Using Optional Parameters With Auto Linking to Enhance Drilldown Results

In addition to the basic Auto Linking functionality that is available in WebFOCUS Designer, you can also add optional parameters to your Auto Link charts, extending the capability of this feature. An Auto Link enabled chart can link to any target content that you are authorized to access that satisfies the sort (BY) field to the Auto Link target report filter parameter requirement. Auto Link target reports that satisfy this requirement and also have optional filter parameters for other fields are included in the Auto Link target report evaluation, so that all possible combinations of run-time parameters are evaluated and available as links as you run the request. This may produce additional reports or charts in your list of available Auto Link targets, offering you access to an expanded network of related content.

Setting a parameter to optional is not required because the Auto Link enabled chart will pass the value for the fields being filtered to the Auto Link target report or chart. When a sort (BY) field value in an Auto Link enabled chart is selected, that value and the value of its parent sort fields are passed to the Auto Link target. When a measure value in a chart is selected, all sort (BY) field values for that measure are passed to the Auto Link target. If you select the Optional option, the Auto Link target report or chart can run on its own (from the Resources Tree or within InfoAssist) without being prompted by Autoprompt for a value for the parameter. This is because optional parameters are assigned a default value.

With Auto Linking, you can link as many reports and charts as you want, and Auto Link enabled charts can also be an Auto Link target which contributes to the development of a cascading linkage of charts.

Note:

• The linked reports and charts displayed are limited to those that you are authorized to run or run deferred.
• The Auto Link enabled and Auto Link target options can be set individually, or both can be set on the same chart if that item meets the Auto Linking requirements.
• Consideration should be given to how many reports or charts are indicated as Auto Link targets, as the run-time Multi-drill menu for the qualifying target reports or charts may become long in length. In these cases, some browsers may display a script processing warning message.
• Auto Linking utilizes the Multi-drill feature with cascading menus, except when running an HTML report with On-demand Paging enabled or a chart request that is a legacy graph format (PFJ-based formats, such as PNG and non-bucket HTML5), which will display a single-level list in the order the drilldowns are specified in the request.
• The Multi-drill cascading menu displays:
  • Horizontal lines to separate user-specified drilldowns and Auto Link navigation options.
  • Auto Link target reports in a single-level list that is sorted alphabetically, first by folder, and then the Auto Link target reports and charts within the folder. This may differ from the sort order of the resource tree that also applies the Properties Sort order option when sorting folders and items within folders.
• When drilling down through a list of Auto Link target reports and charts, a previously selected Auto Link target report or chart will be excluded so that the available Auto Link targets are reports and charts that you have not yet viewed.

Procedure: How to Set an Existing Report or Chart as Auto Link Enabled

1. On the WebFOCUS Home Page, click the Designer tab, and open the folder that contains the chart you want to work with.

   WebFOCUS Designer opens in the relevant mode.

2. In the content area, right-click the chart that you want to set as Auto Link enabled, and then click Edit.
3. Verify that there is a sort (BY) field in the report or chart.
   • For charts, sort fields are added to the Vertical, Horizontal, or Color field containers.
4. On the Designer toolbar, click More, and then click AutoLink.
5. Save the report or chart.

   Your existing chart is now Auto Link enabled.

Procedure: How to Set an Existing Chart as an Auto Link Target

1. On the WebFOCUS Home Page, click the Designer tab, and open the folder that contains the chart you want to work with.

   WebFOCUS Designer opens in the relevant mode.

2. In the content area, right-click the chart that you want to set as Auto Link enabled, and then click Edit.
3. On the Designer toolbar, click More, and then click AutoLink target.

   Note: Selecting AutoLink target specifies that the parameter information for this chart will be stored, adding it to the repository of reports and charts that will be evaluated when an Auto Link enabled report is run.

4. Verify if the report or chart has an existing filter, as qualifying target reports are those that have filters with parameters for the sort (BY) fields in Auto Link enabled reports or charts. If a filter does not exist, add a filter with a simple parameter to the target report or chart.

   • From the Data pane, drag a sort (BY) field onto the Filter toolbar. You do not need to select a value.

     Note: When creating a parameter for a field, the parameter name defaults to the field name that you select. For example, if you create a filter for the Product Category field by dragging it to the Filter toolbar, the name of the resulting parameter is &PRODUCT_CATEGORY, reflecting the field name, PRODUCT_CATEGORY. You can see the field name in the tooltip when you point to a field on the Fields pane.

5. Save the chart.

   Your existing chart is now set as an Auto Link target.

Procedure: How to Create a New Auto Link Enabled Chart

1. Open WebFOCUS Designer.
2. In the Actions bar, click Chart.
3. From the Open dialog box selection list, choose a data source, and then click Select.
4. On the Designer toolbar, click More and then click AutoLink.
5. Add fields to the report or chart, ensuring that one is a sort (BY) field.

   • For charts, sort fields are added to the Vertical, Horizontal, or Color field containers.

   

6. Save the chart.

   Your chart is now set as Auto Link enabled.

Procedure: How to Create a New Auto Link Target Chart

1. Open WebFOCUS Designer.
2. On the WebFOCUS Home Page, navigate to the domain and folder where you want to place the new chart, and then click the Designer tab.
3. In the Actions bar, click Chart.
4. From the Open dialog box selection list, choose a data source, and then click Select.
5. On the Designer toolbar, click More and then click AutoLink target.

   Note: Selecting AutoLink target specifies that the parameter information for this chart will be stored, adding it to the repository of reports and charts that will be evaluated when an Auto Link enabled chart is run.

6. Add fields to the chart.
7. Add a filter with a simple parameter to the target chart.
   • From the Data pane, drag a sort (BY) field onto the Filters toolbar.

     Note: When creating a parameter for a field, the parameter name defaults to the field name that you select.

8. Save the chart.

   Your chart is stored as an Auto Link target.