{"id":35166,"date":"2018-01-08T14:20:54","date_gmt":"2018-01-08T06:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/help\/?page_id=35166"},"modified":"2018-01-08T14:33:19","modified_gmt":"2018-01-08T06:33:19","slug":"data-selector-4-4-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oihelp.corporate.ifs.com\/help\/p2-explorer\/explorer-studio\/data-selector\/data-selector-4-4-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Selector (4.4.2)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article applies to version 4.4.2 of P2 Explorer. For the latest, see Data Selector<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Overview<\/h2>\n

Many of the Explorer components are used for displaying data. For example, the data label, charts, the dataset table, target bars, meters.<\/p>\n

Component data needs to be defined during design time, in Explorer Studio.<\/p>\n

This article explains how to select and define data, using the data selector editor.<\/p>\n

Data Selector Features<\/h2>\n

To open the data selector, click the drop-down list on a component property that shows the text \"Click to configure data...\", for example the Value<\/strong> property on the properties panel of the Data Label<\/strong> component.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Click the Drop-Down List \"Click to configure data\"<\/p><\/div>\n

The data selector opens as a separate panel below the property. The contents of this panel may vary, according to the type of data to configure (the data category) and how that data is to be returned (as a list, a set, or as a single data point).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1. Value<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

This is the component property which uses the configured data. The name varies between different component properties.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2. Data Category<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Click to select one of the data categories.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

3. Configure Data<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Configure data for the selected data category.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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A Component's Data<\/h2>\n

Depending on the data component, data can be defined for more than one of the properties.<\/p>\n

For example, a Meter<\/strong> component has Value<\/em> data (the value measured on the meter) as well as a whole series of Measures<\/em>, a Minimum Value<\/em> and number of Ticks<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Some of the properties on a Meter component<\/p><\/div>\n

Another example is the Data Label<\/strong> component, which has Value<\/em> data (a numerical value that is displayed on the label in run-time), as well as Decimals<\/em>, for formatting the data.<\/p>\n

Related: Components in Explorer<\/a><\/p>\n

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Data Categories<\/h2>\n

Depending on what a component is used for, there can be up to five separate Data Categories<\/em> to choose from, when you select your data.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Dataset<\/strong><\/td>\nTabular data returned from a dataset datasource.<\/td>\nUsing Dataset Data<\/a><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\"\"<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Ad hoc Calculation<\/strong><\/td>\nAn ad hoc calculation using tags and\/or attributes.<\/td>\nUsing Ad hoc Calculation Data<\/a><\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Attribute<\/strong><\/td>\nA piece of data describing a specific characteristic of an entity.<\/td>\nUsing Attribute Data<\/a><\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Tag<\/strong><\/td>\nA piece of data or a calculation. This can also be referenced by an attribute.<\/td>\nUsing Tag Data<\/a><\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Value<\/strong><\/td>\nA fixed or variable numerical value, defined in Studio.<\/td>\nUsing Value Data<\/a><\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Categories are unavailable for components that can't use them. For example, the Combo Box component only has the dataset Dataset<\/em> and Value<\/em> categories available:<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Setting a Variable<\/h2>\n

When configuring data for a component, you will find that most of the properties have a Variable<\/em> option.<\/p>\n

For example, when you configure a new data label to use an ad hoc calculation, all of the calculation properties variable<\/em> options, as shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

To use a variable, click the variable<\/em> \"\" button, then select a variable from the drop-down list or type in a variable name, ensuring the variable suits the property. For example, when you configure Sample Method<\/em> to use a variable, that variable should be configured to have legitimate sample methods (Last Known Value, Average, Linear Interpolate and Raw<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Note that only variables of the correct type are available in the drop-down list (for example, where the property expects text, only text variables are available).<\/p>\n

Example<\/h3>\n

The following example illustrates how you can select a List variable for an Option Links' Option Values<\/strong>, and Text variable for its Selected Option<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Related: Using Variables in P2 Explorer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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1. List variable added to Default Values<\/strong>: Variable Name: ListofQuarters; Comma separated text values: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2. Text variable added to Default Values<\/strong>: Variable Name: selectedQuarter; text value: Q2.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
3. List variable assigned to Option Links<\/strong>: Variable ListofQuarters is selected for the Option Links' Option Values<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4. Text variable assigned to Option Links<\/strong>: Variable selectedQuarter is selected for the Option Links' Selected Option<\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5. The Option Links<\/strong>: Showing Option Values<\/strong> (ListofQuarters) in the Option Links buttons, with Selected Option<\/strong> (selectedQuarter) underlined.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Page Defaults<\/h2>\n

When you assign data to a component's property, you will find that very often the page default has already been assigned.<\/p>\n

For example, when you configure a new data label to use an ad hoc calculation, some of the calculation properties come with page defaults, as shown below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>

The page defaults are added to the Default Values for a new Studio page<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

You can view or update the page defaults on the Default Values<\/a> panel.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Selecting and Configuring your Data<\/h2>\n

Explorer\u2019s Data Selector is used to collect data for properties of components, such as the Data <\/em>for a Data Table, or the Option Values <\/em>used by a Combo Box.<\/p>\n

Skip to the section that's relevant for the data you want to use:<\/p>\n