4 Dialog Reference

This chapter contains comprehensive reference information for each page in Discoverer Viewer.

"About Viewer page"

"Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)"

"Choose export type page"

"Component Disabled page"

"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"

"Create Conditional Cell Format page"

"Create Conditional Header Format page"

"Create Stoplight Format page"

"Drill page"

"Edit Parameters page"

"Error page"

"Export Ready page"

"Format Cells page"

"Format Worksheet data links page"

"Logged Out page"

"Multiple Sort page"

"PDF Ready page"

"PDF Sample Ready page"

"Preferences page"

"Printable Page Options page: Content tab"

"Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab"

"Query Canceled page"

"Query Confirmation needed page"

"Query Progress page"

"Save Warning page"

"Save Workbook As page"

"Search and Select page"

"Send Email page"

"Specify page"

"Table / Crosstab Layout page"

"Worksheet Display page"

"Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)"

"Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)"

"Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)"

"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"

"Worksheet List page"

"Worksheet Options page"


About Viewer page

This page gives a brief overview of Oracle BI Discoverer Viewer and displays the component version numbers of Discoverer Viewer, the PDF generator, and the Discoverer Server. You might use the component version numbers to determine the versions being used if any upgrades or patches are made following release.

Component Versions

Viewer

This field displays the version number of Discoverer Viewer.

PDF

This field displays the version number of the PDF generator that is used to generate PDFs through Discoverer Viewer (using the Printable page option).

Server

This field displays the version number of the Oracle BI Discoverer Server.


Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)

Use this page to select an export file format that you want to use when you export a worksheet into a specified format to send as an email attachment. When a worksheet is received as an email attachment, it can be opened in other applications.

For more information, see:

Choose export type

Use the drop down list to select the export format into which you want to export the worksheet.

Note: For additional information about exporting worksheets to different formats, see "What are the implications of using different export formats?".

For more information about how the behavior of exported worksheets depends on how helper applications (for example, MS Word, Excel) are specified in your operating system, see "Choose export type page".

Next

Use the Next button to export the worksheet to the specified format and display the "Send Email page".


Choose export type page

Use this page to select the export format that you want to use when you export a worksheet into a specified file format to open in other applications.

You can export the current worksheet in a variety of formats. The worksheet is exported exactly as it is displayed prior to export. In other words, all the drills, page items and query parameters that are defined in the worksheet are exported.

For more information, see:

"How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"

Choose export type

Use the drop down list to select the export format into which you want to export the worksheet.

Note: For additional information about exporting worksheets to different formats, see "What are the implications of using different export formats?".

Note: If you select the html export format, Discoverer automatically creates a Zip file containing the HTML file to be exported. Some SMTP servers might be configured to prevent users from sending email messages that contain Zip file attachments.

Export

Use the Export button to export the worksheet into the specified format and display the "Export Ready page".


Component Disabled page

This page displays error messages that indicate whether the Discoverer Viewer component has been disabled, or whether Discoverer Viewer has not been started or has been stopped.


Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page

Use this page to manage the conditional formats and stoplight formats that you apply to a worksheet. For example, you might want to activate a conditional format that highlights costs that are greater than 100,000.

For more information, see:

"Format Worksheet data links page"

"Create Conditional Cell Format page"

"Create Conditional Header Format page"

"Create Stoplight Format page"

<Conditional formats>

Use these lists to create, manage and edit conditional and stoplight formats.

Hint: Use the check box in the Display column to activate and deactivate a format.

Note: You can have conditional formats and stoplight formats active on the same worksheet item at the same time.

Hide data values for Stoplight Formats

Use this check box to specify whether to display worksheet values for the worksheet item that is being formatted. For example, you might select this check box, to create a worksheet that displays formatting colors but not the values themselves.

Create Stoplight Format

Use this button to display the "Create Stoplight Format page", which enables you to create a stoplight format to categorize worksheet numeric values into acceptable, desirable, and unacceptable categories.

Create Conditional Cell Format

Use this button to display the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", which enables you to create a conditional format to highlight worksheet numeric values.

Create Conditional Header Format

Use this button to display the "Create Conditional Header Format page", which enables you to create a conditional format to highlight worksheet header values.

Display

Use these check boxes to display the conditional format in the current worksheet.

Note: If multiple Display check boxes are selected (for example, when there are multiple stoplight formats or multiple conditional cell formats):

  • Discoverer Viewer first applies the stoplight formats first in the order in which they are listed.

  • Discoverer Viewer then applies conditional formats that do not conflict with the stoplight formats.

  • Where a conflict exists between conditional formats and stoplight formats, Discoverer Viewer applies the stoplight formats.

  • You can change the order in which the formats are applied by using the icons in the Move Up and Move Down columns.

Name

This read-only field displays the name of the conditional format.

Attributes

This read-only field shows what the format looks like.

Move Up

Use the move up icon in this column to move a conditional format up in the list of conditional formats. One click moves a conditional format up one row at a time. Clicking the icon in the Move Up column enables you to change the order in which the stoplight formats or other conditional formats are applied.

Move Down

Use the move down icon in this column to move a conditional format down in the list of conditional formats. One click moves a conditional format down one row at a time. Clicking the icon in the Move Down column enables you to change the order in which the stoplight formats or other conditional formats are applied.

Edit

Use this icon to display either the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", the "Create Stoplight Format page" page, or the "Create Conditional Header Format page". these pages enable you to edit the format that is selected in the <Conditional formats list>.

Delete

Use this icon to delete the selected conditional format.

Clear All Formatting

Use this button to deselect all of the Display check boxes and to remove all formatting entries that were defined using the Toolbar (for more information, see "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)").

Notes

  • If you save a workbook in Discoverer Viewer, Discoverer Viewer does not save any conditional or stoplight formatting information for future use.


Create Conditional Cell Format page

Use this page to create a conditional cell format that displays worksheet data cells in a specified format, depending on a condition that you define on this page.

For example, to format the background of worksheet data cells in blue if the item Profit SUM is greater than $10,000, you might:

  • Select Profit Sum from the Item field.

  • Select Greater Than (>) from the Operator drop down list.

  • Enter 10,000 in the Value field.

  • Select a blue color from the Background color picker.


This page is also displayed as:

Edit Conditional Cell Format page

For more information about other conditional formatting options, see:

"Format Worksheet data links page"

"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"

"Create Conditional Header Format page"

"Create Stoplight Format page"

Name

Use this field to enter a name for the conditional cell format. Discoverer Viewer generates a default name, which you can edit.

Item

Use this drop down list to select the item or measure to which you want to apply a conditional format. You must select a numeric item (for example, Profit).

Operator

Use this drop down list to select the operator (for example, >, <, =) that acts on the value specified in the Value field for the selected item or measure.

Value

Use this field to enter a value to apply to the selected item or measure. The value you enter in this field is applied to the selected item or measure, and is subject to the operator that you select. You must enter a number in this field.

Dimension

Use this read-only field to view the dimensions (for example, Year, Region, City) to which you can apply the conditional format.

Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.

Apply Format to Members

Use this read-only field to view the selected dimension members (for example, 2002, East, Boston) to which the format is to be applied.

Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.

Edit

Use this icon to display the Select <member> page where you select one or more dimension members that you want the conditional format to apply to. For example, if the member is City, you could select a specific city (for example, Paris) to apply the conditional format to that city when the condition becomes true.

Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.

Note: Instead of displaying a table of dimensions whose selections you can edit, Discoverer might display a message saying that the selections cannot be changed. Discoverer displays this message under the following circumstances:

  • When you have selected multiple ranges of cells.

    In this case, the selection is too complex to be identified by the dimension members for the cells.

  • When the crosstab is in outline mode, where a member at a higher level of a hierarchy has its own row, apart from any of its children, and you have selected one of these rows.

    For example, when a crosstab displays rows for countries and their cities. In outline mode, Japan would have its own row, and rows for Osaka and Tokyo would appear below it. When you apply a format to the Japan row, the selection is too complex to be represented by its dimension members, because there is no value for cities.

  • When the selected cells do not currently appear in the crosstab.

    For example, if a row or column for Osaka has been selected, and then you drill up so that the crosstab no longer displays cities in Japan, then the selected cells do not appear in the crosstab, and the selection cannot be edited in this page. If you drill down again in Japan, then you can edit the selection in this page

Bold

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the conditional cell format.

Italic

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the conditional cell format.

Underline

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format from the conditional cell format.

Background

Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the conditional cell format.

Font

Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the conditional cell format.

Border

Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Style

Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Line color

Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Outline, Bottom, Top, Left, Right

Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Number

This area displays different content for different number categories.

Categories

Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be displayed:

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

  • Negative Numbers

    Use this drop down list to specify a format for negative numbers. This drop down list is displayed for Number and Currency categories.

  • Decimal Places

    Use this drop down list to specify the desired number of decimal places. This drop down list is displayed for Number, Currency, and Percent categories.

  • Scale

    Use this drop down list to specify whether to abbreviate numbers. For example, when Thousands is specified in this drop down list, the value 10000 is displayed as 10. This drop down list is displayed for Number and Currency categories.

  • Currency Symbol

    Use this drop down list to select the currency symbol for cells. Setting this option does not convert one currency to another. Therefore be careful to apply the appropriate currency symbol. This field is displayed only for the Currency category.

  • Show <letter> for <Scale>

    Select this check box to identify number abbreviations to use in worksheet cells. For example, Thousands is specified in the Scale drop down list, this check box is labeled Show 'K' for Thousands If you select this check box and apply the settings, the value 10000 is displayed in Discoverer Viewer as 10K. This check box is displayed for Number and Currency categories, when Scale is set to a value other than None.

  • Use 1000 Separator

    Use this check box to display a comma after the number of thousands. For example, if the Scale is set to None and you select this check box, then the value 10000 is displayed as 10,000. This check box is displayed only for the Number category and is locale (or language) dependent.

  • Insert

    Use this drop down list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the Edit Custom Format field. This drop down list is displayed only for the Custom category.

  • Edit Custom Format

    If you are familiar with Oracle number formatting, you can enter an Oracle number format in this field. Alternatively, you can use format specifications by using the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.

Note: Only one category can be applied to a number format at a time. Only the settings in the selected category are applied.

Date

This area displays different contents for different date categories.

Categories

Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate controls. Depending on which Category you select, the following controls can be displayed:

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

  • Date Options

    Use this list to select a format for dates. This list is displayed for the Date category.

  • Time Options

    Use this list to specify a format for time values. This list is displayed for the Time category.

  • Date Time Options

    Use this list to specify a format for date and time values. This list is displayed for the Date & Time category

  • Insert

    Use this list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed for the Custom category.

  • Edit Custom Format

    If you are familiar with Oracle date formatting, you can enter an Oracle date format in this field. Alternatively, you can use format specifications by using the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.

Only one category can be applied to a date format at a time. Only the settings in the selected category are applied.

Note: This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (for example, #330033 for the color black).


Create Conditional Header Format page

Use this page to create a conditional header format that displays a header cell in a specified format depending on a condition that you define on this page.

For example, to format the header cell text of the Year column in blue if the Year is 2000, you might:

  • Select Year from the Dimension drop down list.

  • Select the Selected Calendar Year check box.

  • Move 2000 from the Available field to the Selected field.

  • Select a blue color from the Font color picker.


This page is also displayed as:

Edit Header Format page

For more information about other conditional formatting options, see:

"Create Conditional Cell Format page"

"Create Stoplight Format page"

Name

Use this field to enter a name for the conditional header cell format. Discoverer Viewer generates a default name, which you can edit.

Dimension

Use this drop down list to select the dimension (for example, Year, Region, City) to which you apply the conditional format.

Note: This field is only displayed with crosstab worksheets.

Apply format to

Use these options to specify the header values to apply the conditional header format to as follows:

  • Entire <Table/Crosstab> or Any <Dimension>

    Use this option to apply the current format to any value. For example, if the selected dimension was Region, the current format would be applied to the header in any region in the worksheet (for example, East, West, or Central).

  • Selected <Columns> or Selected <Dimensions>

    Use this option to apply the current format to one or more available values. For example, if the selected dimension is Region, the values for Region might be East, West, and Central.

Use this drop down list to select an item or measure to apply a conditional format to.

Available/Selected

The Available field shows the members in the worksheet. The Selected field shows those members to which the conditional format is to be applied.

Use these fields to move the members to and from the Available and Selected fields.

Bold

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the conditional header format.

Italic

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the conditional header format.

Underline

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format from the conditional header format.

Background

Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the conditional header format.

Font

Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the conditional header format.

Border

Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the selected header cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Style

Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Line color

Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Outline, Bottom, Top, Left, Right

Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected header cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Notes

  • This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (for example, #330033 for the color black)


Create Stoplight Format page

Use this page to create a stoplight format for a worksheet item. For example, you might want to categorize sales figures as unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable.


This dialog is also displayed as:
Edit Stoplight format page

For more information, see:

"What is a conditional format?"

"What is a stoplight format?"

"Format Worksheet data links page"

"Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page"

"Create Conditional Header Format page"

"Create Stoplight Format page"

Name

Use this field to specify a name for the stoplight format. The name you specify is used to identify the conditional format on other pages. To use the name that Discoverer Viewer has created, you use the value that exists in the field.

Thresholds

Use these fields to specify the ranges for the unacceptable and desirable categories.

  • Unacceptable

    Use this field to enter the threshold for the unacceptable category. For example, enter 5000 to treat values of 5000 or less as unacceptable.

  • Acceptable

    This read-only field is populated automatically based on the values that you enter in the Unacceptable and Desirable fields.

  • Desirable

    Use this field to enter the threshold for the desirable category. For example, enter 30000 to treat values of 30000 or more as desirable.

Color

Use these icons to display the color picker, which enables you to change the color of unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable values in all stoplight formats.

Dimension

Use this read-only field to view the dimensions (for example, Year, Region, City) to which you can apply the conditional format.

Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.

Apply Format to Members

Use this read-only field to view the selected dimension values (for example, 2002, East, Boston) to which the format is to be applied.

Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.

Edit

Use this icon to display the Select <member> page where you select one or more dimension members that you want the conditional format to apply to. For example, if the member is City, you could select a specific city (for example, Paris) to apply the conditional format to that city when the condition becomes true.

Note: This field is only displayed for crosstab worksheets.

Note: Instead of displaying a table of dimensions whose selections you can edit, Discoverer might display a message saying that the selections cannot be changed. Discoverer displays this message under the following circumstances:

  • When you have selected multiple ranges of cells.

    In this case, the selection is too complex to be identified by the dimension members for the cells.

  • When the crosstab is in outline mode, where a member at a higher level of a hierarchy has its own row, apart from any of its children, and you have selected one of these rows.

    For example, when a crosstab displays rows for countries and their cities. In outline mode, Japan would have its own row, and rows for Osaka and Tokyo would appear below it. When you apply a format to the Japan row, the selection is too complex to be represented by its dimension members, because there is no value for cities.

  • When the selected cells do not currently appear in the crosstab.

    For example, if a row or column for Osaka has been selected, and then you drill up so that the crosstab no longer displays cities in Japan, then the selected cells do not appear in the crosstab, and the selection cannot be edited in this page. If you drill down again in Japan, then you can edit the selection in this page

Apply format to

Use these options to specify the data points to apply the stoplight format to as follows:

  • All Data Points

    Use this option to apply the current stoplight format to all Data Point values.

  • Selected Data Points

    Use this option to apply the current format to one or more available Data Points. For example, if the selected data point is Profit Sum, the current format would be applied to all cells in the Profit Sum column.

Note: This field is only displayed for table worksheets.

Available/Selected

The Available field shows the Data Points in the worksheet. The Selected field shows those Data Points to which the stoplight format is to be applied.

Use these fields to move the Data Points to and from the Available and Selected fields.

Note: This field is only displayed for table worksheets.


Drill page

This page displays the information to enable you to perform a drill by specifying the drill details and applying the drill to the current worksheet.

Note: This page is not displayed when using an OLAP connection.

Hint: To display this page you use the Tab key to highlight a worksheet cell heading that has an arrow icon (that is, a drill icon) then use the Return button.

For more information, see "Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)".

From

This read-only area displays the name of the item being drilled from (for example, Product Type).

To

This area displays fields that enable you to select the Type of drill, the hierarchy and the item you want to drill to.

Type

Use this drop down list to select the Type of drill that you want to use (for example, Up/Down, Related Item).

Hierarchy

Use this drop down list to select the hierarchy that is being drilled into.

Apply

Use this drop down list to apply the drill details specified on this page and display the result of the drill in the worksheet.


Edit Parameters page

Use this page to specify parameter values. Parameter values are typically used to:

  • provide input to conditions that are used to filter worksheets (for example, when prompted to choose a month, you might enter January to analyze January data only)

  • provide input to calculations (for example, when prompted to choose a rolling average value, you might enter the number 3 to calculate a three month rolling average)

Parameters Needed

This area contains one or more fields into which you enter parameter values. Each field has a prompt (typically an instruction or question) telling you what value to enter. For example, if the prompt is 'Please choose a month', enter 'January' to analyze performance figures for January.

Note: Parameters that are required are shown with an asterisk.

To select parameters to apply to the current worksheet, you:

  • use the Go button to display the worksheet using the default parameter values currently displayed

  • use the flashlight icon to display:

    • the "Search and Select page" where you can search for and select parameter values

    • the "Specify page" (when a parameter has no associated list of values) where you can specify a search value or an appropriately positioned wildcard character (%)

  • enter a value into a text field and click the Go button

Discoverer Viewer might display an <Index and Value> drop down list for a parameter (for more information, see "About using indexes and values in parameters").

Note: You specify in Discoverer Plus whether the <Index and Value> drop down list is displayed here (for more information, see the Oracle Fusion Middleware User's Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus).

Go

Click this button to display the worksheet.

Notes

  • You can enter the following reserved words into a parameter field:

    • SYSDATE or TODAY

      Enter the reserved word SYSDATE or TODAY into a parameter field (must be of data type DATE) to display worksheet data that matches the system or today's date.

    • USER

      Enter the reserved word USER into a parameter field (must be of the same data type as the data type of the parameter) to display worksheet data that matches the current database user.

    • NULL

      Enter the reserved word NULL into a parameter field (must be of data type DATE, STRING or NUMERIC) to display worksheet data where the item that this parameter is based upon has a NULL value.

    Note that the reserved word must have the same data type as the parameter (for example, SYSDATE or TODAY can only be used with a parameter that has the data type DATE).

    Note: You can enter reserved words using upper or lowercase letters. However, you must not enter any additional text or text symbols. For example, you cannot use NULL% or 'NULL'. Discoverer would treat NULL% as a text string and not as a reserved word.

  • If a Discoverer List Of Worksheets portlet includes a worksheet that has parameters with lists of values (LOV) (where a default value is not specifed for each parameter), Discoverer displays a "404 Not Found" error when you do the following:

    1. Select the List Of Worksheets portlet link to display the worksheet in Discoverer Viewer.

    2. Click on the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" to display the parameter values from a LOV.

    To resolve this issue after launching Discoverer Viewer, run the worksheet again by pressing the Go button (you might need to enter some parameter values before pressing Go), then use the flashlight icon to display the "Search and Select page" to search for, and select parameter values from a LOV.

    Note: This issue does not arise when a default value is specified for each parameter.


Error page

This page displays text that describes the error encountered and enables you to reconnect to Discoverer using the Connect button.

Error Encountered

Connect

Use this button to reconnect to Discoverer.

Hint: You might be able to use the Back button of the Browser to display the previous page that caused Discoverer to display this error page. However, this might not resolve the problem and if not, you should use the Connect button on this page to connect to Discoverer again.


Export Ready page

This page enables you to display and save the exported document in the format that you chose in the "Choose export type page".

Click to view or save

Use this button to open the exported document in the appropriate helper application. For example, if you export a worksheet in PDF format, if you click this button Discoverer displays the exported document using Adobe Acrobat. You can then use Adobe Acrobat to view or save the exported worksheet.

The behavior that occurs after you click the Click to view or save button depends on the helper applications (for example, Adobe Acrobat, MS Word, Excel) that are specified in your operating system for different file types (that is, MIME Type settings).

Any of the following behaviors might occur after you click the Click to view or save button:

  • the worksheet opens in an application embedded in the browser

  • the worksheet opens in an application

  • the operating system displays a dialog where you can save the worksheet in the exported format

    Note: Before you can open worksheets in Discoverer Viewer, you must have made the recommended configuration settings to your operating system, browser (for example, Internet Explorer) and spreadsheet application (for example, Microsoft Excel). For more information, see "How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files".


Format Cells page

Use this page to specify font, border, and number format options for selected cells in a crosstab worksheet.

For more information about worksheet formatting, see:

"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"

"What is a conditional format?"

"What is a stoplight format?"

Bold

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the bold format from the selected worksheet cells.

Italic

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the italic format from the selected worksheet cells.

Underline

Use this drop down list to select whether to apply or remove the underline format from the selected worksheet cells.

Background

Use the color picker to select a background color to apply to the selected worksheet cells.

Font

Use the color picker to select a font color to apply to the selected worksheet cells.

Border

Use this area to select border line styles and border line color formatting for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Style

Use this drop down list to select a border line style for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Line color

Use this icon to display a color palette where you select a border line color to use for the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Outline, Bottom, top, Left, Right

Use these rows to set the border specifications to use for all the selected worksheet cells.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Number

This area displays different content for different number categories.

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

Categories

Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be displayed:

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

  • Negative Numbers

    Use this drop down list to specify a format for negative numbers. This field is displayed for Number and Currency categories.

  • Decimal Places

    Use this drop down list to specify the example that has the desired number of decimal places. This field is displayed for Number, Currency, and Percent categories.

  • Scale

    Use this drop down list to specify whether to abbreviate numbers. For example, when Thousands is specified in this drop down list, the value 10000 is displayed as 10. This field is displayed for Number and Currency categories.

  • Currency Symbol

    Use this drop down list to select the currency symbol for cells. Setting this option does not convert one kind of currency to another. You should be careful to apply the appropriate currency symbol. This field is displayed only for the Currency category.

  • Show <letter> for <Scale>

    Select this check box to identify number abbreviations to use in worksheet cells. For example, when Thousands is specified in the Scale drop down list, this check box is labeled Show 'K' for Thousands. If the you select this check box and apply the settings, then the value 10000 is displayed in Discoverer Viewer as 10K. This field is displayed for Number and Currency categories, when Scale is set to a value other than None.

  • Use 1000 Separator

    Use this check box to display a comma after the number of thousands. For example, if the Scale is set to None and you select this check box, then the value 10000 is displayed as 10,000. This field is displayed only for the Number category, and is locale (or language) dependent.

  • Insert

    Use this drop down list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed only for the Custom category.

  • Edit Custom Format

    If you are familiar with Oracle number formatting you can enter an Oracle number format in this field. Alternatively, you can use insert format specifications by using the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.

Note: Only one category can be applied to a number format at a time. Only the settings in the selected category are applied.

Date

This area displays different content for different date categories.

Categories

Use this field to select a category, and then Discoverer Viewer displays the appropriate controls. Depending on which category you select, the following controls can be displayed:

Note: This field is only displayed when you use an OLAP connection:

  • Date Options

    Use this list to select a format for dates. This field is displayed for the Date category.

  • Time Options

    Use this list to specify a format for time values. This field is displayed for the Time category.

  • Date Time Options

    Use this list to specify a format for date and time values. This field is displayed for the Date & Time category

  • Insert

    Use this list to create a custom format, and then choose Go to add the item to the Edit Custom Format field. This field is displayed for the Custom category.

  • Edit Custom Format

    If you are familiar with Oracle date formatting you can enter an Oracle date format in this field. Alternatively, you can use insert format specifications by using the Insert drop down list. This field is displayed for the Custom category.

Note: Only one category can be applied to a date format at a time. Only the settings in the selected category are applied.

Notes

  • This page uses standard keyboard navigation. If you are not using a mouse, you cannot use the color grids to select a color. Instead, enter RGB values (for example, #330033 for the color black)


Format Worksheet data links page

Use the following links to display help pages that contain information about the following Discoverer Viewer Formatting pages:


Logged Out page

This page is displayed when you click the Exit link in a worksheet and Discoverer logs you out and closes your session.

Click here to log in again

Use this link to display the Connect to Oracle BI Discoverer page where you can reconnect to Discoverer.


Multiple Sort page

This page enables you to specify how Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in worksheet columns.

First Sort, Second Sort, Third Sort

These rows determine the priority in which sorts are applied to the displayed data.

Column Header

Use the drop down list to select the column that you want to sort by.

Sort Order

Use this drop down list to select a value that determines the order in which Discoverer displays column values.

Discoverer displays different values in this drop down list depending on whether the data type of the selected Column Header is numeric or alphanumeric, as follows:

  • Ascending or Descending

    These two sort option values are displayed when the column data type is numeric (for example, Profit Sum, Year).

  • No Sort Order

    This sort option is displayed for all column data types (that is, for both numeric and alphanumeric data).

  • A-Z or Z-A

    These two sort option values are displayed when the column data type is alphanumeric (for example, Region, City).

Sort Type

Use this drop down list to select a value that determines whether Discoverer displays the Column Header data sorted in groups. For example, if you selected Group from this drop down list and Department was already selected from the Column Header drop down list, Discoverer displays data grouped by Department.

Note: Discoverer enables you to apply the Group value only when you select Group from the drop down list in the First Sort row.

Discoverer displays the following values in the drop down list:

  • Normal

    Discoverer displays data sorted by the selected Column Header.

  • Group

    Discoverer displays data in groups based on the value selected in Column Header.

Hide Column

Use this check box for Discoverer to sort the table based on the values selected, but not to display any data for this column.


PDF Ready page

This page indicates that the Portable Document Format (PDF) generation of the worksheet is complete.

Use the link on this page to display a PDF version of the entire worksheet. The PDF version was generated using the options specified on the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" and "Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab" pages. You can use the printable PDF version of the worksheet to view, print or save as a PDF file.

For more information, see:

Click to view or save

Use this link to display the printable PDF version of the worksheet.

When you display the printable PDF version of the worksheet, you can print it or save a copy as a PDF file.

Return to worksheet

Use this button to close the PDF Ready page and display the current worksheet.


PDF Sample Ready page

This page indicates that the Portable Document Format (PDF) generation of the first 50 rows of the worksheet is complete. You can use this preview PDF output to confirm that the settings you specified have produced the output you expected.

Use the link on this page to display a preview PDF version of the worksheet (based on the first 50 rows of data in the worksheet). The preview PDF is generated using the options specified on the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" and "Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab" pages. You can use the preview PDF version of the worksheet to view, print or save as a PDF file.

For more information, see:

Open PDF to view sample

Use this link to display the preview PDF version of the worksheet.

When you display the preview PDF version of the worksheet, you can print it or save a copy as a PDF file.

Printable PDF

Use this button to generate and display a printable PDF version of the entire worksheet.


Preferences page

Use this page to specify the following settings for Discoverer Viewer:

Query Governor

The Query Governor preferences enable you to set limits on the amount of time a query should take to complete. Use these preferences to limit the time you wait for Discoverer to run a query. These preferences set time and size limits on data as it is being retrieved from the database.

Warn me if predicted query time exceeds:

Select this option for Discoverer to display a message if the estimated query completion time exceeds the number of seconds that you specify here.

Prevent queries from running longer than:

Select this option for Discoverer to cancel a query that runs longer than the time specified here. Discoverer displays a message informing you if the query exceeds the specified time, then Discoverer cancels the query. Select this option if long running queries might affect server performance.

Limit retrieved query data to:

This option sets the maximum number of rows to retrieve for a query. If the database contains more rows than the number required for the query, Discoverer displays a message informing you that not all data is retrieved, and therefore the displayed data might not be complete.

Retrieve data incrementally in groups of:

Set this option when the database contains large tables with many rows that might take a long time to retrieve. With an entry made here Discoverer retrieves rows of data in increments rather than all at the same time. The smaller the number of rows to retrieve as a group, the faster the initial retrieval. The default data group size of 100 rows, equates to the first 10 pages of data at 10 rows per page. You can set the number of rows per page in the "Worksheet Display page" page.

Cancel list-of-values retrieval after:

Use this field to define the maximum time you want to wait while Discoverer retrieves the values in a list of values.

Measure Unit

PDF measure unit

Use the drop down list to select a unit of measure to display PDF files (that is, inches and centimeters).

Axis Label

Show Axis Label

Use the drop down list to select whether to display axis labels (that is, Always, Never, Worksheet) as follows:

  • Always

    Axis labels are always shown in crosstab worksheets after they are opened. The saved worksheet value is overridden.

  • Never

    Axis labels are hidden in crosstab worksheets after they are opened. The saved worksheet value is overridden.

  • Worksheet

    Axis labels are shown or hidden in crosstab worksheets depending on how they were last saved.

Summary Data

Using summary data loads data more quickly for the work you do most often. When you request data for a worksheet, Discoverer first checks summary tables set up by the Discoverer manager to see if their saved data satisfies your request and, if it does, loads the appropriate data quickly. If the summary tables' data does not satisfy your request, Discoverer then redirects the request to the rest of the database and runs the query using the data in the database.

The preferences that are available to you here depend on whether your database supports materialized views.

For databases that support materialized views, the following options are available:

Always, when available

Select this option if time-sensitive data is not important for data analysis. Discoverer Viewer retrieves and displays saved data from the materialized views regardless of whether the data is current.

Only when summary data is not out of date (stale)

Select this option when time-sensitive data is necessary for worksheets. If the data in the materialized views is out of date (stale), Discoverer Viewer does not use the materialized views to fulfill your query request. Instead Discoverer Viewer redirects your query request to the full database and uses the latest data for the worksheet.

Never

Select this option if you always want Discoverer Viewer to ignore the Summary Tables and use the latest data.

Warning: Do not use summary tables if you normally work with the most current data in the database. The saved data in the summary tables remains constant until updated with new data. summary tables should be updated periodically to incorporate new data. The Database administrator creates summary tables based on the type of data and the type of queries you use most often. Normally, summary tables are used for the queries that take a long time to aggregate and display data. Other queries that require less time to aggregate and join data might not need summary tables. See your Database administrator if you want to use summary tables.

Fan Trap Detection

A fan-trap occurs when the data items in two folders are not directly related (such as with a Customer ID), but do have a relationship based on the data items in a third folder.

Discoverer automatically detects and resolves potential fan trap queries into multiple SQL statements to obtain normal expected results. Where Discoverer cannot resolve a fan trap, Discoverer prevents the worksheet from running and displays a warning message dialog.

If you disable fan trap detection, Discoverer still detects potential fan trap configurations, and resolves them by generating the correct SQL and displaying correct worksheet data. If Discoverer cannot resolve a fan trap, it displays the worksheet data and does not display a warning message dialog. The result of disabling fan trap detection might result in a query based on an unresolvable fan trap configuration, generating potentially misleading results.

For more information about fan traps, see the Oracle Fusion Middleware User's Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus.

Enable fan-trap detection

Use this check box to enable fan trap detection.


Printable Page Options page: Content tab

Use this page to choose the content options to use for generating a Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the current worksheet.

You can also use this page to preview a preview PDF version (that is, the first 50 rows of data) or to generate a printable PDF version of the entire worksheet. Having created a PDF version, Discoverer displays either the "PDF Ready page" or the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.

For more information, see:

General Options

Use these options to specify general settings that apply to the entire worksheet.

Page items

Use these options to specify how to select page items when Discoverer displays multiple pages of data.

  • Print current selection of page items

    Use this option to generate a PDF version for the currently displayed page items.

  • Print all combinations of page items

    Use this option to generate a PDF version for all page item combinations.

    Note: If you select both this option and the Print Graph check box, Discoverer displays a different graph for each page item combination.

Show page items

Use these options to specify how to print page items when Discoverer displays multiple pages of data.

  • On the first page

    Use this option to print page items only on the first page.

  • Never

    Use this option to not print page items on any pages.

Show title

Use these options to specify how to print the worksheet title.

  • On the first page

    Use this option to print the worksheet title only on the first page.

  • Never

    Use this option to not print the worksheet title on any pages.

Show text area

Use these options to specify how to print a text area.

  • Always, when available

    Use this option to show the text area at the end of the worksheet.

  • Never

    Use this option to not show text area information.

Data

Use these options to specify how to print the worksheet data.

  • Print all rows and columns

    Use this option to print all data (including data that is currently not displayed).

  • Print only the rows and columns that are displayed in the crosstab or table

    Use this option to print only the current window of data (for example, if Discoverer Viewer is currently displaying rows 50-75 and columns 10-15, then only these rows and columns are printed).

Use the following settings to specify general options that apply to the whole worksheet.

  • Print Header

    Use this check box to specify whether to print the header.

  • Print Footer

    Use this check box to specify whether to print the footer.

Table/Crosstab Options

Use these options to specify table or crosstab settings that apply to the whole worksheet.

  • Print Table/Crosstab

    Use this check box to specify whether to print the table or crosstab.

  • Repeat header cells on every page

    Use this check box to specify whether to print repeats of header cells after each page break.

Graph Options

Use these options to specify graph settings that apply to the worksheet. Discoverer only displays these options if there is a graph.

  • Print graph

    Use this check box to specify whether to print the graph.

  • Print gradients

    Select this check box to specify whether to print the graph with gradients. A gradient is a variation in color tone that can occur across any area in a worksheet.

    Hint: Only use this setting if the printer quality is good. If the printer quality is good, gradients are more likely to be clearly visible on paper.

    Clear this check box to not print the graph with gradients.

Graph size

If you specify that you want to print the graph, specify the graph size by selecting one of the following controls.

  • Actual size

    Use this option to print the graph with the height and width that is currently specified in Discoverer Viewer.

  • Specified size

    Use this option to print the graph with a height and width that you specify.

  • Width

    Use this field to change the width of the graph.

  • Height

    Use this field to change the height of the graph.

Note: The default unit of measure (for example, centimeters, inches) used to print graphs, is configured by the Discoverer manager (for more information, see the Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer).

Preview sample

Use this button to generate a preview PDF file (based on the first 50 rows of data in the worksheet). You can display the preview PDF file to confirm that the settings you specify in this page produce the output you expect. Having created the preview PDF file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the file.

Printable PDF

Use this button to generate the PDF file. Having created the PDF file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the file.

Note: Under certain rare circumstances, printing a worksheet might require additional memory when there are many columns, even if there is a small number of rows. To work around this issue, either rotate the column axis with the row axis and try to print again, or increase the memory for the OC4J_BI_Forms JVM process, as described in Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer. For more information about changing the worksheet layout, see "How to change the layout of a worksheet".


Printable Page Options page: Page Setup tab

Use this page to choose the sizing options to use for generating a Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the current worksheet.

You can also use this page to preview a preview PDF version (that is, the first 50 rows of data) or generate a printable PDF version of the entire worksheet. Having generated a PDF version, Discoverer displays either the "PDF Ready page" or the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.

For more information, see:

Paper Setup

Use these settings to specify the paper size and page orientation for the PDF version that you use for printing.

  • Size

    Use this drop down list to choose the paper size from a list of available paper sizes.

    The paper size that you specify here is represented in the preview or printable PDF version of the worksheet that is generated. When you subsequently print the PDF version of the worksheet it appears the same as when viewed in the PDF version.

    Note: The list of available paper sizes displayed here is configured by the Discoverer manager.

Orientation

Use these options to specify the orientation for the PDF version that you use for printing.

  • Portrait

    Use this option to specify the portrait orientation for printing.

  • Landscape

    Use this option to specify the landscape orientation for printing.

Margins

Use these fields to specify the size of the page margins for the PDF version that you use for printing. Page margins define the width of the border that surrounds the area where data is printed in a worksheet page. When page margins become narrower, the area where data is printed becomes greater, enabling more data to fit into on each page

  • Top

    Use this field to specify the size of the top margin.

  • Bottom

    Use this field to specify the size of the bottom margin.

  • Left

    Use this field to specify the size of the left margin.

  • Right

    Use this field to specify the size of the right margin.

Note: The default unit of measure (for example, centimeters, inches) used to print worksheets, is configured by the Discoverer manager.

Scaling

Use this drop down list to choose the percentage amount to change the size of the worksheet relative to its original size, for the PDF version that you use for printing. For example to fit a large worksheet onto a single page you might make it smaller by using this control.

After you have specified graph and column sizes (that is, in the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" and on this page), scaling can take effect. For example, if the original graph size is specified as 4 cm by 6 cm and you want the graph size to become 2 cm by 3 cm you can choose the 50% from the list to reduce the relative size of the graph to 50% of its original size.

Column Sizes

Use these settings to change the width of the columns in your worksheet and specify whether to wrap the text when it exceeds the specified width, for the PDF version that you use for printing.

  • Column size (for example, Pixels)

    Use each field to enter a number to change the width of the corresponding column.

    Discoverer displays default values for column sizes as follows:

    If a column size was specified in Discoverer Plus, that size is displayed here.

    If no column size was specified in Discoverer Plus, the default size is calculated based on the first few hundred rows of data.

  • Always wrap text when size exceeds column width

    Select this check box to wrap text when it becomes wider than the width of a column. The default value for this check box is to be selected.

    Clear this check box to not wrap text when it becomes wider than the width of a column.

    Note: When you clear this check box and text is wider than the width of a column, Discoverer truncates the text.

Preview

Use this button to generate a preview PDF file (based on the first 50 rows of data in the worksheet). You can display the preview PDF file to confirm that the settings you specify in this page produce the output you expect. Having created the preview PDF file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Sample Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the preview PDF file.

Printable PDF

Use this button to generate the PDF file. Having created the PDF file, Discoverer displays the "PDF Ready page" from where you can view, save or print the PDF file.

Note: Under certain rare circumstances, printing a worksheet might require additional memory when there are many columns, even if there is a small number of rows. To work around this issue, either rotate the column axis with the row axis and try to print again, or increase the memory for the OC4J_BI_Forms JVM process, as described in Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer. For more information about changing the worksheet layout, see "How to change the layout of a worksheet".


Query Canceled page

This page is displayed when you cancel a query from the "Query Progress page". This page displays a text message explaining that this query has been canceled. You can rerun the query from this page.

Rerun

Use this button to rerun the query.


Query Confirmation needed page

This page is displayed when the query estimate is greater than the time set in the Warn me if predicted query time exceeds: field in the "Preferences page".

Run Now

Use this button to confirm that you want to run the query now.


Query Progress page

Discoverer displays the Query Progress page while a query is running. During this time you can view the query progress, refresh the query or cancel it.

Note: Discoverer does not display this page with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

Query Progress Indicator

When a query is running, Discoverer displays the query progress while the query either progresses or is canceled.

  • Estimated Time - The time is displayed in the format HH:MM:SS

  • Elapsed Time - The time is displayed in the format HH:MM:SS

Cancel

This button cancels the query that is currently running.

Refresh

Use this button to refresh the query. This may be necessary if your browser either does not update automatically, or is configured so that it does not update automatically.

When might Discoverer display query progress?

Query progress might be displayed when:

  • a query runs for more than two seconds

  • running a new query

  • re-running a query

  • drilling

  • changing page items

  • changing the layout


Save Warning page

This page is displayed when you modify an open worksheet (for example, drill, change worksheet options, change the visible rows and columns) and click the Exit, Connect, or Workbooks link.

Cancel

Use this button to return to the worksheet.

No

Use this button to complete the action for the link that you just clicked (that is, Exit, Connect, Workbooks), and not save the changes you made.

Yes

Use this button to complete the action for the link that you just clicked (that is, Exit, Connect, Workbooks), and save the changes you made.


Save Workbook As page

This page is displayed when you use the Save as link in the "Worksheet Display page". This page enables you to save the current workbook and all its worksheets to the database using a name that you enter.

Workbook Name

Use this field to enter a name that you want to use to save the current workbook.


Search and Select page

Use this page to search lists of values and select the values that you want. For example, when you choose a parameter that has a long list of values, you might want to search for values that begin with the letter C, and then select just the values CPM and CPN and CPO.

For more information about parameters, see:

"Edit Parameters page"

Search in

Use this drop down list (when available) to specify whether you want to display and select parameter values with or without index numbers (for more information, see "About using indexes and values in parameters").

Note: You determine in Discoverer Plus whether the <Index and Value> drop down list is displayed here (for more information, see the Oracle Fusion Middleware User's Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Plus).

Search by

Use this drop down list to specify how you want to match values. For example, choose Starts With and enter 'T' as a Search for value to list only items beginning with the letter 'T'.

Search for

Use this field to enter the text that you want to match against. For example, enter 'T' here and choose Starts With in the Search by drop down list to list only items beginning the letter 'T'.

Go

Use this button to start the search according to the search criteria that you have specified and display matching values in the Available values list below. If you click Go when the Search for field is empty, the first group of values in the list is displayed.

Case Sensitive

Use this check box to specify whether you want to match upper and lowercase letters exactly when searching (for example, when selected, the search term 'New York' would find 'New York', but would not find 'NEW YORK', 'new york', or 'new York').

Available Values

This list displays values that match the search criteria that you have specified, or values displayed by default when the dialog is first displayed. Use this list to choose values that you want to select. To choose values, move values from the Available Values list to the Selected Values list.

Note: You can select multiple values by pressing the Ctrl key and clicking another value.

Selected Values

Use this list to see which values are currently selected. To deselect values, move values from the Selected values list to the Available values list.

Previous

Use this button to display the previous set of values, if the list of values is longer than the window.

Next

Use this button to display the next set of values, if the list of values is longer than the window.


Send Email page

Use this page to send an exported worksheet as an attachment to an email message. The worksheet are sent in the file format that you selected in the "Choose export type page" page.

For more information, see:

"How to configure a client machine to automatically open exported Excel files"

"What are the implications of using different export formats?"

"Choose export type page"

Sender

Use this field to enter the email address details of the sender.

Recipient

Use this field to enter the email address details of the recipient.

CC

Use this field to enter the email address details of any recipients that you want to include in your c.c. list.

BCC

Use this field to enter the email address details of any hidden recipients that you want to include in your b.c.c. list.

Subject

Use this field to enter the text that is displayed in the subject line of the email message.

Body

Use this field to enter the email message text.

View Attachment

Use this field to display the worksheet details in whatever export format you specified in the "Choose export type page".

Finish

Use this button to send the email message to the specified recipients.


Specify page

Use this page (when no list of values is associated with a parameter) to automatically determine the display position of the wildcard character (%) with a specified parameter value in the Parameters Needed field on the "Edit Parameters page". For example, to specify all parameter values that begin with the letter C, you would select 'Starts with' from the Search by field, enter C into the Search for field and press Go.

For more information about parameters, see:

"Edit Parameters page"

Search by

Use this drop down list to specify how to match parameter values. For example, choose Contains from the Search by drop down list, and enter C in the Search for field to specify parameter values that contain the letter 'C'. Available values to search by are as follows:

  • Contains

    Use this option to add the wildcard (%) before and after the text string entered in the Search for field. For example, %C%.

  • Starts with

    Use this option to add the wildcard (%) after the text string entered in the Search for field. For example, C%.

  • Ends with

    Use this option to add the wildcard (%) before the text string entered in the Search for field. For example, %C.

  • Is Exactly

    Use this option to not add the wildcard to the text string entered in the Search for field. For example, C.

Search for

Use this field to enter the text string to match against. For example, enter 'C' here and choose Starts With in the Search by drop down list to find parameters that begin with the letter 'C'. Note that this field is case sensitive.

Go

Use this button to display the text string that you entered along with an appropriately positioned wildcard character (%) in the Parameters Needed field in the "Edit Parameters page". If you click Go when the Search for field is empty, then an empty string is displayed in the Parameters Needed field.


Table / Crosstab Layout page

This page is displayed when you click the Layout and More links at the top of a worksheet.

This page enables you to rearrange items on a table or crosstab using either the Layout tool or the arrow icons. This page also enables you to specify whether to show or hide page items.

Layout

The Layout tool enables you to rearrange table or crosstab items using the drop down lists.

Use the drop down lists to select values that determine whether to move a selected table or crosstab item or swap one item with another, and where and what to move or swap. You can continue to move or swap table or crosstab items using the drop down lists until you have achieved an acceptable table or crosstab layout.

For more information about using the drop down lists on this page, see the description under the Layout heading in "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".

Show Page Items

Use this check box to show or hide page items in the worksheet.

<Arrow icons>

Use the arrow icons as an additional method of rearranging worksheet items.

Discoverer Viewer displays the arrow icons in a sample layout that indicates the relative positions of worksheet page items, column headers, and rows when you have made changes to the table or crosstab layout.

Use the arrow icons to do the following (for both tables and crosstabs):

  • move a page item to a column

  • move a column to a page item

  • move a column to the right or to the left of the adjacent column

Use the arrow icons to do the following (for crosstabs only):

  • move a page item to a row

  • move a page item to a column

  • move a measure (for example, Profit Sum, Cost) to a page item

  • move a measure (for example, Profit Sum) to a row

  • move a measure (for example, Profit Sum) to below the adjacent column

  • move a column to a row

  • move a column to above the adjacent column

  • move a column to below the adjacent column

When you are satisfied with the layout of your table or crosstab, click Apply to display the table or crosstab using the settings you have just specified.


Worksheet Display page

This page displays the worksheet data.

Use this page to work with worksheet data and graphs (for example, to save, print, export and email worksheets and graphs, change the layout, and apply formatting). This page also enables you to select other worksheets to display from the current workbook.

For more information, see:

For more information about the links, tools, and controls displayed on this page, use the links below.

"Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)"

"Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)"

"Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)"

"Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)"


Worksheet Display page: (Actions and Worksheet links)

Discoverer displays the following links on each worksheet page:

Actions

Use the following links to perform actions in the current worksheet:

  • Rerun Query

    Use this link to query the database and display the data for the current worksheet. This action does not undo any changes made to the worksheet that have not yet been saved.

    Note: This link is not displayed for worksheets created using OLAP connections. To query the database for worksheets created using OLAP connections, you must open the worksheet again.

  • Save

    Use this link to save the current worksheet to the database. This link is only displayed if you own the workbook.

  • Save as

    Use this link to save the current worksheet to the database using a different name.

  • Revert to saved

    Use this link to query the database and revert all changes made to the worksheet that occurred since the last time the worksheet was saved to the database. For example, if you drill into the worksheet and then apply a cell format, the Revert to saved link would undo both these changes.

  • Printable page

    Use this link to display the "Printable Page Options page: Content tab" where you to can set appropriate print options and generate and preview a PDF version of the current worksheet for printing.

  • Export

    Use this link to export the current worksheet for users to open using other applications. Several different formats are available.

    For more information, see "Choose export type page".

  • Send as email

    Use this link to send the current worksheet as email, by exporting it to a specified format and then sending it as an attachment to a specified recipient.

    For more information, see "Choose attachment type (send as email attachment)".

  • Link layout

    Use this link to link the layout of a graph with a crosstab. For example, if you select this link, subsequent layout changes made to a crosstab can be displayed in the graph.

    Note: This link is only displayed for worksheets that are created using OLAP connections.

  • Unlink layout

    Use this link to unlink the layout of a graph with a crosstab. For example, if you select this link, subsequent layout changes made to a crosstab are not displayed in the graph.

    Note: This link is only displayed for worksheets that are created using OLAP connections.

  • Worksheet options

    Use this link to display the "Worksheet Options page", where you can select display options to use in worksheets. For example, whether to display or hide the worksheet title.

Worksheets

Use these links to display another worksheet from the current workbook.


Worksheet Display page: (Graph tools)

You can use the following graph tools in a worksheet:

Graph

Use the arrow icon to display or hide worksheet graph data.

Tools

Use the arrow icon to display or hide worksheet graph tools.

Layout

Use this tool to rearrange the layout of the worksheet graph data.

Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

Use the drop down lists to:

  • move a worksheet item to a specified position on the worksheet

    Use the Move option from the first drop down list, select the item that you want to move from the second drop down list, and select the location to move the item to using the third drop down list.

  • swap worksheet items, rows, columns or page items with one another

    Use the Swap option from the first drop down list, select a worksheet item, row, column, or page item from the second drop down list, and select an option to swap with from the third drop down list.

Sort

Use this tool to sort the graph data based on selected criteria in a worksheet. The changes made here do not affect settings made by the Table/Crosstab sort tool.

Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • Sort

    Use this drop down list to select the values that you want to use to sort the worksheet data.

  • Based on

    Use this drop down list to select a item or measure on which to base the sort order for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.

  • For

    Use this drop down list to specify the dimension members to use when sorting based on measure values.

    Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • Order

    Use this drop down list to select a sort order for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.

  • Go

    Use this button to apply the sort settings in the current worksheet.

  • More

    Use this link to display the "Multiple Sort page", where you can specify how Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in multiple worksheet columns.

    Note: This link is not displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

Graph

Use this tool to select the graph type and specify how the graph is displayed as follows:

  • Type

    Use the first drop down list to select the graph type (for example, Pie).

    Use the second drop down list to select the graph subtype (for example, Multiple Pie).

  • Width

    Use this field to change the display width of the graph. If you change the width, Discoverer scales the graph height maintaining the height-to-width aspect ratio.

  • 3D Effect

    Use this check box to give the graph the appearance of depth.

  • Gradient

    Use this check box to display the chart using a graded shading effect.

Saved Selections

Use this tool to apply a previously saved selection to a dimension that is displayed in the worksheet graph.

Note: This tool is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • Dimension

    Use this drop down list to select the dimension to which you want to apply a saved selection.

  • Action

    Use this drop down list to specify whether to add, keep, remove, or replace the members from the specified saved selection, as described in the following list.

    • Add

      Adds the members from the specified saved selection to the current selection.

    • Keep

      Keeps the members from the specified saved selection that were present in the current selection and discards all other members.

    • Remove

      Removes from the current selection any members that are specified in the saved selection.

    • Replace with (Default value)

      Replaces the current selection with new members from the specified saved selection.

  • Saved Selection

    Use this drop down list to select the saved selection that you want to use.

  • Go

    Use this button to apply the saved selection to the dimension in the worksheet.

Data

Use this tool to include in the graph either all the data in the worksheet, or just the rows and columns that are currently being displayed.

Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • All data

    Use this option to include in the graph all the worksheet data.

  • Displayed data

    Use this option to include in the graph only worksheet data from the rows and columns that are currently being displayed in the worksheet. For example, if Discoverer Viewer is currently displaying rows 50 to 75 and columns 10 to 15, only the data in these currently displayed rows and columns is included in the graph.

  • Go

    Use this button to apply the settings to the graph in the current worksheet.


Worksheet Display page: (Page level tools and controls)

You can use the following controls and tools in a worksheet page:

<Hide/Show arrow icons>

Use the Hide/Show arrow icons to hide or show information in the current worksheet. For example, click the arrow next to the word Crosstab to show (or hide) the crosstab. For more information, see "Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)".

<Parameter tools>

If the worksheet uses parameters, the following controls are available:

  • Parameters

    Use the arrow icon to display or hide the current parameter values.

  • <flashlight icon>

    Use the flashlight icon to display:

    • the "Search and Select page" where you can search for and select parameter values to apply to the worksheet. Click Go to apply the changes.

    • the "Specify page" (when a parameter has no associated list of values) where you can specify a search value or an appropriately positioned wildcard character (%). Click Go to apply the changes.

    For more information about parameters, see the "Edit Parameters page".

Page Items

Discoverer displays page item selectors above each view of the worksheet data (for example, crosstab, graph). The page item selectors enable you to select items to apply to the whole worksheet (for example, if the Page Items list displays departments, select a department from the list to display data for the selected department).

Use the drop down list to choose a page item value to apply to a worksheet.

Note: To avoid the possibility of displaying unexpected results in a Viewer worksheet, each page item in the worksheet should display a different name.

Up/Down links

Use these links to display worksheet pages where Discoverer returns more rows than it can display in one page of data.

Use the drop down list to select a value that determines how to display subsequent worksheet rows. For example, if you selected the value 3 rows, Discoverer Viewer would display the next 3 rows of data.

Left/Right links

Use these links to display worksheet pages where Discoverer returns more columns than it can display in one page of data.

Use the drop down list to choose a value that determines how to display subsequent worksheet columns. For example, if you selected the value 3 columns, Discoverer Viewer would display the next 3 columns of data.

<Drill arrow icons>

Discoverer Viewer enables you to drill into items to display additional data.

Use the drill arrow icons to display lower or higher levels of detail when using relational and OLAP connections as follows:

  • When using a connection to a relational data source, use a drill arrow icon to display a popup drill menu from where you can choose one of the following drill options:

    • Collapse

      Use this option to drill up and hide the drill items displayed at this level of the drill hierarchy. Collapse also hides all drill items from lower levels in the drill hierarchy.

    • All Hierarchies

      Use this popup menu to display a further popup menu of all the hierarchies created in the current business area (for example, a date hierarchy). You can choose a hierarchy and then choose the hierarchy item you want to display in the worksheet.

    • Drill to Related

      Use this popup menu to drill to related items from folders in the current business area that are not included in the worksheet.

    If you are not using a mouse you can navigate to the drill arrow icons using the tab key. When you press enter the "Drill page" is displayed. Use the Drill page to review the drill options and apply a new drill.

  • When using a connection to an OLAP data source, use a drill arrow icon to drill up or down the drill hierarchy to display different levels of detail as follows:

    • Expand

      Use this option to drill down to display data at the next level in the drill hierarchy.

    • Collapse

      Use this option to drill up and hide data from the current level in the drill hierarchy, and from all lower levels in the drill hierarchy.

    If you are not using a mouse you can navigate to the drill arrow icons using the tab key. When you press Enter, Discoverer drills up or down depending on the following conditions:

    • If the currently highlighted drill arrow icon has not been expanded to a lower level of detail, Discoverer Viewer drills down to display data at the next level down in the drill hierarchy.

    • If the currently highlighted drill arrow icon has been expanded to a lower level of the drill hierarchy, then Discoverer Viewer hides the data at this level and all lower levels.

About drilling out to view files created in other applications

Use the drill-out icon in a data cell to view files created in other applications. For example, clicking the symbol for a MS Word file launches MS Word within the browser and displays the file.


Worksheet Display page: (Table/Crosstab tools)

When a query has run, Discoverer displays the worksheet data as either a table or a crosstab, depending on how the worksheet was created:

  • A table arranges items in columns. Items appear as column headings along the top axis. A table is typically used to list all information that fits the query criteria (for example, sales transactions for the last month).

    Note: Tables are only displayed in worksheets that use relational data.

  • A crosstab arranges items or measures in rows and columns. A crosstab is typically used to display summary information and shows how one item or measure relates to another (for example, sales by region by month).

    Note: Crosstabs can be displayed in worksheets that use both OLAP and relational data.

Table/Crosstab

Use the arrow icon to display or hide table or crosstab data.

Tools

Use the arrow icon to display or hide the table or crosstab tools (does not affect the worksheet page navigation tool).

Discoverer provides the following table/crosstab tools:

Layout

Use this tool to rearrange the layout of the worksheet data.

Use the drop down lists to:

  • move a worksheet item to a specified position on the worksheet

    Use the Move option from the first drop down list, select the item that you want to move from the second drop down list, and select the location to move the item to using the third drop down list.

  • swap worksheet items, rows, columns or page items with one another

    Use the Swap option from the first drop down list, select a worksheet item, row, column, or page item from the second drop down list, and select an option to swap with, from the third drop down list.

Use the More link to display the "Table / Crosstab Layout page", which enables you to rearrange the layout of worksheet data.

Format

Use this tool to format selected worksheet data cells.

  • <bold>, <italic> and <underline> buttons

    Use these buttons to apply bold, italic and underline formats to the selected worksheet cells.

  • Number

    Use this field to select a number format from the drop down list, to format the data in the worksheet (for example, currency, percentages).

    Use the Go button to apply the number formatting to the selected cells.

  • Background

    Use the icon to display the color picker where you select a background color.

    Use the Go button to apply the background color to the selected cells.

  • Font

    Use the icon to display the color picker where you select a font color.

    Use the Go button to apply the font color to the selected worksheet text.

  • More

    Use this link to display the "Format Cells page" where you specify format options for selected crosstab worksheet cells.

  • Create Conditional Format

    Use this link to display the "Create Conditional Cell Format page", where you can create a conditional format to highlight worksheet values.

  • Conditional Formats

    Use this link to display the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page", where you can create, edit and delete conditional formats for the data in the worksheet.

Stoplight

Use this tool to define a stoplight format to categorize data for the current worksheet. Discoverer can apply one of three stoplight colors to worksheet data depending on the value of the data. The stoplight colors represent unacceptable, acceptable, and desirable data ranges.

  • Format

    Use this field to specify what to apply the stoplight format to (for example, selected cells, all worksheet cells).

  • Unacceptable

    Use this field to enter a value that specifies the unacceptable values of the stoplight range. When the value of worksheet data is less than or equal to this value, Discoverer displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon. To change the color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon and select a new color from the color palette.

  • Acceptable

    Discoverer determines this range as falling between the unacceptable and desirable values. When worksheet data values falls within this range, Discoverer displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon. To change the color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon and select a new color from the color palette.

  • Desirable

    Use this field to enter a value that specifies the desirable values of the stoplight range. When the value of worksheet data is greater than or equal to this value, Discoverer displays the data in the color displayed in the color picker icon. To change the color displayed in the color picker icon, click the color picker icon and select a new color from the color palette

  • Go

    Use this button to apply the stoplight settings for the specified data values in the current worksheet.

  • Conditional Formats

    Use this link to display the "Conditional Formats (Table/Crosstab) page", where you can create, edit and delete conditional formats for the data in the worksheet.

Sort

Use this tool to sort the worksheet data based on selected criteria in a worksheet.

Note: This tool is displayed with table worksheets and with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • Sort

    Use this drop down list to select the values that you want to use to sort the worksheet data.

  • Based on

    Use this drop down list to select a item or measure on which to base the sort order for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.

    Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • For

    Use this drop down list to specify the dimension members to use when sorting based on measure values.

    Note: This option is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • Order

    Use this drop down list to select a sort order for the values that you selected in the Sort drop down list.

  • Go

    Use this button to apply the sort settings in the current worksheet.

  • More

    Use this link to display the "Multiple Sort page", where you can specify how Discoverer Viewer sorts the data displayed in multiple worksheet columns.

    Note: This link is not displayed for worksheets created using OLAP connections.

Saved Selections

Use this tool to apply a previously saved selection to a dimension that is displayed in the worksheet.

Note: This tool is only displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections.

  • Dimension

    Use this drop down list to select the dimension to which you want to apply a saved selection.

  • Action

    Use this drop down list to specify whether to add, keep, remove, or replace the members from the specified saved selection, as described in the following list.

    • Add

      Adds the members from the specified saved selection to the current selection.

    • Keep

      Keeps the members from the specified saved selection that were present in the current selection and discards all other members.

    • Remove

      Removes any members from the current selection that are specified in the saved selection.

    • Replace with (Default value)

      Replaces the current selection with new members from the specified saved selection.

  • Saved Selection

    Use this drop down list to select the saved selection that you want to use.

  • Go

    Use this button to apply the saved selection to the dimension in the worksheet.

Rows and Columns

Use this tool to set the number of rows and columns you want to display on each page. This setting only applies to the current worksheet.

  • Rows

    Use this field to set the maximum number of rows of data that Discoverer displays on a page.

  • Columns

    Use this field to set the maximum number of columns of data that Discoverer displays on a page.

  • Go

    Use this button to apply the numbers of rows and columns that you want to display on each page in the current worksheet.

|<< < Page x of y > >>| <worksheet page navigation>

Use this tool to navigate through worksheet pages, when multiple pages of data are returned. View pages by clicking the buttons or the Page x of y link as follows:

  • |<< - <Go to first page>

    Use this button to display the first page.

  • < - <Go to previous page>

    Use this button to display the previous page.

  • Page x of y

    Use this link to display the Go to page field, where you enter a page number, and then click Go to display the specified page.

    Note: In the Page x of y link, the letter x represents the number of the currently displayed page, and the letter y represents the total number of pages.

  • > - <Go to next page>

    Use this button to display the next page.

  • >>| - <Go to last page>

    Use this button to display the last page.

  • Go to page

    Use this field to enter the number of the page that you want to display.

    Note: This field is displayed below the worksheet.

  • Go

    Use this button to display the page number that you entered in the Go to page field.

    Note: This button is displayed below the worksheet.

Note: This tool is only displayed when the pageNavigation setting is set to True (using the Oracle Fusion Middleware Control MBean Browser). For more information, see Oracle Fusion Middleware Configuration Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer.


Worksheet List page

This page enables you to search for and select a worksheet to display, from the list of available workbooks. A workbook contains worksheets that display related data, but combined using different perspectives. For example, a workbook may show the sales history for Product A. However, one worksheet could show sales for last month, another worksheet could show sales compared to the same month five years ago, and another could show sales per region. All three worksheets contain sales data related to Product A, but each is organized to show a different perspective.

For more information, see:

Search

You can select workbooks either from a list of available database workbooks or from a list of scheduled workbooks that have run (scheduled workbooks are not available for OLAP connections).

Use the Search drop down list to display the available Database Workbooks or Scheduled Workbooks.

  • Database Workbooks

    Discoverer queries the database to display the latest data, and the results are not stored.

  • Scheduled Workbooks (not available with OLAP connections)

    Discoverer has run the query at a predetermined time and the results have been stored in the database.

Use the Search field to refine the list of workbooks to display in the Result List. Enter partial or full details for any matching workbook names you want to display and click the Go button. The Search field is case insensitive.

Note: Wildcards such as " * ? % " and so on are unnecessary and should not be used in the search.

Result List

The list of workbooks displayed in this area includes workbook names that match the details entered in the Search field.

Expand All/Collapse All

Use these links to display or hide all workbook and worksheet details.

Use the Expand link to display workbook and worksheet details for all workbooks.

Use the Collapse All link to hide workbook and worksheet details for all workbooks.

Discoverer Workbooks

Use this link to display all Discoverer workbooks.

Note: Discoverer only displays this link after you use the target icon in the Focus column to display the details of a specific workbook (for more information, see the Focus column).

Focus

Use the target icon to hide details for all folders/workbooks except the one selected.

Name

Use the arrow icons to display or hide workbook and worksheet details.

Use a link in the Name column to display a worksheet.

Description

This column displays the description of the workbook.

Owner

This column displays the name of the owner of the workbook.

Last modified

This column displays the date that the workbook was last modified.


Worksheet Options page

This page enables you to change some settings related to the current worksheet.

Display Options

Title

Use this check box to display the title in the worksheet.

Table/Crosstab

Use this check box to display the table or crosstab data in the worksheet (displayed with Oracle Applications or relational database connections).

Use this option to display the crosstab data (displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections).

Graph

Use this check box to display the graph in the worksheet (displayed with Oracle Applications or relational database connections).

Use this option to display the graph in the worksheet (displayed with worksheets created using OLAP connections).

Both

Use this option to display the graph and the crosstab data in the worksheet (only displayed with OLAP connections).

Text Area

Use this check box to display the text area in the worksheet.

Sheet Options

Show axis labels

Use this check box to display crosstab header labels in the worksheet.

Show null values as

Where no data is returned for a field in a worksheet you can define here how the data is displayed. For example, if you enter 'Zero' in this field, worksheets display the word 'Zero' where no data is returned.

Show values that cannot be aggregated as:

When a worksheet tries to aggregate an item that cannot be aggregated (for example Rank), you can define here how the data is displayed. For example, if you enter 'N/A' in this field, worksheets display the text 'N/A' where the data cannot be aggregated.