Edit Layer dialog

Use this dialog to edit a layer from the Layers tab of the "Administration: Manage Map Data page." One important task is to associate the layer of spatial data with data for Oracle BI EE.

Spatial data is managed in MapViewer and stored in an Oracle Database. To display data for Oracle BI EE on a map, you must associate a spatial layer with the appropriate columns of data from the Oracle BI Server. The combinations of BI data columns are referred to as "BI Keys." When you associate the layer of spatial data with data for Oracle BI EE, that layer becomes available for use with the specified columns in the specified subject areas.

For more information, see "Administering Maps" in System Administrator's Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition.

Components

Name

Use this field to enter the name of the layer.

Location

Displays the location of the layer in the data source from MapViewer. Click the Location button to display the "Import Layers dialog" for importing a different layer.

Description

Use this field to enter the description of the layer, which is displayed in the following locations:

On the Layers tab of the Administration page.
When you hover over the layer name in the Map Formats area when editing the map.

Layer Key

Use this box to select the column of spatial data from MapViewer to associate with data for Oracle BI EE. Each column value corresponds to a shape that is stored in the Oracle database. For example, a MY_CITIES layer might have a layer key called CITY. By default, the selected value is a "best guess" at the appropriate column. Use the list to select the appropriate column.

Click the Sample Data link to display an actual value for that column that you can use as an example.

If the box is empty, then the administrator must define the key column for the shapes in the spatial table for that layer in MapViewer. The map is drawn only where common values exist between the spatial data column and the associated column of Oracle BI EE data. Otherwise, the map might show a white area to indicate a missing value. To verify that common values exist for the two columns, display the column of Oracle BI EE data in the Oracle BI Administration Tool and review its values. In MapViewer, verify that the associated layer contains all the appropriate geometry definitions for the values in the corresponding column of Oracle BI EE data.

The following list provides the reasons why a white area might be drawn, using the country of Mexico as an example:

The column has a null value for the country of Mexico, but a shape exists for Mexico in the spatial column.
The column has a value for the country of Mexico, but no shape exists for Mexico in the spatial column.
The column has a value for the country of Mexico and the shape exists for Mexico in the spatial column, but the names are mismatched. The BI column might have the value MEX and the spatial column might have MXC.

BI Key Delimiter

Available only when multiple columns are specified for one key. Use this field to enter a single ASCII character (such as a comma or underscore) to function as a delimiter for combining the BI data columns that form a key.

Geometry Type

Use this box to specify whether the layer is a polygon, point, or line geometry layer. The specification for a layer affects the formatting that can be applied to that layer.

BI Key Columns Area

Use this area to select the columns of data from the Oracle BI Server to associate with the layer. You can have multiple columns associated with a single layer. You can select multiple columns from one subject area or from multiple subject areas. The columns and delimiter that you select must exactly match the name of the Layer Key value. Suppose the Layer Key value is STATE_CITY. You must select the STATE and CITY BI data columns and specify the underscore character as the delimiter for use in creating the BI Key to associate with the layer.

Click the following options:

Add New BI Key — Displays the list of available subject areas. When you select one, the "Select BI Key Columns dialog" is displayed in which you select one or more columns of BI data to associate with the layer.
Delete BI Key — Deletes the selected key from the Key area.
Edit BI Key — Displays the "Select BI Key Columns dialog" where you edit the BI data columns for the selected key.
Sample Data — Displays an actual value for that column that you can use as an example. Ensure that the values for the data column match those from the spatial data column.

When a content designer creates a map view, a default main map is selected as the basis for that map view. If at least one data column from the analysis is associated with a layer that is associated with a main map, then that main map is selected by default.

Show Qualified Names

Use this box to specify whether to display the fully qualified name of the column in the BI Key Columns Area or simply the column name.