Reference Updated April 8, 2026

SHIFT

Overview

The SHIFT function shifts the input node by a given offset amount on a specified level. The shift amount can be a constant number or a node that provides different offsets per entry.

Use this function when you need a custom offset on a specific level instead of a fixed previous-period helper or a rolling aggregation.

Syntax

SHIFT('Node', "LevelName", ShiftAmount)

SHIFT('Node', "LevelName", 'ShiftNode')

Example usage: SHIFT('Revenue', "Year", 1)

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Type	Required
Node	Input node that is shifted, specified in single quotes (e.g.`'Profit'`)	Node reference	Yes
Level	The level along which data is shifted, specified in double quotes (e.g.`"Year"`). The input node must have data on this level.	Level name	Yes
ShiftAmount / ShiftNode	The offset to shift by. Can be a constant number or a node reference.	Number or Node reference	Yes

Output Shape

Aspect	Behavior
Dimensionality	Preserved (same levels as input)
Values	Repositioned along the specified level by the offset amount
Row count	May decrease if shifted values fall outside the level bounds

Watch Out

A positive shift amount moves values to earlier periods. A negative value moves them to later periods. This is the opposite of what many users expect.
For non-time dimensions, shifting is only allowed on the lowest level in the hierarchy.
Shifting on linked (extended) levels is not supported.
When using a node as the shift amount, its levels must match the input node’s levels.
Only whole-number offset values are considered.

Examples

Shift on the Year dimension (positive vs. negative)

This example illustrates how the sign of the ShiftAmount controls direction.

Input node: Revenue

Year	Revenue
2025	100
2026	120
2027	140

Formula: SHIFT('Revenue', "Year", 1) (positive → shifts data backwards)

Year	→ SHIFT Result
2024	100
2025	120
2026	140

The 2025 value now appears in 2024. Each value has moved one year into the past.

Formula: SHIFT('Revenue', "Year", -1) (negative → shifts data forward)

Year	→ SHIFT Result
2026	100
2027	120
2028	140

The 2025 value now appears in 2026. Each value has moved one year into the future.

A positive ShiftAmount moves values to earlier periods. Use a negative value to project values into future periods.

Shift by a constant amount

This example shifts all values on the Contract Age level by the same constant offset.

Input node: Contracts

Contract Age	Contracts
1	10
2	20
3	30

Formula: SHIFT('Contracts', "Contract Age", -1)

Contract Age	→ SHIFT Result
1
2	10
3	20
4	30

Shift by values from another node

This example uses a second node to define different shift amounts for each contract type.

Input node: Contracts

Contract Age	Contract Type	Contracts
1	A	10
2	B	20
3	C	30

Input node: Shift Node

Contract Type	Amount
A	-1
B	-2
C	-3

Formula: SHIFT('Contracts', "Contract Age", 'Shift Node')

Contract Age	Contract Type	→ SHIFT Result
2	A	10
4	B	20
6	C	30

Shift by offsets defined per level value

This example uses a shift node on the same level that is being shifted, so each contract age gets its own offset value.

Input node: Contracts

Contract Age	Contract Type	Contracts
1	A	10
2	B	20
3	C	30

Input node: Shift Node

Contract Age	Amount
1	1
2	1
3	1

Formula: SHIFT('Contracts', "Contract Age", 'Shift Node')

Contract Age	Contract Type	→ SHIFT Result
0	A	10
1	B	20
2	C	30

Function	When to use instead
PY	When you need a fixed one-year shift for year-over-year comparisons without a custom offset.
TIMELAG	When an effect should appear gradually or with a delay across time periods.
MOVINGSUM	When you want to aggregate values over a rolling window instead of moving them to different positions on a level.

Overview

Syntax

Parameters

Output Shape

Watch Out

Examples

Shift on the Year dimension (positive vs. negative)

Shift by a constant amount

Shift by values from another node

Shift by offsets defined per level value

Related Functions