays these periods, aligning them to a shared starting point for a side-by-side comparison.
In reporting and BI tools, this feature is commonly referred to as comparing date ranges, relative time comparison, or period-over-period analysis.
In the example below, we have two data sources for the work items created in Q3 and Q4. The data is grouped by ‘Data Source' to visually distinguish between the two periods. The visualizations below show the difference when 'Show Dates by Index’ is disabled and enabled:
‘Show Dates by Index’ disabled:
Data is displayed chronologically (Jul–Dec)
Q3 must end before Q4 begins
Month 1 of Q3 cannot be directly compared to Month 1 of Q4
‘Show Dates by Index’ enabled:
Data is aligned by its position within the quarter
Month 1 - Q3 appears next to Month 1 - Q4
Trends between periods become immediately comparable
Where to Find It
The Show Dates by Index option is available in the Display By settings when a date field is selected for charting, such as Created, Updated, Resolved, Due date, or custom date fields.
Advanced Use: Benchmarking against Historical Data
Combine the Date Index with the Target feature to compare current progress against a historical baseline.
By setting a previous period as your Target and the current period as your Metric, and enabling Show Dates by Index, you can:
Track against History: Instantly see whether you are ahead of or behind the previous period at the same stage.
Predict Results: Use past trends to forecast how the current period is likely to finish based on performance at the same relative point in time.
Set Smarter KPIs: Move beyond static targets by using real historical data to define meaningful goals and improvement benchmarks.
Check our sample reports utilizing the date index and target features:
https://devacrobats.atlassian.net/wiki/x/IoCZBw
https://devacrobats.atlassian.net/wiki/x/QQAlC