If desired, you can configure your data connection to prompt for parameters or columns values to filter on, as the view is retrieved. This is one way you can use a generic data connection for multiple purposes and allow the end user of the connection to select the data that is of interest for him or her only. The view and, hence, the resulting data table will be pared down for each prompt, before the next column in sequence is processed.
To set up a data connection with prompts:
The steps below show an example of how to add prompts to a SAP HANA connection that is going to be saved in the library. However, prompting is available for most types of data connections, both shared and embedded.
Select Data > Manage Data Connections.
Select Add New > Data Connection > SAP HANA .
Comment: You can also add a new Connection from Data Source in Library. If this is the case, you will select a data source, login and then continue from step 4.
In the SAP HANA Connection dialog, specify the required settings and click Connect.
In the Views in Connection dialog, select the tables you want to work with in Spotfire by double-clicking them in the Available tables in database list.
Response: The selected tables are shown in the Views in connection list.
In the Views in connection list, click on the table for which you want to define prompting.
Click Define Prompting.
In the Define Prompting dialog, click New....
In the New Prompt dialog, select the column or parameter to prompt for.
Select the Prompt type to use.
Comment: You can choose from Single selection, Multiple selection, Range or Manual input prompts
If you selected Multiple selection, you can specify the minimum number and maximum number of values that can be chosen in the prompt.
Type a Description explaining what type of value that the end user should select or type.
Comment: This text will be shown in the prompt dialog when the data connection is opened. It is especially important to describe valid values when you set up prompts of the type 'Manual input ' for string columns.
If you want to add more prompts, repeat steps 7-11.
Click OK.
When you are done, click OK to close the Define Prompting dialog.
Click OK to close the Views in Connection dialog.
Click Save and specify where you want to save the data connection in the library.
To show prompts when opening an analysis with an embedded connection with prompting:
Note: If you have saved an analysis with an embedded connection with prompting, by default, the end user will not be prompted for input upon opening the analysis. The data selection will be based on the selection that you made in the prompts, when authoring the analysis. Follow these steps to show the prompts and let the end user define parameter or column values, upon opening the analysis.
Select Data > Data Table Properties.
In the Data Table Properties dialog, under the General tab, click Linked (individual settings per source).
Select Prompt for new settings before loading.
Click OK.
Known Limitations
With the exception of connections to SAP BW BEx queries, prompting is not supported for data connections to cube data sources. See Adding Prompts to an SAP BW BEx Query Connection, for more information on defining prompting for SAP BW BEx queries.
There is no support for specification of prompt values via configuration blocks.
There is no support for prompting in analyses configured with scheduled updates.
There is no support for opening files with prompts from Automation Services.
See also:
Adding Data Connections to an Analysis
How to Work with Data Connections and their Data Sources in the Library