Navigation and Navigation Functions 

Use

A query shows views of the data of an InfoCube, upon which the query is based. You use the navigation functions to generate different views of the query data (known as the navigation status). These views are subsequently displayed in the results area of the query. Switching between the different views is called navigation. In the Business Explorer, navigation is used to analyze InfoCube data. In the query definition, you specify which view of the data is displayed first after you have inserted the query into the workbook.

Other views that you navigate to, are stored in the workbook. If - after saving and opening the workbook again! - you: refresh the query in the workbook, the navigation status that you reached the last time the query was open is displayed, only this time it contains the most current data from the InfoCube.

If, after refreshing the query, you want the system to display automatically the initial query view, as defined in the global definition, choose Properties ® Interaction ® Return to global definition on refresh (see also: Query Properties).

In addition to the navigation functions, you are also able to use characteristic-based settings to change the view of the data. These characteristic-based settings include how characteristics and totals rows are displayed. Various sorting functions are also available.

See also:

OLAP Functions for Active Cells

Functions

The basic navigation functions are:

If you want to change the way the characteristics and key figures are distributed among the rows and columns of the query, or if you want to carry out several navigational steps at once, select the symbol on the toolbar for Change Query View ® Change Query (local view). See also: Changing Query Views

Functions

Back

Choose Back if you want to undo a navigational step. This function is also available directly on the toolbar (green arrow pointing to the left).

Note that only one navigational step is undone. Other settings, such as display (display as) or sort are not affected by this (see OLAP Functions for Active Cells).

Back to Initial View

The initial view of the data is the view that is displayed directly after you insert the query into a workbook. The initial view is determined in the query definition, by the distribution of key figures and characteristics into rows, columns, and free characteristics. Choose the function Initial View if you want to return to this view after navigating in the query.

Keep as Filter Value

Choose Keep as filter value to retain a characteristic you have selected as a characteristic value or hierarchy node. When you refresh the query, only the data that refers to the fixed characteristic value is displayed.

Filter and Drilldown According to...

Choose Filter and Drilldown According to to fix a characteristic to a value in one step (meaning to filter it) and to drilldown according to another characteristic on the same axis (row axis or column axis).

Insert Drilldown According to

Choose Insert Drilldown According to to drilldown on a characteristic highlighted on the worksheet according to another characteristic.

Swap ... with ...

Choose Swap ... with..., to switch the roles of two characteristics. In this way you swap characteristics between the row axes and the column axes of the results area.

Hierarchy Active

You use this function to switch active hierarchies on and off.

Expand Hierarchy

Choose Expand Hierarchy ® To Level ..., if you want to display more levels of the hierarchy. Alternatively, click on the hierarchy symbol to expand the hierarchy.

See also:

Working with Hierarchies

Activities

You access the various navigation functions either by double-clicking, via the context menu for the filter cells and the results area, or by using the Change Query function on the toolbar.

You carry out the more basic navigational steps by double clicking. For example, you use a double-click to move characteristics into or out of the drilldown:

Navigational steps such as Filter or Exchange with are found in the context menus of the filter cells, or the results area. You call up the context menu by selecting the relevant characteristic or key figure, and pressing the right mouse button. Alternatively, it is possible to call up these functions by selecting the relevant characteristic or key figure, and choosing the symbol for OLAP Functions for Active Cell on the toolbar.

For a complex navigation involving several navigational steps, it is best to use the function Change Query (local view).

See also:

Changing Query Views

OLAP Functions for Active Cells