Manage Attributes

In xpna, hierarchies come with a default set of attributes, which can be extended by adding custom attributes. Each attribute may also have associated formats. For more details, refer to the Attributes section in the glossary.

Note:

Attributes can be added to all hierarchies except Scenario.

Examples

Here are some examples of attributes that could be useful in various contexts:

• Region hierarchy Add a size attribute to classify regions by different metrics, such as small, medium, large, or extra-large.
• Period hierarchy Add a 4-4-5 attribute to specify which 4-4-5 period a given year or month belongs to.
• Project hierarchy Add a status attribute to enable reporting based on the project's status.

Adding an Attribute

To add an attribute to a hierarchy, use the Manage attributes button in Members and hierarchies for the selected hierarchy. This will insert the attributes into a new worksheet and switch the Taskpane to the Attribute Table context.

Use the add button to create a new attribute for the hierarchy. A new column will be added to the attribute table, with the specified name.

There are two configuration options for an attribute:

• Show in card
• Create subset

Show in Card

If Show in card is selected, the attribute value for a member will be displayed in the member's entity card.

Note:

Displaying multiple attributes in the entity card may affect the performance of the core Microsoft Excel calculation engine.

Create Subset

If Create subset is selected, a subset or group will be created for the attributes, which can be used in the xpna.MEMBER formula and subsequently in the xpna.DATA formula, similar to a standard roll-up group within the hierarchy.

Note:

These subset groups cannot be drilled down like other members. Subsets will work with Drill to transactions.

Modifying Attribute Values

Once an attribute is created, a new column will appear in the attribute table. The values in this column can be text or numeric, and any number format applied to the column will be derived from the first cell and stored with the attribute.

Note:

Not all members are required to have a value assigned. Members with the same value will be rolled up into that "group."

Saving an Attribute

When an attribute is saved, the entire table is sent to the xpna service for processing into the data model. The table will be fully reloaded to ensure data integrity.

Note:

If Excel formulas are used to generate values for an attribute column, these formulas will be replaced by the computed values when the attribute is saved. Once saved, the worksheet containing the attribute table can be safely deleted, similar to a Drill to transactions worksheet.