Filtering Data on Attributes, Attribute Forms, Attribute Elements, or Metrics: Filter Definition Prompts

These prompts are used for qualifying on the value of attribute elements and metrics. The filters affected by these types of prompts can be in the report, in a filter (which in turn may be used in the conditionality of a metric in the report), or in an element of a custom group. Background information on custom groups may be found in About Custom Groups: Grouping Attribute Elements with Banding and Filtering.

Choose from All Attributes in a Hierarchy

This type of prompt is used to qualify on one or more attributes in one or more hierarchies. At least one hierarchy and all the attributes in that hierarchy are displayed. The user can then qualify on one or more of those attributes by choosing an element list or by qualifying on a particular attribute form. The choices made are included in the filtering criteria in the report.

To define this type of prompt, you can do one of the following:

• Choose a particular hierarchy.
• Use the set of hierarchies resulting from a search for hierarchies.
• List all hierarchies available in the project.

If you choose to display more than one hierarchy, you can create qualifications from all hierarchies displayed at report run time.

Qualify on an Attribute

This type of prompt is used to apply conditions or qualifications to an attribute form.

One or more attributes are displayed and the user can create qualifications on an element list or an attribute form of the selected attribute.

To define an attribute qualification prompt, you can either:

• Choose a particular attribute.
• Display a partial or complete list of attributes that is the result of a search for attributes available in the project.

Choose from an Attribute Element List

This option is used to allow the user to choose from a list of attribute elements to be included in a filter or custom group. This list may be restricted, at prompt design time. This type of prompt can be used with any attribute in a project.

The list of elements from which the user can choose can be implemented by:

• Selecting all elements associated with an attribute
• Providing a partial list of elements by applying a filter on all of the elements associated with an attribute
• Providing a predefined list of elements from which the user can choose

Qualify on a Metric

A metric qualification prompt allows a user to qualify on a metric. One or more metrics are displayed and the user can choose a metric for qualification.

The choice of metrics can be defined by:

• Specifying a single metric for run-time use
• Specifying a search object to restrict the list of metrics from which the user can choose

Example: Filter Definition Prompt

For procedures to create filter definition prompts, see the MicroStrategy Developer help or the Building Query Objects and Queries, for Designers chapter of the Basic Reporting Help.

Report Requirement

You need to create a report showing sales in the West, Central, and East Regions. All other data on the report remains the same. You do not necessarily want the regions on the same report.

Solution

To meet this requirement, the easiest solution is to create a report that includes a filter prompting the user on region. When the report is executed, the prompt dialog opens, asking the user to choose the region(s) for which to return the report results.