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Concepts → Prompt

About a prompt

A prompt is a type of dashboard filter. A dashboard developer creates and configures the properties of one or more prompts for a given dashboard using the Dashboard Filters Manager.

Unlike other types of dashboard filters, a prompt can be simply a filterable column, a partial filter expression, or a complete filter expression. Like a presentation variable, a prompt overrides the default behavior of a dashboard which is to coalesce a list of dimension columns from all insights on all tabs as filterable columns available in the Filter and Search controls of the Filter bar.

A prompt as a pill has various properties. Once defined and configured, a prompt always appears in the Columns panel of the Filter dialog. However, a prompt may not always appear initially as a filter bar pill. There are two properties that influence this behavior, the Default to Display property and the Mandatory property. Here is a brief summary of how these properties affect a prompt's behavior:

PropertyInitially requires
filter operator		Initially requires
filter value		Initially
appears on
filter bar		Is a partial
filter expression		Is a complete
filter expression		Is removable from filter bar
Default to Display disabledyesyesnoyesnoyes
Default to Display enabled
with filter operator
with an undefined
filter value		noyesyesyesnoyes
Default to Display enabled
for a formula
with an undefined
filter value		yesyesnoyesnoyes
Default to Display enabled
with filter operator
and filter value		nonoyesnoyesyes
Default to Display enabled
for a formula
with filter operator
and filter value		yesyesyesnoyesyes
Mandatory enabledyesno
  • A prompt with the Default to Display property disabled does not initially appear as a filter bar pill and requires a dashboard consumer to select a filter operator and filter value in the Filter dialog.
  • A prompt with the Default to Display property enabled with an undefined filter value appears initially as a filter bar pill and requires a dashboard consumer to select a filter value in the Filter dialog.
  • A prompt with the Default to Display property enabled with a defined filter value appears initially as a filter bar pill and applies the initial filter expression as a dashboard runtime filter.
  • A prompt with the Mandatory property enabled always appears as a filter bar pill. However, the Default to Display related properties for a filter operator and filter value determine if there is an applicable filter expression to apply as a dashboard runtime filter.
Note

A prompt also supports enabling a default for a hierarchy level for a filterable column that from a self-referential table.

A dashboard developer can order prompts alphabetically or manually so as to affect how the prompts appear as filterable columns in the Filter dialog.

Here are some the reasons why a dashboard developer creates one or more prompts for a given dashboard:

  • Govern the list of available filterable columns
  • Control the display order of filterable columns in the Filter dialog
  • Specify a measure or key column as a filterable column
  • Specify complex filter expression as a filterable column
  • Specify a partial filter expression as filterable column for the dashboard consumer to complete
  • Implement a default dashboard runtime filter for a hierarchy level
  • Implement a default dashboard runtime filter that appears as removable filter bar
  • Implement a mandatory dashboard runtime filter that is a non-removable filter bar pill

A dashboard developer with Edit access rights to a dashboard can create and edit one or more prompts using the Dashboard Filters Manager. Here's how:

  • In the Action bar of a dashboard, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
  • In the More Options menu, select Dashboard Filters Manager.
  • From the Data panel, drag a column or formula to the Prompts tray.
  • Configure the properties of the prompt pill.

Valid references in a filter expression for a prompt pill

As a complete filter expression, a prompt pill consists of at least one filterable column, a filter operator, and an optional filter value. A prompt pill that has a filter expression with an undefined filter value represents a partial filter expression. A partial filter expression results in an incomplete dashboard runtime filter, and as such, does not affect the dashboard.

A filterable column for a prompt pill can be a data-backed column or a formula column from:

A formula expression can encapsulate the filterable column or filterable columns within the filter expression.

Note

The join relationships between physical schema tables affect a filter expression. For example, when the filterable column is from a parent table, the filter expression automatically applies to all the dashboard insights related to this table’s child tables. However, if the filterable column is from a child table, the filter expression does not affect the insights related to the parent tables.

Warning: A filterable column from an Incorta Analyzer View

A filterable column from an Incorta Analyzer View will only affect an in insight on a dashboard that queries the Incorta Analyzer View.

Certain filter operators afford various options for selecting one or more filter values. For example, the In and Not In operators allow for the selection of none, one or more, or all filter values.

Depending on the data type and filter operator, a filter value for a prompt pill can be a scalar value or array of scalar values. In certain cases, it is possible to reference a variable as follows:

You can also define a prompt pill as a formula and createa a filter expression using the Formula Builder.

Note

Although it may be possible to specify a global variable as a filter value for a prompt pill, this configuration is not supported and may produce unexpected results.

View access rights

In order to reference a column or variable in a filter expression, you must have View access privileges to the grandparent object such as a physical schema, business schema, or session variable. A global variable is available to all users.

About an applicable insight for a prompt pill

The joins between the physical schema tables in the query plan for an insight measure determine whether or not a filterable column affects the insight. For example, a physical schema column in a parent table serves as a filterable column for a measure in a child table. However, a physical schema column from a child table is not a filterable column for a parent table, even when it is the foreign key reference.

For a filterable column, a prompt meets one of the following conditions:

  • The filterable column is a key, dimension, or measure column in the insight.
  • The filterable column has a sibling column from the same physical schema table, and that sibling is a dimension or measure for the insight.
  • The filterable column is a dimension or key that shares a measure on the insight from a common child table with other dashboard insights.

If an applicable insight already contains an insight filter, an applied filter will complement the insight filter based on a common filterable column as described above.

Warning: Limitations of using an Incorta Analyzer View

An insight that queries an Incorta Analyzer View is an applicable insight for a dashboard filter or dashboard runtime filter only for filterable columns from the Incorta Analyzer View.

Properties for a prompt pill as a column

A prompt pill can be a column or a formula column.

A prompt pill that is a column can be simply a filterable column, a filterable column with a partial filter expression with an undefined filter value, or a a filterable column with a complete filter expression that serves as a dashboard runtime filter.

The following are the properties of a prompt pill that is a column:

PropertyControlDescription
Column namelabelDisplays the fully-qualified name
Column Labeltext boxEnter the column name for the prompt. This label appears in the Columns panel of the Filter dialog.
Hide from filter bartoggleOptional. Disabled by default. Enable to hide the prompt from the filter bar.
Default to DisplaytoggleEnable to have the prompt appear initially as a filter bar pill. For a prompt, you can specify the filter operator and leave the filter value defined or undefined.
Default to Display → MandatorytoggleEnable to specify as a mandatory prompt. This property is available only when you enable the Default to Display toggle.
Default to Display → Operatordrop down listSpecify the default operator for the filter expression. Depending on the data type of the prompt pill, operators will differ. The selected operator also affects the available controls for specifying the default filter values.
Default to Display → Values → Search valuestext boxEnter a search term to search for specific values.
Default to Display → Values → Select AllcheckboxThis property is available only when the selected operator allows for multiple values. Select to enable. Deselect to clear the selected list.
Default to Display → Values → Edit in BulklinkSelect to enter multiple values in bulk by entering or copying and pasting an array of delimited values, either Comma or Line Break delimited. Select Done. This property is available only when the selected operator allows for multiple values.
Default to Display → Values → Case Sensitivebutton toggleEnable to match both the value text and letter case. This property is available only when you select a filter operator that requires string input, such as Starts With, Ends With, and Contains.
Default to Display → Values → Addtext box, checkbox, radial, calendar, calendar with time picker, or levelDepending on the selected filter operator and the related data type of the prompt column, you can select the default filter values for the filter expression. You can reference an internal or external session variable, global variable, date system variable, or miscellaneous system variable. This property is available only when the selected operator requires one or more values.
HierarchytoggleEnable to specify a hierarchy level starting at 0. Appears only if the filterable column is related to a self-referential table join. Once enable, you specify a hierarchy level starting at 0.
Hierarchy → Leveltext boxEnable to specify a hierarchy level starting at 0. Appears only if the filterable column is related to a self-referential table join. Once enable, you specify a hierarchy level starting at 0.
Sort Bytray and pillDrag and drop zero or more columns from the Data panel to the tray. Select the ascending or descending icon to the left of each pill to change the sort order. You can use only columns from the same physical schema table as the prompt column.

Note

A default prompt appears on the Filter bar regardless of whether there is a default filter value or an undefined filter value. You can configure a default prompt with an undefined filter value as a mandatory prompt. A dashboard consumer may edit, remove, or clear a default prompt that is not a mandatory prompt. It is not possible for a dashboard consumer to remove a mandatory prompt.

Properties for a prompt pill as a formula with a partial filter expression

A formula expression can encapsulate the filterable column or filterable columns within the filter expression.

Here is an example of formula for a prompt pill that is a partial filter expression.

SALES.SALES.AMOUNT_SOLD - SALES.SALES.COST_OF_GOODS

In this example, the two columns in a calculation serve as the filterable columns in the filter expression. A dashboard consumer can select the filter operator and the filter value(s). The data type for the formula result determines the available filter operators. The formula result determines the available filter values.

The following are the properties of the prompt that is a formula pill with a partial filter expression such as a calculation:

PropertyControlDescription
Column Labeltext boxEnter the display name for the prompt. This is required.
Formulatext boxSelect the text box to open the Formula Builder. Specify a filter expression.
Default to DisplaytoggleEnable to have the prompt appear initially as a filter bar pill. For a prompt, you can specify the filter operator and leave the filter value defined or undefined.
Default to Display → MandatorytoggleEnable to specify as a mandatory prompt. This property is available only when you enable the Default to Display toggle.
Default to Display → Operatordrop down listSpecify the default operator for the filter expression. Depending on the data type of the prompt pill, operators will differ. The selected operator also affects the available controls for specifying the default filter values. For a partial filter expression, the default is True as in IS_TRUE.
Default to Display → Values → Search valuestext boxEnter a search term to search for specific values.
Default to Display → Values → Select AllcheckboxThis property is available only when the selected operator allows for multiple values. Select to enable. Deselect to clear the selected list.
Default to Display → Values → Edit in BulklinkSelect to enter multiple values in bulk by entering or copying and pasting an array of delimited values, either Comma or Line Break delimited. Select Done. This property is available only when the selected operator allows for multiple values.
Default to Display → Values → Case Sensitivebutton toggleEnable to match both the value text and letter case. This property is available only when you select a filter operator that requires string input, such as Starts With, Ends With, and Contains.
Default to Display → Values → Addtext box, checkbox, radial, calendar, or calendar with time pickerDepending on the selected filter operator and the related data type of the prompt column, you can select the default filter values for the filter expression. You can reference an internal or external session variable, global variable, date system variable, or miscellaneous system variable. This property is available only when the selected operator requires one or more values.

Properties for a prompt pill as a formula with a complete filter expression

A formula expression can encapsulate the filterable column or filterable columns within the filter expression. Here is an example of a formula for a prompt pill that is a complete filter expression.

or(
    SALES.PRODUCTS.PROD_CATEGORY = "Photo",
    startsWith(
        SALES.PRODUCTS.PROD_NAME,
        "17"
    )
)

In this example, there are two filter expressions within the OR boolean built-in function:

SALES.PRODUCTS.PROD_CATEGORY = "Photo"

and

startsWith(SALES.PRODUCTS.PROD_NAME,"17")

As complete filter expression, these will evaluate to either True or False. The following are the properties of the prompt that is a formula pill with a complete filter expression:

PropertyControlDescription
Column Labeltext boxEnter the display name for the prompt. This is required.
Formulatext boxSelect the text box to open the Formula Builder. Specify a filter expression.
Default to DisplaytoggleEnable to have the prompt appear initially as a filter bar pill. For a prompt, you can specify the filter operator and leave the filter value defined or undefined.
Default to Display → MandatorytoggleEnable to specify as a mandatory prompt. This property is available only when you enable the Default to Display toggle.
Default to Display → Operatordrop down listSpecify the default operator for the filter expression. Select either True or False.
Default to Display → Values → Search valuestext boxNot applicable.
Default to Display → Values → Select AllcheckboxThe only valid selections are:
  ●  True
  ●  False
Default to Display → Values → Edit in BulklinkNot applicable.
Default to Display → Values → Case Sensitivebutton toggleNot applicable.
Default to Display → Values → Addtext box, checkbox, radial, calendar, or calendar with time pickerNot applicable.