Microstrategy Removing sections that do not have metric data

Removing sections that do not have metric data

This is an interesting feature which might not be explored by many of us and it comes us handy.

A cross join between datasets can result in rows or Group Header/Footer sections that do not have metric data. For example, a document contains two datasets. Dataset 1 contains Year and Revenue, with data for three years (2007-2009). Dataset 2 contains Year and Profit, filtered to return data for only two years (2008 and 2009). If you place Year and Profit in the Details and execute the document, it displays three rows, although no profit data exists for 2007. This is a product of the cross join between the two datasets.

You do not want to see the blank line for 2007 since it does not give you any data for profit. You can select the Trim sections for which no metric value data is available check box. This removes the row for 2007, since no metric data for Profit is available for 2007. The results are shown below:

An alternative solution is to define Dataset 2 as a primary dataset and Dataset 1 as secondary. For instructions and details, see Defining a dataset as primary or secondary.

In another example, a document contains two datasets. Dataset 1 contains Region and Revenue, filtered to display Northeast and Northwest only. Dataset 2 contains Year and Profit. Data for three years (2007-2009) is available. The document contains Region and Revenue in the Detail section. You want to display:

•

A Grid/Graph that contains three years of Profit in the Document Header

•

A row for each region, with year and profit information

You do not want to group the document by region. The document looks like the following:

The Grid/Graph contains the three rows of yearly profit data. The document contains three rows, one of which is blank, a product of the cross join between the two datasets. Since you want only a row for each region, and the blank row is not providing any information about region or revenue, it can be removed. To do this, select the Trim the sections for which no metric value data is available check box. The resulting document is shown below:

To remove sections that do not have metric data

1

In MicroStrategy Web, open the document in Design Mode.

2

From the Tools menu, select Document Properties. The Properties dialog box opens.

3

Under Document Properties on the left, select Advanced.

4

Select the Trim sections for which no metric value data is available check box.

5

Click OK to return to the document.