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Import data until
By default, Causal pulls in data for all periods (e.g. months) where data is available, up until the Last actual date. Import data until is a data source level setting within each model, that allows you to override the Last actual date, for particular data sources only.
This is useful in two main situations:
- 1.If you have one data source where you want to restrict months of data (to a month/time step earlier than the Last actual date), but all other data sources in the same model should still use the model-level last actual date (e.g. if one data source has data that is not yet usable or accurate).
- 2.If you have a data source that contains forecast data (e.g. if you forecast some metrics outside of Causal), and want to connect that data to a model that also contains normal historic data up to the Last actual date.
If you’ve 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.
- Your
Snowflake user datain your Revenue Model has an Import data until of Dec’21, and yourQBO P&L data(also used in your Revenue model) has no Import data until set.
- If your Last actual is Dec’21, but then you drag it forward to Jan’22, Jan-22 data (if present) will come through for QBO in the model, but Snowflake data will stay cut off at Dec’21.
If you want to pull in 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).
You can find the setting when previewing a data source within the model. Turn it on by clicking the 3 dots and setting a date. Once on, the data source header will display the Import data until date.
What if my “forecast” data source lives in a model that has no other data sources? Do I still need to use Import data until?
No! In this case, you can just turn the Last actual date setting off in that model (in the time settings in the top-right). Data will flow in as and when its 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.
What if my historic data source (that has less months of useable data than my other historic sources), lives in a model with no other data sources? Do I still need to use Import Data Until?
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).
Last modified 8d ago