[IMP] Essentials: update search doc

closes odoo/documentation#10420

X-original-commit: 7212fc98cd
Signed-off-by: John Holton (hojo) <hojo@odoo.com>

content/applications/essentials/search.rst

@@ -181,6 +181,75 @@ It is possible to *customize groups* by using a field present on the model. To d
    cluster, the next one that is added further divides the main group's categories, and so on.
    Furthermore, filters and groups can be used together to refine the view even more.
 
+.. _search/comparison:
+
+Comparison
+==========
+
+Certain reporting dashboards include a :guilabel:`Comparison` section in the drop-down menus of
+their :guilabel:`Search...` bars. This includes the :doc:`Overall Equipment Effectiveness
+<../inventory_and_mrp/manufacturing/workflows/oee>` report for the *Manufacturing* app, and the
+:doc:`Purchase <../inventory_and_mrp/purchase/advanced/analyze>` report for the *Purchase* app,
+among others.
+
+The options in the :icon:`fa-adjust` :guilabel:`Comparison` section are used to compare data from
+two different time periods. There are two comparison options to choose from: :guilabel:`(Time
+Filter): Previous Period` and :guilabel:`(Time Filter): Previous Year`.
+
+.. important::
+   For some reports, the :guilabel:`Comparison` section **only** appears in the
+   :guilabel:`Search...` bar drop-down menu if one (or more) time periods have been selected in the
+   :guilabel:`Filters` column. This is because, if no time period is specified, there is nothing to
+   compare.
+
+   Additionally, some reports only allow use of the :guilabel:`Comparison` feature when the
+   :icon:`fa-pie-chart` :guilabel:`(pie chart)` graph type, or the :icon:`oi-view-pivot`
+   :guilabel:`(pivot)` view, is selected. A :guilabel:`Comparison` option can be selected even if
+   another view is enabled, but doing so does **not** change the way data is displayed on the
+   report.
+
+.. image:: search/comparison-section.png
+   :align: center
+   :alt: The Search... bar for the production analysis report.
+
+To view data using one of the two comparisons, begin by selecting a time period in the
+:guilabel:`Filters` column of the :guilabel:`Search...` bar drop-down menu. Then, select either
+:guilabel:`(Time Filter): Previous Period` or :guilabel:`(Time Filter): Previous Year` in the
+:guilabel:`Comparison` section.
+
+With one of the :guilabel:`Comparison` options enabled, the report compares the data for the
+selected period, with the data for the same unit of time (month, quarter, year), one period or year
+prior. The way the data is displayed depends on the selected view:
+
+- The :icon:`fa-bar-chart` :guilabel:`(bar chart)` shows two bars, side-by-side, for each unit of
+  time for the selected time period. The left bar represents the selected time period, while the
+  right bar represents the previous time period.
+- The :icon:`fa-line-chart` :guilabel:`(line chart)` is displayed with two lines, one representing
+  the selected time period, and the other representing the previous time period.
+- The :icon:`fa-pie-chart` :guilabel:`(pie chart)` appears as a large circle with a smaller circle
+  inside. The larger circle represents the selected time period, while the smaller circle represents
+  the previous time period.
+- The :icon:`oi-view-pivot` :guilabel:`(pivot table)` is displayed with each column split into two
+  smaller columns. The right column represents the selected time period, while the left column
+  represents the previous time period.
+
+.. example::
+   In the :guilabel:`Production Analysis` report of the :menuselection:`Manufacturing` app, data for
+   the second quarter of 2024 is compared to data for the second quarter of 2023. :guilabel:`Q2` is
+   selected in the :guilabel:`End Date` filter section of the :guilabel:`Search...` bar drop-down
+   menu. In the :guilabel:`Comparison` section, :guilabel:`End Date: Previous Year` is selected.
+
+   The current year is 2024, so the larger circle shows data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2024.
+   The smaller circle shows data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2023, which is the same time period,
+   but one *year* prior.
+
+   If :guilabel:`End Date: Previous Period` is selected instead, the smaller circle shows data for
+   the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, which is the same time period, but one *period* prior.
+
+   .. image:: search/comparison.png
+      :align: center
+      :alt: The comparison view of the Production Analysis report.
+
 .. _search/favorites:
 
 Favorites