It is possible to drill different dimensions using the selectable lists in the dimensions bar.
If the space on the bar were not enough to show all the dimensions that form the analysis context of the cube, the arrows that appear at the beginning and end of the bar will be enabled, and clicking on them you can go through dimensions and view those that are not present at the moment.
Below the name of each dimension, the hierarchy of that dimension by which the information in the analysis pane is filtered is indicated.
- Name of the dimension. The background color will change if the information shown in the dimension has been somehow filtered.
- Placing the mouse pointer on this sector, you may view information of the dimension.
- Name of the hierarchy the dimension is filtered by. If it is the top hierarchy the name will be the same as the dimension's
- Arrow that opens the navigation window.
Using Drag & Drop
To view one dimension in the analysis pane, you just have to use the Drag & Drop mechanism.
The Drag & Drop method lets you:
- Change the dimension displayed on a given axis
- Nest one dimension in an axis when in Spreadsheet Mode
- Delete a dimension located on an axis
Changing the dimension displayed on a given axis
Each dimension in the dimensions bar includes an icon to the left of the name that lets you start the Drag & Drop operation.
This icon may be dragged with the mouse pointer over different sensitive areas of the analysis pane. (graph or spreadsheet)
One of the available operations through Drag & Drop is the replacement of the analysis dimensions, also known as datamart rotation.
To change one of the dimensions present in the analysis for another one, follow these steps:
- Place the mouse on the icon associated to the dimension you wish to drag to the analysis pane
- Drag the mouse while keeping the left button pressed and place it in the sensitive area of the axis on which you wish to place the dimension
- Release the left button for O3 to place the dimension on the desired axis
When you start dragging a dimension or the measures with the mouse, the pointer changes indicating the places where the dragged dimension may be dropped. This lets you easily identify the sensitive areas, which will depend on the type of viewing - Spreadsheet or Graph - being used each time.
In the case of graph viewing, it is possible to change dimensions that are located on the axes, but you may not nest dimensions.
When you view the query in graph mode, the sensitive areas are:
- The axes titles
- The list of elements of the Y axis. (also know as Series)
When viewing in the spreadsheet mode the sensitive areas are:
- Titles of the dimensions to substitute the dimension currently on the axis
- Left or Right border of the titles of the dimensions to nest the dimension outside or inside the existing one
Nesting a dimension on an axis
This operation is only available when you are viewing information in Spreadsheet format
To nest a dimension on an axis:
- Place the mouse over the title of the dimension you wish to nest
- Drag the mouse while keeping the left button pressed to any border of the title of another dimension (being drilled) to nest it there.
When the mouse is placed over one of the borders while dragging, a thick line appears to indicate that when releasing the button the dimension will be added.
Moving a dimension
This operation is only available when viewing information in Spreadsheet format.
To move a dimension between axes:
- Place the mouse over the title of the dimension you wish to move
- Drag the mouse while keeping the left button pressed to the title of the other dimension to change it.
What indicates that the sensitive area is activated to allow the substitution of the dimension, is the change in the graphical representation of the title that changes color and background.
Removing a dimension from the analysis
This operation is only available when viewing information in Spreadsheet format.
To remove a dimension from the spreadsheet:
- Place the mouse over the title of the dimension you wish to remove
- Drag the mouse while keeping the left button pressed to the dimensions bar where all dimensions of the datamart or cube are.
When the mouse pointer changes shape, release the left button to remove the dimension from the analysis pane.
Using the navigation window
The navigation window is opened by clicking on the icon to the right of the name of each dimension.
As an example, the navigation window of a date-type dimension of the Wines datamart distributed with the installation CD of Ideasoft O3 is shown.
Such dimension shows a 3-level hierarchy, representing years, quarters and months. Other elements of the dimesions are the ones corresponding to relative dates defined in the model: Last 12 months, Year to Date, and Current Month.
In this section, this date dimension will be used to describe the different types of queries.
The different types of queries can be applied in general to any dimension. However, there are some querires that only make sense in those dimensions located on the analysis axes. That is why the list of available operations may vary depending on the use of the dimension in the view.
Elements of the navigation window of a dimension
It displays the following components.
- Search area
- Navigation of the dimension area
- Drill level area
- Button to accept the query
- Button to cancel the query
Search area
This feature lets you find elements of the dimension whose labels contain a given description. Once the search is performed, it is possible to navigate through the elements found.
The button next to the characters entry window launches the search. Once it is finished, results will be shown in the navigation area.
Navigation area
It lets you select the set of elements of the dimension for which you wish to make the query. The main component of this tab is the Hierarchy Tree of the dimension, where all its elements are displayed in an indented way.
Drill level area
Following, the different types of queries available from the drill area of each dimension are described.
Drill Children
The default option.
It drills the descendents of the hierarchical level displayed below the title of the dimension.
Single Member
This type of query lets you select a single element of the dimension as a result of the query.
To choose an element in this mode you must select the desired element, by double clicking on it or selecting the check box and pressing the Accept button. Using this type of queries on dimensions which are not placed on the axes, acts as a filter, analyzing only the values corresponding to the selected element.
When this type of query is used on dimension located on the axes, it lets you focus the analysis on the selected element, no matter if in the hierarchical organization of that dimension the element is of an intermediate level. The obtained query is similar to consulting elements in the lower level of the hierarchy. (the leaves)
This type of query can also be performed on measures. It is the default type of query applied to measures.
Elements list
This type of queries lets you select a list of elements for which you wish to focus the analysis.
All elements on the list must belong to the same level in the hierarchical organization of the dimension.
This means we will be able to choose a set of quarters, whether they belong to the same year or not.
But it is not possible to select years and quarters at the same time. To choose a list of elements from a dimension it is necessary to select the desired elements in the dimension, the corresponding check boxes and then press the accept button.
This type of query also lets you sort the elements on the list or the result of the query. In order to do so, a new button is added between those of "Search" and "Accept". Such button is disabled for other types of queries.
Drill Level
This query can be interpreted as a special case of "Selection from the list of elements", in which all elements of a given level are consulted.
To consult all the elements of a level you must select the desired level by double-clicking on the element or choosing the check box and pressing the "Accept" button.
Advanced Drill
Advanced selection offers several navigation possibilities.
This navigation option is available when the dimension is located in any of the query axes.
When the "Advanced Drill" option is selected from the list of available operations, two new lists that will let you specify the advanced selection are added to the dimension control pane.
The different forms of advanced drilling are displayed in the list of options that pops up at in the bottom left-hand corner above the default "Level" option and correspond to:
- Level
- Descendants
- Siblings
- Leaves
- Ancestors
- Parent
- Roots
The different types of Advanced Drilling are explained below:
Drill Level: This option lets you select all the elements in a level that depend on a given ancestor. If the chosen element as ancestor is the root, using this option has the same result as the option of drilling all the level.
To drill down to a level do this:
- Choose the "Level" option from the list on the left.
- Choose the reference ancestor from the list of elements of the dimension.
- Choose the level you wish to view from the list on the right.
This level must always be below the level of the element chosen as reference, and then click on "Accept".
Drill Descendants:. This type of query lets you access the elements in the lower levels or children of the reference element.
To see the descendants of an element:
- Select the "Descendants" option from the list on the left.
- Choose the reference element from which you wish to select descendants.
- Select the maximum level down to which you wish to see descendants from the list on the right.
It must always be below the level of the reference element. If none is chosen, the default level is the lowest.
Drill Siblings: This type of query lets you analyze elements that are at the same level as the chosen one, excluding it.
To use this form of selection:
- Select the "Siblings" option from the list on the left.
- Choose the reference element to identify siblings.
Drill Leaves: Drilling leaves lets you see the elements from the lower level which depend on a chosen ancestor. If the root is chosen, all the lower level is shown.
To see the leaves of an element:
- Choose the "Leaves" option from the list on the left.
- Choose the reference element from the list of elements of the dimension and confirm by clicking on "Accept"
Drill Ancestors: It shows the line of all ancestors of a chosen element to the specified level.
To see the ancestors of a given element:
- Choose the "Ancestors" entry from the list on the left.
- Choose the element from which you wish to select ancestors.
- Choose the maximum level up to which you wish to view ancestors from the list on the right.
This level must always be above that of the element chosen as reference.
Drill Parent: It refers to the parent of a given element. To see an element's parent:
- Select the "Parent" entry from the list on the left.
- Choose the element from which you wish to select the parent and confirm with the "Accept" button.
Drill Roots: It refers to the root of a given element.
To see an element's root:
- Select the "Roots" entry from the list on the left.
- Choose the element you wish to select the root of an confirm with the "Accept" button.