Using PS/nVision-Defined Names

This section describes the names that PS/nVision defines and looks up in layout and instance files. Many of these names are used for internal purposes, but several, such as NvsEndTime, are intended for users.

Warning! The values of these names, except for rare exceptions, are managed by PS/nVision and are not intended to be changed by customers. It's much safer to think of them as read-only. The names whose values you may change are indicated in italics in the following table. Never change the value of the names not highlighted in italics.

Note: Some names are used only in matrix or tabular layouts, but many apply to both as listed in the Sheet Type column. The Level column indicates whether the name is defined at the file (workbook) level or at the sheet level. Some strings begin with V to avoid problems if the string was null. Names of this type show V at the beginning of the Values column.

Name	Sheet Type	Level	Values	Comments
NvsDateToNumber	Both	File	Y/N	`Y` indicates to convert database dates (for example, the %ASD% variable) to the Excel native date format. Default `N.`
NvsDrillHyperLink	Both	File	URL string	Stores the static part of the DrillDown URL. PS/nVision generates a DrillDown URL for each drillable cell in the delivery instance to invoke the Run DrillDown page. The full URL stores the information about the Run DrillDown page (static) and location of the drillable cell (dynamic).
NvsElapsedTime	Both	File	Excel date/time	Indicates the elapsed time to produce this instance. To see this elapsed time in the instance, enter the formula `=NvsElapsedTime` in a cell and format the cell with a time format.
NvsEndTime	Both	File	Excel date/time	Indicates the time this instance was saved. To see this time in the instance, enter the formula `=NvsEndTime` in a cell and format the cell with a date or date/time format.
NvsHiddenSheet	Both	Sheet	Y	Used on hidden layout sheets only to enable data retrieval on the sheet. By default, nVision will not process hidden layout sheets.
NvsInstanceHook	Both	Sheet	Reference	Indicates the name or reference of the macro to be run on completion of the instance.
NvsLayoutType	Both	Sheet	M3	Indicates the layout version (unchanged for several years).
NvsParentRef	Both	File	Reference	Stores the reference of the cell from which this instance drilled down.
NvsSheetType	Both	Sheet	M/T	`M` = matrix, `T` = tabular, `undefined` = non-layout.
NvsASD	Both	File	Vyyyy-mm-dd	Stores the as of date from the report request.
NvsAutoDrillOk	Matrix	File	Y/N	Indicates whether this instance includes a PeopleSoft Query data source; this controls whether the AutoDrill menu appears.
NvsDefaultDrill	Matrix	File	layout[,D]	In layout, specifies default DrillDown layout for NvsAutoDrill (usually associated with double-click). Appending `D` to the layout name causes PS/nVision to translate summary ledgers to detail for this layout, without asking the user. For example, NvsDefaultDrill might be defined as =`ActPer,D.`
NvsTranslateLedger	Matrix	File	Y/N	Indicates whether the DrillDown is within a summary ledger `(N)` or detail ledger `(Y).`
NvsInstSpec	Both	File	Criteria string	Specifies the instance criteria. An instance for a division might look like `%,FDEPTID, TMFG_ DEPARTMENTS, NPRODUCTS.` On a DrillDown instance, it may also include TimeSpan and other criteria.
NvsInstSpec1 … NvsInstSpec9	Both	File	Criteria string	ContinuesNvsInstSpec. This enables PS/nVision (beginning in PeopleTools 8.1) to handle larger strings of instance criteria despite the Excel limitation of 255 characters per defined name. Because null strings cause problems, PS/nVision defines unused criteria continuations as a single comma, =",".
NvsNplSpec	Matrix	File	Criteria string	Specifies nPlosion Options, from nPlosion Options dialog box. Contains the default nPlosion fields, as well as zero-suppression options, for rows and columns.
NvsPanelBusUnit	Both	File	Vbusunit	Indicates the business unit used for prompting when designing a layout. Trees can be keyed by either setID or SETCNTRLVALUE, and PS/nVision supports the use of business unit as SETCNTRLVALUE. This value is entered on the Prompt dialog box and used only during layout design to retrieve trees keyed by Business Unit. When running reports, PS/nVision uses either the requesting business unit or its designated setID as the key for a given tree.
NvsPanelEffdt	Both	File	Vyyyy-mm-dd	Indicates the layout effective date (governs prompting). Entered on the Prompt dialog box.
NvsPanelSetid	Both	File	Vsetid	Indicates the setID used for prompting while entering layout criteria.
NvsReqBU	Both	File	Vbusunit	Stores the requesting business unit from the report request.
NvsReqBUOnly	Both	File	VY/VN	Stores the Data from Requesting Business Unit only option from the report request.
NvsSkipDetailStyle	Both	File	0/1	The value `0` indicates that nPloded details appear in the format applied using the nPlosion style sheet. The value `1` indicates that nPloded details ignore the nPlosion style sheet applied to the report layout, and take their style attributes from the Microsoft Excel formatting.
NvsTransLed	Matrix	File	VY/VN	Indicates whether summary ledgers were translated to detail when producing this instance. Used during DrillDown to know whether inherited criteria are already translated.
NvsTreeASD	Matrix	File	Vyyyy-mm-dd	Stores the tree as of date from the report request.
NvsTree.treename	Matrix	Sheet	yyyyy	Indicates tree performance options for a tree name. Each character is a Y/N option corresponding to an option on the Tree Performance Options dialog box, in sequence.
NvsValTbl.fieldname	Matrix	File	Record name	In a layout, identifies the record name of the value table from which values and labels come for a criteria field. For DEPTID, the defined name for the value table is NvsValTbl.DEPTID, and its value might be "DEPARTMENT_TBL".
NvsAnswerCol	Tabular	Sheet	Reference	Refers to a column of data returned in a tabular report. Can be used to create references to any column of data, including all delivered answer rows.
NvsQueryName	Tabular	Sheet	Query name	Stores the name of the query that provides the data for this tabular layout or instance.
NvsRowCount	Tabular	Sheet	Integer	Records the number of rows delivered to this tabular instance sheet.
NvsInstCritOpt	Tabular	Sheet	R/S/I	Dictates how inherited criteria are to be handled for fields that do not appear in the current data source. `R` = required (error if inherited fields not present); `S` = Select criteria for those fields that match, ignore others; `I` = Ignore all inherited criteria.