# SHIFT
URL: https://docs.valsight.ai/shift/
Description: The SHIFT function shifts the input node by a given offset amount on a specified level. The shift amount can be a constant number or a node that provides different offsets per entry.
**Category:** [Compare periods](/compare-periods/)

## Overview

The **SHIFT** function **shifts the input node by a given offset amount on a specified level.** The shift amount can be a constant number or a node that provides different offsets per entry.

Use this function when you need a custom offset on a specific level instead of a fixed previous-period helper or a rolling aggregation.

## Syntax

`SHIFT('Node', "LevelName", ShiftAmount)`

`SHIFT('Node', "LevelName", 'ShiftNode')`

**Example usage:** `SHIFT('Revenue', "Year", 1)`

## Parameters

| Parameter                       | Description                                                                                                                    | Type                     | Required |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------ | -------- |
| **Node**                        | Input node that is shifted, specified in single quotes (e.g.`'Profit'`)                                                        | Node reference           | Yes      |
| **Level**                       | The level along which data is shifted, specified in double quotes (e.g.`"Year"`). The input node must have data on this level. | Level name               | Yes      |
| **ShiftAmount** / **ShiftNode** | The offset to shift by. Can be a constant number or a node reference.                                                          | Number or Node reference | Yes      |

## Output shape

| Aspect         | Behavior                                                     |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Dimensionality | Preserved (same levels as input)                             |
| Values         | Repositioned along the specified level by the offset amount  |
| Row count      | May decrease if shifted values fall outside the level bounds |

## Watch out

* A **positive** shift amount moves values to earlier periods. A **negative** value moves them to later periods. This is the opposite of what many users expect.
* For non-time dimensions, shifting is only allowed on the **lowest level** in the hierarchy.
* Shifting on linked (extended) levels is not supported.
* When using a node as the shift amount, its levels must match the input node's levels.
* Only **whole-number** offset values are considered.

## Examples

### Shift on the year dimension (positive vs. negative)

This example illustrates how the sign of the ShiftAmount controls direction.

**Input node:** `'Revenue'`

| Year | Revenue |
| ---- | ------- |
| 2025 | 100     |
| 2026 | 120     |
| 2027 | 140     |

**Formula:** `SHIFT('Revenue', "Year", 1)` *(positive → shifts data backwards)*

| Year | SHIFT Result |
| ---- | ------------ |
| 2024 | 100          |
| 2025 | 120          |
| 2026 | 140          |

The 2025 value now appears in 2024. Each value has moved one year into the **past**.

**Formula:** `SHIFT('Revenue', "Year", -1)` *(negative → shifts data forward)*

| Year | SHIFT Result |
| ---- | ------------ |
| 2026 | 100          |
| 2027 | 120          |
| 2028 | 140          |

The 2025 value now appears in 2026. Each value has moved one year into the **future**.

### Shift by a constant amount

This example shifts all values on the `Contract Age` level by the same constant offset.

**Input node:** `'Contracts'`

| Contract Age | Contracts |
| ------------ | --------- |
| 1            | 10        |
| 2            | 20        |
| 3            | 30        |

**Formula:** `SHIFT('Contracts', "Contract Age", -1)`

| Contract Age | SHIFT Result |
| ------------ | ------------ |
| 1            |              |
| 2            | 10           |
| 3            | 20           |
| 4            | 30           |

### Shift by values from another node

This example uses a second node to define different shift amounts for each contract type.

**Input node:** `'Contracts'`

| Contract Age | Contract Type | Contracts |
| ------------ | ------------- | --------- |
| 1            | A             | 10        |
| 2            | B             | 20        |
| 3            | C             | 30        |

**Input node:** `'Shift Node'`

| Contract Type | Amount |
| ------------- | ------ |
| A             | -1     |
| B             | -2     |
| C             | -3     |

**Formula:** `SHIFT('Contracts', "Contract Age", 'Shift Node')`

| Contract Age | Contract Type | SHIFT Result |
| ------------ | ------------- | ------------ |
| 2            | A             | 10           |
| 4            | B             | 20           |
| 6            | C             | 30           |

### Shift by offsets defined per level value

This example uses a shift node on the same level that is being shifted, so each contract age gets its own offset value.

**Input node:** `'Contracts'`

| Contract Age | Contract Type | Contracts |
| ------------ | ------------- | --------- |
| 1            | A             | 10        |
| 2            | B             | 20        |
| 3            | C             | 30        |

**Input node:** `'Shift Node'`

| Contract Age | Amount |
| ------------ | ------ |
| 1            | 1      |
| 2            | 1      |
| 3            | 1      |

**Formula:** `SHIFT('Contracts', "Contract Age", 'Shift Node')`

| Contract Age | Contract Type | SHIFT Result |
| ------------ | ------------- | ------------ |
| 0            | A             | 10           |
| 1            | B             | 20           |
| 2            | C             | 30           |

## Related

| Function                 | When to use instead                                                                                               |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [PY](/py/)               | When you need a fixed one-year shift for year-over-year comparisons without a custom offset.                      |
| [TIMELAG](/timelag/)     | When an effect should appear gradually or with a delay across time periods.                                       |
| [MOVINGSUM](/movingsum/) | When you want to aggregate values over a rolling window instead of moving them to different positions on a level. |