Creating metrics by combining metrics, filters, and transformations

Rather than using the Metric Editor to apply a filter or transformation to a single metric, you can use the Advanced Metric Assistant to combine multiple metrics with multiple filters or transformations. This can help reduce the time required to create the metrics for a project.

You can also create, edit, or delete multiple metrics at the same time by using a Command Manager script. Command Manager is a MicroStrategy tool designed to automate certain tasks and processes. For more information about Command Manager, including instructions, see the Command Manager chapter of the System Administration Help.

This tool allows you to combine simple metrics with filters or transformations to create metrics with additional analytical capabilities. Combining metrics with filters allows you to apply conditionality to your metrics, while combining metrics with transformations allows you to compare values at different times.

Using the Advanced Metric Assistant, you can combine simple metrics with filters, transformations, or both to create metrics with additional analytical capabilities. The steps below show you how to use the Advanced Metric Assistant to combine simple metrics with filters, transformations, or both.

Prerequisites

• You have created simple metrics to combine with filters or transformations, or both. Compound metrics, level metrics, and metrics that already use conditions or transformations cannot be used with the Advanced Metric Assistant.

• If you plan to create conditional metrics, you must have created filters. For information on creating filters, see About filters.

• If you plan to create transformation metrics, you must have created transformations. For information on creating transformations, see the Project Design Help.

To combine metrics with filters, transformations, or both

1. In MicroStrategy Developer, log in to a project.
2. From the Tools menu, select Advanced Metric Assistant. The Advanced Metric Assistant opens.

   You can also access the Advanced Metric Assistant by first selecting metrics. Select a metric or metrics to combine with filters to create conditional metrics. Right-click your selection, point to Create Advanced Metrics, and select Add Filter or Add Transformation. The Advanced Metric Assistant opens.

To select metrics

3. From the Metrics tab, you can include a metric or metrics to combine with filters or transformations. Use the arrows to add or remove metrics to combine with filters or transformations.

To select filters

4. If the Filter tab is not shown, from the Options menu, select Show Filters.
   
   You can also choose to hide this tab if you do not plan to combine metrics with filters. To hide the Filter tab, from the Options menu, select Hide Filters.

5. From the Filters tab, browse to and select the filters to combine with the metrics you selected. Use the arrows to add or remove filters to use to create conditional metrics.

To select transformations

6. If the Transformation tab is not shown, from the Options menu, select Show Transformations.
   
   You can also choose to hide this tab if you do not plan to combine metrics with transformations. To hide the Transformation tab, from the Options menu, select Hide Transformations.

7. From the Transformations tab, browse to and select the transformations to combine with the metrics you selected. Use the arrows to add or remove transformations to use to create transformation metrics.

To select the metric combinations to create

8. If you include both filters and transformations to combine with metrics, you can specify the types of metric combinations created, as described below:

   • Metrics are always created to combine each metric with all filter and transformation combinations. These metrics include both a filter and a transformation.

   • To create metrics that combine metrics with transformations only, select the Include no filter check box. These metrics do not include the selected filters.

   • To create metrics that combine metrics with filters only, select the Include no transformation check box. These metrics do not include the selected transformations.

     To review the metrics you are about to create by selecting or clearing the options above, click Next to open the Run page. You can then click Back to make any required changes.

To create metrics

9. Once you are finished selecting metrics, filters, and transformations, click Next. The Run page opens.

10. The metrics that will be created are displayed. The names and locations for potential metrics are listed, along with the status of creating the metrics. Click Run to create the metrics listed.

11. The metrics are created in the location specified. If a metric cannot be created, you can double-click the metric to view a message describing why the metric creation failed. Once all required metrics have been created, click Exit to close the Advanced Metric Assistant.

Once the metrics are created, you can then begin to use these metrics on reports and documents. You can also modify the metrics using the Metric Editor.

Related Topics

• About metrics

• Designing a report