Creating a Fixed Hierarchy

In a fixed hierarchy, the columns, and their relative positions, are already defined. A fixed hierarchy is associated with a hierarchy filter, which consists of an expandable tree view where the categories at the different levels are represented by check boxes. Using a fixed hierarchy on an axis will display a hierarchy slider that makes it possible to easily switch between the levels in the hierarchy.

Combining columns into a hierarchy filter will not automatically remove all other filters representing the same columns—this must be done manually, if desired.

Note: Creating a hierarchy with a very large number of nodes may take a long time. It may also result in a hierarchy filter with too many check boxes to be practically useful. Use the Filtering Scheme Properties or the Column Properties to edit the hierarchy and remove the column with too many unique values if this happens.

To create a fixed hierarchy from a visualization axis:

1. On the axis, select the columns to form the hierarchy.

   Note: If the number of columns added to an axis exceeds three, the name of each column will no longer be displayed. Instead the number of added columns is shown.

2. Make sure the columns are ordered in the way you want.

3. Right-click one of the column selectors, and select Create Hierarchy from the pop-up menu.
   Response: The separate column selectors are replaced by a single selector showing the hierarchy, and the selector is supplemented with a slider. The created hierarchy and its associated hierarchy filter become available in the Data in analysis flyout. In the Filters panel, the hierarchy filter is shown at the bottom of the list of filters for the data table in question.
   Tip: You can, if you want, give the created hierarchy a name. Locate the hierarchy in the Data in analysis flyout, right-click it, and select Rename. Enter a suitable name, and click OK.

To create a fixed hierarchy using the Add hierarchy dialog:

Tip: You can also open the Add hierarchy dialog from the Data canvas, by clicking the plus sign on the final data table node, and selecting Add hierarchy.

1. Select Data > Add hierarchy on the menu bar.

   Response: The Add hierarchy dialog opens.

2. If more than one data table is available in the analysis, specify which Data table to work on.

3. Select the columns you want to include in your hierarchy filter from the Available columns list, and click Add >.

   Response: The columns are shown in the Hierarchy list.

4. Select a column in the Hierarchy list, and use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to position it correctly in the hierarchy.

   Comment: The least granular category should be placed at the top of the list, for example, Continent should be placed above Country, and Country should be placed  above City.

5. Enter a name for the new hierarchy in the Hierarchy name field.

6. Click OK.

   Response: The created hierarchy and its associated filter become available in the Data in analysis flyout. In the Filters panel, the hierarchy filter is shown at the bottom of the list of filters for the data table in question.

To create a hierarchy from a date column:

Tip: You can also open the Add hierarchy dialog from the Data canvas, by clicking the plus sign on the final data table node, and selecting Add hierarchy.

1. Select Data > Add hierarchy on the menu bar.

   Response: The Add hierarchy dialog opens.

2. Select the Data table containing the desired date column.

3. In the Available columns list, the date column has several sub-categories:
   

4. From the Available columns list, select the sub-categories you want to include in your hierarchy filter, and click Add >.

   Response: The sub-categories are shown in the Hierarchy list.

5. Remove unwanted entries from the Hierarchy list by selecting them and clicking < Remove. Most often you will not want to include the actual Date column in the hierarchy filter, only a selection of its sub-categories.

6. Select an entry in the Hierarchy list, and use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to position it correctly in the hierarchy.

   Comment: The least granular category should be placed at the top of the list, for example, Year should be placed above Quarter, and Quarter should be placed above Month.

7. Enter a name for the new hierarchy in the Hierarchy name field.

8. Click OK.

   Response: The created hierarchy, and its associated filter become available in the Data in analysis flyout, and in the Filters panel, the hierarchy filter is shown at the bottom of the list of filters for the data table in question.

Tip: You can edit a hierarchy from the Data canvas, by clicking on the final data table node, and, from the step group in the lower left part of the canvas, selecting Edit hierarchy.