Advanced in Excel Stories
Context member
Users may see the Context Member value under the dimensions assigned to the dynamic axis and filter. Essentially, a context member is the default value/member predefined for a dimension. When this dimension is chosen for the dynamic axis, this default value will be automatically populated to make the dimension valid. If a Context Member is selected for any dimension and saved in the report, the system will create a section called User Parameters in the Tasks screen.
Enable User Selection
Selection is activated when the Enable User Selection option in the dynamic dimension is checked. This allows users to choose a specific member for the selected dimension. Later, when the report is created and attached to the relevant process flow in JustPerform, the end user can see the Selection section in the Activities screen. Parameters are shown when a Context Member is selected for a dynamic dimension or when the user goes to Function to insert Context Members to be displayed in the report header in the sheet.
Comparison between the Selection and Parameters Sections
|
Selection |
Parameters |
|---|---|---|
How to activate |
By checking the Enable User Selection option when defining the dimension for the dynamic axis. |
1) By selecting the Context Member when defining Dimension for dynamic axis. 2) By selecting the Context dimension and members in Function. |
Where to display |
1) TASKS screen 2) ACTIVITIES screen: Selection portion after the report/template is attached to a step of the process flow. |
1) TASKS screen 2) ACTIVITIES screen à Selection portion: after report/ template is attached to step of process flow |
Purpose |
To enable user to select desired members when generating report. Based on this decision, system will show relevant calculation results/ outcomes. |
To show context/ defaulted value of report dimensions. Basically, a default member of a dimension can be predefined as user creates Process Flow and assigns Instance, or when user creates Module in JustPerform. |
Remark |
|
Initially, values of Context Members are defined by Owner when creating Flow and Instance in JustPerform Interface. From end user perspective, as selecting any instance to perform or execute, defaulted values from Instance will be set for Parameters. |
Once the template or report is attached to a specific sub-step/task in the process flow, the parameters of this template will be aligned with the instance (defined in the flow). Below is the sequence of parameter creation in the template and its linkage to the flow:
Create a template and assign a Context Member to any desired dimension (in report axis or using Function). An example of a dimension with a Context Member can be VERSION and PROJECT. The Parameters section will be shown in the TASKS screen.
Upload the template onto the JustPerform platform and attach it to a suitable sub-step.
Create an Instance in the platform with selections of basis for Instance creation (this is defined in Flow > Sub-step and Instance creation. Please refer to the Process Flow Manuals document).
Open the template in the JustPerform Excel Add-in, then refresh it from the ACTIVITIES screen. The user may see the Context Members (by dimensions) reflected and displayed in the template (Version and Project defined for the relevant sub-step will be updated).
Note: From ACTIVITIES screen: Parameters are not shown, and if the template is refreshed, Context Members based on the Instance will be reflected in the template. From TASKS screen: Parameters are shown on the panel, and the user can select desired members for each dimension. Upon refresh, the selected ones will be displayed in the template, and based on this, data will be retrieved.
Function
Depending on requirements, users can structure a report with header and body parts, where the header shows general information and report context, such as report title, version, time, and entity. Meanwhile, the body will be a table with row and column axis members and the data grid. The body part is already defined in Report Editor, and the header can be inserted in the report using Function.
There is a connection between Function and Parameters displayed in the Tasks screen, as both functionalities are activated and enabled when Context Members are chosen in axis definition. If any dimension in the report is defined based on Context Member, the Parameters section will appear in the Tasks screen and show this dimension. On the other hand, when the user clicks on the Function symbol to create the report header, they can select desired member attributes to be displayed in the header. Then the dimensions selected as Context will be displayed in the Parameters section as well.
For example, the user can decide Entity and Version dimensions to be defined as Context Member. Then the Parameters section will be shown with these two dimensions and filter for user selection. If the user wants to create a report header with Entity information, they need to click on the Function symbol and provide values in the mandatory fields. To complete the definition activity, the user clicks on the Update then Refresh button to view the desired information in the Excel sheet. If any details are no longer used, the user can click on the Dustbin icon at Context to remove the undesired ones.