Displaying the Results of Analyses

This procedure is a step in the process for constructing an analysis. For more information, see "What Is the Process for Constructing Analyses?"

You use the "Analysis editor: Results tab" to add different views of the results such as graphs, tickers, and pivot tables. For a list of the views that you can add, see "What Types of Views Are Available?"

When you create an analysis and display the Results tab, you see in the "Compound Layout" a title view and either a table or pivot table view by default, based on the following:

If the analysis contains only attribute columns and measure columns, then a table is displayed by default.
If the analysis contains at least one hierarchical column, then a pivot table is displayed by default.

The administrator might have configured different views to display by default in the Results tab.

You can combine views and position them anywhere in the Compound Layout. For example, you can create side-by-side pivot tables that reflect different views of the data, graphs that allow you to explore interrelationships in depth, and filters that limit the results.

Together all of these views are called a compound layout. You can create additional compound layouts, as described in "Creating Additional Compound Layouts."

To display the results of an analysis:

Click the Results tab.

The results of the analysis are displayed in a table or pivot table.
(Optional) Edit the table or pivot table or add additional views. For more information, see "Adding Views for Display in Dashboards."

Creating Additional Compound Layouts

As you work with an analysis, you can create multiple compound layouts that use different combinations of views. For example, one layout might include a graph and a title, and another layout might include a graph and a narrative view. When you add the analysis to a dashboard page, you can select which layout you want to include on that page.

To create additional compound layouts:

Click the "Analysis editor: Results tab."
Create another compound layout in the "Compound Layout" by clicking one of the following buttons on the toolbar of the Results tab:
- Create Compound Layout — Creates a new instance of the compound layout.
- Duplicate Compound Layout — Creates a copy of the current compound layout, with the same views.

Alerting Users to No Data in the Results of Analyses

When the results of an analysis return no data, the following default message is displayed to users:

No Results
The specified criteria didn't result in any data.
This is often caused by applying filters and/or selections that are too restrictive or that contain incorrect values.
Please check your Analysis Filters and try again.
The filters currently being applied are shown below.

Rather than display the default message, you can create a customized message to alert users. This message enables you to provide your own explanation for why the analysis returned no data.

To create a custom message to alert users to no data in the results of an analysis:

Edit the analysis to which you want to add a custom message.
Click the "Analysis editor: Results tab."
Click the Analysis Properties toolbar button. The "Analysis Properties dialog" is displayed.
In the No Results Settings box, select Display Custom Message.
In the Header field, enter the text of the header for the custom message.
In the Message field, enter the explanatory text.
Click OK.