KB298583: Custom subtotals with the First(x) and Last(x) functions are not calculated correctly when sorted by a hierarchy in MicroStrategy Secure Enterprise 10.x

SYMPTOM
Custom subtotals that contain the First(x) Last(x) functions ignore the sort definition and instead sort by the metric value when sorted by hierarchy.
 
STEPS TO REPRODUCE:

• Create a custom subtotal defined as follows: LastH = Last <SortBy=(Time)>(x){@, Year, Quarter, Month}, here Time refers to the Time Hierarchy
• Create a metric CostH = Sum(Cost) {~}, select LastH as one available subtotal for this metric
  

• Create a normal report with Year, Quarter, Month and CostH, and enable the subtotal LastH.  For 2010Q1, the last metric is 469,412 when sorted by time, but the subtotal value is incorrectly shown as 502,767.

 
CAUSE
This is a known issue in Strategy 10.x that has been logged with the internal reference ID DE29996.  
 
WORKAROUND
Define the custom subtotal without the hierarchy and instead use the component attributes e.g. Last <SortBy=(Year, Quarter, Month)>(x){@, Year, Quarter, Month}
 
ACTION
This issue has been fixed in Strategy Secure Enterprise 10.4. Upgrade to this version to take advantage of the fix.