Parameters

Parameters are dynamic values that can take the place of constant values in calculations. You can create a calculated field that references a parameter. When you update the parameter value, the calculation of the calculated field is updated. For example, a calculated field returns 1 if Sales is greater than $10,000 and returns 0 otherwise. Instead of using a constant numeric value of 10,000, you can use a parameter. Then you can adjust the parameter value by using the parameter control. 

Contents

• Create a Parameter
• Show Parameter Control
• Edit and Manage Parameters

Create a Parameter

To create a parameter

1. In the Parameters pane, right-click and choose Create Parameter.
   
2. In the Create Parameter dialog, do the following:
   • Give a name to the parameter. 
   • (Optional) Click Tooltip and create a tooltip that explains the parameter.
     
   • Select a data type from the following and specify a current value. 
     
   • Set its allowable values from the following:
     • All - This selection allows free-form typing of values in the current values input.
       
     • List - This selection presents a form so you can define a dropdown list of individually selectable items to use as the current value. You can either type the values in the Value list or copy and paste a list of values from a different source by clicking Paste from Clipboard. In the Paste Data dialog, choose the required options from the drop-down and then click Paste.
       
     • Range - This selection presents a range input selector for setting the current value. The Step Size determines how the value will increment either up or down to achieve the nearest acceptable value. If DATE or DATE TIME data types are used, the step size can increment in units of years, quarters, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes or seconds. The data type determines the availability of these options. For example, a string data type does not support range. 
       
   • When finished, click Save. The parameter is displayed in the Parameters pane. When you hover your mouse on the parameter, Visual Analytics will display the tooltip.
     

Show Parameter Control

To show parameter control deck

• Right-click the parameter and choose Show Parameter Control. A new Parameter Control Deck is displayed on the right side of the Visual Analytics window.
  

You can use this deck to quickly adjust the parameter's value without having to launch the Edit Parameter dialog from within the Parameters pane.

Each parameter's Control Deck value can be individually adjusted, similar to how each filter in Filter Deck can adjust individual filters.

Edit and Manage Parameters

• To edit parameter properties, from the Parameters pane, right-click a parameter and then choose Edit. You can edit all parameter properties in the Edit Parameter.
  
• To make a copy of a parameter, right-click a parameter and click Duplicate. Visual Analytics creates a copy of the parameter and appends the name to <parameter name>(Copy). 
  
• To rename a parameter, right-click the parameter and click Rename. In the Rename Field dialog, type the new name and click Rename. 
  
• To delete a parameter, right-click the parameter and click Delete.
  
  If you have created a calculated field using a parameter then you cannot delete that parameter before deleting the calculated field. 
  
  If the parameter is being used in multiple sheets, then on deleting this parameter, all worksheets where the deleted parameter was used will be affected.