The Actual Column is used to insert a column that calculates Actual or Forecast amounts. This is dynamic based on the Period Range and using the Actuals up to property or Last Actuals Period.
Column headings
TIP 💡Dynamic Placeholders: Typing the forward slash "/ "
opens a dropdown of available dynamic values you can insert into any cell in the builder.
Group header & Column Header
Text field that represents the group header, choose from the following options in the Dynamic Placeholders, by default these are set to Period Range and Value Type respectively. Information below the cell will show how the current selection will display.
Period Range: represents the specific period range that is defined by Period Range Setting below
Value Type: Actual
Budget Version: Shows the name of the selected budget version
Business Unit: Shows the Business Unit / Tree selected
Alternatively you can Type directly in the cell to use your own terminology, with or without a dynamic placeholder.
Column type indicates the type of column selected in +ADD COLUMN
Note: 💬 the Group header for Actual columns placed inside a column group are configured on the group.
To edit the Group header, select the group itself — not the Actual column inside it.
Report periods
Period range
The period range determines the date range that will be used in the period amount calculation, choose the setting from the dropdown list available or set a Custom range. The information panel below will show the actual dates the column will report.
See Date Selection (Report periods) for help with using Custom ranges.
Note: 💬 Period ranges for Actual columns inside a Group by Date Range or Repeating Multi‑period Group are configured on the group.
When an Actual column sits inside a Group by Date Range or Repeating Multi‑period group, it won’t show its own Period Range settings. To adjust the periods, select the group by date range or multi‑period group itself — not the Actual column inside it.
Data source
Each Data Source option defaults to Link to report criteria. With this setting, the column simply uses the report’s standard criteria to calculate its values. If you apply an override, the column will ignore the report criteria and use the settings you specify in this column's criteria.
Organisation
Specify the Organisation or Consolidated Group to use when calculating this column.
Business Unit
Specify the Business Unit filter to apply to this column.
Note: 💬The column will show the consolidated result of Business Units in the selection. To create separate columns for each Business Unit, use a Multi‑column Business Unit or Organisation group instead.
Budget Version
Budget version dropdown with a list of budget versions based on the selected organisation.
Note: 💬 the selected budget version is used when Actual columns roll into Forecast values.
Appearance
Group header
Select Radio button as required:
Primary colour: Sets the background colour as per the Report Styles primary colour
Secondary colour: Sets the background colour as per the Report Styles secondary colour
Note: 💬 the Group header appearance for Actual columns inside a column group are edited on the group itself.
Column
Toggle: Background shading
On (default): Applies background shading to the column header and detail rows. This matches the styling used in Calxa’s preconfigured reports, where Actual values appear with a grey background.
Off: Removes all background shading.
Minimum width (default: 175)
Defaults to 175, which is the minimum width for this column. When the report is generated, the column may expand to fit neatly within standard page sizes (A4 Portrait, A4 Landscape, or A3 Landscape). Once the total minimum widths exceed an A3 Landscape layout, the report will no longer use a fixed page size and will instead grow to accommodate all columns.
Tip: 💡 Adjusting column widths is an effective way to fit your report to standard page sizes like A4 Portrait or Landscape.
Apply negative text colour
Check this box to have negative numbers displayed in red or a custom colour as defined in the Report Style. Untick to report as Black text only.