Concepts → Incorta Analyzer Table Column

About an Incorta Analyzer Table Column

An Incorta Analyzer table column exists in an Incorta Analyzer Table and is a reference to a physical schema table column or business schema view column.

Properties of an Incorta Analyzer table column

An Incorta Analyzer table column has configurable and static properties. The following are the properties of an Incorta Analyzer table column:

PropertyControlDescription
Show in AnalyzercheckboxSelect to show as a selectable column in the Data Panel
Nameread onlyThe column’s name; used in the fully qualified name of the column
Labelread onlyA user-friendly name. The label for an Incorta Analyzer table column is defined in the column properties of the Analyzer.
Typeread onlyThe data type of the column. The data type of a column in an Incorta Analyzer table is determined by the source column.
Functiondrop down listSelect the Incorta function of the column. An Incorta Analyzer table cannot have a key column.
Encryptdrop down listSelect if the column is encrypted in shared storage. Starting with release 5.1.2, Incorta Analyzer tables do not support encrypted columns. You cannot set this property; it is always false.

Type property

As a referenced column, the type property of an Incorta Analyzer table column is an immutable property. If the type property of a physical schema table column is changed, it will affect the referenced column in the Incorta Analyzer table. If the type property is changed to a type that cannot be properly type casted, you may need to recreate the Incorta Analyzer table.

Function property

The function property of an Incorta Analyzer table column not only determines how the Loader Service stores data for the column, but also influences how tools such as the Analyzer assign a specific behavior to the column. An Incorta Analyzer table column can only function as a measure or a dimension. If you use a column from your physical schema table that functions as a key, the Incorta Analyzer table will convert the function of the column. The conversion is based on how you assign the column in the Analyzer when building the Incorta Analyzer table.

When you create the Incorta Analyzer table, the function of the column is determined by the Analyzer tray you have added the column to (grouping dimension or measure).

Note

If you edit the Incorta Analyzer table and change the column function in the Analyzer, you will need to manually update the column function in the Table Editor.

Function: Dimension

A dimension categorizes, describes, or groups data. Examples of a dimension column are State, Year, or City. Dimension columns do not require unique values.

A dimension column has an associated behavior in the Analyzer. When a user double-clicks a dimension column in the Data panel, the Analyzer automatically adds the column to the Grouping Dimension tray in the Insight panel.

Function: Measure

A measure is a measurement of data. Examples of a measure column are Revenue, Quantity, and Cost.

A measure column has an associated behavior in the Analyzer. When a user double-clicks a measure column in the Data panel, the Analyzer automatically adds the column to the Measure tray in the Insight panel.

Encryption property

In previous releases, you could use the Table Editor to explicitly specify a column to be encrypted. Starting with release 5.1.2, an Incorta Analyzer table does not support encrypted columns.

Additional Considerations

Business schema view references

When creating an Incorta Analyzer table, you are able to access the business schema as a data source for an Incorta Analyzer table. There are several cases you should be aware of when utilizing entities in the business schema view as a data source.

Load service timing

An Incorta Analyzer table is one of the last tables loaded during a schema load. As a result, if the Incorta Analyzer table is referencing a business schema view column that references an entity that loads at the same time or later than the Incorta Analyzer table, it will cause the load to fail or the Incorta Analyzer table to error when attempting to display values. As an example, an Incorta SQL table is also loaded at the end of a schema load. If the Incorta Analyzer table references a business schema view that references an Incorta SQL table the load will fail. The same issue will occur if the business schema view is referencing another Incorta Analyzer table.

Circular dependencies

A business schema view column can reference an Incorta Analyzer table. The same Incorta Analyzer table can reference the same business schema view column. These types of cyclical dependencies will cause errors and should be avoided.

Session variables referenced in business schema

The value of a session variable is calculated at runtime. If an Incorta Analyzer table references a business schema view column that is referencing a session variable, the value of the session variable in the Incorta Analyzer table will be calculated at load time. Avoid making this reference as the session variable’s value may change between a physical schema load.