Natural Language Search Filtering Rules

Arcadia Enterprise Natural Language Search follows a set of rules for extracting and combining data.

We use the World Life Expectancy dataset with dimension country and measure population to explain the search filtering rules.

When you type in a new search statement, Natural Language Search (NLS) implements the following search filtering rules:

• No Dimension Specified

  If you do not specify a dimension, NLS filters the search results using the values of the measure, instead of aggregating it.

  In the following image, the search phrase is population over 50K; notice that the Results window only displays the values of the measure (population).

  When you click the (explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual: its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.

  

• Dimension and Aggregated Measure Specified

  NLS filters the search results by the aggregate of the measure, unless the search phrase uses keywords that specify filtering by the value of the measure. Consider the following scenarios:

  • Aggregate Function Specified Specify the dimension and the measure using an aggregation function.

    In the following image, the search phrase is country with average population between 10000000 and 20000000 as table. Notice that NLS filters the search results by the dimension and the aggregate measure avg(population); both appear in the table visual.

    When you click the (explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual: its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.

    

  • Default Aggregate Function

    Specify the dimension, and the measure without mentioning the aggregation function.

    In the following image, the search phrase is country with population over 50K as table; notice that NLS filters the search results by the default aggregation of the population field, sum. Remember that you can specify default field aggregations in the dataset; see Changing Field Aggregation.

    When you click the (explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual: its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.

    

• Dimension and Values of Measure with Keyword Specified

  If you specify a dimension and a measure using one of the following keywords: base, simple, unaggregated, or raw, NLS orders the filtered results by the dimension.

  In the following image, the search phrase is country with base population over 10000000 in as table. Notice that the result visual only shows the dimension values of country that have the base population over 10000000; it does not show the population itself.

  When you click the (explain) icon, it opens a tooltip that explains the parameters of the result visual: its dataset, the measures and dimensions on its shelves, filters, and sort.