DataView Columns Screen

The Cols option switches to the DataView Columns editing screen. This screen is used to select the columns that will be displayed in the dataview and define the settings for each column.

The screen is composed of three sections.

The Data Source View Columns section lists all available columns in the selected data source view or merge view. The Title and Data Type are displayed for each column.

Select a column and click Add View Column to add a column detail entry in the Data View Columns section below. This entry will include the default settings for the appropriate data type.

Click Add New Column to add a blank detail entry in the Data View Columns section below. This entry will have the base settings, and can be configured as needed. These blank entries are generally used to create new columns that are derived from other data, rather than pulling data directly from the data source.

The Preview section shows how the data will appear with the current settings. Click the Refresh Preview button to show the results of any changes.

The DataView Columns section displays a column detail panel for each column in the dataview. These are used to define the settings for each column.

Header Enter the column header. If no header is provided, a default column number will be displayed. To have a column without a header, use the dashboard configuration to hide the header.
  The text in this field can be translated .
Type Select the type of data.
  • Data source column
This column will display data taken from the associated data source or merge view.
  • Calculated column
This column will be calculated from data in other columns.
  • Constant value
This column will display a single specified value.
  • Ranking value
Provides ranking values based on data in another column.
Source This field is available when Data source column is selected as the Type. Select a column from the associated data source or merge view.
Expression This field is available when Calculated column is selected as the Type. This allows a column to display calculated values based on data from other columns in the dataview. See the Using the Expression Editor section for details.
Value This field is available when Constant value is selected as the Type. Enter the text or value to be displayed in each row of the column.
Data type Select the type of data in the column, Text, Integer, Decimal, Date, or Boolean. For Data source column and Ranking value columns, this will be preset to the appropriate data type and cannot be changed.
Display Select how the value will be displayed.
  • Value
Displays the straight value.
  • Running total
Displays a total of the current value plus all preceding values in the column.
  • Group running total
Displays a total of each group plus all preceding group values in the column.
  • Percent to total
Displays the current value as a percentage of the total value for the column.
  • Percent to group
Displays the total for each group as a percentage of the total value for the column.
Summary Displays a Total line at the bottom of the table, containing a summary value for the column. Note that summaries are calculated from visible values, so grouped values must have Aggregate settings. Total and subtotal lines themselves are also not included in the summary.
  • Average
Displays the average of all rows.
  • Average of non empty
Displays the average of all rows that contain a value, including zero.
  • Average of non zero
Displays the average of all rows that contain a value, not including zero.
  • Count
Displays the total number of rows.
  • Count of non empty
Displays the total number of rows that contain a value, including zero.
  • Count of non zero
Displays the total number of rows that contain a value, not including zero.
  • Maximum
Displays the highest value in the column.
  • Minimum
Displays the lowest value in the column, including zero or no value. Note that if the minimum value is no value, then the total will be blank.
  • Minimum of non empty
Displays the lowest value in the column, including zero.
  • Minimum of non zero
Displays the lowest value in the column, not including zero.
  • Sum
Displays the total of all values in the column.
Aggregate When grouping is used, the Aggregate settings define how grouped values will be displayed. If no aggregate is selected, no value will be displayed for grouped values.
  • Average
Displays the average of all rows in the group.
  • Average of non empty
Displays the average of all rows in the group that contain a value, including zero.
  • Average of non zero
Displays the average of all rows in the group that contain a value, not including zero.
  • Count
Displays the total number of rows in the group.
  • Count of non empty
Displays the total number of rows in the group that contain a value, including zero.
  • Count of non zero
Displays the total number of rows in the group that contain a value, not including zero.
  • Maximum
Displays the highest value in the group.
  • Minimum
Displays the lowest value in the group, including zero or no value. Note that if the minimum value is no value, then the aggregate value will be blank.
  • Minimum of non empty
Displays the lowest value in the group, including zero.
  • Minimum of non zero
Displays the lowest value in the group, not including zero.
  • Sum
Displays the total of all values in the group.
Format Select a pre-set format or enter the formatting code to define how the value is displayed in the dashboard. See the Data Formatting Codes section for instructions on formatting codes.
  Note that the codes provided here will be used as the default formatting when adding the DataView to a Dashboard configuration, but can be overridden in Dashboard design or Analysis modes. Once the format codes have been saved in the Dashboard or Analysis modes, changing the format here will have no effect on those settings.
FormatX Select a pre-set format or enter the formatting code to define how the value will be displayed when exported to an Excel file. This field accepts standard Excel format codes.
  Note that the codes provided here will be used as the default formatting when adding the DataView to a Dashboard configuration, but can be overridden in Dashboard design or Analysis modes. Once the format codes have been saved in the Dashboard or Analysis modes, changing the format here will have no effect on those settings.
Alignment Select if the data should be aligned to the left, centered, or the right.

When hovering the mouse over a column detail panel, a control bar appears at the top of the panel.

/ Left / Right Shifts the column one space to the left or right.
Remove Removes the column from the list.
Hide / Show Hides the column, but leaves it available for various functions. The column detail panel is collapsed to a narrow vertical bar with the Header label displayed. Click the collapsed panel to expand it again. The background will appear gray for hidden columns. Click the icon again to show the column.
Collapse Collapse the column detail panel to a narrow vertical bar with the Header label displayed. Click the collapsed panel to expand it again.
Collapse All Collapse all column detail panels to narrow vertical bars with the Header labels displayed. Click any collapsed panel to expand it again.

Using the Expression Editor

The Expression Editor provides a visual tool to assemble formulas for calculated columns in a dataview.

Click the Edit button in the Expression field. The Expression Editor window opens.

The formula is assembled in the first field. Clicking on options in the three list fields inserts that component into the formula field at the current cursor location.

The following option lists are available. Hover over any option to see a description below the fields.

Fields All columns in the current dataview are available for selection.
Functions Functions provide tools to add system data or modify other values. The following groups are available.
  • Conversion
Options for converting certain data types into other data types.
  • Text
Options for manipulating and validating strings of text.
  • Date & Time
Options for retrieving the current system date and time, as well as adjusting date and time values.
  • Math & Stat
Options for mathematical calculations such as rounding, roots, and exponents.
  • Conditional
Options for conditional If structures.
  • Arrays
Options for handling data arrays for detailed data manipulation.
  • Null Check
Options to check if a column has a null value or not.
  • Table
Options to summarize the contents of entire columns of data. This includes option such as averages, record counts, and sums.
Operators Operators are used to structure the formulas. The following groups are available.
  • General / Numeric
Standard order of operations symbols.
  • Comparison
Comparison symbols for equations.
  • Logical
Operators for use with the Conditional set of functions.
  • Text
Options for concatenation of values.

Click Ok to keep the current formula and close the window, or click Cancel to discard any changes and close the window. The formula is displayed in the Expression field.