7
Selecting Data

Chapter summary

This chapter describes how to select dimension values.

Who should read this chapter

All Financial Analyzer users should read this chapter.

List of topics

This chapter includes the following topics:

• About Data Selection

• Selecting Values

About Data Selection

Definition: Selector

The ability to select the precise information that you want to work with is a key feature of Financial Analyzer. A data selection tool, referred to as the Selector, supports the data selection function. The Selector:

• Gives you flexible access to your data and to database objects that you use in Financial Analyzer.

• Provides a set of tools that enable you to easily select groups of related data.

Accessing the Selector

You can access the Selector from a tile that appears in a document window or dialog box. While working in a document, you can also access the Selector from the Tools menu or from the toolbar.

Accessing the Selector from the toolbar

While working in a document, you can choose Selector from the Tools menu or choose the Select button from the toolbar.

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Accessing the Selector from a tile in a document window

You can access the Selector from a tile in a document window. In the following illustration, the report window contains a dimension tile labeled Organization. Choosing Organization opens the Selector dialog box, where you can select dimension values for Organization as well as for the other dimensions in the report.

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Accessing the Selector from a tile in a dialog box

You can access the Selector from a dimension tile in a dialog box. In the following illustration, the Copy Data dialog box includes a dimension tile labeled Time. Choosing Time opens the Selector dialog box, where you can select dimension values for Time as well as for the other dimensions for which data is to be copied.

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Selecting Values

Selectable objects

Depending on your current context when you access the Selector dialog box, you can select:

• Values for one or more dimensions

• Dimension values associated with one or more financial data items

• Dimension values associated with one or more hierarchies

Moving values to the Selected box

When you work in the Selector dialog box, you place the values that you want to work with into the Selected box.

In the following illustration, three values for the Product dimension have been placed in the Selected box.

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Methods for selecting values

In the Selector dialog box you can manually select values. You can also access a set of selection tools that enable you to do the following:

• Select all values of a dimension

• Select values that match an attribute that you specify

• Select values based on their hierarchical relationship

• Select values that match characters that you specify

• Select values that meet specific numerical exception criteria that you specify

• Select values that meet specific variable exception criteria that you specify

• Select values within a top and bottom range that you specify

• Select values and then name and save that selection for future use

Selecting hierarchical values

If the dimension for which you are selecting values is part of one or more hierarchies and you want to display the values as they relate to a hierarchy, you must select the hierarchy from the Hierarchy box before selecting values. Selecting a hierarchy enables you to drill through levels of data in reports and worksheets.

Maximum amount of selectable values

When selecting values to include in a document, you cannot select more than 5000 values for an across or down edge.

Sorting selected values

You can sort the values that you have selected. Depending on the dimension for which you are selecting values, the following sort options are available:

• Alphabet -- Sorts values in alphabetical order. You can choose A to Z or Z to A.

• Database -- Sorts values according to the order in which they are stored in the database. You can choose standard or reverse.

• Data Value -- Sorts values according to their numeric value. You can choose high to low or low to high.

• Drag and drop -- Enables you to manually arrange values in any order.

• Hierarchy -- For a dimension that is organized by a hierarchy, sorts values according to their order in the hierarchy. You can choose top to bottom or bottom to top.

Related information

For more information about selecting data, search for the following topics in the Financial Analyzer Help system:

"Selecting All Values of a Dimension"

"Selecting Values by Matching Characters"

"Selecting Top and Bottom Values"

"Selecting Values by Attribute"

"Selecting Values by Specifying Numerical Exception Criteria"

"Selecting Values by Specifying Variable Exception Criteria"

"Selecting Values Manually"

"Sorting Selected Values"

"Sorting Selected Values According to Their Order in the Database"

"Sorting Selected Values Alphabetically"

"Sorting Selected Values Manually"

"Sorting Selected Values Numerically by Data Value"