working w prompts in business insights

Working with Prompts in Business Insight

Improving the Interactivity and Flexibility with Business Insight

Techniques for Leveraging Prompts, Prompt Macros, and Other Techniques in Business Insight

Abstract:

This document provides various examples, techniques, and how-to’s to improve the overall amount of dynamic interactivity of Business Insight to meet more of needs and demands of customers

Table of Contents1


Overview.............................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Example #1 – Using Simple Report Prompts in Business Insight..................................................................................6

Example #2: Using Cascading Prompts.......................................................................................................................... 10

Example #3 – Creating Dynamic Maps............................................................................................................................ 13

Example #4 – Using Prompt Macros to Change Measures and Dimensions...............................................................19

Example #5 – Bringing it all together............................................................................................................................... 26

Example #6 – Using Prompts for Comparative Analysis...............................................................................................31

Appendix – Report Specs................................................................................................................................................. 33

2


Overview

Business Insight supports the ability to import prompts in addition to report parts directly on the workspace. This provides greater flexibility and options than the native Business Insight toolbox items.

Support for a greater variety of prompt types (e.g. tree prompts, radio buttons, cascading prompts, etc.)

Greater formatting options, in terms of fonts, background images, borders, colors, etc.

Ability to change metadata on the report without needing to launch Business Insight Advanced

This document will describe a few (of the many) different examples of how to leverage prompts within Business Insight.

Specific Examples and Use Cases

1. Using Simple Report Studio Prompts – Greatly Flexibility and Look-and-Feel with Report Studio Prompts

2. Using Cascading Prompts – Provides more dynamic interactions and more “navigate-able” paths

3


3. Adding Dynamic Maps

4. Creating a Report Builder

4


5. Doing Comparative Analysis

5


Example #1 – Using Simple Report Prompts in Business Insight

Objective

This example describes how Report Studio prompts can be included within Business Insight to provide more flexibility, in terms of support for different prompt types, improved prompt formatting and behavior, and improve the overall visualization.

Step 1: Create the Report Studio Prompts.

1. In Report Studio, create a standard report with multiple charts and lists

6

Different Prompt Types (List, Checkbox, Tree Prompt)

Improved Formatting Backgrounds, Font/Colors, Borders

Better Control and Linkage to Objects on Dashboard


2. Create a new prompt page in Report Studio.3. Within the Prompt Page, add the Appropriate the Prompts and behavior to the Prompt Page (Tree, Value, Text, etc.)

4. Define the appropriate formatting for the prompt page for desired consumption. In this example, predefined sizes, background images, different fonts and colors, and borders were added to improve the overall look-and-feel of the page

Step 2: Add the Prompts to a Business Insight Dashboard

5. Create a New Business Insight Dashboard. In the Content area (where the report was saved) there are two folders (Page 1 and Prompt Page 1):

Note: You can rename these folder names to more descriptive names, like “Select a Report Part” and “Select a Prompt Filter”.

6. Drag-and-drop the Charts and the entire prompt page to the dashboard. You should see the following.

7


Optional – Step 3: Share prompt answers between multiple reports

In Example #1, the prompt uses parameters specific to this report. This means that if a user drags in another unrelated report, the parameters will not apply. To leverage these prompt parameters within other reports, define an optional filter within other reports.

7. Create or edit another report based off of the same package.

8. From the original prompt report, copy the prompt parameters from the query and paste them into the new report. On the original report, double-click on the parameter and copy the expression. Go to the new report and create a

new detailed filter by drag-and-dropping a data item into the detail filter and copying the new expression in.

8


Repeat this process for all of the parameters and set the prompt to “optional”, if desired

9. In Business Insight, drag the new objects (from the new report) on to the dashboard. Change the prompt answers and you’ll notice that the new object now leverages these prompt parameters

9

Original ReportNew Report


Example #2: Using Cascading Prompts

Objective: Provide more dynamic interactivity and more “navigate-able” paths within Business Insight. In many

scenarios, business users may wish to see detailed level information by Geography, Customer, or Products. In these

situations, the Report authors would like simple and easy ways to deliver this information to their business users and allow

them to further refine and customize based on their business needs – without needing to create multiple

reports/dashboards.

Step 1: Build the Appropriate Report Objects to Support Business Requirements

Similar to the first example, the respective report parts need to be built out.

1. Build out the necessary charts, lists, and crosstab to support your report needs. In this case, since the cascading

prompts will be going to the “lowest” level, add lower level fields to the objects (e.g. City, Customer, Week, or Product)

Step 2: Build out the Prompt Pages

Similar to the first example, the respective prompt pages need to be built to support the interactive needs of the business.

To do this, create a new prompt page and add in the following:10


2. Add a prompt for a high-level field, like Year. Provide the parameter names, as we will be using these parameters

again. Choose to select a single value, rather than a multi-select, as this will allow for the “auto-submit” option.

3. Add another prompt for a more detailed field, like Quarter or Month. Under the “cascading” option, choose to use the

“Year” parameter to filter this prompt.

4. Within the prompt’s properties pane, set default selections and assign a default prompt answer.

To get the correct syntax, right-click on a member in the metadata tree and select properties:

5. Repeat this process for other dimensions, like Geography and Products.

6. Apply the necessary tables and formatting for the desired look-and-feel. Refer to the attached report specification for

additional details.

11


Step 3: Add the Objects into Business Insight

7. Create a new Business Insight workspace and add these new report objects as well as the prompt page. There will

not be any option to select individual prompt objects, so you will need to add the entire prompt page to the workspace.

12


Example #3 – Creating Dynamic Maps

Objective

Maps provide a very visual representation of data. However, a map is specific to country or region. This means that to

show different maps typically requires providing multiple maps on a single workspace – which ultimately provides

additional clutter and repetition. Using the rendervariables and prompts within Report Studio, users can create dynamic

maps. This means that multiple maps can be added to a report and then a prompt will conditionally display the map

based on specific conditions.

In the following example, different maps are shown based on the selected prompt:

Step 1: Create the Variables in Report Studio

This technique uses the “render variable” option within Report Studio

1. From within Report Studio, select Variables and open the Variables pane.

13


2. Add a new string variable called Map and provide the following expression definition: ParamDisplayValue('vRegion')

3. Within the Values pane, type in values that match your data items. In this example, the Region field has three values:

North America, Europe, and Asia. Therefore, the values are set to be the same names as these regions. Create a

blank value and (other) value, in the event that nothing is returned.

Step 2: Add Maps to the Report and Assign the Maps to Variables

4. On the report layout, drag-and-drop a map onto the pane. Select a North America or US map. Add the appropriate

information to it, like States/Provinces and a measure field.

14


5. Repeat these steps for the other maps, like Europe and Asia.

There’s no need to put these maps into tables, as the variables will dynamically display the appropriate map.

6. Click on the Map and within the Properties pane, click on the Render Variable. Under Variable, select the Map

variable and check the appropriate Variable value that applies. Repeat these same steps for the Style Variable (This

may not be needed)

15


7. Repeat these steps for the Europe and Asia maps.

8. To test that the variables are getting set correctly, highlight the Variables pane and click on North America:

Confirm that only the North America map appears.

16


Step 3: Build a Prompt or Assign a Parameter to select these Variables

The map variable can be set in multiple different ways. If there’s a parameter that is already being set by another prompt,

that variable can be leveraged within the workspace.

9. Create a new prompt page.

10. Create a prompt for Region and any other prompts that you may wish to set. Ensure that the parameter is identical to

that set in the variable. For example, the variable definition was ParamDisplayValue('vRegion'). This means that

the prompt parameter needs to be vRegion.

11. Ensure that only one value can be entered into the prompt and that it is not a multi-select prompt.

12. Assign this prompt to the Region query.

Step 4: Add Additional Charts or List to provide more contextual information

13. Additional crosstabs and charts can be built for additional information or they can be leveraged from other reports.

Step 5: Add Information to Workspace

14. Create a new workspace. Under the reports, drag the entire “Page1” onto the workspace along with the prompt.

17


15. Drag and drop the Prompt onto the workspace.

16. Change Regions and Voila…

18


Example #4 – Using Prompt Macros to Change Measures and Dimensions

Objective

Using Prompt Macros, authors can build in the capability for users to select different metadata measures, rows, and columns for the different chart objects directly within Business Insight. This means that users do not need to continually edit or re-author the objects in Business Insight Advanced or Report Studio when they wish to view the data by another perspective.

Step 1: Create the Prompt Macro Data Items in Report Studio

1. Create a blank chart and crosstab in Report Studio with your desired formatting

2. Go to the Query. Drag a “Data Item” element from the toolbox to the Query. Type in the following expression:

19

Change the Measure, Rows, and Columns

Add conditional formatting


#prompt('Measures','token','[Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[Order Revenue]')#

“Measures” is the parameter name, which will be used later.“[Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[Order Revenue]” is the default parameter selection. To get the path of the selections, right click on the measure or object and select properties. Copy the “Ref” path.

3. Rename “Data Item 1” to a more descriptive name, like “Measures”.4. Copy-and-paste the Measures data item and rename to “Rows”. Copy the following expression:

#prompt('Rows','token','[Market Analysis].[Region].[Region].[Region]')#

5. Copy-and-paste the Measures data item and rename to “Cols”. Copy the following expression:

#prompt('Cols','token','[Market Analysis].[Date].[Year].[Quarter]')#

6. On the Chart or List, add the newly created data items to the object (Measures, Rows, and Cols):

20


Step 2: Create a Prompt Page to Drive the Prompt Macros

7. Identify all of the different Measures, Rows, and Cols to use. Copy their paths to a text editor, like Notepad for future reference. To do this, right-click on the object in the Metadata Tree and select properties. In this example, we will use the following:

Measures: [Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[Order Revenue] [Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[Sales Growth %] [Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[Win / Loss %] [Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[Market Share %] [Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[# Inquiries]

Rows:

[Market Analysis].[Region].[Region].[Region] [Market Analysis].[Region].[Region].[Segment] [Market Analysis].[Product (Market Analysis)].[Product].[Product Line]

Cols:

[Market Analysis].[Date].[Year].[Year] [Market Analysis].[Date].[Year].[Quarter] [Market Analysis].[Priority].[Customer Priority].[Customer Priority]

8. Create a new prompt page.

Create a Value Prompt for “Measures”

9. From the toolbox, add a Value Prompt. In the wizard, select to use existing parameter: Measures and uncheck “create new query”.

10. On the prompt page, click on the value prompt. In the “properties” pane: Scroll to “Static Choices” and click to edit. Click on the “Add” icon Put the path under the Use option and a descriptive name under Display

Repeat these steps for all of the measures:

21


11. In the properties pane, select “Default Selections” and add the path to the desired default option ([Market Analysis].[Market Analysis].[Order Revenue])

12. Set the “Auto Submit” option to “Yes”. This will avoid the need for an “Apply” or “Finish” button to be needed.13. Add any additional prompt settings or formatting options.

Create a Value Prompt for “Rows” and “Columns”

14. Using the same techniques as above, repeat the same steps for the Rows and Cols prompts.15. Add a new value prompt from the toolbox menu.16. Select Rows as the parameter and do not create a new query.17. In the properties pane, define the Static Choices

[Market Analysis].[Region].[Region].[Region] [Market Analysis].[Region].[Region].[Segment] [Market Analysis].[Product (Market Analysis)].[Product].[Product Line]

18. Define a Default Selection: [Market Analysis].[Region].[Region].[Region]

19. Repeat the same steps for the Cols parameter.20. Apply any additional prompt options or formatting. In this example, a table and defined sizes to improve the layout.

Step 3: Create the Business Insight Dashboard

22


21. Create a new Business Insight dashboard.22. Add the objects and the prompt page to the dashboard. Notice the chart and list dynamically change when the

measure, rows, and columns are changed.

Optional - Step 4: Add Dynamic Conditional Styles

Conditional style prompts can be added for a user to dynamically define the specify highlighting to apply to the dashboard, such as Red Stoplight, if Margin drops below X%.

23. On the original report, create a new prompt page. From the toolbox menu, add a “text box prompt”.24. Provide a parameter name, like highvalue. Uncheck “create a parameterized filter”.25. Add another text box prompt to the report and provide a parameter name, like lowvalue.26. Add any additional parameters to control the highlighting, if desired.27. On the Crosstab or List object, click on the measures area within the crosstab/list and select the “Conditional Styles”

icon. 28. A new dialog will appear. On the bottom left corner, select “Advanced Conditional Style”.29. Click on New Advanced Condition and use the following expression

[Query1].[Measures] > string2double(ParamDisplayValue('highvalue’))

30. Create another Advanced Condition and use the following expression:

[Query1].[Measures] < string2double(ParamDisplayValue('lowvalue'))

31. Apply the appropriate formatting:

23


32. Add any additional formatting to the prompt page:

Step 5: Add New Objects to Business Insight Dashboard

33. Within the Business Insight dashboard, add the Prompt page and reset the Crosstab or Chart.

24


Example #5 – Bringing it all together

Objective

The following example leverages the above two techniques in combination to create a powerful “dashboard builder” application. In particular, it leverages the following techniques:

Filter Prompts – to refine result sets Prompt Macros – to dynamically change measures and chart values Conditional Formatting – to define the KPI thresholds on the dashboard

Users have complete control over the Measures, Rows, Columns, Filters, and Formatting. Infinite number of dashboard combinations

Step 1: Layout of the Report

Create a new report and place blank widgets on it (e.g. line chart, crosstab, bubble chart, combination chart, etc.). Adjust the formatting and apply all of the desired chart options (e.g. font, chart properties, palette, beveled edges,

background effects, chart sizes, etc.)

25


Step 2: Define the Prompt Macros

Using the techniques from Example #2, create new data items and define the prompt macros for Measures, Rows, and Cols.

Create a prompt page and select Value prompts using these parameters (Measures, Rows, and Cols). Apply the desired formatting. In this example, background images and borders were used to provide a “tab” like

prompt.

Additionally, while all of these prompts can be laid out on the same prompt page, multiple prompt pages were used for Measures, Rows, and Cols to provide more flexibility for the end user. If they do not wish to use all of the objects and prompts, they can choose to ignore them.

Step 3: Define the Filters

Create a prompt page for a list of filters. For example, this may be to filter by a Time period, product line, or region.

Apply any formatting to the prompt page to lay the prompts out effectively.26


Step 4: Apply Conditional Formatting

Create a new prompt page and add a new Text Box Prompt and provide a parameter name, like highvalue Add a second Text Box Prompt and provide a parameter name, like lowvalue. Add a Prompt Button to the page to click to submit the prompt answers. Select the “Measures” column on the List and Crosstabs and select the conditional formatting icon. Choose an Advanced Condition and enter in the following two conditions:

[Query1].[Measures] > string2double(ParamDisplayValue('highvalue’))

[Query1].[Measures] < string2double(ParamDisplayValue('lowvalue'))

Select a desired conditional format. To define the Up/Down and Stoplights to be dynamic, click on the “edit” button. Change the font to 1pt with a white

background and insert a background image for the stoplights.

Apply any additional conditional styles to other lists or crosstabs. Optionally: Conditional Highlighting can be applied to charts. This means that charts can inherit these same

properties. Apply any additional formatting to the prompt page:

27


Step 6: Creating the Business Insight Dashboard

Create a new Business Insight dashboard. Within the content’s pane, a variety of different prompt folders will be available.

Drag and drop any combination of charts and prompts to the workspace. Not all of the objects and prompts needed to be added to the dashboard. If a prompt is not added, then the objects will inherit their default prompts answers, defined on the prompt.

28


29


Example #6 – Using Prompts for Comparative Analysis

Objective

There are many use cases where users may wish to compare two different measures or dimensions against the same list or charts side-by-side. An example may be to track two different performance measures against a predefined time period. For example, what is my Revenue over the past 12 months by Region? Immediately below, they may wish to see the same view by Sales Growth by Product.

In Business Insight, users can choose to drag over two of the same objects and allow for different behavior. In the example below, the same 2 charts and 2 prompts are dragged into the dashboard. The top two charts are only “listening” to prompt #1 and the bottom two charts are only listening to prompt #2.

Creating the Dashboard

In Business Insight, drag over the first two charts and the desired prompts.

Drag over the same two objects again.

Hover over the first chart and select “Listen for Widget Events”

30


Uncheck the bottom prompts (these will be at the bottom of the list of objects). This means that the top chart will be driven off of the first two prompts, but will ignore the bottom prompts. Repeat this process for the other chart on top.

Hover over the bottom chart and select “Listen for Widget Events”. Uncheck the top prompts. These will be at the top of the list of objects. This means that the bottom charts will be driven from the bottom prompts.

Hover over the top prompt and select “Listen for Widget Events”. Select for the prompt to only listen to the charts and NOT the other similar prompt below. Repeat this for the bottom prompt.

31


Appendix – Report Specs

Example Report Spec

Simple Prompt

Cascading Prompts

Dynamic Maps

Report Builder

32

working w prompts in business insights

Documents