Okay, I only have one column. There is no other column that would allow me to get a previous month, I would just have the total. I was wondering if there was a way where I could roll back the time, so that I could get the data off the one lone column. Also, I am not looking for a date, just the data

If you are saying that Current Month already is the total for the preceding months, that doesn't make sense. However, if you have Current Month all by itself, then we could do something with a multi-verb request and a compute.

Maybe you should post the code you do have and some sample data so that we could understand more fully what you are trying to do.

Hey GinnyJakes,

what I mean is for every month a report is created and added to. This report gets overwritten and is not on my side. Now, For let's say August a total given would be $1000, then lets say September from 9/1 to 9/30 is $750, the column instance total would return $1750. For October say $500, the total that would given would be $2250. What I want to do is set a sort of date range, or data/date subtraction function for the field so that I can display the previous several months data total separately. Here, it would be: August's total ($750), September's total ($1750)and October's total ($2250). I hope that makes more sense.

I think I do understand what you want, but can you post your master file description.

It would help to help you....

This is very simplistic and you'll have to fool around with the first month of your range (so ignore the August value):

APP FI MODATAMAS DISK modata.mas
-RUN
-WRITE MODATAMAS FILENAME=MODATA,SUFFIX=FIX,$
-WRITE MODATAMAS SEGNAME=MODATA,SEGTYPE=S0,$
-WRITE MODATAMAS FIELDNAME=YRMON,FORMAT=YYM,ACTUAL=A6,$
-WRITE MODATAMAS FIELDNAME=MTDAMT,FORMAT=I6,ACTUAL=A6,$
APP FI MODATA DISK modata.ftm
-RUN
-WRITE MODATA 200808001000
-WRITE MODATA 200809001750
-WRITE MODATA 200810002250
-WRITE MODATA 200811003000
TABLE FILE MODATA
PRINT MTDAMT
COMPUTE CURRMO/I6=MTDAMT - LAST MTDAMT;
BY YRMON
END

Ginny

That's what I expected from the originator of this question!
I try to challenge people to think themselves, but this will be the correct answer I suppose.

Frank, it is a Christmas present to Mayor I suppose.

Generally what happes after I describe a technique in words to give someone the 'opportunity' to grow, someone comes along with a code solution and I don't get any credit for coming up with the answer way back at the beginning of the post.

I can't win.

I give you the credits for this Santa Claus....
I hope the mayor understands that!

GinnyJ - You will get credit from me so here goes:
GinnyJ - thank you for ALL your wonderful insight and endless assistance given this past year (not to imply it wasn't there before ) to all those that needed it including myself. Happy Holidays to all my fellow focal forumers as well. The list is to long to thank but THANK YOU anyway!
Happy Holidays all!

I thank you for your help, but this is not what I was looking for. Have a great holiday!

Mayor,

Could you give us a data sample, i.e. rows in your input and the master and a sample of the output? Really want to help you and I'm sorry if I misunderstood your needs.

Ira,

Thanks for the kind words. Happy Holidays!

Hey GinnyJake,

I appreciate it, unfortuntately there are outside factors like time and so forth that play into this one.

Everyone thank you, you've all provided me with great insight and thank you for your help! Have a good One!!

Mayor

I will NOT vote for you if it ever comes to voting.....

Have a nice holiday anyhow...

wow....that was a whack joke...you should keep those bad comments to yourself. I can tell it took you awhile to come up with that one...you must have practiced it in your lone apartment with the lights off, so you couldnt face yourself in the mirror. Ouch!

Well M.

You post a question, you let people think about your problem and after some suggestions and requests for more information the only thing we get back is "this is not what I was looking for"

We all are willing to help, but you are a bit unwilling to explain your problem.

Have a nice holiday....

I dont need people to fight me on every question...like anyone who post a blog here...its to seek guidance and direction not to be talked down to. I kept my mouth shut, until the line was crossed (barely). I dont really care who did what because that's childish. So, do yourself a favor and dont reply to any of my postings.

Your wish is my command, and trust me I will ask many others to do so.....

Bye Minor

okay...lame....

who cares...your a petty person

Hi Everyone - Please refrain from posting negative responses. Focal Point is a pleasant place and an educational site. Moving forward let us start the new year fresh and be helpful to all. Cheers to a virtual hand shake from everyone on this string.

Happy New Year to you all and best wishes in 2009. I hope that this year brings everyone much success. Thank you very much and feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

We will go ahead and mark this post as closed.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Butler
Information Builders