Specifying orientation and symbols in a template
When a new view is created, the Report Publisher must specify the orientation and symbols for each dimension in the database. The root symbol is the top hierarchy symbol that can be accessed in a particular situation.
You may be able to specify orientation and symbols.
| Role | Can perform this task? |
|---|---|
| Report Publisher | Yes, to create DataViews for data analysis and report templates for reporting purposes. |
| Report Author | Yes, to create DataViews for data analysis. |
| Report User | No. |
In many organizations, a report template contains the same symbols for every Report User, except for one or two dimensions, where each user works with his or her own area of responsibility, typically an entity. If this is the situation at your company, leave the symbol selection empty for that dimension, so that users must select their own entities when they first open the template.
When you create a view for the first time, you should probably follow the procedure in “Specifying orientation and symbols • Basic method”.
Afterwards, you may prefer to use the procedure in “Specifying orientation and symbols • Advanced method”.
This section contains information on these main topics:
- "Specifying orientation and symbols - Basic method "
- "Specifying orientation and symbols - Advanced method "
- "Using attributes to automate symbol selection"
- "Using floating time period symbols"
Specifying orientation and symbols - Basic method
To specify orientation and symbols, follow these steps.
- In the view window, choose Format > Orientation. The Orientation dialog appears.
- For Dimension, select each dimension you want to appear in the down direction, and click Add Down. (You can select more than one by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard while making your selections.) The dimension names move to the Down field.
- For Dimension, select each dimension you want to appear in the across direction, and click Add Across. (You can select more than one by holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard while making your selections.) The dimension names move to the Across field.
- Click OK. The Symbol Selection dialog appears.
In this dialog, you are prompted to select symbols for the down and across dimensions, in the order in which those dimensions are indexed in the database.
- Complete the following:
Field Description Available Symbols and Selected Symbols Find symbols in the Available Symbols list and click the arrow to move them to the Selected Symbols list. You may select as many symbols as necessary.
If you want to prompt Report Users to select symbols for a particular dimension (for example, an entity) when they open the template, do not select a symbol for that dimension. You must remember however, to make sure users are allowed to select symbols for that dimension when you publish the template.
You can change the order of the symbols in the Selected Symbols list. Simply click and hold, and then drag the symbol to its desired place.
Depending on how your system is set up, Publishers may have the ability to select attributes instead of symbols. These attributes can be used to automate the selection of specified symbols in the templates that Report Users have access to. For more information, see “Using attributes to automate symbol selection”.
Note: To use the value of a floating time period, navigate through the time periods hierarchy in the Available Symbols list, and double-click a floating time period (indicated by an asterisk) to select it. For more information, see “Using floating time period symbols”.
- Click OK. If there are more dimensions designated to the down or across directions, the Symbol Selection dialog reappears. Repeat step 4 and step 5, for each dimension you are prompted to select symbols for.
- When you are done selecting symbols for the down and across dimensions, the view window appears.
- At this point, you have selected symbols only for the dimensions in the down and across positions. Now you can do so for the fixed dimensions as well. Choose Edit > Symbol Selections. The Symbol Selection dialog appears.
- Select each of the other dimensions in turn and select one symbol for each.
If you want to prompt Report Users to select symbols for a particular dimension (for example, an entity) when they open the template, do not select a symbol for that dimension. You must remember however, to make sure users are allowed to select symbols for that dimension when you publish the template.
Depending on how your system is set up, Publishers may have the ability to select attributes instead of symbols. These attributes can be used to automate the selection of specified symbols in the templates that Report Users have access to. For more information, see “Using attributes to automate symbol selection”.
Note: For fixed dimensions, you can select one symbol only. Typically, you would select an entity, a currency, and the Dim#Set symbols for the remaining dimensions.
- When you are finished, click OK. The view window appears.
You can see the symbols for the fixed dimensions in the status bar at the bottom of the window.
Specifying orientation and symbols - Advanced method
To specify orientation and symbols, follow these steps.
- In the view window, click and drag a dimension button to the box just above the down column. (Typically, you would select your ACCOUNTS dimension.) A small black arrow appears to indicate the correct position.
- As soon as you release your mouse button, the Symbol Selection dialog appears.
- Complete the following:
Field Description Available Symbols and Selected Symbols Find symbols in the Available Symbols list and click the arrow to move them to the Selected Symbols list. You may select as many symbols as necessary.
If you want to prompt Report Users to select symbols for a particular dimension (for example, an entity) when they open the template, do not select a symbol for that dimension. You must remember however, to make sure users are allowed to select symbols for that dimension when you publish the template.
You can change the order of the symbols in the Selected Symbols list. Simply click and hold, and then drag the symbol to its desired place.
Depending on how your system is set up, Publishers may have the ability to select attributes instead of symbols. These attributes can be used to automate the selection of specified symbols in the templates that Report Users have access to. For more information, see “Using attributes to automate symbol selection”.
- Click OK. Depending on the type of template, the dialog may reappear prompting you to select time period symbols. If so, repeat step 2 and click OK.
Note: To use the value of a floating time period, navigate through the time periods hierarchy in the Available Symbols list, and double-click a floating time period (indicated by an asterisk) to select it. For more information, see “Using floating time period symbols”.
The view window appears.
- Repeat step 1 to step 4 for any other down dimension, if applicable.
- In the view window, click and drag a dimension button to the box just below the dimension bar. (Typically, you would select your TIMEPER dimension.) A small black arrow appears to indicate the correct position.
- As soon as you release your mouse button, the Symbol Selection dialog appears.
- Complete the following:
Field Description Available Symbols and Selected Symbols Find symbols in the Available Symbols list and click the arrow to move them to the Selected Symbols list. You may select as many symbols as necessary.
If you want to prompt Report Users to select symbols for a particular dimension (for example, an entity) when they open the template, do not select a symbol for that dimension. You must remember however, to make sure users are allowed to select symbols for that dimension when you publish the template.
You can change the order of the symbols in the Selected Symbols list. Simply click and hold, and then drag the symbol to its desired place.
Depending on how your system is set up, Publishers may have the ability to select attributes instead of symbols. These attributes can be used to automate the selection of specified symbols in the templates that Report Users have access to. For more information, see “Using attributes to automate symbol selection”.
- At this point, you have selected symbols only for the dimensions in the down and across positions. Now you can do so for the fixed dimensions as well.
- Click on a dimension button in the fixed dimension bar. The Symbol Selection dialog appears, with the dimension you selected displayed in the Dimension field.
- Complete the following:
Field Description Available Symbols and Selected Symbols Find symbols in the Available Symbols list and click the arrow to move them to the Selected Symbols list. You may select as many symbols as necessary. If you want to prompt Report Users to select symbols for a particular dimension (for example, an entity) when they open the template, do not select a symbol for that dimension. You must remember however, to make sure users are allowed to select symbols for that dimension when you publish the template.
You can change the order of the symbols in the Selected Symbols list. Simply click and hold, and then drag the symbol to its desired place.
Depending on how your system is set up, Publishers may have the ability to select attributes instead of symbols. These attributes can be used to automate the selection of specified symbols in the templates that Report Users have access to. For more information, see “Using attributes to automate symbol selection”.
Note: For fixed dimensions, you can select one symbol only. Typically, you would select an entity, a currency, and the Dim#Set symbols for the remaining dimensions.
- Click OK. The view window appears.
- Repeat step 10 to step 12 for each remaining fixed dimension. When you are finished, the view window may look like this.
You can see the symbols for the fixed dimensions in the status bar at the bottom of the view window.
Using attributes to automate symbol selection
Depending on how your system is set up, Publishers may have the ability to select attributes instead of base and schedule symbols when defining the symbol content of templates. These attributes can be used to automate the selection of specified symbols in the templates that Report Users have access to. This is useful in minimizing potential mistakes made by users. As well, the number of templates that must be created for the various types of users can be reduced.
The following scenarios illustrate typical usage. For more information, see your System Administrator or your Professional Services representative.
| Usage | Example |
|---|---|
| To make symbol selections in the ACCOUNTS dimension automatic based on a user’s user group or user ID. | Group 1 needs access to the Total revenue accounts, but Group 2 needs access to the Total cost of revenue accounts. Both groups can use the same template. Only the appropriate symbols appear for each group. |
| To make symbol selections in the ACCOUNTS dimension automatic based on a user’s user group or user ID. | Group 1 needs access to the Total revenue accounts, but Group 2 needs access to the Total cost of revenue accounts. Both groups can use the same template. Only the appropriate symbols appear for each group. |
In each case, the Publisher can select the appropriate attribute in the Symbol Selection dialog.
If the Publisher selects an attribute whose value is dependent on the symbol selection in another dimension, the Source Dimension Selection dialog appears.
In this dialog, the Publisher can select the defining dimension.
Publishers must work closely with the System Administrator to ensure that these attributes are properly defined.
Using floating time period symbols
In the application, you can use floating time period symbols in templates and views.
If you have many standard reports that you want to reuse in the next calendar month or fiscal year, you can use floating time period symbols in these reports. Floating time periods are updated during a rollover. To ensure that you are using the correct year and month in your report templates, you can use floating time periods instead of regular time periods.
For example, let’s say you have 100 reports containing 2009 time period symbols, and you want to use these same reports in the year 2010. If you used regular time period symbols, you would have to go into each of these reports and manually change the time period symbols from 2009 to 2010. However, if you use floating time periods, the symbols update automatically when the database is rolled over to the next year.
When you prepare a report, you select time period symbols in the Symbol Selection dialog. You have the option of selecting either regular time period symbols or floating time period symbols.
An asterisk appears with the symbol name to identify it as a floating time period symbol.