Metrics vs CCFs

Targetprocess is quite powerful with its ability to do advanced calculations. The system can evaluate values using multiple source fields and properties, common math, and string manipulation operations. As a result you get calculated numeric, date, boolean, text values. They can be displayed on views, presented within tabular and visual reports, saved to custom fields, and exported to external systems.

Custom Formulas in Metrics and Calculated Custom Fields are two features in Targetprocess that are capable of supporting custom calculations. They populate custom fields of the entities within values calculated according to formula expressions.

Similar results may be achieved within different features, and each feature has its own benefits and known limitations.

🚧

Calculated Custom Fields are deprecated

Metrics have been designed and released as a replacement for Calculated Custom Fields feature. We recommend prefer Metrics over Calculated Custom Fields whenever possible.

Usage and Appearance

MetricsCalculated Custom Fields
Supported process-based entity typesEpic, Feature, User Story, Task, Bug, Request, Test Case, Test Plan, Test Plan Run, Impediment, Project, Release, Iteration, Build, TimeEpic, Feature, User Story, Task, Bug, Request, Test Case, Test Plan, Test Plan Run, Impediment, Project, Release, Iteration, Build, Time
Supported global entity typesNo
Postponed till future updates
Program, Team, Team Iteration, User, Requester
Real-time recalculationYes
When data source is changed
Yes
When the page is loaded or refreshed
Scheduled recalculation: daily / weekly / monthlyNo
Postponed till future updates
Not needed
Values are always actual
Displayed on Views, in Customize CardsYes
Custom Fields section
Yes
Custom Fields section
Use in Advanced Filters on views and reports
Use in Visual Encoding filtering rules
YesYes
Results available in View > Action > Export to CSV fileYes
Among regular Custom Fields
Yes
Among regular Custom Fields
Results available in Tabular Reports: as column values and in filtersYes
In reports based on a single process
No
Results available in Visual ReportsYesYes
Results available in REST APIYesNo
Calculated results can be included to other calculation formulasYesNo
Calculated results may be edited by usersYes*No

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*Metrics rewrite field values

Metrics that set values to non-system custom fields can suddenly rewrite data in the fields. As a result manual user input may be lost.

Difference in Calculation Formulas

This table lists syntax of expressions that can be used in formulas for Custom Formula Metrics and Calculated Custom Fields.

Custom Formula MetricsCalculated Custom Fields
Present moment of time
Now, Today, relative shifts
NoYes
DateTime.Now
DateTime.Now.AddDays(7)
Check if Release / Iteration / Team Iteration is current / past / futureNo
Metric is not recalculated daily
Yes
IsCurrent == True
Use NumericPriority in formulasNo
Metric is not recalculated when NumericPriority values are normalized. Values are changed nightly.
Yes
Refer to LeadTime, CycleTime, ForecastEndDateNo
Metric is not recalculated daily
Yes
Custom Fields set by Custom Formula MetricsYesYes
Custom Fields of Calculated typeNo
Metric is not recalculated when source CCF value is changed.
No
Custom Fields of the same entityYesYes
Custom Fields of parent entitiesYesYes
Custom Fields of entities in child collectionsYes
UserStories.SUM(CustomValues.Number("Field Name"))
Yes
UserStories.SUM(CustomValues.Number("Field Name"))
Custom Fields of entities in RelationsYes
SlaveRelations.SUM(Slave.CustomValues.Number("Field Name"))
Yes
SlaveRelations.SUM(Slave.CustomValues.Number("Field Name"))