Hierarchical Cross Tabulation Visuals

Starting with ArcViz Release 3.2, we provide an alternate solution for hierarchical dimension representation in cross tabulation visuals.

The following steps demonstrate how to create and configure a de facto dimensional hierarchy on the shelves of a cross tabulation visual. We are using dataset World Life Expectancy [data source samples.world_life_expectancy], to build a cross tabulation table that can switch between representations at three different levels of data granularity.

  1. Start a new cross tabulation visual on the World Life Expectancy dataset.

    See Cross Tabulation.

  2. Populate the shelves of the visual:

    • Under Dimensions, select un_region and drag it over Y shelf on the main part of the screen. Drop to add it to the shelf. Repeat with un_subregion and country, adding them to the right of un_region. Note that your placement of these fields is from the greatest to the smallest area, left to right.
    • Under Measures, select population and drag it over Measures shelf on the main part of the screen. Drop to add it to the shelf.
    shelves of cross tabulation that implement hierarchy
    Building a Cross Tabulation with Three Related Dimensions
  3. On the Y shelf, on the un_region field, click the (down arrow) icon, select Expansion, and then select Enable Expansion.

    enabling expansion
    Enabling Expansion on the Primary Hierarchical Dimension
  4. Similarly, on the Y shelf, on the un_subregion field, click the (down arrow) icon, select Expansion, and then select Enable Expansion.

    enabling expansion
    Enabling Expansion on the Secondary Hierarchical Dimension
  5. Click Refresh Visual.

    The cross tabulation table appears.

    hierarchical cross tabulation visual
    Cross Tabulation with Collapsed Hierarchy
  6. To see more detail, expand the un_region column of the visual by clicking the (plus) icon below the column header.

    initial hierarchy graph
    Expanded Primary Hierarchical Dimension
  7. Similarly, expand the un_subregion column of the visual by clicking the (plus) icon in the field next to one of the un_regions. We chose to expand Asia.

    initial hierarchy graph
    Expanded Secondary Hierarchical Dimension
  8. Finally, expand the country column of the visual by clicking the (plus) icon in the field next to one of the un_subregions. We chose to expand Central Asia.

    initial hierarchy graph
    Expanded Tertiary Hierarchical Dimension
  9. Change the title to Hierarchical Cross Tabulation of Population.

  10. At the top left corner of the Visual Designer, click Save.

    clicking to save
  11. Switch to View mode to examine the operation of the dimensional hierarchy.

    initial hierarchy graph
  12. If you expand the un_subregion column of the visual by clicking the (plus) icon below the column header, it generates a complete tabulation aggregated by un_subregion.
    expanding all level 2 hierarchy
    Completely Expanded Secondary Hierarchical Dimension
  13. Similarly, when you expand the country column of the visual by clicking the (plus) icon below the column header, it generates a complete list by country.
    expanding all level 3 hierarchy
    Completely Expanded Tertiary Hierarchical Dimension