The default behavior of prompted information links is that each subsequent step lists values based on earlier selections (See Prompted Information Link Example). However, if you are working against a STAR schema database the procedure may require multiple joins since the elements queried for the prompts can only be joined by also joining over the large fact table in the STAR schema. This may result in very long times passing between each prompt. To avoid the long prompt times, it may be useful to treat the various elements as independent and avoid filtering upon each prompt step. This can be accomplished by using prompt groups.
To use prompt groups to make elements independent:
In Information Designer, create a new information link or modify an existing link.
In the Information Link tab, go to the Prompts section.
Click Groups.
Response: The Prompt Groups dialog is displayed.
For each element, specify a prompt group by clicking on the number to the right of the column name.
Comment: All column elements belonging to the same prompt group will depend on each other and, hence, filtering will be performed between each prompt step for these elements. Elements belonging to a different prompt group will be independent of all filtering made within a different prompt group. Note that setting columns or filters as independent may result in no data returned from the information link.
Save the information link, or open it.
Note: By specifying a separate prompt group for an element no previous selections in the prompt steps will be reflected in the listing for this (independent) element. Neither will any of the selections made in the prompt step for the independent element be reflected in later prompt steps (regardless of whether the later prompt steps are independent or not).