Using the 'Import Data Until' Function

Last updated on 2025-03-03

Overview

By default, xP&A imports data from data sources for all periods (e.g. months) where data is available, up until the Last actual date.

The Import data until setting lets you control how far back or forward data is imported for specific data sources in a model.

Normally, xP&A pulls all available data up to the Last actual date for every data source. However, sometimes you might want to override this for specific data sources. That’s where Import data until comes in.

Why would you use it?

  • To exclude certain months from a specific data source:
    Suppose most of your data sources are reliable up to the Last actual date, but one data source contains incorrect or incomplete recent data.

    You can use Import data until to stop pulling data from that source earlier (e.g., one month before the Last actual date) while still importing full data for the others.
  • To include forecast data for a specific data source:
    If a data source contains forecasted values beyond the Last actual date (e.g., if you're forecasting revenue in an external tool), you can extend "Import data until" for that source only.

    This allows you to combine real historical data with external forecasted data in the same model.

 

Instead of applying the Last actual date to every data source equally, the Import data until function gives you flexibility, allowing certain data sources to stop earlier or continue further than the default Last actual date.

 

If you have turned Import data until on for a data source, that will take precedence over the Last actual date in that model, for that data source only.

If you want to import new data for that data source (or cut off data earlier for that data source), you need to do so manually (via refreshing the data source, and/or updating the Import data until date as described below).

This article contains the following sections:

Example
The following examples shows how the settings of the Last actual date and Import data until affect the data imported from a data source:
 
If:
  • Your Snowflake user data in your Revenue model has an Import data until of December 2024.
  • Your QBO P&L data also used in your Revenue model has no Import data until set.
  • Your Last actual date is December 2024, but you drag it forward to January 2025.

 

Then:

  • Snowflake user data will stay cut off at December 2024.
  • QBO P&L data will be pulled into the model up until January 2025 (if present).
Configuring the 'Import Data Until' Function

To configure the 'Import Data Until' function:

  1. Open the model for which you like to configure the Import data until function.
  2. Open the data preview of a data source by clicking on the data source in the overview.
  3. Open the three-dot menu on the top right of the data preview.
  4. Activate the option Import data until.
  5. Set the date up until which you want to import data from this data source into the selected model.
Shows the option to adjust the 'Import data until' function that opens when a user clicks on the three-dot menu in the data preview of a data source in a model Configuring the 'Import data until' function
FAQs

No. In this case, you can just turn the Last actual date setting off in that model. Data will flow in as and when it is refreshed, up to whatever months the data source has data for.

If the model is linked to other models, and you update the Last actual date in those other models, the forecast model/data source will not be affected.

No! In this case, you can just set an earlier Last actual date in this model (and have the other models use the latest Last actual date).

Yes. The setting is unique to each data source, with each model that it is used in.