How to create a date hierarchy
A date hierarchy groups data by year, and inside each year by month — or by any other combination of years, quarters, months, weeks and days. Each level shows its own subtotal, so you see the big picture and the details in one table.
You build it in the Universal Visual Builder by adding the same date field several times, each with a different bucket.
Create the report
In Report Builder, open the Templates tab and click Blank (universal visual builder).
In the Configure panel on the right, expand Get data and select the scope — for example, two projects.
Expand Set chart and fields. Keep the chart Pivot table (vertical).
Add the year level
In Rows grouping, click Add field and pick a date field, for example Created.
Click the arrow on the field to open its settings.
Set Bucket by to Years. The Format changes to YYYY.
Set Filter to none, or choose the period you need.
Optional: change Name to Year. The new name is used in the table header.
A new date field starts with the filter This month. If the report shows Nothing was found for the selected scope and filters, check the Filter of each date field.
Add the month level
In Rows grouping, click Add field again and pick the same date field.
Set Bucket by to Months and Format to Month short.
Set Filter to none.
Optional: change Name to Month.
The second field is nested under the first one: each year row is followed by its months.
Add columns and values
Put a field such as Project or Assignee into Columns grouping.
Choose what the cells show in Cell content — for example Count of Issues, or a time measure such as the sum of logged time.
You can drag a field by its handle to move it between Rows grouping and Columns grouping. Put the date levels into the columns to get a timeline across the top instead.
More levels and options
Add a third copy of the date field with Quarters, Weeks or Days to go deeper. The order of the fields is the order of the levels.
Use the eye icon to hide a level without deleting it.
To hide subtotals, open the settings of the Cell content field and set Apply to to All but hide col/row subtotals.
When the report looks right, click Add to My Reports to save it. For all field settings, see Universal Visual Builder.