Tips on Using Data Actions

Get the most from using data actions in workbooks using these tips.

Anchoring Data Actions to Columns

When you create a data action, you can anchor it to specific columns displayed on the canvas. If you anchor a data action to specific columns, the data action is only available to workbook users if they select data points in all specified columns.

On the Create Action dialog, select Add Data under Anchor To and select one or more columns.

Description of the illustration data-actions-5.png

If you anchor a data action to multiple columns, the user must multi-select data points from all of the specified columns in order to see the data action displayed in the right-click context menu. For example, if no columns are anchored to the data action "Data Action - Drill to city", the user can click anywhere on the source canvas to have access to "Data Action - Drill to city".

Description of the illustration data-actions-3.png

Data Actions That Don't Require Data

You can create data actions that don't require data and therefore aren't anchored to any columns. A number of visualization types supports this type of data action, such as Text Box, Image, and Button Bar.

The Requires Data row is set to On by default when you create a new data action. To turn it off, click On. The Anchor To row disappears.

Description of the illustration data_actions_requires_data.png

Adding Data Actions to Image Visualizations

In an Image visualization, use the Action pane on the Properties tab of the Grammar Panel to configure the image to invoke a data action.

Description of the illustration data-action-1.png

In a Text Box visualzation, select text then use the Link option on the text menu bar to display the Hyperlink dialog, where you can invoke a data action.

Description of the illustration data-action-2.png

General Tips

• Don't anchor data actions to measure columns or hidden columns.