CHANGE() function

Calculate the period-over-period change of a time series.

🗒️ Description

The Change() function is designed to measure the period-over-period difference in a specific time series. 

It is primarily used to track net movements or calculate "deltas" for metrics like headcount, inventory, or cash balances.

✏️ Syntax & variables

• “Indicator Name”: string. Name of the indicator (e.g., Cash Balance, Inventory).
• Initial_value (optional) — A starting point for the first period.
• If provided, the first period’s change is calculated as: 
• Current period value – initial_value 
• If omitted, the first period’s change equals the current value (as if the prior were 0).    

✅ Expected result & examples

Example : 

• Change in cash balance from a balance series : Change(Cash Balance)

     Suppose we have the following series for Cash Balance:  

• Change in inventory with an explicit initial value: Change(Inventory, 400)  

    Change(Cash Balance, 400) 

    Then the calculation starts from an initial value of 400 :