Active Report Chart Filtered by 3 Dropdown Data Lists

[maced62]

Folks,

Still pretty new at Report Studio and I am trying to make a specific report work but first the deets on my environment:
a) Using Cognos 10.2.2
b) Using relational data
c) Military environment so screenshots may be redacted or not included
d) I have searched this forum and numerous YouTube video's and still can't quite find a solution.

I am trying to create an Active Report with a line chart and 3 dropdown data lists to filter the chart.  I created a structure using blocks to hold each dropdown (extra block in between each with 5px padding top and bottom for spacing).  The line chart was added to a data deck in the last block.  I created a connection between each dropdown and the chart (using Select Data Deck) and created a Master/Detail relationship that includes each of the filter items.  One thing to note is that I am not trying to cascade the dropdowns, each one should filter on its own.  I have tried doing this with and without a No Value List Item and the behavior just doesn't work right.  With all dropdowns set to "All", the list filters correctly for all values.  If I choose the first item in the first dropdown and leave the other two as "all", it filters but uses the first item of each subsequent dropdown even if they are not selected.

My issue/question: does Active Report support multiple dropdowns or other data items to filter lists/charts/etc.?  Again, I am not trying to cascade the dropdowns unless that is the solution and in that case would appreciate a quick primer.  If I haven't included enough info for a good picture, please let me know and I will provide as much as possible.  Data is not classified or Privacy Act/PII but I still have to be cautious.  I have attached a screen capture of my basic layout.

[MFGF]

Folks,

Still pretty new at Report Studio and I am trying to make a specific report work but first the deets on my environment:
a) Using Cognos 10.2.2
b) Using relational data
c) Military environment so screenshots may be redacted or not included
d) I have searched this forum and numerous YouTube video's and still can't quite find a solution.

I am trying to create an Active Report with a line chart and 3 dropdown data lists to filter the chart.  I created a structure using blocks to hold each dropdown (extra block in between each with 5px padding top and bottom for spacing).  The line chart was added to a data deck in the last block.  I created a connection between each dropdown and the chart (using Select Data Deck) and created a Master/Detail relationship that includes each of the filter items.  One thing to note is that I am not trying to cascade the dropdowns, each one should filter on its own.  I have tried doing this with and without a No Value List Item and the behavior just doesn't work right.  With all dropdowns set to "All", the list filters correctly for all values.  If I choose the first item in the first dropdown and leave the other two as "all", it filters but uses the first item of each subsequent dropdown even if they are not selected.

My issue/question: does Active Report support multiple dropdowns or other data items to filter lists/charts/etc.?  Again, I am not trying to cascade the dropdowns unless that is the solution and in that case would appreciate a quick primer.  If I haven't included enough info for a good picture, please let me know and I will provide as much as possible.  Data is not classified or Privacy Act/PII but I still have to be cautious.  I have attached a screen capture of my basic layout.

Hi,

The problem here is that you are using an approach that works when none of the variables are set (using the default card of the data deck), but as soon as you set at least one variable then you jump to a regular card of the data deck. The issue is that in every regular card other than the default card, values for all three variables were used when the card was rendered. This is the way data decks work - the report takes all variable value combinations and renders a card for each combination when the report output is being created. When you interact with the output using your controls, you are just flipping from one pre-rendered card to another.

You're using Cognos 10.2.2, so that means you have the ability to upload and use RAVE visualizations rather than regular charts. With regular charts, the AVS charting engine is server-side, and this means charts cannot be re-rendered on the fly in an active report output - instead the system renders the charts as png images as the active report output is being generated, and you use a data deck to define cards for the different pre-rendered chart combinations. With RAVE visualizations, however, the viz engine is client-side, and this means you can re-render visualizations on-the-fly within an active report output. It sounds to me like this is what you need here.

The approach is to dump the data deck and the regular line chart, and replace all that with a line visualization. You can add extra items to the visualization for the values not displayed but that you need to filter on. Then set up links between your dropdown data lists and your line visualization - but using the FILTER behaviour rather than SELECT.

Cheers!

MF.

[maced62]

Thanks MF!

Looking at this approach now.

maced62