A hotspot can appear as a text, a number or a symbol. Hotspots influence the appearance of the cursor and the effect of clicking. When you run the cursor over a hotspot, it appears as a hand with the index finger raised. When you click on a hotspot, the system carries out a specific function (either highlights the field(s) or switches to a different list).

To understand how hotspots work, you need to know the difference between one-step and two-step navigation functions.

• Some navigation functions on the report list are two-step functions. These include calling up a detail list, drilling down to another characteristic, and calling up a drilldown list from a detail list. For these functions, you need to click on both the function itself as well as the element for which you want to execute the function.

Hotspots can be texts, numbers or symbols. Texts and numbers that are hotspots are highlighted when they are active. The most important symbols used in drilldown reporting are:

In addition to these symbols, a number of other symbols sometimes appear on the screen:

• The symbol ¨ indicates a "special row", such as a totals or sub-totals row or the value "All others".
• Certain symbols may appear in cells to indicate non-allowed calculations (for example, ( /* = "divided by zero"). You can click on these symbols to receive a brief explanation of the problem.

Hotspots make it possible for you to carry out functions for specific objects. At any point, only those functions are active which it makes sense to execute for the selected object (column, column group, row, cell, characteristic, and so on).

Moreover, hotspots let you navigate easily and quickly through your report with simple clicks, without having to "navigate" your way through the menu as well.