Skip to main content
Documentation
Documentation
Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2025-05-02
Create Calculation Expressions

Create Calculation Expressions

  • Create a custom composite report.
  • Security: These domains in the System functional area:
    • Custom Report Creation
    • Manage: All Custom Reports
You can configure formulas and nest up to 5 functions for calculation cells, columns, or rows on your composite reports.
  1. Access the
    Edit Custom Report
     task.
  2. Access the
    Rows
    ,
    Columns
    , or
    Cells
     tabs and:
    • Create a calculation row, column, or cell.
    • Select your calculation row, column, or cell.
  3. Enter an expression in the
    Calculation
     section.
    You can:
    • Enter the cells, columns, or rows for the expression. Example:
      [R2C2]-[R2C3]
      .
    • Select the function to apply to the cells, columns, or rows. Example:
      Difference([R2C2],[R2C3])
      .
    As you complete the task, consider:
    Option Description
    Difference
    Select to subtract the second value from the first value.
    Example:
    Difference([R2],[R3])
    ,
    Difference([C2],[C3])
    ,
    Difference([R2C2],[R2C3])
    .
    Divide
    Select to divide the first value by the second value. The second value supports cells when the first value is a column.
    Example:
    Divide([C4],[R4C2])
    ,
    Divide([R2C4],[R4C2])
    .
    You can select
    AbsRef
     (Absolute Reference) in the denominator to maintain the original cell reference regardless of its duplicated location on the report. Absolute Reference doesn't support nesting calculations and doesn’t convert a negative value to a positive value.
    Example:
    Divide([R1C2],AbsRef([R2C2]))
    ,
    [R2C3]/AbsRef([R2C4])
    .
    Workday defaults
    Return Zero on Error
     to true unless you specifically set it to false.
    Multiply
    Select to multiply 2 values.
    Example:
    Multiply([C2],[C3])
    ,
    Multiply([C2],1.33)
    ,
    Multiply([R3C2],[R3C3])
    .
    PercentIncrease
    Select to return the difference in percentage of the first value from the second value.
    Example:
    PercentIncrease([R5],[R6])
    , where Workday calculates the formula as ([R6]-[R5])/[R5].
    PercentIncrease([R1C2],[R1C3])
    , where Workday calculates the formula as ([R1C3]-[R1C2])/[R1C2].
    To convert the denominator value to a positive number automatically, add
    use_abs_val
     after the column or row reference. Example:
    PercentIncrease([C3],[C2],use_abs_val
    .
    Workday defaults
    Return Zero on Error
     to true unless you specifically set it to false.
    PercentRemaining
    Select to return the percentage remaining after dividing the second value by the first value.
    Example:
    PercentRemaining([R5],[R6])
    , where Workday calculates the formula as ([R6]-[R5])/[R6].
    PercentRemaining([R1C2],[R1C3])
    , where Workday calculates the formula as ([R1C3]-[R1C2])/[R1C3].
    To convert the denominator value to a positive number automatically, add
    use_abs_val
     after the column or row reference. Example:
    PercentRemaining([C3],[C2],use_abs_val
    .
    Workday defaults
    Return Zero on Error
     to true unless you specifically set it to false.
    Sum
    Select to return the sum of multiple values.
    Example:
    Sum([R1],[R2],[R3],[R4])
    ,
    Sum([C2],[C3],[C4],[C5])/[C6]
    ,
    Sum([R1C2],[R1C3],[R1C4])
    .
    SumRange
    (Not supported for cells.) Select to return the sum of all columns or rows, from the first column or row to the last column or row.
    Example:
    SumRange([R5],[R9])
    ,
    SumRange([C2],[C15])
    .
    Workday displays valid options for your expressions when you enter a left square bracket,
    [
    , in the expression field.