Analytics Filters - Snapshot Mode

On Analytics pages that support it, a data snapshot lets you re-run the charts as they would have looked at the end of a chosen day (UTC calendar day). You pick a date, click Apply, and the page uses historical facts for that day where we store them.

It is not the same as changing the normal date filter to include older activity. That filter still chooses which responses or scores fall in a window. A data snapshot chooses which version of the facts the page reads for that day.

It is also not a saved picture of the screen. It is the same live query as usual, with an extra “as at this date” setting. Turning it off (or clearing the date) and applying again returns you to today’s data.

Why it exists

Scores, widgets, and even how you measure things can change over time. A data snapshot lets you look back knowing you are seeing the numbers as they stood on that day, not a recalculation based on how things are set up now.

When you can use it

• Available on most analytics pages (score / widget pages), once your company has enough history.
• Not available on Usage - that page is built differently. The control is shown but turned off, with a short explanation.
• Dates before history started for your company are not offered. If a data snapshot is unavailable for that reason, you will see a short explanation on the control.

What follows the date you pick

These use history as at the end of that day:

• Scores and related analytics results
• Which widgets and chart setup were on the page then
• People’s job title, job level, location, and active / leaver status used in audience filters

There can be up to about a day’s delay after an HR change (for example a job title update) before that change appears in a data snapshot. That is expected.

What always uses today

These do not go back in time:

• Who you are allowed to see - your current analytics access and (if you are a manager) your current reporting line. Broad analytics admins usually notice little change here. Team managers may see different people in scope than on the snapshot day.
• User groups - membership and group rules are always current. If someone edits a group’s inclusion rules later, a saved filter that uses a data snapshot and that group can return different people even though the date is unchanged.
• People’s display names in charts and search
• The Usage page (as above)

Tips for saved filters

• You can save a filter with a data snapshot on. The date is stored with the saved filter.
• If you save with both a snapshot date and one or more user groups, we show a reminder: groups are not fully “frozen.” Prefer a group named for that period, and create a new group for later periods, instead of editing the same living group.
• Share links and “opens by default” behave like other saved filters; they carry the snapshot date if it was saved.