You should be able to do this with some combination of Col Rank(), Col Cumulative Sum, Col Min() and so on functions. Based on your example, Col Rank() or Col Cumulative Sum(1, <byvars>) should be enough (there are no duplicate dates in any of the groups).
Column 3 is using Col Rank and Column 4 Col Cumulative Sum and Column 5 one option of a bit more complicated formula
Names Default To Here(1);
dt = New Table("Untitled",
Add Rows(8),
Compress File When Saved(1),
New Column("g", Numeric, "Continuous", Format("Best", 12), Set Values([1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2])),
New Column("d", Numeric, "Continuous", Format("Best", 12), Set Values([1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 2, 3])),
New Column("r", Numeric, "Continuous", Format("Best", 12), Set Values([1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 2, 3])),
New Column("Column 3", Numeric, "Continuous", Format("Best", 12), Formula(Col Rank(:d, :g))),
New Column("Column 4", Numeric, "Continuous", Format("Best", 12), Formula(Col Cumulative Sum(1, :g)))
);
dt << New Column("Column 5", Numeric, Continuous, Formula(
Col Cumulative Sum(
If(Row() == Col Min(Row(), :g, :d),
1
,
.
),
:g
)
));
-Jarmo