Working with Analyzer measures (archive)

Archived. Content merged into "Pentaho Analyzer".

In Analyzer, you can work with measures in several ways, such as renaming a measure, creating a calculated measure, and editing a calculated measure.

When you update a measure or add a calculated measure, you are changing the data model from Analyzer. When you save, the change becomes part of the data source. Other users will see the change immediately.

We call these changes inline modeling.

Before you start

You need the Manage Data Sources operation permission in Users and Roles. See Use Pentaho Security.

Inline modeling updates the data source. It can impact every report using that data source.

After you save a report that includes inline modeling changes, Undo and Redo are unavailable. Finish any “undo” or “redo” actions before you save.

Measure properties in Analyzer

You can view measure properties in Analyzer. With Manage Data Sources, you can also edit some properties.

Common updates include renaming a measure (for example, QTY to Quantity), changing aggregation, or adjusting the formula for a calculated measure.

What you can edit

• Base measures

  • You can edit several properties, such as Display Name, Aggregation, and Format.

• Calculated measures created in Analyzer

  • You can edit several properties, including the formula you defined.

• Calculated measures created in PDI and published to Analyzer

  • You can only edit Display Name.

  • To change other properties, edit the measure in PDI.

Use hidden measures in formulas

You can use hidden measures when you create or update formulas. Turn on Show Hidden Fields from the View menu in the Available Fields list.

To see hidden measures, you need Manage Data Sources. See Hide and unhide fields.

View or update base measures

These steps apply to:

• Measures

• Calculated measures created in PDI and published to Analyzer

The Properties dialog box varies slightly between measures and calculated measures.

1. In the Available Fields list, select the measure, then select the down arrow next to it.

   A shortcut menu appears.

2. Select Properties.

   The Properties dialog box appears.

   With Manage Data Sources, you can edit several fields. Otherwise, fields are read-only.

   

   Measure properties
3. View or edit these fields:

   Field	Description
   Display Name	The name of the measure as it displays in the model.
   Aggregation	The aggregation type used to combine the data. Common options include SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, COUNT_DISTINCT, MINIMUM, and MAXIMUM. This field only displays for measures, not calculated measures.
   Format	Select a system-defined format, or enter a custom format. See Format field options.
   Description	The description of the measure. This field is read-only.
   Type	The field type (for example, measure). This field is read-only.
   MDX	The MDX statement for the measure. This field is read-only.

4. Select OK to save changes, or Cancel to close without saving.

View or update inline calculated measures

These steps apply to calculated measures created in Analyzer using inline modeling. Inline calculated measures show an fx icon in the Available Fields list.

1. In the Available Fields list, select the calculated measure, then select the down arrow next to it.

   A shortcut menu appears.

   

   Measures shortcut menu
2. Select Properties.

   The Properties dialog box appears.

   

   Editing a calculated measure
3. View or edit these fields:

   Some fields only display if you have Manage Data Sources.

   Field	Description
   Name	The name of the measure as it displays in the model.
   Format	Select a format, or enter a custom format. The field only displays for numeric and date values. If you do not set a format, Analyzer uses the format of the first base measure. See Format field options.
   Decimal Places	(Optional) The number of decimal places in results.
   Type	The field type (calculated measure). This field is read-only.
   MDX	The MDX statement for the measure. This field is read-only.
   Formula	Enter the formula. You can type it, or drag measures into the formula area.
   Create subtotals using measure formula	Use this calculated measure when Analyzer calculates subtotals.

4. Select OK to save changes to the data source, or Cancel to close without saving.

Add a calculated measure to the data source

Calculated measures are user-defined measures based on formulas applied to existing measures. In Analyzer, the formula is an MDX statement.

If you save the calculated measure to the data source, other users can use it immediately.

If you want a calculated measure for a single report only, see Creating a calculated measure in a report.

1. In the Available Fields list, select a measure, then select the down arrow next to it.

2. Select Create Calculated Measure.

   The Create Calculated Measure dialog box appears.

   

   Create Calculated Measure dialog box
3. In Name, enter a name.

4. In Format, select how results should display.

   (Optional) Set Decimal Places.

   If you do not set a format, Analyzer uses the format of the first base measure.

5. In the formula area, enter the MDX statement.

   You can type it, drag measures into the formula area, or use the symbol buttons.

6. (Optional) Select Calculate subtotals using measure formula.

7. Select OK.

   The calculated measure is saved to the data model when you save the report.

8. (Optional) Select Cancel to close without saving.