Creating Control Points

A Control Point is a report that identifies a control target, such as cashier, store, or item, and defines a threshold consisting of a single metric with an applied condition. When you run the control point, it creates results that exceed the threshold. Those results are called Exceptions. The control point can only include a single base metric, but additional (alternate) thresholds can be created for different Regions, Stores, Job Codes, etc. You can also include a report filter, add alert conditions and specify the number of days to look back into the data to calculate the exception history.

To create a control point:

From the Exceptions menu, choose Create Control Point, or from My Controls or Shared Controls, click the Create Control Point icon. Either action creates a control point.
Select a control target from the Control Target drop-down list.
Under Thresholds, define the default control point threshold to apply against the control target.

Click the Edit icon above the Default threshold field. This displays the Edit Default Threshold window.
Select a metric from the left panel and double click on it or drag it to the right panel. This will be the base metric used for the control point.
Select an operator from the drop-down list.
Enter a value in the next field.
Click the Apply icon to apply the control point threshold.
Click OK. This saves the threshold and returns you to the control point creation page.

Optionally, create an Alternate Threshold. Click the Add button above the Alternate threshold field. This displays the Add Threshold window populated with the default threshold. Then follow steps b-f above to create the alternate threshold.

Alternate thresholds provide the ability to use a different threshold or calculation for targets that meet a defined attribute qualification. For example, alternate thresholds can be defined for Region = East or Job Code = Part Time. You can add one or more attribute qualifications to the alternate threshold to determine when the alternate threshold should be applied.

Notes:

The alternate thresholds will be applied in order of priority, from the top down. The priority can be controlled using the up and down arrows. For the targets that do not meet any of the alternate thresholds defined, the default threshold will be used.
The base metric used in the default threshold cannot be changed in the alternate thresholds. If the base metric is changed in the default threshold, it will take effect in the alternate thresholds as well.
For the alternate threshold, you can only add an attribute to the default threshold, for example specifying a store or region.
You can create an advanced threshold using a combination of functions, metrics, and attributes.
You can click the Remove icon to remove a threshold condition

For more comprehensive information on control thresholds see: Creating Control Thresholds.

Create a report filter to limit the data evaluated for exceptions. This step is optional.

Click the Edit icon above the Report Filter box. This displays the Edit Report Filter window.
Select a metric or attribute from the left panel and double click on it or drag it to the right panel.
If creating a qualifying filter select the Qualify button, select an operator from the drop-down list, and enter a value in the next field. OR:
If creating a list (attributes only), click the Select button, select an attribute from the Available panel and double click on it or drag it to the Selected panel.
Click Apply to apply the filter.
Click OK. This saves the filter and returns you to the control point creation page.

Under Alerts, specify an alert condition and classification. This step is optional.

Select the check box next to Create an Alert if there are more than ___ occurrences. This specifies the number of repeat history exceptions that need to occur first. On the next occurrence, an alert is triggered.
Specify the number of occurrences.
Select an Alert Classification from the drop-down list. Alert classifications are maintained in Project Defaults.

Under History enter the number of days to check back in history. The History setting is used to calculate the number of previous exceptions.
Click Save.

To save a control point:

Click Save after creating a control point (see preceding task). This displays a Save As dialog.
Select a folder from the Save in drop-down list. Select My Controls to save it to the folder of control points you have created, or any other that you want to be able to access in this folder. Select Shared Controls if you want other users to have access to it, depending on their permissions.
Enter a name for the control point in the Name field. You can also add a description of it in the Description field.
Click OK. This saves the control point. Once the control point is saved, you have the option to navigate directly to the folder in which in the control point was saved.
If you want to go to the folder, click the Return to folder where Control Point was saved button. From this folder, you can add links, run or schedule the control point.

To edit a control point:

Important: You can make certain edits to a control point, such as modifying the thresholds or alert conditions, but they will only take effect for future executions. However, you cannot change the control target or the base metric used in the control point when there are existing exception results.

From the Exceptions menu, choose My Controls or Shared Controls.
Locate the control point you want to edit. Depending on the folder view, click the Edit link under the control point or the Edit icon on the right side of the control point row. This displays the details of the selected control point.
Make the necessary changes. Refer to the steps for creating a control point for specific instructions.
Click Save to save the changes. You can overwrite the original control point by saving it with the same name in the same folder, or you can save it under a different name or in a different folder to make a modified copy. Refer to the steps for saving a control point for specific instructions.

To delete a control point:

Important: Deleting a control point will delete the existing exception results for all assigned users. Any subscriptions for the control point will also be deleted. A control point cannot be deleted if it is used in the definition of a control group. It must be removed from the control group before it can be deleted.

Locate the control point you want to delete in the My Controls or Shared Controls folder.
Right click on the control point name, and choose Delete from the context menu. A warning message is displayed, informing you that deleting the control point will delete all the existing exception results and that the action cannot be undone.
Click OK in the warning dialog box. This deletes the control point.