In a formula-type column, the function MIN_DATE_ELEMENTS() returns the earliest date among the values in a column, including columns containing multiple dates, notably fields of the Linked Table Column type.
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Date function name:
MIN_DATE_ELEMENTS()
Syntax
MIN_DATE_ELEMENTS(column1, column2, column3)
Calling function parameters in TimeTonic:
- $field_name = field (link, linked table column, number, selection, formula, text...).
- "free text" = free text to add within quotation marks.
- do not use quotation marks for numbers.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
column |
The column containing one or more dates. Can be a Link to another table column or a Linked Table Column returning dates. |
Example
MIN_DATE_ELEMENTS($Dates1, $Dates2, $Dates3)
The column returns the earliest date among the linked dates.
I applied the MIN_DATE_ELEMENTS formula on the three Date columns to get the earliest date among the three.
Return Type
The function returns a date.
The output type format of the result can be configured in the output field options of the formula editor. For more details, see Output format options in the Formula Column article.
Business Use Case
MIN_DATE_ELEMENTS() identifies the starting point of a set: first intervention of a file, oldest entry date, actual start of a project based on its linked tasks.
Best Practice
Use MAX_DATE_ELEMENTS() to get the most recent date of the same set, and calculate the total duration with DAY_DELTA().