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Object documentationHeatmap Parameters Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

Use the Configure Heatmap Parameters screen to configure parameters specific to the Heatmap template. With this template, you can build queries that aggregate values of a selected primary group and compare them with values of a secondary group by displaying the results in boxes of differing sizes and colors.

Using heatmaps, a large quantity of results can be organized within boxes in a specifically constrained space, making it easy to compare the major factors within a result set at a glance. Both color intensity (shifting within a gradient) and size of the boxes indicate relative performance, helping you to easily spot trends or standouts in a quick overview.

This template can address business questions such as the following:

What is the relative distribution of sales among certain divisions and companies?

Note Note

You must configure the Internet Graphics Server URL in the Visual Administrator to use the Heatmap template. See Configuring Optional Properties in the Visual Administrator in the SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer Installation & Configuration Guide.

End of the note.

Caution Caution

  • You may only use one heatmap per model, and one per portal page.

  • In order to resize the display of the heatmap, follow the procedure below in Resizing Heatmaps.

End of the caution.

Structure

The main sections and controls of this screen are listed in the following table:

Section

Control

Description

Display Heatmap for

Primary grouping

Lists all the fields selected on the Select Fields screen.

Select the field that should designate the primary grouping (larger boxes). You may select any data type.

Secondary grouping

Lists all the fields selected on the Select Fields screen.

Select the field that should designate the secondary grouping (smaller sub-boxes). You may select any data type.

Where

Size is determined by

Lists all the numeric fields selected on the Select Fields screen.

Select the field that should determine the relative size of the boxes.

Color is determined by

Lists all the numeric fields selected on the Select Fields screen.

Select the field that should determine the relative color of the boxes.

Resizing Heatmaps

Heatmaps are displayed in a special container in an HTML view. If you want to resize the display of the heatmap, you must resize both the HTML view and the heatmap container itself. Follow this procedure:

  1. In the storyboard, double-click the URL port on the heatmap data service.

  2. On the Configure Element task panel, in the Output Fields section, double-click the URL field to modify it.

  3. In the Compute Field field, change the width and height parameters in the URL.

  4. Save the value.

Note Note

Make sure that the HTML view and the heatmap container are the same size. To see the size of the HTML view, go to the Layout tab and select the HTML view. Its width and height are displayed in the pane below.

End of the note.

Example

You want to view the relative distribution of sales (both in quantity and revenue) among certain divisions and companies. To do this, configure the values on this screen in the following manner:

Display Heatmap for section:

  • Primary grouping = Sales.Division (the Division field from the Sales table)

  • Secondary grouping = Sales.Company (the Company field from the Sales table)

Where section:

  • Size is determined by = Sales.Quantity (the Quantity field from the Sales table)

  • Color is determined by = Sales.Revenue (the Revenue field from the Sales table)

Note Note

For these values to be available in the drop-down lists on this screen, you must first have selected them on the Select Fields screen.

End of the note.

The result of this query would generate a heatmap similar to the following:

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

In this heatmap:

  1. Instances of Division are represented by the large, primary boxes.

  2. Instances of Company are represented by the smaller, colored boxes secondary to 1.

  3. Instances of Sales in quantity are represented by the size of 2. The larger the box, the higher the quantity.

  4. Instances of Sales in revenue are represented by the color of 2, in a gradient. The darker the color (towards the right side of the gradient legend - which might denote millions of dollars), the higher the sales in revenue.

Although the display looks simple at first glance, note that sizes of both the primary and secondary boxes are shown relative to each other, as well as the colors of the boxes (in a relative gradient). You can compare how divisions are doing relative to each other, as well as how companies are doing relative to each other.

It is easy in a heatmap to note standouts within a large pool of data. For example, in this result:

  • The company represented by the largest sub-box (in the Financials division in the upper-left corner) has the highest sales in quantity.

  • The company represented by the darkest sub-box (in the Industrials division) has the highest sales in revenue.