Filtering and sorting by value in the Data Area

When you filter or sort by value, the Data Area is enabled. It has two columns; Hierarchy and Selection. To define the Data Area, you list the hierarchies on which the report is based and select elements from them.

The Data Area is used to define the slice of data to which the filter or sort applies. For example, you might want to see sales figures in one financial year where a condition in a previous financial year applied. You define such conditions with these aggregation functions:


Function	Description
Any	Checks if any value meets a specified criteria. Note: The Any aggregation function is available for lists in the Data Area only for OLAP aliases.
Minimum	The element with the lowest value passes through the filter.
Maximum	The element with the highest value passes through the filter.
Sum	Sums the values of the selected elements.
Average	Calculates the average of the selected elements.

If you do not define the Data Area, the filter or sort applies to the elements currently selected in the report.

Defining the Data Area with elements

You can list the hierarchies and elements in the Data Area automatically or manually. To list them automatically, click the Fill button. Each hierarchy is listed with the element currently used in the report.

If the element is in a report object (for example, a combo box) the name of the report object is displayed. To select a different element, click in the Selection column. You can select single or multiple elements. If you select multiple elements, you must select a function from the Aggregation function list.

If you click the Fill but make no changes to the selected elements, the effect is the same as not defining the Data Area.

To fill the list manually, click <Select Hierarchy> in the Hierarchy column and select a hierarchy from the list.

Defining the Data Area with variables

You can define the Data Area with variables in addition to elements.

When you define the Data Area, you can distinguish between different types of variable. Click a hierarchy in the Hierarchy column and select the appropriate variable type:

Element: A single element
Set: A set of elements from a single hierarchy
Tuple: Multiple elements from multiple hierarchies.

Click the Select button in the Selection column to open the Select Elements dialog. Select the variable.