AX2024

Setting up custom drilling for Axiom files

In addition to the "built-in" drilling features for spreadsheet Axiom files (drill down and drill through), you can use custom drilling. Custom drilling is an extremely flexible feature that can be configured to meet virtually any data drilling need. It is intended for unique or complex drilling requirements that are not met by the standard drilling features.

You can set up a custom drill for any Axiom file, but the primary use is in reports.

Custom drilling in Axiom works by configuring a file to pass dimensionality and filters to a "drill target" template. The dimensionality and filters are based on the user's current context in the file, and on user selection if appropriate.

The "drill target" template is an Axiom report that has been configured and formatted to use the dimensionality and filters passed by the source report, and display the resulting data. The display can replicate the structure of the source file—for example, the same data columns, but at a different level of detail—or it can be completely different.

Setting up custom drilling requires advanced knowledge of Axiom report writing. Ultimately, you can set up the source report to pass any combination of data filters and dimensionality, and set up the drill target to display any set of data, in any format—even data from an entirely different table.

The basic setup steps are as follows:

1. Determine the level of drill that you want to achieve, and the desired output. Visualizing the drill options and what you expect to see as a result of drilling will help the setup process.
2. In the file where you want users to be able to drill, add a Drilling Control Sheet to the file, and complete the settings as desired.
3. Create the "drill target" report to display the drill data. This is a report that is configured and formatted to display the drill results.