Navigation Pane

Definition

The navigation pane design item provides access to all dimensions (characteristics and structures) in the query for use in navigation and analysis.

For more information about inserting the navigation pane and accessing its properties, which are described below, seeInserting Design Items.

Use

You use the navigation pane as the staging area for dimensions in the query results. Together with theanalysis grid, the navigation pane forms the backbone of a query application. In the navigation pane, dimensions and key figures in the query are listed individually on separate rows. The navigation pane also provides an overview of current filter and drilldown states.

In analysis mode, you can navigate with the navigation pane in different ways:

Using thecontext menu
Usingdrag and drop
Using icons (see below)
By entering filters in the navigation pane (see below)
By double-clicking the primary mouse button (see below)

Different navigation functions are available depending on whether you selected a cell in a dimension or key figure row.

Using the properties, you can configure various settings that affect the way the navigation pane behaves and is displayed.

Structure

The functions and properties of the navigation pane are described in the following sections:

Row Types of the Navigation Pane
Context Menu Functions by Row Type
Navigation Pane Icons
Filter Input in the Navigation Pane
Double-Clicking the Primary Mouse Button
Navigation Pane Properties

Row Types of the Navigation Pane

When referring to the navigation pane, we use the following terminology for the different types of rows:

The third column of each row in the navigation pane is the filter area. This column displays the values for any filters that have been configured and allows you to manually enter filters.

Different types of navigation functions are available depending on which type of row you have selected.

Context Menu Functions by Row Type

The context menu functions available in analysis mode for the navigation pane are outlined in the table below. A function is available in the context menu for a given cell type if the corresponding cell in the table below is shaded and marked with an X. See the notes below the table for the cells that contain asterisks (*).

Notes:

* Displayed if the filter has already been set.

** Displayed if the drilldown has already been set.

For more information about the functions in this table, seeContext Menu Functions. Many of these functions are also available when you use drag and drop.

Navigation Pane Icons

The following icons can be displayed in the navigation pane:

Drilldown - displayed in every row
Remove drilldown - displayed in every row, if drilldown has been set
Filter - displayed in every row
Remove filter - displayed in every row, if filter has been set

Deactivate the display of all icons by deselecting the Display Icons property (see below).

In addition, scrolling icons are displayed inside the scroll bars if you have enabled them in the navigation pane (see clipping properties below). However, the icons are not affected by the Apply Formatting setting.

Filter Input in the Navigation Pane

This function enables you to set a filter by manually entering a value in the filter area of the navigation area for a characteristic or key figure. This value can be a number, the description or the technical name for a characteristic or key figure. You can also enter a list of single values, separated by commas, in the filter area. You can enter all values that belong to the dimension or structure member (key figure) of the currently selected cell. The query is filtered for the selected value in such a way that only the relevant data is displayed, for example, Year (2005; 2006) or Quarter (1; 2). In the navigation pane, if present, the third column (filter area) in the worksheet is updated with the currently configured values of the corresponding dimension or structure member (key figure).

Note

Note: If you have activated the display of icons in the navigation pane, the filter value is displayed in the fourth column. To remove a filter, delete your entries in the filter area. You can also use the icons for removing filters in the navigation pane. For more information about switching on the display of icons in the navigation pane, see the "Navigation Pane Icons" section.

For more information about configuring complex filter conditions using the dialog box for value selection, seeSelecting Filter Values.

Deleting Filter Values in the Navigation Pane

You can remove a filter by deleting the filter value for the relevant row in the navigation pane. If you have switched on the display of icons in the navigation pane, you can also remove a filter by deleting the corresponding icon.

Double-Clicking the Primary Mouse Button

You can execute the following navigation functions in the navigation pane by double-clicking the primary mouse button:

If you want to display drilled-down dimension values in a report, you can double-click a dimension. However, if you double-click a dimension that is already drilled down, the dimension values are removed from the report.
You can double-click an empty cell to use the input help to select a filter value for a key figure or free characteristic.
You can double-click a structure member (key figure) with the primary mouse button to call a dialog box to perform calculations locally on key figure data in analysis mode.

Navigation Pane Properties

You configure the properties for the navigation pane on the following tab pages in the Properties of Navigation Pane dialog box. (For more information about inserting the navigation pane and accessing its properties, seeInserting Design Items):

General - you can configure the data provider, cell range, and AutoFit options
Dimensions - you can select the dimensions to display in the navigation pane
Display Settings - allows you to configure various settings that affect how the pane is displayed
Clipping - you can configure whether to clip or scroll the navigation pane display

Navigation Pane Properties

Property	Description
Name of Navigation Pane	Displays the name of the pane, which is generated automatically and is unique. This name is used in the BEx Analyzer → Design Toolbar menu to refer to a particular instance of the navigation pane.
Display Technical Names/Do Not Display Technical Names	Use this button on any tab page to toggle the display of technical names.
General Tab Page
Data Provider	You assign an existing data provider to the navigation pane, create and assign a new one, or change or delete a data provider. The initial view of a data provider corresponds to the query view. SeeConfiguring Data Providers.
Area	You manipulate coordinates for a cell or cells in this field to move or resize the navigation pane. SeeMoving and Resizing Design Items.
Optimal Width	When you select this option, the widths of the cells in the navigation pane (except the third column) expand as required to fit the contents. If you set the flag Optimal Width for the navigation pane, the columns are resized horizontally to the minimum size needed to render the entire contents of the columns. This setting does not apply to the third column (the filer area) because filter values can be very long.
Display Formats	This flag is set as the default setting. The navigation pane is displayed with the formats of the format template. Remove the flag if you want to display the navigation pane without formatting.
Dimensions Tab Page
Available Dimensions	Lists all the available dimensions in the query. Select a dimension in this list and choose Add Selected Dimensions to Displayed Dimensions to transfer it to the Selected Dimensions list. This allows you to specify which dimensions are to be displayed in the navigation pane. By default, all dimensions are displayed.
Selected Dimensions	Lists the dimensions that are to be displayed in the navigation pane. You can use this setting to reorder the list of selected dimensions. By default, all dimensions are displayed, although this list is empty. Select a dimension in this list and choose Remove Selected Dimensions from Displayed Dimensions to remove it, or Move Selected Displayed Dimension Up or Move Selected Displayed Dimension Down to reorder it.
Display Settings Tab Page
Display Filter Texts	Deselect this checkbox to turn off the display of the filter area of the navigation pane. In this case, the whole third column of the pane is hidden.
Allow Navigation	Deselect this checkbox to deactivate the context menu, drag and drop, and icon functions in analysis mode. A similar option is provided for the analysis grid. This prevents you from analyzing and navigating in the query.
Display Icons	Deselect this checkbox to turn off the display of icons in the navigation pane. Scroll bars and scrolling icons are not affected by this setting.
Show Dimensions from Rows	If selected, the dimensions that appear in the rows in the current navigational state of the analysis grid are displayed in the navigation pane.
Show Dimensions from Columns	If selected, the dimensions that appear in the columns in the current navigational state of the analysis grid are displayed in the navigation pane.
Show Dimensions from Free Characteristics	If selected, the dimensions that appear in the free characteristics in the current navigational state of the analysis grid are displayed in the navigation pane.
Number of Dimensions Per Row	If you have selected the Display Dimensions Horizontally property, you use this field to select the number of dimensions to display in each row of the navigation pane, horizontally across the sheet. This effectively vertically shortens your navigation pane.
Display Dimensions Horizontally	You select this option to display multiple dimensions for each row in the navigation pane. You then configure the number of dimensions using the Number of Dimensions Per Row property.
Clipping Tab Page
You use the clipping options to specifically define the vertical size of the analysis grid using clipping or scroll bars. Clipping settings work together with cell coordinate settings in the Range field. You configure vertical clipping using the following options: Vertical Clip - the navigation pane can only extend as far down as the lower-most row defined in the Range field. The vertical display beyond that is clipped, or not displayed. Full Size - the navigation pane is displayed starting from the top-most row defined in the Range field, but expands down as many rows as required to display the results. Scroll - the navigation pane is displayed within the upper and lower coordinates configured in the Range field, and a scroll bar allows you to scroll up or down within the results. You can scroll using the following icons in the scroll bar: Scroll to Bottom Scroll Down Scroll Up Scroll to Top See alsoMoving and Resizing Design Items.

More Information: