6 Stories
6.2 Working with a Story
Once you open a story, you can edit pages, sections, and elements as you like. A story can contain multiple pages. The tasks you can perform include the following:
Task More Information
Add a chart, text, image, or pictogram. Add Tiles to a Canvas [page 125] Apply a story filter. Applying a Story or Page Filter [page 129] Format a story. Formatting a Story [page 133]
Task More Information Filter or exclude data points in a chart. Chart Filters [page 141]
Drill through hierarchical data in a chart. Drilling through Hierarchical Data [page 143] Add a story to a discussion. Collaboration for Stories [page 149]
6.2.1 Story Preferences
You can use the Preferences menu to perform the following tasks:
Table 21:
Preference option Description
Maintain Pages Create, delete, and rename pages in your story.
Edit Edit your story's title or description.
Share Change your sharing settings for the story.
New Discussion Add a new discussion for the story.
Delete Delete the story.
6.2.2 Explore Your Data
You can start creating a story for your data, by experimenting with filters and charts in the Explorer.
In the Explorer, you see a faceted view of your data, which you can manipulate to generate charts for your story pages. When you select measures and dimensions in the upper pane, the visualization in the lower pane updates in real time.
You can filter dimensions by selecting individual members, and the visualization changes immediately to show you the filtered result.
In addition to this Data Exploration mode, you can also use the Data Manipulation mode, which lets you perform simple data wrangling, such as specifying which column is a measure and which is a dimension.
Note
The Data Manipulation mode is available only when you acquire data by dragging an Excel file onto the Home
6.2.2.1
Accessing the Explorer
You can access the Explorer to begin creating a story for your data.
Procedure
1. From the Home screen of SAP Cloud for Analytics, select Explore Your Data.
Note
If you've pinned any objects, for example a chart, to the Home screen, the Explore Your Data shortcut doesn't appear. Access the Explorer using one of the alternative methods described in step 2.
2. In the Add Data dialog, select Existing Data to add data from an existing model, or Import File to import data from a source file, or Connect to Google Drive to import data from a file stored on your Google Drive. A new story is created, with your data shown in the Explorer (the tab to the left of the “Page 1” tab). The Explorer displays your data in a faceted view, with a visualization area below it.
Alternative methods for accessing the Explorer:
○ From the main menu, select Stories, and then either open an existing story or create a new one. At any time when you're working on a story, you can select the Explorer (the tab to the left of your page tabs).
○ Drag an Excel file to the Home screen, and choose the I'm Feeling Lucky option. Your data is displayed in the Explorer in a new story.
○ Drag an Excel file to the Home screen, and choose the Prepare Dataset option. Your data is displayed in the Explorer in Data Manipulation mode. After you prepare your data, you can switch to Data Exploration
mode.
3. Select measures and dimensions to add them to the visualization, or select individual members to filter a dimension.
To help you find dimension members, you can search for them. Hover over the dimension name in the facet panel, and then select the Search icon to display the search bar. Note: searching in the facet panel is not supported for date type dimensions.
You can also display additional information about the members in the facet panel. Hover over the dimension name in the facet panel, select Access Other Interactions (the ellipsis icon), and then select Show Measure.
○ For analytic view datasets, you can select Occurrences to display the number of times that member occurs in the dimension. Or you can select a measure from the list, to display the sum of that measure for each dimension member.
○ For planning models, select Accounts to display the sum of a selected measure (account) for each dimension member.
If you display the occurrences or sums, you can also sort the dimension by that information. Hover over the dimension name in the facet panel, select Access Other Interactions, and then select Sort Highest to Lowest or
Note
Only flat dimensions can be sorted. Sorting dimension values for hierarchical dimensions (for example, dimensions belonging to planning models, or a hierarchical dimension defined in an analytic view dataset) is not supported.
You can choose whether selecting members includes them in your visualization or excludes them. Selected members are included in your visualization by default, but to exclude them, hover over the dimension name in the facet panel, select Access Other Interactions, and then select Exclude.
Some models contain many dimensions. You can specify which dimensions you want to operate on in the Explorer by selecting the Show or Hide Dimensions icon.
4. If the suggested visualization type isn't suitable, you can change it to any of the types supported for your data. When you're happy with your visualization, you can copy it to a page in your story.
If you want to clear your visualization settings and start again, select the ellipsis icon in the visualization area, and select Clear Chart. All measures, dimensions, and members are deselected, the sort order is reset to Sort Ascending, and filter selection mode is reset to Include. However, all hidden dimensions remain hidden. 5. Switch to Data Manipulation mode if you want to perform any data preparation or wrangling.
○ When you make changes in the Data Manipulation mode, previous selections made in the Data Exploration
mode are cleared.
○ The Data Manipulation mode is available only for datasets acquired by dragging a data file onto the Home
screen (using the I'm Feeling Lucky or Prepare Dataset workflows), or when choosing Import File in the
Add Data dialog.
6.2.3 Add Tiles to a Canvas
From the Add menu, you can add tiles to the canvas pages of your story. Tiles are charts, visualizations, text, images, pictograms and so on. They can be resized and moved around the canvas to help you better tell your story.
Table 22:
Element Description Use
Charts Charts created in Reports or in
Stories
You can create a new chart from a model, choose a chart saved to the story, or add a chart from the gallery to the story.
Visualizations Pinned visualizations created in
Reports
You can add a pinned visualization to the story.
Dynamic Table (Beta)
An organized presentation of data from a selected model in a table view
You can add a Dynamic Table to the story.
Geo Map A geographical map overlaid with your business data
You can add a Geo Map to the story to perform geospatial analysis. For more details, see Analyzing Geographical Data.
Element Description Use
Images Images that describe or comple ment a chart
You can select an image that is available or upload a new image from your computer.
To add .jpg, .jpeg, .png, or .gif files, choose Add Local Image .
Pictograms Icons that represent real-world objects (for example, people, electronic devices, animals and plants, transport vehicles, and more)
You can select icons and symbols from the theme categories or upload a new pictogram from your computer.
Text Text that describes or comple ments a chart
You can add a block of text to your story to write your comments or other relevant information.
6.2.3.1
Uploading Custom Pictograms
Before you can add your own vector graphics to stories, you must upload the graphics.
Procedure
1. Select Pictograms from the top navigation panel. 2. Select the Upload Pictograms icon.
3. Choose the vector graphics file to add, and select Open. The file must be an SVG file with valid XML encoding.
6.2.4 Linked Dimensions
You can link dimensions between multiple models.
Linking dimensions between models allows you to simultaneously filter all charts that use the linked data. You can also create blended charts using data in linked models.
6.2.4.1
Creating Linked Dimensions
You can create links between dimensions in multiple models.
Procedure
1. Select the Link Dimensions icon. The Link Dimensions dialog appears.
Note
If linked dimensions have previously been added to the story, they will appear in the dialog. Select Start a New Model Link to create a new link.
2. Select a model from the list of models included in your story, or select Add Model to search through the models you have access to.
The first model you choose is treated as the primary model. Primary models are useful for chart blending. 3. Choose a dimension.
Note
When you hover over a dimension you can preview the dimension values. 4. Choose a second model and choose a dimension to link to.
5. Select Set.
Results
Linked dimensions appear in the dialog. If you create a filter that use a linked dimension, all charts that include the data will update simultaneously. You can also create blended charts that display data from both linked models.
Related Information
6.2.4.2 Editing Linked Dimensions
You can edit linked dimensions.
Procedure
1. Select the Link Dimensions icon.
The Link Dimensions dialog appears. All linked dimensions added to the story will be listed. 2. Choose a linked dimension and select the Edit Link icon beside it.
3. Change the models or dimensions used, then select Set.
Results
All charts that include the edited dimension link will update simultaneously.
Related Information
Applying a Story or Page Filter [page 129] Creating Linked Dimensions [page 127]
6.2.5 Story and Page Filters
Use story and page filters to narrow the scope of your analysis.
The Story Filter allows you to apply filters for all charts in a Story that are based on the same model. The Page Filter is the same as a Story Filter, but applies to just one page in a story.
Note
The Story Filter is only enabled after you have added at least one chart to your story. You can also apply a filter to a single chart. See the related links.
Related Information
Chart Filters [page 141]6.2.5.1
Applying a Story or Page Filter
Prerequisites
The Story Filter is only enabled after you have added at least one chart to your Story.
Procedure
1. Apply a filter in one of these ways:
○ For a story filter, select Story Filter on the top navigation panel. In the resultant navigation panel, select the Add Story Filter icon.
○ For a page filter, select Add Input Control on the top navigation panel.
2. Select the dimension you want to filter from the list. To create a filter based on a dimension from another dataset, select the name of the current dataset to see the list of available datasets and then select the name of the dataset you want.
Note
Certain dimensions, for example date dimensions, can be filtered either by choosing members from a list or by selecting a range. To filter by choosing members, choose the option Filter by Member. To filter by selecting a range, skip to step 5.
3. In the Available Members area of the Set filters dialog, select the checkbox beside the members you want to filter.
You can use the Search function to find the members you want. 4. Ensure that the members in the Selected Members area are correct
5. To filter certain dimensions by selecting a range, choose the option Filter by Range instead of Filter by Member.
6. Choose whether you want viewers of the story to be allowed to specify the effective filter values from a list of filter values that you define. You can choose to allow a single filter value or multiple filter values.
If you allow viewers to specify filter values, they can either toggle on and off each filter value (if you chose the
Multiple Selections option), or select a single filter value (if you chose the Single Selection option). 7. Select OK to create the filter.
Related Information
Chart Filters [page 141]6.2.5.2 Converting a Story Filter to a Page Filter
Convert a story filter to a page filter if you want the filter to apply only to the charts on one story page.
Context
After creating a story filter, the filter appears in the filter bar below the toolbar. You can convert a story filter to a page filter on a canvas page.
Procedure
1. With a canvas page open, select a story filter from the filter bar. 2. Select Add Control to Page.
The new filter appears as an object on the canvas page. You can resize the filter object by selecting it and dragging its sizing handles. If you enlarge the filter object, it becomes an input control that you can use to select filter values.
For example, if the filter is set to allow viewers to change the filter values, and to allow multiple filter values, you can enlarge the filter object on the page so that the filter values appear in a list, with check boxes. Then you can change filter values by selecting and deselecting the check boxes.
6.2.5.3 Converting a Page Filter to a Story Filter
You can convert a page filter to a story filter if you want the filter to apply to all pages in the story.
Procedure
6.2.5.4 Changing Story and Page Filter Values
When viewing a story that contains a filter, you may be able to change the filter values.
Context
A story's creator can specify whether viewers of the story will be allowed to change the filter values.
Procedure
1. With a story open, select an existing story filter from the filter bar below the toolbar, or select a page filter on a canvas page.
The filter values are shown.
Note: If the page filter hasn't been enlarged to become an input control, select the page filter twice to see the filter values. If the page filter has been enlarged to become an input control, the filter values are shown in the input control.
2. If the story's creator has allowed multiple filter value selection, you can toggle on and off the filter values. If the story's creator has allowed only single filter value selection, you can choose which filter value you want to apply to the story.
You can also search for member names by selecting the Search icon (magnifying glass) above the list of values.
Related Information
Applying a Story or Page Filter [page 129]
6.2.6 Designer Panel
The Designer panel allows you to format pages, sections, and elements.
Table 23: Page Settings panel
Formatting element Options
Size Select Standard (4:3), Wide Screen (16:9), or
Formatting element Options
Background Color Select a background color for the page.
Show Grid Select ON to display grid lines on the page, or
OFF to hide grid lines. Table 24: Section Color panel
Formatting element Options
Background color Select a background color for this section of the page.
Table 25: Element Properties panel
Page element Formatting element
Text Text Properties
● Font: Select the font style, size, and color for text.
● Alignment: Select the paragraph justification for text.
● Lists: Add bulleted or numbered lists to text.
Images Image Properties
● Display Mode: Select how to handle image scaling.
○ Contain: The entire image is contained in the frame, maintaining the image's aspect ratio.
○ Cover: The image is scaled to cover or fill the entire frame, maintaining the image's aspect ra tio. Some parts of the image may be cropped.
○ Stretched: The entire image is stretched to fit in the entire frame.
○ Pan: The image is scaled to fill the horizontal dimension of the frame. The bottom of the image may be cropped.
● Background Color: Select a background color for the picture.
● Image Actions: Add, edit, or remove a hyperlink.
Pictograms Pictogram Properties
● Fill Color: Select the fill color for the pictogram.
● Line Color: Select the line color for the pictogram.
6.2.6.1
Formatting a Story
A story includes one or more pages, and each page can include one or more sections.
Context
You can format the general appearance of each page, section, and element used on the page.
Procedure
1. Open the page of the story to format and select the Designer panel on the top navigation panel. The Designer panel displays the options available.
2. Select page formatting options as needed. 3. Select an element on the page.
The Designer panel displays options available for this section and element. 4. Select section and element formatting options as needed.
5. Save the story.
6.2.6.2 Linking to an External URL
You can add a hyperlink to an external URL from an image, chart, or pictogram.
Procedure
1. Select the image or pictogram to link from, and select the Add or Edit Hyperlink icon. 2. In the URL box, enter the URL of the external web page.
3. If you want the link to open in a new window, select the Open in new window checkbox. 4. Select OK.
6.2.6.3 Scaling Charts
If multiple charts in a story contain the same measure, the measure values may be scaled differently in different charts, which can make comparisons difficult. You can scale the charts so that measures have the same scale across multiple charts.
Context
Note
● Chart scaling is applied to all of the pages in a story, but the scaling may be different for the same measure on different pages, because the scaling factor is calculated separately for each page.
● You can exclude charts from the scaling, for example if a chart contains data that is much larger than the data in other charts, making the other charts look small.
Procedure
1. Open the story that contains the charts you want to scale, and select the Designer panel. 2. From the drop-down list, select Chart Scaling.
3. Select the measures that you want to scale.
The affected charts in the story are rescaled automatically.
Note
Once a measure is included in an axis scaling rule, that measure can't be included in another axis scaling rule.
4. After scaling charts, you might want to set the bar widths in the scaled charts to a consistent size. To do so, hover over the axis scaling rule you just created under Chart Scaling on the Designer panel, and select Edit