iXBRL Diagnostic Errors - Duration

When generating an iXBRL report, you may encounter an error reading Item representing information over a period using a context associated with a specific date.

This is because tags have an associated period type requirement, which identifies whether the content applies throughout the period, or whether the content relates only to a given date.

For example, the tag Entity Current or Legal Registered Name relates to the name of the company and has the period type duration, which means the information relates to any given day within period of the report. 

Contexts for this tag need to be given as applicable to the full period.

Conversely, the figure for your current assets on the balance sheet, tagged as Current Assets, has a period type instant, as the figure relates to the balance at the moment the period ended.

Contexts for this tag need to be given as applicable to the end of the period.

Most default contexts have alternate versions with both period types.  As an example, the commonly used Active Period context is set up for a tag with period type duration, and there is an equivalent Active Period End Date context for instant tags.  Typically, if you are experiencing this error for a tag applied with a default context, you likely have selected the incorrect version of the default tag.

Within the context menu, the setting applied to your context is shown through Applicable field below. 

Note: It is strongly advised you change which context is assigned to the tag, rather than edit the current context. 

This is because contexts are used multiple times throughout the accounts and you may trigger more errors where this setting is correct for other tags in the accounts.