Environment panels' interface
    Review
        Cube structure panel
    Pivoting panels
    Measure panel
    Quick filter panel
    Filter panel
    Modifier panel
    The Legend panel
        Setting the Color legend
        Setting the Gradient legend
        Setting the Shape legend
Working area interface
    Tool panel
    Cube axis headers
    Cube axes
    Data axes
    Data axis headers
    Chart panes
    Navigation
    Selecting Data
    Filtering hierarchies
        Filter on hierarchy level
        Filtering hierarchy members
        Filtering a single member of a hierarchy
    Filtering measures
        Calculated measures and members. Formula editor
    Copying
    Exporting

Environment panels' interface

Review

The component presents an easy-to-use interface for operating an OLAP-slice. The basic data is displayed in the Working area. The environment tools for managing the content and characteristics of the slice are placed on the pivot panels.

Functions of different component's panels

You can set the panels' layout the way you like¹. To drag a panel to a different location, you need to capture and drag its header with the mouse. At that, all the possible locations, where it can be dropped to, will be highlighted. You can detach a panel from the component, it will, then, be displayed as a float window.

Instrumental panels can be:

• attached to any side of the component;
• placed into any existing panel;
• displayed as bookmarks on any panel;
• set as auto-hidden panels;
• used as float windows.

¹Panels' layout may be saved and restored from a file using the following commands:

Grid.SaveAsXml(string FileName);
Grid.LoadDockFrom(string FileName);

Variations of panels' layout

You can restore the default panels' layout by selecting the appropriate item from the panel header's menu. The "Allow changing layout" checkbox in the same menu defines if it is possible to drag panels with the mouse.

Docking panel's menu

You can change the view of the slice by relocating measures and hierarchies within the environment panel. When you start dragging an element, all the possible locations, where it can be dropped to, will be highlighted. Most elements have context menus that duplicate the mouse actions and provide additional control functions for managing the slices' view.

Highlighting possible locations for the dragged element

Cube structure panel

The panel contains the Cube structure - measures and hierarchies.

View of the Cube structure panel

Measures are grouped in the Measures category.

Hierarchies are sorted into folders - dimensions. If there's only one dimension in a hierarchy, it will be displayed in the tree root.

Both hierarchies and measures have their own menus. Right click will call the context menu that gives you an option to place the element where you like. You can also filter the selected element (see Filtering hierarchies and measures) or place it to the selected panel.

Measures' menu	Hierarchies' menu
Menus of the Cube elements

Pivoting panels

The hierarchies selected by user are placed to pivoting panels. Note that the column panel may contain no more than one (!) measure.

Panel elements can be dragged with the mouse to other panels. To filter elements, press the Filter button (see Pivot panel view) or use the appropriate items from the context menu.

Pivot panel view

Measure panel

Measure panel consists of groups of measures that make up the charts' vertical axes (see Measure panel components). Each group of measures corresponds to a set of charts in the data area.

Measure panel components

Groups of measures are situated in the main part of the panel. You can drag measures from one group to another, or extract measures from groups to delete them. To create a new group, you need to drag a measure to a place on the panel not occupied by another group or to the <drop a measure to create a new group> panel.

Clicking a mouse button on measures will call the context menu. From here, you can move a measure to one of the pivot panels or to the modifiers axis, or assign a measure filter. Also, you can assign the marker type of a chart point and its color.

Measure context menu

Quick filter panel

The panel is applicable for quick filtering of elements. You can filter just one hierarchy or one measure at once. To assign a quick filter, use the comtext menu.

Selecting the Quick filter option from the Measure context menu

Quick filtering of a hierarchy is a simplified version of the Hierarchy filtering editor. You can show or hide hierarchy members, while selecting them from the Hierarchy tree. All the changes will be displayed in the Grid upon checking the "Preview" button. If a non-empty filter is assigned, it will be shown in the Filter panel (see Filter panel). To delete a filter, select the "All Members" node and choose the "Delete filter" command on the Filter panel.

Quick filtering of measures is a fine way to hide some of the values in the Chart. It doesn't mean you create a measure filter in the Filter area. Repositioning of the trachbar sliders will be reflected with a slight delay (~0.4 second), you can set its threshold values in the input boxes. To clear a filter, check the "Clear" button.

The following Figure shows a quick filter applied to a linear chart. The filter selects all the values of the “Warehouse Profit” measure within the range of 800 – 1800. The values that exceed these boundaries become transparent.

Before filtering

After quick filtering

Note
The same effect can be achieved through measure’s color modifier, but that will demand setting gradient properties manually (see Setting the Gradient legend).

The name of the filtered element will be displayed in the name of the panel.

a. Filtering a hierarchy	b. Filtering a measure
The view of the Quick filter panel

Filter panel

The filtered elements (hierarchies and measures) are automatically transferred to the Filter panel.

To assign a filter, you have to move an element to the Filter panel. If the element hasn't been filtered the appropriate editor will be called (Hierarchy Filter Editor for hierarchies and Measure Filter Editor for measures). In the Filter panel, you can call the Filtered Element Editor individually for each element.

On the hierarchy levels' captions area panels you can find the Hierarchy Editor buttons . If the button looks like this , it means that there are hidden members in the hierarchy. Pressing the button calls the Hierarchy Editor.

Filter panel

Modifier panel

The layout of panels and hierarchies on the Modifier panel allows you to change the appearance of the displayed slice. When an element is placed to the modifier panel (except for Details), its legend will contain the display parameters. If you modify the color and shape of an element, the appropriate parameters can be amended.

View of the Chart with color modification assigned

Placing a measure in the color modifier makes the chart elements comfortably visible: ranged depending on their values between two gradient colors.

If you select the discrete gradient type, you'll be able to set threshold values for filling the Chart elements. While the continuous gradient will let you evaluate the trend as a whole. To select the gradient type and tune its content, turn to the legend panel.

Cutting off the values that exceed threshold

Extracting a range of values

Breaking values into ranges

The Legend panel

The panel contains descriptions of the modified elements. The value, shape and color of a legend element can be edited.

Setting the Color legend

To select a color, simply double-click the appropriate element and choose a color from the pop-up editor.

Selecting a color for a hierarchy member

Setting the Gradient legend

The legend of the Chart element's color modifier

To edit the gradient, double-click the element and tune the settings in the editor. In the Gradient Editor there are:

• a set of pre-made gradients;
• selecting gradient option (continuous or discrete);
• creating a gradient with a set number of intermediate colors option;
• setting threshold in per cent and measure values option;
• selecting threshold color option.

Gradient editor

Setting the Shape legend

The shape selection is made through the context menu. This option is available only for points or lines Charts.

Selecting shape for a hierarchy member

Note
If the number of hierarchy members exceeds the number of available shapes, they will be repeated.

Working area interface

The OLAP-slice data is displayed in working area. In its upper part there is a menu for the quick access to the frequently used commands². The rest is occupied by the current OLAP-slice.

²You can hide the menu by setting Grid.ShowToolbox = false;

Working area elements

Tool panel

Button	Function
	Connect to the Cube
	Load the Grid state
	Save the Grid state
	Export OLAP-slice data
	Print OLAP-slice data
	Preview
	Undo
	Redo
	Switch axes
	Select the docking panels layout
	Set the scale of Chart display
	Select the color palette for measures

Cube axis headers

You can find the headers in the upper part of the working area (see Context menu of a Cube axis header). They display the names of hierarchy levels. Their context menus contain commands for managing same-level hierarchy members.

Context menu of a Cube axis header

Cube axes

You can find the Cube axes in the lower left and upper right corners of the working area. (see Working area elements). They contain the members of the selected hierarchies. The members of the last hierarchy in the column area are markers for the horizontal axis. Correspondingly, the last hierarchy members of the row area are markers for the vertical axis (see Display of hierarchies on the column axis). None of them are displayed in the headers.

The order of hierarchies is defined by the sequence they come on the corresponding Cube axis. You can drag-n-drop them to set in whatever order you like.

a. Education Level hierarchy	b. Categories and Gender hierarchies
Display of hierarchies on the column axis

Note
If there is a measure on the column axis, then the hierarchies will make up the headers of the OLAP-slice, and the measure will make up a continuous horizontal axis (see Using a measure on the column axis). You cannot place measures on the row axis.

Using a measure on the column axis

Data axes

Data axes display values that are used for building charts. There are two different types of data axes: one for measures and the other for hierarchies.

Data axes

In case there is a measure placed on the column area, the horizontal axis will be built based on the range of its values. The number of markers is automatically defined based on the true length of the axis and threshold values of the measure. If necessary, the values will be rounded (without exceeding threshold measure values). In case of changing scale, the number of markers on an axis may be automatically adjusted. (see: Variants of filling the horizontal data axis, c)

If a hierarchy is placed on the column axis, then the horizontal axis will contain its members (or the members of the last hierarchy in the list of the column pivot area). (see: Variants of filling the horizontal data axis, d)

If the column pivot area is empty, a dummy horizontal axis with a single empty marker will be displayed.

a. A measure is in the column axis	b. Column axis is empty
c. A few hierarchies in the column area	d. One hierarchy in the column area
Variants of filling the horizontal data axis

Just the same, hierarchies may be placed in the rows area, but you cannot put measures there.

If an axis is a set of hierarchy members, then you can place a part or a whole of it into a group: create a new group through the context menu and move all the necessary markers to it.

Context menu of a data axis composed of hierarchy members

Data axis headers

Each data axis is assigned a header in accordance to its content: if an axis is formed by a measure, then the measure name will make its header; if it's formed by hierarchy members, the name of the hierarchy will be used³.

The number of headers for the vertical axis is specified by the number of measures in the group of measures on the axis (see An example of single- and double-measure groups (the vertical axis)).

An example of single- and double-measure groups (the vertical axis)

³To hide axis headers, use the Grid.OLAPChartSettings.AxisX.TitleShow property for a horizontal axis and the Grid.OLAPChartSettings.AxisY.TitleShow for vertical.

Chart Panes

The bulk of the OLAP-slice data are placed into cells with Charts. Each measure group has its own set of panes.

Measure groups with corresponding Charts in the working area

In the upper left part of each Chart, there will appear a context menu for selecting its type.

Chart type menu

The size of Charts can be changed to some extent. To expand a Chart along either one of the axes, you need to capture its boundary with the mouse and drag it.

You can change the size along both axes (or return to default) through the tool menu in the upper part of the working area.

Hot keys for changing the scale
Ctrl+* - Reset Scale to 1:1
Ctrl+Num+ - Zoom In
Ctrl+Num- - Zoom Out

Navigation

If the content of the Grid exceeds the client area, the scroll bars will appear. You can scroll down the data using the mouse wheel. To scroll the Grid in the vertical direction, turn the mouse wheel, while holding Shift.

Selecting Data

You can select Chart points with the standard Windows' method. Holding down the Ctrl button, you can add selected points, holding down the Shift button, you can select the horizontal range.

You can filter the Grid's points while selecting. In that case, the corresponding hierarchy members will be filtered automatically.

a. Selecting some of the Chart points	b. Selecting the Filter command	c. The result
Selecting and filtering parts of Charts

Note
When moving the mouse cursor over a data axis, you are able to select a continuous range of members (if the axis is composed of them) or a range of values in Charts.

a. Selecting a range of members	b. Selecting a range of values
Selecting ranges

Filtering hierarchies

In case you need to collect data not from the whole Grid, but just from a part of it, the component has a few functions at your disposal: they let you select or remove elements from the slice. Also, there is a standard option of exporting data into a number of formats and printing out the content of OLAP-slices.

The simplest way of selecting data is through the context menu. When you click a hierarchy member on the Cube axis, there is a set of commands for quick operations with members:

• Hide this member
• Hide all members except this
• Hide all members above this
• Hide all members below this

Menu with filtering hierarchy members commands

In fact, selecting these commands means applying a filter to an appropriate hierarchy. The newly created filter will be placed to the Filter panel, where you can edit it (see Filter panel)

To change the Filet panel, call the Filter Editor by pressing the button on one of the pivot panels, or the button on the Filter panel, or by selecting an appropriate item from the context menu.

Filter Editor consists of the three main components (see Hierarchy Editor):

• Filter on hierarchy level;
• Hierarchy members search;
• Client area with a tree of hierarchy members.

Hierarchy editor

Filter on hierarchy level

The Filter area of the Editor becomes visible only in case if filtering by hierarchy levels is available. To apply a filter to hierarchy members, you need to select a hierarchy level (if there's more than one) and assign the Filter condition in the Filter menu. In the same menu, there's a command to clear filter.

Filtering hierarchy members

If the search field is not empty, the "Find" command will make the component perform a search for hierarchy members, whose levels contain the specified string. You can narrow the search results by checking the "Exact matching" box.

Filtering a single member of a hierarchy

By default, the Editor is able to select any number of hierarchy members. To switch to the single-select mode, uncheck the "Multiselect" box. In that case, only one the hierarchy member with all its parents and members will be selected.

a. Selection in the single-select mode	b. Selection in the multiselect mode
Selecting a single member of a hierarchy

Note
If there are more than 100 elements in a node, the Editor automatically switches to page-viewing of the sub-tree nodes mode.

Filtering measures

There is a number of available parameters for filtering measures. In the same Editor, you can clear the filter.

Measure filter editor

Calculated measures and members. Formula editor

Users of OLAP Chart ver. MS Analysis are able to manipulate calculated measures and hierarchy members. The rules for calculating them are described in MDX-expressions.

To create calculated measures or hierarchy members, simply select an appropriate item from the context menu of the panes with measure or hierarchy names:

You can edit or delete the newly created members through their context menu

View of the Formula editor

The Editor form contains the following areas:

• Cube data structure;
• Function set;
• Set of query patterns;
• Editing area.

Formula editor allows you to:

• change the output format for measures. The options are: standard, currency, percent, and custom. Format string is formed the same way as and MDX Format String for measures (for details see MSDN);
• change a display name for a newly created measure or calculated member
• create and edit MDX-formulas, describing the rules for calculating measures and hierarchy members.

MDX-formulas can be edited in the "Editing area". All other areas (Cube structure, Function set, Set of query patterns) are meant to help you with editing: use Drag&drop to move an MDX formula, a pattern or a unique name of a Cube element to the Editing area.

Copying

To copy all the OLAP-slice data, press the button in the toolbox or Ctrl+C - the picture of the whole slice will be copied to the clipboard.

Exporting

The component supports exporting data to the following formats:

See also
-Exporting Grid content.