AX1833
You can define column groups in web reports so that certain columns can display together under a group header. For example, your report might have several actuals columns followed by several budget columns, and you want these columns to display under the group headers "Actuals" and "Budget".
To define a column group, first you add the group "container" to the Column Definitions box of the grid, then you add table columns to the group container.
To define a column group:
-
On the Build tab of the Report Builder, in the Report Canvas, click the plus sign in the top right corner of the Column Definitions box, and then click Add Column Group.
A new empty column group is added to the Column Definitions box.
-
Drag and drop the desired columns into the column group. You can drag and drop columns that are already in the Column Definitions box, or you can drag and drop columns from the Data Panel directly to the group.
-
Select the column group box, and use the Column Group Configuration panel to define the header text and other properties. See the following section for more information on the available properties.
The column group displays in the grid with its child columns underneath.
Example web report with column groups
Once a column group has been created, you can work with it as follows:
-
Reordering groups: To reorder a column group, drag and drop the group to another location within the Column Definitions box.
-
Deleting groups: To delete a column group, click the three-dots icon in the top right corner of the group box and then select Delete Group. However, if you still want to use the columns in the group, you should drag and drop the columns out of the group before deleting the group. If you delete the group with columns in it, all of the columns will be deleted as well.
-
Copying groups: To copy a column group, click the three-dots icon in the top right corner of the group box and then select Clone Group. A copy of the group is created to the right of the original group, including copies of the child columns within the group. The new group has the same properties as the original group, except that the text (Copy) is appended to the header text. You can modify the new group as needed in order to differentiate it from the original, such as to define a filter for the group, or to populate the group with different child columns.
NOTE: If a calculation in the column group references another column in the group, then when the group is cloned the calculation in the new group is updated to point to the corresponding column in the new group.
-
Configuring groups: To configure display properties for a column group, select the group in the Column Definitions box, then use the Column Group Configuration properties in the Configuration Panel.
-
Nested groups: Currently, nested groups are not allowed. You cannot drag and drop a group within another group.
You can work with columns within the group as follows:
-
Adding columns: You can continue to add columns by dragging and dropping them into the group box. You can also copy columns within the group.
-
Removing columns: You can drag and drop columns out of the column group box to remove them from the group. If you don't want the column to be in the report at all, you can delete the column as normal.
-
Reordering columns: You can reorder columns in the group by dragging and dropping them within the group box.
-
Configuring columns: Columns in a column group can be configured as normal. Select the column box within the group box to bring up the Column Configuration properties in the Configuration Panel.
The following column group properties are available for web reports on the General tab of the Column Group Configuration panel:
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
|
Header |
The header text to display on the group header. Enter the desired header text. |
|
Hide column |
Specifies whether the column group is hidden in the report:
|
|
Autowrap header text |
Specifies whether header text wraps:
|
|
Header alignment |
The alignment of the header text over the columns in the group. Select one of the following: Default, Left, Right, Center. Group headers use center alignment by default. |
|
Data filter |
Optional. Defines a filter to limit the data shown in the columns within this group. This is equivalent to defining the same data filter at the column level for each column in the group. For more information, see Using group filters. |
The Data filter property can be used to filter the data coming into the columns within a particular group. This filter only impacts the data in the group columns; it has no impact on the rest of the report.
To filter the data in a group:
-
On the Build tab of the Report Builder, in the Report Canvas, select the group that you want to filter.
-
In the Column Group Configuration panel, click the Edit link over the Data filter box to open the Filter Wizard.
-
In the Filter Wizard, create the filter as needed. For more information on how to use the Filter Wizard to create a filter, see Using the Filter Wizard in the Report Builder.
The tables available in the Filter Wizard depend on whether the current group consists of columns from a single table or multiple tables, and the primary table specified as the Data Context of the report:
-
If the group consists of columns from a single table, the Filter Wizard shows that table and its dimension tables.
-
If the group consists of columns from multiple tables, the Filter Wizard shows the following tables:
-
If the group uses columns from multiple tables, and the primary table is a data table, the Filter Wizard shows the common dimension tables for the tables involved in the calculation.
EXCEPTION: If the group includes a column from a dimension table, then the Filter Wizard shows the common dimension tables for all related tables used in the report, regardless of whether the related table is used in this particular group.
-
If the group uses columns from multiple tables, and the primary table is a reference table, the Filter Wizard shows the primary table and its dimension tables.
EXCEPTION: If the group only consists of columns from related tables (no columns from the primary table or its dimension tables), then the Filter Wizard shows the common dimension tables for all related tables used in the group.
-
If the group contains a calculated column, the columns used in the calculation are considered as part of the group.
You can create a filter using any column on the available tables. If you choose to use a predefined global filter from the Filter Library, the global filter must be based on the same eligible table columns.
-
-
Once the filter statement is complete, click OK to close the Filter Wizard and add the filter to the Data filter box.
Once a filter has been defined for a group, you can modify it as follows:
-
To edit the filter, click the Edit link over the Data filter box again and change the filter within the Filter Wizard.
-
To delete the filter, click the Clear link over the Data filter box.
Data filters defined at the group level are combined with any filters defined at the column level. If the group contains calculated columns, the group filter is applied to all columns referenced in the calculation. If the calculated column references grid columns, the group filter is combined with any other filters applied to the grid columns (either at the column level or at the group level, if the column belongs to a different group). Additionally, if a data filter is defined at the report level, it is also applied. All relevant filters are combined using AND to determine the data that can display in a particular column.
If a group has a defined filter, then a filter icon displays next to the group name in the sample grid of the Report Canvas. This icon is intended to let report builders know about the group filter at-a-glance. The icon does not display in the report viewer.
