Receiving Optional Dimension Parameters in Dashboards

Arcadia Enterprise can hide or display dimensionsat run-time. To do that, you must complete the following tasks:

  1. Creating Visuals with Optional Dimensions
  2. Creating Filters that Control Optional Dimensions

This demonstration uses the World Life Expectancy dataset.

Creating Visuals with Optional Dimensions

  1. Open a new dashboard.
  2. In the dashboard, click New Visual.
  3. Under the Data menu, select the World Life Expectancy dataset.
  4. Under the Visuals menu choose the Table visual type.
  5. Populate the shelves of the visual:

    • From Dimension, select and move un_region and un_subregion fields onto the Dimension shelf.
    • From Measures, select and move population field onto the Measures shelf.
    • From Dimensions, select and move year field onto the Filters shelf.
    • On the Filters shelf, select year field, choose Pick values from a list, select 2000, and click Save.
    Set-up for Visual
    Set-up for Visual
  6. From Dimensions, select and move the country field onto the Dimension shelf.
  7. On the Dimensions shelf, click country field.

    In the Field Properties menu, select [ ] Enter/Edit Expression.

    preparing to edit expression for a dimension field
  8. In the Enter/Edit Expression modal window,

    • Change the text to the following expression: [<<dim:>>].
    • Click Validate & Save.
    creating a dimension in Enter/Edit Expression interface
    Creating an Optional Dimension in Enter/Edit Expression Interface
  9. Click Refresh Visual.
  10. Change the name of the visual to Regional Populations.
  11. Click Save.

Creating Filters that Control Optional Dimensions

Before starting on this work flow, complete the steps in Creating Visuals with Optional Dimensions.

  1. In the dashboard, click the Filters tab.
  2. Click Create Custom Filter.

    adding a new custom filter to the dashbaord
    Adding a New Custom Filter to the Dashboard
  3. This creates a New Filter in the filter area of the application, and opens the Settings window modal for that filter.

    Initial Settings for a Custom Filter
  4. In the Settings modal window, under the Values tab, enter the following:

    • Under Title, enter Display Country Details.
    • Under Output Parameter, enter dim.

      Note that this is the parameter from Creating Visuals with Optional Dimensions.

    • Under Specified values, enter Value: country, and Label: Country.

    Configuring Values Settings for the Optional Dimension
    Configuring Values Settings for the Optional Dimension
  5. Switch to Display Settings tab, and select the options Permit only one item to be selected and In single select mode, include a 'All' option.

    Click Apply.

    Configuring Display Settings for the Optional Dimension
    Configuring Display Settings for the Optional Dimension
  6. Name and save the dashboard.
  7. Switch to dashboard View mode, and select World Regional Populations.

    Application with Optional Dimension, at Runtime
    Dashboard with Optional Dimension, at Runtime
  8. In the Display Country Details filter, select Country.

    selecting country
    Choosing to Filter on Country

    Note that the table now has a new column, country.

    Optional Dimension 'Country' Included in Dashboard
    Optional Dimension 'Country' Included in the Dashboard