You can use a prompt filter to create a question that appears each time the document data is refreshed. You answer the prompt by entering or selecting values. The available options depend on the parameter settings in the Query panel.
For example, you can use a prompt query filter to create a document that shows sales revenue by state. The filter prompts you to select a product category each time the data is refreshed. This approach does not limit the data to one product category, such as jewelry. Instead, you select the product category that interests you at that time.
You can add prompts to any dimension, measure, or attribute listed in the Data Outline pane of the Query panel.
Create a Prompt
To create a prompt, you need to select the Prompt operand.
Prompt Properties
The Prompt Properties dialog box provides options such as:
- Prompt text: Enter the prompt text that asks users to select a value. This text appears each time you refresh the document.
- Prompt hint: Enter a hint to help users answer prompts in the Prompts dialog box.
- Select only from list: Choose this option to prevent the entry of values that are not in the database.
- Optional prompt: Choose this option to ignore the prompt. In this case, all data appears in the report.
For more information about this topic, please read SAP BusinessObjects Web Intelligence User's Guide
Tip: Purge Data
When you publish a document in a public folder or save it in your personal folder, it is best to purge the Web Intelligence document data.
Purging data has these benefits:
- Improved document performance: Purging data reduces the amount of data stored, which leads to faster query processing and report generation.
- Data privacy and security: Purging data helps protect the privacy and security of the information in the document. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches and ensures that only the needed data is available to authorized users.
After you purge the data, the document shows an empty set of values. The structure and formatting of the document remain. You can run the query later to return up-to-date values from the data source.
Let's Summarize What You've Learned
- Use prompt filters to let users select specific data when refreshing a document.
- Display a list of values to help users choose their input.
- Customize prompt text and hints to guide user selections.
- Purge document data to improve performance and increase data security.