The ISANCESTOR function takes two list or time period values. It returns a Boolean value of TRUE if the first is an ancestor of the second. Ancestors of an item are its parent, its parent's parent, and so on.

## Syntax

ISANCESTOR(Ancestor, Descendant)

## Arguments

 Argument Data type Description Ancestor List, time period The value to test whether it is an ancestor of the Descendant argument. Descendent List, time period The value to test whether it is a descendent of the Ancestor argument.

The ISANCESTOR function returns a Boolean result.

PARENT

## Examples

### List example

In this example, a module has the Organization list on columns and line items on rows.

The Organization list is a hierarchical list with a top level of company. Within this list, regions are the parents of countries, and countries are the parents of cities.

The first line item, City, uses the ITEM function to return each location within the Organization list. Three further line items use the ISANCESTOR function to check whether these cities are part of the UK, France, or the EMEA region respectively.

 London Birmingham Paris Lyon New York Los Angeles City London Birmingham Paris Lyon New York Los Angeles Part of UK? ISANCESTOR(Organization.UK, City) true true Part of France? ISANCESTOR(Organization.France, City) true true Part of EMEA? ISANCESTOR(Organization.EMEA, City) true true true true

### Time period example

In this example, the Dates list is on columns, and line items on rows. The Chosen Month and Chosen Quarter line items have the time period data type. The Quarter is Ancestor? has the Boolean data type and uses the ISANCESTOR function. This returns a Boolean value of TRUE if the value of Chosen Quarter is an ancestor of Chosen Month.

The final line item, Within Q3?, uses a direct reference to the time period of Q3 FY22 and checks whether it's the ancestor of Chosen Month.

 Key Dates Expiry Dates Chosen Month Feb 2022 Jul 2022 Chosen Quarter Q1 FY22 Q1 FY22 Quarter is Ancestor? ISANCESTOR(Chosen Quarter, Chosen Month) true Chosen Month Within Q3 FY22? ISANCESTOR(Time.'Q3 FY22', Chosen Month) true

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