Print      Open PDF Version of Online Help

Analytics > Designing an Analysis > Step 2: Reviewing Results and Creating Layouts > Creating Groups and Calculated Items

Creating Groups and Calculated Items

You can create new column values using groups and calculated items. A group in Analytics is a static list of column values that you select, or a static or dynamic list that is generated by selection steps. A group is represented as a column value. All of the values that make up the group must be from the same column. Groups are always displayed at the bottom of the column list in the order in which they were added. Groups can contain column values or other groups. You can create a custom group and add the custom group to a column within a view.

A calculated item is a calculation between column values that is represented as a single value. You can use a calculated item to override the default aggregation rule that is specified in the repository, and for an existing analysis, the aggregation rule chosen by the creator of the analysis. You can define a calculated item using a custom formula, which is the default method, or by combining selected column values with a function, for example, SUM.

When you create a group or a calculated item, a selection step is automatically created. For more information about selection steps, see Creating Selection Steps.

You can save the groups and calculated items that you create in the relevant subject area folder in the catalog, so that they can be reused.

The following procedure describes how to create a group or calculated item from a view editor.

To create a group or calculated item

1. In the Results tab of the analysis editor, click the Edit View icon for the view for which you want to create a group or calculated item.
2. In the view editor, click the New Group or New Calculated Item icon in the toolbar.

   NOTE: You can also create a group or calculated item from the Selection Steps pane. For more information, see Creating Selection Steps.

3. In the New Group or New Calculated Item dialog box, specify the details for the group or calculated item.
4. Click OK to close the dialog box.
5. Click Done to return to the compound layout.
6. If you want to save the group or calculated item in the catalog, then do the following:
   1. In the Selection Steps pane, click the link for the item that you want to save.
   2. Select the save option for the item.
   3. In the Save As dialog box, browse to the folder where you want to save the item.
   4. Click OK to close the dialog box.