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Applying Conditional Formatting to Column Content in Siebel Answers

In tables and pivot tables, conditional formatting helps direct attention to a data element if it meets a certain condition. For example, you can show below-quota sales figures in a certain color, or display an image such as a trophy next to the name of each salesperson who exceeds quota by a certain percent.

You do this by selecting one or more columns in the request to use, specifying the condition to meet, and then making selections for font, cell, border, and style sheet options to apply when the condition is met. The conditional formats can include colors, fonts, images, and so on, for the data and for the table cell that contains the data. The steps to specify a condition are very similar to those used to create filters.

You can add multiple conditions so that the data and the table cell are displayed in one of several formats, based upon the value of the data. For example, below-quota sales can be displayed in one color, and above-quota sales can be displayed in another color.

Several subtle conditional formatting differences exist between traditional tables and pivot tables. Conditional formats that format one column based on the value of another column are not reflected in a pivot table, but are reflected in a standard table. For example, setting the color of a region name based on the sales in that region has no effect in a pivot table. However, setting the color of the sales data based on the value of the sales data is reflected in a pivot table, as is setting the color of the region name based on the actual name; for example, displaying a value of Eastern Region in bold colored text.

NOTE:  In pivot tables, conditions are evaluated against the values as calculated or aggregated by the pivot table. Conditional formatting is applied based on the underlying value, even if you choose the Show As options to show the data as percents or indexes.

Your selections apply only to the contents of the column for the request with which you are working.

To add conditional formatting to a column in a request

1. In Siebel Answers, click the Properties button for a column to open the Column Properties dialog box, and then click the Conditional Format tab.
2. Click the Add Condition button and select the desired column in the request for use in constructing the condition.

   The Create/Edit Filter dialog box opens.

   NOTE:  When you access the Create/Edit Filter dialog box from the Conditional Format tab, the dialog box shows only the options that apply to conditional formats. For example, the Operator drop-down list shows the subset of operators that are used in conditional formats.

   For information about using the Create/Edit Filter dialog box, see Using Column Filters in a Siebel Analytics Request.

   When you click OK at the Create/Edit Filter dialog box, the Edit Format dialog box appears.

3. Make your choices for font, cell, border, image, and advanced style formatting options.

   For more information, see Formatting Column Content In Siebel Answers.

   NOTE:  If you specify an image as part of the conditional formatting, it appears conditionally in the results.

4. Click OK when you are done to return to the Column Properties dialog box.
5. Click OK if you are done, or specify another condition to include.

   The Column Properties dialog box shows the condition, and the conditional formatting to apply.

   Columns are evaluated in the order that they are listed.

6. To reorder a column, click the Move Up or Move Down buttons.
7. To delete a column from the condition, click the Delete button.
8. To edit a condition or a conditional format, click it.

Example of Applying Conditional Formatting to Siebel Analytics Results

The following example describes how conditional formatting can be applied to results.

Suppose a request includes ten ranking categories, with a value of 1 in the column indicating the worst ranking, and a value of 10 indicating the best ranking. You could apply conditional formatting to show the following:

• One image to indicate a low rank for columns that contain 1, 2, or 3.
• Another image to indicate an average rank for columns that contain 4, 5, 6, or 7.
• A third image to indicate a high rank for columns that contain 8, 9, or 10.

At the Graphics dialog box, selecting the Images Only image placement option would cause the columns to appear with only images, and not the ranking numbers, in the results.