References by name

[Cloud release: 2026.03.18]
[On-prem release: 2026 June]
[On-prem build: 26.05.22002]

With this release the calculation interface has been improved on several points when you create a custom calculation or when you edit an existing calculation.

Bigger syntax field

When creating a new custom calculation or editing an existing calculation, the syntax field has been increased in size.

Furthermore, any line breaks and indentations that are added to the syntax will be preserved, also when saving and reopening the calculation.

Example, bigger syntax field, preserved line breaks:

Calculation IDs

In addition to the calculation title, the calculation now also features a unique calculation ID. The unique ID can be used as a reference in another calculation.

You may rename the ID to something else. E.g. you may rename it to be identical to the calculation title for easier recognition. Just make sure that the ID is still a unique ID within the current object. IDs cannot contain spaces or other special characters, but do accept underscores.

Example, custom Calculation ID being referred to in next calculation:

References

Click the buttons in the References section to display the various reference options directly in the object.

These reference options provide different ways of referring to measures, calculations and dimensions in your calculation syntax.

Measures references

• Title. This is the default display. This is how the measure is displayed to the end-user, including potential translations and dynamic captions.
• ID. This is the "real" name of the measure - stripped from translations and dynamic captions. You can use the ID as reference in a calculation syntax.
  Example: sum(d-1, 0, @"Revenue")
• Number. This is the numeric value of a measure. You can use the numeric value as reference in a calculation syntax.
  Example: sum(d-1, 0, m1)

Calculations references

• Title. This is the default display. This is how the calculation is displayed to the end-user according to its title, including potential translations and dynamic captions.
• ID. This is the calculation ID. You can use the ID as reference in a calculation syntax.
  Example: sum(CalcColA, 0, @"Revenue")
• Number. This is the numeric value of a calculation. You can use the numeric value as reference in a calculation syntax.
  Example: sum(c1, 0, m1)

Dimensions references

• Title. This is the default display. This is how the dimension is displayed to the end-user including potential translations and dynamic captions.
• Short ID. The shortest possible form in which you can refer to this dimension level.
  Example: sum(d-1, 0(l"Territory"), m1).
  Note that the Short ID will be replaced by Long ID once you click "Apply".
• Long ID. The full reference ID of a dimension level. Use the Long ID if the Short ID fails due to being unambiguous.
  Example: sum(d-1,0(l"Customer Hierarchy.Customer Hierarchy.Territory"),m1)

Example 1, default Titles:

Example 2, Measures and Calculations IDs:

sum(d-1, 0, @"Profit")

sum(@"CalcColA", 0, 0)

Example 3, Measures and Calculations Numbers:

sum(d-1, 0, m2)

sum(c1, 0, 0)

Example 4, Dimensions Short ID:

sum(d-1, 0(l"Territory"), m1)

Example 5, Dimensions Long ID:

sum(d-1, 0(l"Customer Hierarchy.Customer Hierarchy.Territory"), m1)

Comments

You can add comments to your calculation syntax by encapsulating comments in /* ... */.

This is also useful for out-commenting temporary syntax bits.

Example: