Configuring a dimension

For each Pivot Table dimension, you can configure the label for the dimension, whether to display a summary row or column for the dimension, and whether the column or row heading can be used to refine the data.

If the dimension allows cascading, then when the data is refined so that only one dimension value is displayed, the Pivot Table can be updated to use a different dimension.

When there are no more dimensions to cascade to, the Pivot Table remains on the last dimension in the cascade.

For example, a Pivot Table includes a Country dimension. The Country dimension is configured to cascade to State and then to Supplier. With this configuration:
  1. When users refine the data to only show records for the United States, the Pivot Table uses the State dimension (for states within the United States).
  2. If users then refine the data to only show records for California, the Pivot Table uses the Supplier dimension (for suppliers within California).
  3. If users then refine the data by a specific supplier, the Pivot Table displays a single row or column for the selected supplier, and the cascade stops.
Important: Some behaviors to be aware of when dealing with refinement and cascades:
  • As a general rule, if the dimension is not available in the Guided Navigation component, then on the Pivot Table, the dimension cannot be used for hierarchical refinement, and is skipped in a cascade.
  • For multi-or or multi-and dimensions, where users can refine by more than one value, then if the data is refined by any one of the dimension values, the cascade continues to the next dimension, even if there are still available values to refine by.
  • For dimensions based on managed attributes, whether the dimension can be used in a cascade is based on precedence rules and other settings in the Endeca Server. See the Oracle Endeca Server Developer's Guide for more information. These rules may cause a managed attribute in a cascade to be skipped unexpectedly, even if it is at the top of the cascade.

From the Table Layout tab of the Pivot Table edit view, to configure a dimension:

  1. Click the edit icon for the dimension you want to configure.

    The Configure Dimension dialog is displayed.


    Initial view of the Configure Dimension dialog for a Pivot Table
  2. On the edit dimension dialog, to display a summary row or column for the dimension, check the Enable dimension summaries (subtotals) checkbox.
  3. Under Summary label, by default, the summary label is "Summary", and the Use default radio button is checked.

    To provide a custom label, click the other radio button, then type the new label into the field.

  4. The Drill down behavior section is used to configure whether users can refine by the dimension values. To expand or collapse the section, click the heading.
  5. To allow the dimension values to be used for refinement, check the Enable drill down by refinement on this value checkbox.
  6. To enable and configure cascading for the dimension:
    1. Check the Enable dimension cascade for drill hierarchies checkbox.

      The cascade configuration is displayed. The current dimension is automatically at the top of the cascade.


      Initial display of the cascade configuration for a Pivot Table dimension

      A drop-down list is displayed for you to select the next dimension in the cascade.

    2. To add a new layer to the cascade, select the dimension for that layer from the drop-down list, then click Add Layer.

      The new layer is added to the end of the cascade.


      Pivot Table dimension cascade with new layer added
    3. To remove a layer from the cascade, click the delete icon next to that layer.
    4. To clear the entire cascade, click Clear Cascade.
  7. To save the dimension configuration, click Apply.