Hi
I have come across a problem this naming my data files and wondered anyone had a solution or could help.
Our business year and our tax year begin in April. So for our first month I used the 2024_04 for the data file name then carried on adding another file for each month. The problem will be when we get to January 2025...it will still be in the fiscal (and our) year but if I use the file suffix 2024_01 that will look like last January; if I use 2025_01 it will look like it might be in fiscal 2025-2026.
Anything you can suggest? Do you know what other companies do?
Thank you in advance
Kind regards
Chris
Hi Chris,
I usually write fiscal periods like this:
FP2024_01 for April
FP2024_02 for May and so on.
Where FP stands for Fiscal Period.
Mynda
Good morning Mynda
Thank you for your help in the past.
We are fast approaching a new fiscal year.
All my company data in in a folder (HST data) - it is in 24 Excel files - one for each month for each of the four businesses we run. One set is "numbered" HST_SK_2024_01 etc through to 2404_12 for the fiscal year 2024-2025 with similar file names for the other thre businesses.
I have a pivot table in a separate worksheet which extracts all the info we need.
What should I do when I get to April 1 2025 and we enter the new fiscal year. Obviouly we will want to compare 2024-2025 and the new fical year on a monthly basis.
What is the best way?
If I follow the same numbering format in 12 months, we will have 96 files then 144 a year after that and so on.
My pivot tables all take their info from the "HST data" folder.
If I make a wholesale change, would I have to redo each of the 20-odd pivot table top reflect the new source.
I am happy to do the extra "work" if it means that we can add new data on a monthly basis ad infinitum (or at least for the next five years when I think I might feel the need to retire on my 80th birthday!!!).
We can't be the only ones who face - or have faced - a similar situation at the end of their first year. What have they done? What would you suggest as a sustainable way forward.
Thank you for all your videos - so informative, each explained, each adding another insight. Perfect.
Kindest regards
Chris
Hi Chris,
I presume you are using Power Query to gather the data from the monthly files and consolidate it into one table from which you then create your PivotTable. If so, I wouldn't change anything. This is the most efficient way to do it.
In terms of the 'wholesale change', it depends on what this is. If you change a field name that your PivotTables use, then you'd have to rebuild them.
Mynda
Thank you.
