Analyzer

Analyzer uses an OLAP interface to generate polished reports. Reports can be built off any object: Cubes, Tables, Unions, Joins, and Queries. Analyzer is a tool that enables a user to organize specific data from tables already on the host into a customizable column/row style table. This displays the finished results in an orderly way to easily reference in the future.

Analyzer provides dummy data in design mode to give you an idea of how your report will appear. By applying functions and custom formulas to the desired row or column, you can retrieve even the most finite information. In addition to applying formulas to the fields, you can add filters.

Topics

Creating an Analyzer Report

There are three primary areas where you can drop your fields: Row Dimensions, Column Dimensions, and KPIs (key performance indicators). Row and column dimensions allow you to control how the fields are stacked either on the row or column level. For example, suppose you want to see a breakout of sales by state and you want state sales to be broken out by female versus male.

In this case, you could drag and drop your state field into the row dimensions' area, then drag the field containing gender and drop it below the state field. Next, are the KPIs. The KPIs are the data that appears in the cells. Count_All is automatically provided as the initial value. For this example, you would take your field that holds revenue and drop it in the KPIs area below the column dimensions.

Field Context Menu

The Field Context menu is accessed by right-clicking on a field that is being used in an Analyzer report. The menu has many uses which deal with editing the displays of fields in edit mode.

Additionally, you can select the ellipses at the top of the list to change the way a field is displayed. For instance, if you create a field using the Add/Edit Formula dialog, and you wish to display the output of the field as currency, you would right-click the field, click the ellipses under print format, select currency, and click OK to apply your changes.

• • Rename: Renames the field.
  • Delete: Deletes the field from the report.
  • Use Descriptions: Allows the descriptions for each value to be toggled on/off.
  • Sort: Sorts the data in either ascending or descending order.
  • Print Format: Edits how the field is displayed.
  • Show or Hide Fields: You can show or hide fields from the desired output. For instance, if you want to show sales for all employees by state, but want to hide the results for Hawaii, you could right-click your state field, select hide and check Hawaii to hide it.
  • Cumulative Total: An additional column is added containing the sum of all the consecutive items preceding it. This is useful when comparing against projected totals.
  • Percent Column: Adds an additional column that holds the cumulative total of the field in the form of a percentage.
  • Advanced Functions: A list of more advanced available functions for the field.
  • Properties: Opens the field properties dialog which includes both editable and read-only properties of the field.
  • Groups and Ranges: Opens the Groups and Ranges dialog.

Groups and Ranges
Groups and Ranges allows you to take your row or column values and condense them into manageable pieces. When a group or a range is created, it sums the values of the KPI cells and collapses all the specified row values into a single row. 

For instance, suppose you had an Analyzer where you were breaking your sales out by specific states, such as here:

Instead, you want to show sales broken out by region. This is accomplished by creating a group for each region, and putting the appropriate states into each group. In this case, you would create a group for Northeast states, and add Maryland and New York. Next you would create a Northwest group and add California and Idaho. The results would appear as follows:

Additionally, the Groups and Ranges dialog allows you apply intervals. For instance, if you had a numeric field representing currency, such as order amount set as a Row Dimension, you would see values such as: $12.01, $12.24, $13.27. If you set up intervals of fifty, then all the values between zero and fifty would be condensed in one cell, fifty to one hundred would be in the next, and so on. For numeric fields, this is extremely helpful as it condenses values that differ by marginal amounts, such as a penny.

Field Properties Dialog 

The Fields Properties dialog displays the properties for the selected field, allowing you to designate the function, visibility, print format, and read-only properties. There are two categories of Field Properties: Editable and Read-Only. Editable properties can be manipulated and Read-Only properties are unchangeable.

Reporting

The reporting options in Analyzer are used to setup the report's layout, auto-generate a report, or designate who the report is sent to via email if needed. Clicking the Reporting text will open the Preview dialog or the Reporting tab in the Properties dialog. The Preview dialog allows you to design how the Analyzer report appears when either printing or saving as an output file.

Docking Sections

Sections can be docked, floating, or auto-hidden. To dock or undock a section, simply click its header and drag the section. As you drag the section around the page, docking hints appear (see the figure below). Use these hints to dock the section to the desired position.

The Analyzer Menu and Toolbar

The toolbar provides quick access to commonly used commands in the Analyzer main window. Click the icon once to carry out the action represented by that icon.