Data Functions

Data functions compute aggregate values, including averages, maximums, counts and other statistics. These functions summarize groupings of data. You can use data functions to aggregate and compute data from the server before it reaches the Results section, or compute different statistics for aggregated Results totals and report items.

The effects of data functions are most dramatic in the Query section. For example, Dollars is an item of sales transaction records for your stores in London and Madrid. You can apply a data function to this item, consolidate the data, and calculate sum totals, average sale values, number counts of individual sales records, or minimum sale values with respect to each city, once the data is retrieved to Results.

Note:

Although data functions are relatively standard, there may be additional data functions available to you in the Query section, depending on your RDBMS.

  To apply a data function, select the item or column, and choose Data Function on the Query, Pivot, Chart, Results or Table menu.

You can also select the item or column, activate the shortcut menu, point to Data Function, and select (function).

Note:

In report sections, you can apply data functions only if you select a single fact column. You can also change the way data functions are computed.

Tip:

You cannot use Data Functions in the Table section.

The following table lists the available data functions.

Function

Description

Availability

None

Returns unaggregated values as stored in the database. This is the default in Query.

Query

Sum

Returns sum of underlying values. This is the default in Results and report sections.

All

Average

Returns average of underlying values.

All

Non-Null Average

Returns average of underlying values; null values excluded.

Pivot, Chart, Report

Minimum

Returns lowest of underlying values.

All

Maximum

Returns highest of underlying values

All

Count

Returns number of underlying values.

All

CountDistinct

Returns the number of distinct values in a column. This function is not supported by all database servers.

Query

Null Count

Returns number of nulls among underlying values.

Pivot, Chart, Report

Non-Null Count

Returns number of underlying values; null values excluded.

Pivot, Chart, Report

Standard Deviation

Returns standard deviation of values. This function is not supported by all database servers.

Query

Variance

Returns variance of values. This function is available through Oracle servers only.

Query

Weight

Use for computing weighted items in Pivot reports.

Query

% of Column

Returns sum of all underlying values as a percentage of their respective surface column.

Pivot

% of Row

Returns sum of underlying values as a percentage of their respective surface row.

Pivot

% of Grand

Returns sum of underlying values as a percentage of all surface values in the report.

Pivot, Chart

% of Category

Returns group total percentage of the selected value.

Report

Increase

Calculates the increase between the previous two rows or columns.

Pivot

%Increase

Calculates the percentage increase between the previous two rows or columns.

Pivot

Title

Returns column names

Report

Tip:

Null values are empty values for which no data has been specified; null values are not equal to zero.