Field Tab

In this section:

You use the Field tab to change the field type, filter specific fields, sort data in fields, and style the titles and data of a field from the Field tab. The Field tab is located at the top of the App Studio interface. It is accessible only when a field is selected on the Report canvas. The Field tab is shown in the following image.


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Column Type Group

You can change the field type of a selected field. The Column Type group is shown in the following image.

Column Type group

The command types are:

Detail

Changes the field type of the selected field to Detail.

Aggregate

Changes the field type of the selected field to Aggregate.

Sort Down

Changes the field type of the selected field to Sort Down.

Sort Across

Changes the field type of the selected field to Sort Across.

For Row

Changes the field type of the selected field to For Row.

Delete

Deletes the selected field or column.

The Report canvas uses smart context functionality to determine what column type a field should be, given the metadata of the field and/or the position of the field on the canvas.

If smart context is on, and the metadata indicates that a field should be a measure or dimension, when you add that field to the canvas, it will automatically be added as an aggregate or sort down field type, respectively.

If smart context is on, but the metadata does not indicate whether a field is a measure or dimension, then alphanumeric fields and date fields are added as BY fields, while numeric fields are added as SUM fields.

If smart context is off, all fields are added as DETAIL fields.

While smart context is on, and you try to add a numeric field between two alphanumeric fields, a message will appear, prompting you to either add the field as a sort or an aggregate. If you try to add a alphanumeric field between two numeric fields, a message will also appear, prompting you to either add the field as a COUNT or as an aggregate.


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Filter Group

You can filter fields when creating a report. The Filter group is shown in the following image.

Filter group

The commands are:

Filter

Filters fields using Where, If, Where Total, and Limits screening options. You can access the Expression Builder by selecting Where, If, or Where Total from the Filter drop-down list.

Using the Expression Builder, you can create expressions quickly by selecting fields, relations, operators, and values from lists. You can base selection criteria on a specified value, a variable value, or a field value. For more information, see Using the Expression Builder.

If you select Limits, the Retrieval Limits dialog box opens where you can set the Record Limit and Read Limit values. This enables you to set how much data is shown or previewed.


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Sort Group

You can sort data, rank data, or limit the amount of data shown. These options are enabled only when Sort Down is selected in the Column Type group. If Sort Across is selected, the options for Up and Down are available. The Sort group is shown in the following image.

Sort group

The commands are:

Up

Sorts column data from lowest to highest value. If the values were alphabetical, this option would place the columns in alphabetical order.

Down

Sorts column data from highest to lowest value. If the values were alphabetical, this option would place the columns in reverse alphabetical order.

Rank

Allows you to enable or disable numeric ranking for the selected column. This is particularly useful when sorting a report vertically.

Hierarchy

Sorts and formats a hierarchy, showing the parent and child relationships.

Note: This option is only available when using a multidimensional data source.

Limit

Limits the number of sort values shown. The options are 5, 10, 15, None, and Variable. When you use Limit with Up, the chosen number of lowest values is shown. When you use Limit with Down, the chosen number of highest values is shown. Limit is available only when the selected field is a By field.


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Break Group

You can add a page break, line break, subheading or subfooting, and subtotal columns. You can also recompute calculated values and recap calculated values. The Break group is shown in the following image.

Break group

The commands are:

Page Break

Starts a new report page when the value of a selected sort field changes. Options include On, Off, or Variable.

No Split

Breaks sort fields logically and regenerates the field heading on the next page or screen.

Line Break

Inserts a line break at a specified point in the report. The options are On, Off, or Variable.

Fold Line

Causes columns to be placed on a separate line when the value of the sort field changes. This feature is not supported for HTML styled report formats. Click Variable to make the option a parameter whose value is prompted for at run time. Click the ampersand (&) to change the parameter name suffix, display text, order of values, and display or return values.

Skip Line

Skips a line on a report when the value of the selected sort field changes. To apply this action in HTML styled report formats, ensure that a Cascading Style Sheets is selected. Click Variable to make the option a parameter whose value is prompted for at run time. Click the ampersand (&) to change the parameter name suffix, display text, order of values, and display or return values.

Subtotal

Adds a subtotal for the selected column or on all outer sort fields. The options are Apply to selected column or Apply to all outer sort fields. The Layout tab appears, where you can modify the Page Setup.

Subheader

Inserts a subheader for the selected column into the report. The Layout tab appears, where you can modify the Page Setup.

Subfooter

Adds a subfooter for the selected column into the report. The Layout tab appears, where you can modify the Page Setup.

Recompute

Recalculates totals for the selected column or on all outer sort fields. Recalculates only at the specified sort break, similar to Subtotal.

Recap

Creates subtotal values in a calculation for the selected column.

Related Information:


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Field Properties Dialog Box

Reference:

The Field Properties dialog box contains options that pertain to the selected field. You can access the Field Properties dialog box by using the shortcut menu of a field, on the Report canvas, and clicking Options. You can also access the Field Properties dialog box by double-clicking a field on the Report canvas.



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Reference: Field Properties General Tab

Select a Detail or Aggregate field on the Report canvas and click Options from the shortcut menu to open the Field Properties dialog box at the General tab.

Output

New Line (OVER) places field names over one another. This is one way to decrease the width of a report, particularly when you are sorting horizontally (Across).

Within

Select a WITHIN phrase, which requires a BY phrase and/or an ACROSS phrase. A maximum of two WITHIN phrases can be used per display command.

First Within (BY)

Select a first WITHIN phrase.

Second Within (ACROSS)

Select a second WITHIN phrase, if necessary.



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Reference: Field Properties Sort Tab

Select a Sort By field on the Report canvas and click Options from the shortcut menu to open the Field Properties dialog box at the Sort tab.

Sorting Tab

The sorting tab contains options for how to sort the selected fields data.

Current Sort Statement

Reflects the sort conditions that are in effect.

Sort Limit

Limits the number of sort values to display.

Subtotal others

Subtotals the items selected.

Title

The title of the limit item.

Total

These options pertain to the total of an item.

  • On calculates and displays the total.
  • Off does not calculate or display the total. This is the default option.
  • Variable makes the option a parameter whose value is prompted for at run time. Clicking the ampersand (&) button opens the Guided Variable Definition dialog box, which enables you to change the parameter name suffix, display text, order of values, and display or return values.
Sort Sequence

The Sort Sequence button opens the Sort Sequence Builder, which allows you to pull in data from a field and customize sorting priorities.

Grouping Tab

The Grouping tab is only available when you sort a report using a numeric sort field.

Current Sort Statement

Reflects the sort conditions that are in effect.

Grouping
None

No grouping option will be in effect. This is the default option.

IN-GROUPS-OF

Groups sort field values in specified increments.

IN-RANGES-OF

Defines the range by which sort field values are grouped.

Variable

Variable makes the option a parameter whose value is prompted for at run time. Click the ampersand (&) button to open the Guided Variable Definition dialog box, which enables you to change the parameter name suffix, display text, order of values, and display or return values.

Range or Number of Tiles

Allows for a range of number tiles to be present with the grouping.

  • None is the default option.
  • Variable makes the option a parameter whose value is prompted for at run time. Click the ampersand (&) button to open the Guided Variable Definition dialog box, which enables you to change the parameter name suffix, display text, order of values, and display or return values.
Limit

If specified, this value limits the number of groups of the specified interval to be retrieved.

  • On allows for a limit to be in place.
  • Off does not allow for a limit to be in place. This is the default option.
  • Variable makes the option a parameter whose value is prompted for at run time. Click the ampersand (&) button to open the Guided Variable Definition dialog box, which enables you to change the parameter name suffix, display text, order of values, and display or return values.
Highest Value

In order to use the Highest Value option, Limit must be set to On or Variable. This option enables you set the highest value for the limit.

  • None is the default option.
  • Variable makes the option a parameter whose value is prompted for at run time. Click the ampersand (&) button to open the Guided Variable Definition dialog box, which enables you to change the parameter name suffix, display text, order of values, and display or return values.
Tiles

Select this option to group numeric data into any number of tiles (percentiles, deciles, quartiles, and so on). A new column, labeled TILE by default, is added to the report output and displays the tile number assigned to each instance of the tile field.

Title

You may type in a unique title name.

You can combine these selections with the list of defined Actions.


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