Setting metric conditionality

Metric conditionality applies a filter to a metric calculation. The conditionality is independent of the filters on any reports the metric is used in. The metric condition can be either a filter or a prompt that returns a list of filters. For a more detailed explanation of conditionality, see About conditional metrics. For examples, see the Metrics chapter of the Advanced Reporting Help.

Rather than using the Metric Editor to apply a filter to a single metric, you can use the Advanced Metric Assistant to combine multiple, simple metrics with multiple filters. This can help reduce the time required to create the conditional metrics for a project, as described in Creating metrics by combining metrics, filters, and transformations.

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.

Prerequisites

• You apply a filter or prompt to a metric to set metric conditionality. If the filter or prompt you need does not exist, you must create it before adding it to the metric. See Steps to create a filter or Filter definition prompts.

• You can set conditionality for simple metrics but not for compound metrics. The formula of a simple metric is based on group functions (such as sum or average). For more information, see Simple vs. compound metrics.

• This procedure assumes you are already working with a metric in the Metric Editor. If you are not, do one of the following:

• Edit an existing metric

• Create a simple metric

To set metric conditionality

1. Click Condition on the Metric component pane (located under the heading "Metric (metric name) is defined as"). The Condition definition pane displays below the Metric component pane.

2. Select the filter or prompt to place on the metric using one of the following methods:

   • Use the Object Browser to locate the object, then drag it into the Condition definition pane.

   • Click Browse. The Select a Filter dialog box opens, allowing you to select a filter from the displayed list, or navigate to locate the correct filter.

     To see object prompts in the dialog box, select Object Prompt in the Objects of type list.

3. To modify a filter or prompt, select it and click Edit. The Filter Editor or Prompt Generation Wizard opens. For directions to modify a filter, see Steps to edit a filter.

4. To remove a filter, select it and click Clear.

5. You can set how the metric condition interacts with the report filter by using the advanced options. The defaults are described below:

   • The report filter is applied to the data and then the metric filter is applied to those results. You can change the embedding method from the default of Merge report filter into metric.

   • The parts of the report filter that are related to parts of the metric condition are removed, because the Remove related report filter elements check box is selected. You can instead apply report conditions to a conditional metric.

6. Choose one of the following:

   • Save the metric

   • Continue creating the metric (for example, adding levels or transformations)