Creating and Applying Points of View

POV database preferences enable you to insert dimensions and members that are of interest to you into the documents of others. POV definitions must be defined and activated by database connection.

When a POV is activated, the Use Point of View option in Data Layout and the wizard are enabled. All subsequently created and loaded documents use the specified POV until it is deactivated. You can also deactivate use of POV by deselecting the Data Layout Use Point of View option as needed.

POV definitions consist of axes and dimension member selections. The definition is used when documents are created with the activated POV.

When you apply a POV definition to a document, only the dimension member selections are applied. This prevents points of view from automatically arranging non-functioning layouts (such as moving all dimensions to one axis).

If all POV member selections are custom filters, you may not see obvious changes to your document. You can check to see which POV is applied on the View Pane Information Panel tab, Point of View segment.

Using a POV definition is a three part process. First, you must create a POV definition. Next, you must activate the POV definition. Lastly, you must set a document to use the activated POV definition, or create a document that uses it.

  To create a POV and activate it:

  1. Select File, then Preferences.

    The User Preferences dialog box is displayed, with the active user or group displayed in the Active Preferences list.

  2. Click Databases.

  3. Select a database connection name, and click Edit.

    The Database Preferences dialog box is displayed.

  4. Click Connect.

    The Personal Variable and Point of View tabs are enabled.

  5. Click Point of View.

    The Point of View tab lists all currently defined POV definitions for the database connection.

  6. Click Add.

    The Point of View dialog box is displayed.

  7. Enter a name for the POV in Name.

    Use the Data Layout interface to locate dimensions from this data source on axes and make member selections.

  8. Define the POV layout, selections, and analysis tools as you would for a query.

  9. Click OK.

    The Point of View tab is displayed and the definition is listed.

  10. To activate this POV definition, select the POV name and click Activate.

  11. Click OK.

    Whenever the database connection is used, you can apply the activated POV definition in lieu of defining its member selections.

  To apply an activated POV definition to an open document:

  1. Display Data Layout:

    • Click the Navigate toolbar button.

    • Select View, then Data Layout.

      Data Layout is displayed for the current document.

  2. From the Option button list, select User Point of View.

  3. Click OK.

    The activated point of definition is applied to the current document. You must refresh the content area to display POV selections.

  4. To refresh the document, perform one:

    • Right-click the content tab for the current document and select Refresh.

    • Select View, then Refresh.

    • Press F5.

    • Right-click the data object and select Refresh Data.

      Activated POV selections are applied to the current document.