# Date Picker Plume: 8 how-to guides (Fridays, month ends, heatmap…)

> Open on the latest date, allow only Fridays or month ends, write your own rules and color the days by revenue: step-by-step recipes for Date Picker Plume.

- Language: English
- Web page: https://plumevisuals.com/en/tutorials/date-picker-plume-cas-pratiques
- Published: 2026-10-14
- Visual: Date Picker Plume, technical reference: https://plumevisuals.com/ai/visuals/date-picker.md
- If an option name in this tutorial differs from the technical reference, the reference is right (it is generated from the visual's code).

These recipes assume Date Picker Plume is already set up. If it is not, start with [getting started](/en/tutorials/segment-calendrier-dates): the examples reuse its data. Features marked ★ are premium: they work without a license, with a watermark.

## How do I open the report on the latest available date?

The most common request in daily reports: readers want to see "yesterday" or the last loaded day, without clicking.

1. In **Format › Preselection**, set **Shortcut (no DAX)** to *Latest date in the data*.
2. Set **Apply** to *Reapply on every display* and turn on **Force**.
3. Save and publish the report.

Result: the page always opens on the last selectable day with data (October 10 in the example), even if another date was selected when the report was saved. After the next day's refresh, it will be the new last day.

> **Tip:** **Tip**: with *Once per session* and **Force** off, a date saved in the report or recalled by a bookmark is kept: the shortcut only applies when no date is filtered. For a period the shortcuts don't offer (the last full week, for example), drop into the **Preselection** field a measure that returns the range in ISO dates (★, see the [fields and settings](/en/tutorials/date-picker-plume-champs-et-reglages)).

## How do I allow only Fridays?

Weekly reports are closed on Fridays: the other days must not be selectable.

1. In **Format › Selectable dates**, turn off **Monday**, **Tuesday**, **Wednesday**, **Thursday**, **Saturday** and **Sunday**.
2. Set **Look of non-selectable dates** to *Faded and struck through*.
3. In **Format › Selection**, set **A range filters** to *Only the selectable dates*.
4. Select the range from September 25 to October 10.

Result: only Fridays can be clicked. The range sends only the Fridays with data to the report (September 25, October 2 and October 9): the card shows 7,931. The **Latest date** shortcut picks October 9, the last Friday with sales.

## How do I keep only the last working day of each month?

For monthly closings, only the last working day matters.

1. In **Format › Selectable dates**, set **Position in the period** to *Last working day of the month*.
2. In **Format › Calendar**, set **Public holidays** to *France* to see the holidays in the calendar.
3. In **Format › Selection**, set **Mode** to *Single date*.

Result: only one day per month can be clicked (Wednesday, September 30 in the example). For October, Friday the 30th has no data in the example: it stays grayed out.

## How do I write custom rules (quarter-end closings, summer closure)? ★

When the toggles are not enough.

1. In **Format › Selectable dates › Advanced rules ★**, type one rule per line. For example, for quarter-end closings:

   ```text
   last workday & month 3,6,9,12
   ```

   or, for every working day except a closure:

   ```text
   workday
   - 2026-08-10..2026-08-21
   ```

2. Switch to reading view to test it.

Result: a date is selectable if it matches at least one line; a line starting with `-` excludes dates. `&` combines two conditions, `not` negates a term. A rule that is not understood is ignored and flagged in edit mode. Rules can be written in English or French.

| Sample term | Dates kept |
|---|---|
| `monday`, `mon-fri`, `friday` | Days of the week |
| `workday` | Monday to Friday, except public holidays |
| `month end`, `month start`, `quarter end` | Period boundaries |
| `day 1,15,-1` | The 1st, the 15th and the last day of the month |
| `last friday`, `2nd tuesday` | Nth weekday of the month |
| `month 3,6,9,12`, `even week`, `year 2026` | Months, weeks, years |
| `with data`, `past`, `future` | Based on the Value measure, or relative to today |
| `2026-01-01..2026-03-31` | A range of dates |

## How do I save space with a compact field?

The calendar takes up room on a busy page: a single line that opens on click is enough.

1. In **Format › Calendar**, set **Display as** to *Compact field (calendar on click)*.
2. Make the visual's frame taller (the calendar opens inside this frame).
3. In the ribbon, **Format › Bring forward › Bring to front**.
4. In the **Format** pane, **General › Effects** tab, turn off **Background**.

Result: the slicer takes up only one line ("Oct 6, 2026 → Oct 12, 2026 · 7 days"). On click, the calendar opens on top of the visuals placed underneath.

## How do I color the days by revenue? ★

To spot busy Saturdays and slow days at a glance.

1. Check that `Revenue` is in **Value (data and heatmap)**.
2. In **Format › Heatmap ★**, turn on **Show ★**.
3. Set **Scale** to *By rank (quantiles)* so that each shade covers the same number of days.
4. Turn on **Value in the cells**.

Result: each day with data is colored by its revenue, the value is written in the cell, and the legend shows the minimum and maximum. The selection stays visible (a ring in the accent color).

## How do I select a whole week, with European week numbers?

1. In **Format › Selection**, set **Mode** to *Whole week*.
2. In **Format › Calendar**, turn on **Week numbers** and leave **Week numbering** on *ISO 8601 (Europe)* and **First day of the week** on *Monday*.
3. Click a week number (or any day of the week).

Result: the whole week, from Monday to Sunday, is selected and sent to the report.

## How do I compare several non-consecutive days? ★

For example, the last three Saturdays.

1. In **Format › Selection**, set **Mode** to *Several dates ★*.
2. Click September 26, October 3 and October 10.

Result: only these three dates are sent to the report; the card shows 10,050. Clicking a date again removes it.

## Learn more

- [Getting started with Date Picker Plume](/en/tutorials/segment-calendrier-dates): the data to prepare and a first visual, step by step.
- [Date Picker Plume: every field and setting explained](/en/tutorials/date-picker-plume-champs-et-reglages): each field well and each setting.
- [Getting started with Plume visuals](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume): installation, license, styles and settings shared by every visual.
- The visual's page: [Date Picker Plume](/en/visuals/date-picker). A question? [Support](/en/support).