How to Use Calculated Values

Calculated Values can be shown both separately in a text area or be included as a column in a graphical table. The behavior of the calculated value is quite similar in both places, but some differences exist. Therefore, this list of step instructions has been split into three different sections: Graphical table specific information, Text area specific information, and General information applicable to both instances.

Graphical table specific information

When calculated values are included in a graphical table, the settings for the calculated value item normally control a number of separate calculated values, one for each value in the graphical table row axis.

• To add a calculated values column to a graphical table:

1. Right-click on the graphical table to display the pop-up menu.

2. Select Add > Calculated Value.

Response: A new calculated value column is added to the graphical table. A first attempt to set up a suitable calculated value is made by the application, but you probably want to adjust the settings.

Comment: You can also add a new calculated value column by using drag-and-drop. See Drag-and-Drop to learn more. Or, you can add a new calculated value from the Axes page of the Graphical Table Properties dialog.

3. Right-click on the new column and select Calculated Value Settings from the pop-up menu.

Comment: Note that each calculated value column added to a graphical table has its own settings.

4. On the Values page, select a column, hierarchy, or expression in the Calculate values using field.

5. On the General page, you may want to change the Name of the new column to something that describes what the calculated value shows.

Comment: You can hide the name from the graphical table by clearing the Show name in header check box. (The entire header row of the graphical table can also be hidden by clearing the Header row check box on the Appearance page of the Graphical Table Properties.)

6. If desired, make other changes to the default settings, such as changing the filtering scheme on the Data page, adding an action, or setting up a rule, see below.

7. When you are done, click Close.

• To remove a calculated values column from a graphical table:

1. Right-click on the column header of the calculated values column you want to remove.

2. Select Remove from the pop-up menu.

• To change the column header for a calculated values column:

1. Open the Calculated Value Settings dialog and go to the General page.

2. Type a new Name for the column.

3. Make sure that the Show name in header check box is selected.

4. Click Close.

• To hide the column name from a graphical table:

1. Open the Calculated Value Settings dialog and go to the General page.

2. Clear the Show name in header check box.

Comment: The entire header row of the graphical table can be hidden from the Appearance page of the Graphical Table Properties.

3. Click Close.

• To lock the calculated value so it does not react to filtering:

1. Open the Calculated Value Settings dialog and go to the Data page.

2. Make sure that the Specify separate data limiting radio button is selected.

3. Clear all check boxes under Limit data using filterings.

Comment: You can also select one specific filtering scheme and keep from modifying any of the filters in it.

4. Click Close.

Text area specific information

Using calculated values in a text area works slightly different from when it is included in a graphical table. Below are some useful tips for working with calculated values in the text area.

• To add a calculated value to a text area:

1. Create a text area where you want the calculated value to reside.

2. Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar to make sure that the text area is in edit mode.

Comment: You can also right-click and select Edit Text Area from the pop-up menu.

3. Type some descriptive text in the text area regarding what the calculated value will show.

4. Click on the Insert Dynamic Item button,, and select the Calculated Value option.

Response: The Calculated Value Settings dialog is displayed.

5. On the Values page, select a column, hierarchy, or expression in the Calculate values using field.

Comment: If desired, make other changes to the default settings, such as changing the filtering scheme on the Data page, adding an action, or setting up a rule, see below.

6. Click OK.

Response: The calculated value is added to the text area.

• To lock the calculated value so it does not react to filtering:

1. Open the Calculated Value Settings dialog and go to the Data page.

2. Clear all check boxes under Limit data using filterings.

Comment: You can also select one specific filtering scheme and keep from modifying any of the filters in it.

3. Click OK.

• To change the font, style and size of calculated values in the text area:

1. Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar.

2. Right-click on the calculated value and select Format Control... from the pop-up menu.

Response: The Format Control dialog is opened.

3. Adjust the font settings in the dialog to change the appearance of the calculated value to your liking.

4. Click OK.

Response: The new font settings are applied to the calculated value.

5. Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar again.

Response: The Edit mode is closed and you see the final result.

Note: The text color cannot be set using the Format Control dialog. Text color is instead defined by rules. See To add a rule for the color or font style below for more information.

Note: When working with calculated values, make sure you do not unintentionally override any font style settings that have been defined in a rule. If you apply a font style (Bold and Italic) from the Format Control dialog, it will be added to the calculated value on top of any font style included in a rule for the calculated value. For example, if you select the check box for Bold in the Format Control dialog, then the calculated value will always be displayed as bold. A rule stating that the value should be displayed in bold only if the value is greater than a certain value will have no effect, since the calculated value is already displayed in bold.

General information

• To add actions performed when clicking on the calculated value:

1. Open the Calculated Value Settings dialog and go to the Actions page.

2. Select the Perform action on click check box.

3. Click on Settings....

Response: The Action Settings dialog is displayed.

4. Type a good Description explaining what will happen when clicking on the calculated value.

Comment: The description can be shown in the tooltip for the calculated value.

5. Add the desired actions and click OK.

• To add a rule for the color or font style:

Calculated values do not require any rules at all, but they can be used to emphasize a certain value using a color or a different font style.

1. Open the Calculated Value Settings dialog and go to the Values page.

2. Click Add Rule....

Response: The Add Rule dialog is displayed.

3. Define the Rule type to apply.

4. Set the Value for the rule.

5. Specify the Color and Font style to use when the rule is applied.

6. Click OK.

Comment: You can add more than one rule. If you add many rules, the rules are prioritized from top to bottom, for each row. None of the rules further down in the list will be considered once a rule higher up in the list has been applied. You can click and drag a rule in the Rules list to change the order.

• To change the formatting:

1. Open the Calculated Value Settings dialog and go to the Formatting page.

2. Click to select the Category of your choice. For example, "Number".

Response: The settings for the selected category are shown.

3. Make the desired changes. For example, change the number of decimals shown.

4. Click Close or OK.

See also:

What are Calculated Values?

Calculated Value Settings

What is a Graphical Table?

How to Use the Graphical Table