How to Edit Column Properties

Column properties are any type of metadata available for the columns (and, in some cases, also for hierarchies) in your data table. For example, this could be the name or number of decimals of a column, the data type, an optional description of the column content, or, a customized sort order for a string column. All properties can be viewed, and some can be edited, by selecting Edit > Column Properties.

To change a column name:

Select Edit > Column Properties.
If you have more than one data table in the document, select the Data table to work on.
Locate the column of interest by scrolling in the list or by typing a search expression in the field provided.
Click to select the column.
On the General tab, type a new name in the Name field.
Click OK.

To change the formatting of a column:

Select Edit > Column Properties.
If you have more than one data table in the document, select the Data table to work on.
Locate the column of interest by scrolling in the list or by typing a search expression in the field provided.
Click to select the column.
On the Formatting tab, click to select a Category.
Make any changes desired. See Column Properties - Formatting for more information about the various options.

Comment: For example, to change the number of decimals displayed for a Real column, click Number. Then change the Decimal places to the desired number.
Click OK.

To create a custom sort order for a string column:

Note: Custom sort order can only be applied to string columns, not to columns of other data types.

Select Edit > Column Properties.
If you have more than one data table in the document, select the Data table to work on.
Locate the string column of interest by scrolling in the list or by typing a search expression in the field provided.
Click to select the column.
On the Sort Order tab, click to select Custom sort order.
Click Configure....

Response: The Custom Sort Order dialog is displayed.
Move the values up or down in the Value order list, to create the desired sort order.
Click OK to close the Custom Sort Order dialog.
Click OK.

To delete a column from the data table:

Select Edit > Column Properties.
If you have more than one data table in the document, select the Data table to work on.
Locate the column of interest by scrolling in the list or by typing a search expression in the field provided.
Click to select the column.
Click Delete.

Comment: You can hide columns from separate visualizations using the appropriate page in the Visualization Properties dialog without actually deleting the column. Likewise, you can hide filters that you do not wish to use in the Organize Filters dialog.

To edit the link template for hyperlinks in tables:

It is possible to display the text in a table as clickable hyperlinks by setting the renderer for a column to Link Renderer. Setting a template in Column Properties provides a default suggestion for the Link Renderer. The default template is "http://{$}/", where {$} represents the value from the table cell.

Select Edit > Column Properties.
If you have more than one data table in the document, select the Data table to work on.
Locate the column of interest by scrolling in the list or by typing a search expression in the field provided.
Click to select the column.
On the Column Properties tab, scroll down to locate the Link Template property and click to select it.
Click Edit Value....

Response: The Edit Value dialog is displayed.
Type a new template for the format of the links.

Comment: For example, "http://www.{$}.com".
Click OK to close the Edit Value dialog.
Click OK.

To create a hierarchy:

If two or more columns are hierarchically related to each other, you can create a hierarchy that can be used instead of the separate columns when filtering or using the categories on axes or to specify other properties.

Select Edit > Column Properties.
Click Insert > Hierarchy....
If you have more than one data table in the document, select the Data table to work on.

Comment: Hierarchies can only be created with columns from the same data table.
Select the columns that should be a part of the hierarchy from the Available columns list.
Click Add >.
Make sure that the columns are listed in the Hierarchy list from the least granular to the most granular category. For example, Continent - Country - City.
Type a Hierarchy name.
Click OK to close the Insert Hierarchy dialog.
Click OK.