11.2 Parameterizing a Condition using an Input Control

Input components allow a user to manipulate a filter or highlight condition applied to a data view component (Chart, Table, Crosstab). To control such a condition using an input component, follow these steps:

1. Create and configure the input control, following the steps below:

a. Add the desired input control (RadioButton, CheckBox, etc.) to the Viewsheet.

b. Right-click the input component, and select 'Properties' from the context menu. This opens the 'Properties' dialog box for the input component.

c. Under the General tab, use the 'Name' field to assign the input component a meaningful name. This will be the name used to refer to the component.

d. Specify the 'List Values' for the input component by manually entering 'Embedded' values or by specifying a 'Query' to provide the values. (See Input Components for further details.)

e. Click 'OK' to close the input component 'Properties' dialog box.

2. Link the input control to the filter condition or highlight condition of the data view component that you want the user to manipulate. Follow the steps below:

a. Right-click the data view component you wish to highlight or filter, and select 'Highlight' or 'Condition' (as desired) from the context menu. This opens the 'Highlight' or 'Condition' dialog box for the component.

b. Create the left side of the condition as described under Highlights and Conditions, e.g., “[State][is][one of]”.

c. From the 'Change Value Type' popup menu (triangle), select 'Variable'. This enables an adjacent pop-up menu.

 

d. From the adjacent pop-up menu, select the input component that you want to control the value.

 

e. Click 'Append' to add the condition, and click 'OK' to close the 'Condition' dialog box.

The specified input control will now provide the value for the right side of the condition.

Example: Condition as a Parameter  >>

In this example, you will add a CheckBox input that allows the user to highlight specified states within a table.

1. Create a new Viewsheet based on the 'Sales Explore' Worksheet (in the 'Sales' folder).

2. Drag a CheckBox component from the Component panel to the Viewsheet. Right-click the component, and select 'Properties' from the context menu. This opens the 'CheckBox Properties' dialog box.

3. In the 'CheckBox Properties' dialog box, make the following changes:

a. Change the 'Name' to “StateSelector”.

b. In the 'List Values' panel, select the 'Query' option. Click the 'Edit' button to open the 'List Values Selection' dialog box.

 

c. In the 'List Values Selection' dialog box, select the 'Sales' Data Block in the left panel, and then select 'State' in both the 'Label' and 'Value' menus.

 

d. Click 'OK' to close both dialog boxes. This binds the CheckBox component to the 'State' field of the Data Block.

4. On the Viewsheet grid, select the CheckBox component. Drag the handles to expand the component so that all state options are visible.

 

5. Drag a Table component from the Component panel to the Viewsheet grid.

6. Expand the 'Sales' Data Block at the top of the Component panel, and drag the following fields into the Table: 'Category', 'Company', 'City', 'State', 'Total'.

7. Enlarge the table so that at least 10 rows are visible.

 

8. Right-click a cell in the 'City' field of the Table, and select 'Highlight' from the context menu. This opens the 'Highlight' dialog box for the 'City' field.

9. In the 'Highlight' dialog box, click the 'Add' button, and enter the name “CityHighlight”.

10. For the 'Background' property, select yellow.

11. In the 'Conditions' panel, click the 'Edit' button to open the 'Conditions' dialog box.

 

12. In the 'Conditions' dialog box, create the left side of the condition by making the following menu selections: “[State][is][one of]”.

13. From the 'Change Value Type' popup menu (triangle), select 'Variable'. This enables an adjacent pop-up menu.

14. From the adjacent pop-up menu, select the “StateSelector” input component.

 

15. Click 'Append' to add the condition, and click 'OK' to close the 'Conditions' dialog box.

16. Click 'OK' to close the 'Highlight' dialog box.

On the Viewsheet, make selections in the CheckBox input component, and observe how this highlights the cities in the Table that correspond to the selected states.

 

 

See Also

Matching Dynamic Values to Property Values, for input value constraints.

<< 11.1 Parameterizing a Property using an Input Control © 1996-2013 InetSoft Technology Corporation (v11.4) 11.3 Matching Dynamic Values to Property Values >>