Ranking in ad hoc report

Ranking limits the report to the highest- or lowest-performing visible elements based on a selected value. Ranking displays a flat list of results and ignores hierarchy structures, which changes how elements are organized in the report. Because ranking filters the displayed data to a specific top or bottom count, ranking helps focus analysis on the most relevant results.

Multiple ranking criteria can exist on the same axis when AI generates a report or when you open a report from Application Studio. In this case, the report result follows the order of criteria that is defined in the report definition.

Ranking applied to a column creates a ranking criterion on the row axis, using the selected column elements as its custom data area.

Ranking applied to a row creates a ranking criterion on the column axis, using the selected row elements as its custom data area.

Ranking applies to selected visible elements on the axis where the ranking criterion exists. Changes to slicer configuration or slicer selections do not invalidate ranking criteria that are applied to axes. Changes to element selections on the same and opposite axis do not invalidate ranking that is applied to a value row or value column.

Ranking is always applied with the Break Hierarchy setting enabled. The program ignores hierarchy modes that are defined at the hierarchy level. The report displays the ranked number of selected visible elements as a flat list. You cannot expand elements to display descendant elements.

Invalid ranking criteria

Ranking criteria are associated with a specific data context on report axes. Changes to the report definition, such as moving or swapping dimensions, can invalidate existing criteria. When a ranking criterion becomes invalid, it is automatically removed either after a report interaction change or upon confirming the Report Designer dialog box.

Ranking availability

You can apply ranking from contextual actions that are available on element headers in both the row axis and the column axis.

For multiple dimensions on the column or row axis, ranking is available only for element headers in the innermost dimension that reference a single-value column or row.

The Rank group in the Manage Report tab contains:

  • The Rank menu.
  • The Clear Ranking button.

Ranking is not available when:

  • You select multiple row-axis or column-axis element headers.
  • The active cell is an empty cell.
  • The active cell contains values.

Ranking options

The Rank menu contains the following options. Phase 0 supports count-based ranking:

  • Top 5
  • Top 10
  • Top 20
  • Bottom 5
  • Bottom 10
  • Bottom 20
  • No Ranking

State indicator

The state indicator is applied in the Rank menu.

The currently applied ranking option is disabled in the drop-down menu. You can select another available option to apply a different ranking method or remove ranking from the report definition.

  • If the axis does not contain a ranking criterion, No Ranking is selected by default.
  • If the axis contains a ranking criterion:
    • When you select an element where ranking exists, the Rank menu shows the applied ranking type. You can select a different ranking option.
    • When you select an element that is not part of the existing ranking context, No Ranking is selected in the drop-down menu. You can select a ranking option to replace the existing ranking criterion.

Spreadsheet and ribbon interaction

When you left-click an element header in the cell, the Manage Report tab displays the same contextual actions for the selected element header.

The ribbon contains a new Rank section that provides ranking options.

The ribbon contains a new ranking button.

Click Rank, to show the Rank menu.

Removing ranking criteria from the report definition

You can remove ranking criteria in the following ways:

  • Select an element where the criterion exists, and then select No Ranking from the contextual menu. This option applies when one criterion exists per axis.
  • Click Clear Ranking in the ribbon. When you select an axis that contains sorting criteria, the button becomes available. Clicking the button removes all ranking criteria from the axis.