Hi,
I'm using parameters to have my users select the metrics they want to appear in a dashboard.
I don't know if you're familiar with it, but all I have to do is create a graph, and instead of putting a measure (say 'Number of visits) in either columns or rows, I add a calculated field that says something like this :
IF [Paramètres].[Activity Measure] = 'nb_visits' THEN [nb_visits]
ELSEIF [Paramètres].[Activity Measure] = 'nb_purchases' THEN [nb_purchases]
END
The [Paramètres].[Activity Measure] will be what the user chooses in the drop down menu above the graph.
This works very well and I use it all the time. Although, there's one thing that sometimes prevents me from using it : i can only use one data format for the whole calculated field, even though sometimes the user will choose a ratio, a currently or an absolute value.
Therefore, my ratio won't have '%' and my currencies will not have a '€' in the reports, among other issues.
Would you know a trick to work around this presentation issue ?
Thanks a lot,
Hugo
I had this exact problem. Here is what I did.
I have this calc:[Current Values]
// special note: Certain [Metric] values are dollars. Others are units.
// This calc turns the dollars into negative numbers. We use a special custom formatting
// on this calc to display negative numbers with a dollar sign instead of a negative.
// It's a hack, but it's pretty cute, eh?// the same technique is used for Target and Prior.
if attr([Metric]) = "Donations" or attr([Metric]) = "Yield per Donor" then -1*SUM([Current Total]) else SUM([Current Total]) end
So for my metrics that are dollars, I end up with a negative value. For metrics that are units, I end up with the original value. (In my report, all metrics are positive numbers, which is key for me. More on this later.)
Then in the Measures list I did right click on [Current Values], and chose "Default Properties" --> "Number Format". Choose CUSTOM format, and enter this format string:
#,###; "$ "#,###
The semicolon (I highlighted it in red) tells Tableau to make a special format for negative numbers based on the format after the semicolon. You'll probably want to do this for the % measure.
The only drawback to this hack is that if you actually have a negative percent, this will blow up on you because your negative percent will be multiplied by -1 and turned into a positive.If that's the case, then consider creating a calc that outputs a character string, and it re-format your various measures according to the parameter chosen by the user.
