# Category combination Data set date extraction **URL:** \ **Category:** Support - Assistance technique\ **Created:** [19 May 2026 08:40 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/category-combination-data-set-date-extraction/72486 "2026-05-19T08:40:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr\_jorge](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/mr_jorge/32/43965_2.png) [@Mr\_jorge](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Mr_jorge)\ **Post date:** [19 May 2026 08:40 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/category-combination-data-set-date-extraction/72486/1 "2026-05-19T08:40:50Z")
Hello everyone, I have a dataset program that includes a category combination containing a date data type. I’m trying to pull this date information into a data visualization pivot table, but I’m unable to do so. Below is the error message I’m receiving. ![image](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/3X/0/5/050f8cbed4639e5083991d82aad295e1574af003.png) Please can any one advise me on how to extract this data. ---
**Author:** ![Gassim](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/gassim/32/35347_2.png) [@Gassim](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Gassim)\ **Post date:** [19 May 2026 09:23 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/category-combination-data-set-date-extraction/72486/2 "2026-05-19T09:23:40Z")
Could you please check which data element is showing the error and if possible share a screenshot of the configuration used? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_jorge](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/mr_jorge/32/43965_2.png) [@Mr\_jorge](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Mr_jorge)\ **Post date:** [19 May 2026 09:26 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/category-combination-data-set-date-extraction/72486/3 "2026-05-19T09:26:18Z")
Here is the configuration of the data element. ![image](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/3X/d/0/d05f18d71d3cc8a823c8f6076aefc67fe09c2068.png) ![image](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/3X/0/6/06ec55916afd7087d12543000228b9ea00196c6a.png) ---
**Author:** ![LutfullahShifaa](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/lutfullahshifaa/32/26915_2.png) [@LutfullahShifaa](https://community.dhis2.org/u/LutfullahShifaa)\ **Post date:** [19 May 2026 17:26 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/category-combination-data-set-date-extraction/72486/4 "2026-05-19T17:26:24Z")
Hello Arithmetic operation such is sum or average can not be applied on Date type to aggregate the result. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_jorge](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/mr_jorge/32/43965_2.png) [@Mr\_jorge](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Mr_jorge)\ **Post date:** [20 May 2026 11:07 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/category-combination-data-set-date-extraction/72486/5 "2026-05-20T11:07:00Z")
@Gassim Hopefully, the DHIS2 team will be able to resolve this issue. However, because the data urgently needed to be cleaned and analyzed, I had to use an alternative approach. I used the import/export app to export the cleaned data and then extracted the date information. This process was somewhat technical since the import/export app exports data using UIDs instead of names. The bulk load app can also be used, and it is much easier to navigate. ---
**Author:** ![Gassim](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/gassim/32/35347_2.png) [@Gassim](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Gassim)\ **Post date:** [20 May 2026 12:48 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/category-combination-data-set-date-extraction/72486/6 "2026-05-20T12:48:34Z")
Hi @Mr_jorge As @LutfullahShifaa mentioned, the date DE type can’t be aggregated into pivot table unless you might want to use indicators or consider another data element with a type that can be aggregated while using the period to get the date. What is the pivot table that you are trying to see? What is it supposed to show? This might help us consider if there’s a different way than trying to aggregate dates. > [@Mr\_jorge](#): > > I used the import/export app to export the cleaned data and then extracted the date information. This process was somewhat technical since the import/export app exports data using UIDs instead of names. You could mentioned the ID that you’d like to be used during the export: ![](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/3X/6/a/6a6564b2f03d482133309a7c64a8b4006f4f0de7.png) It’d be very helpful to know what’s the final output that you need because it’s not clear why you exported the data when you’d planned to create a pivot table. Could you share an example? Thanks!