Displaying relational members

For relational data sources, you can show or hide members in the data module tree for a column.

Also, you can set the sort order for members when they are displayed in the data module tree, or in visualizations in dashboards, stories, explorations, and reports that use the data module as their source. By default, IBM® Cognos® Analytics loads items in the order that was defined in the data source.

You can control whether the column values are sorted, the sort order, what rule defines a sort order, and where nulls are placed.

Starting with IBM Cognos Analytics 12.0.1, automatic sorting and custom sorting is available.

About this task

Members display properties are specified at the column level, for non-measure columns.

Procedure

  1. Select one or multiple non-measure columns in the same or different tables.
  2. In the application bar, click the properties icon Properties icon to open the properties panel.
  3. On the General tab, locate the Members display property, and select one of the following Display options:
    • Automatic

      Members can be expanded in the data tree. Sorting is enabled, and members are sorted by the current column. Sort order is Ascending. This is the default setting.

    • Show members

      Members can be expanded in the data tree. You can select the column to sort by, and set the sort order to Ascending or Descending. The members that are shown in the data tree don't dynamically adjust to the changed sort order. Use the Refresh members action from the column context menu for the sort order to be reflected in the data tree.

      The column to sort by should be related one-for-one to the current column. If you map the sort-by column to a column that is less unique than the current column, the output will be sorted randomly and grouping of the data results will be misaligned.

    • Hide members

      Members can't be expanded in the data tree. Previously shown members are removed, and new members can't be loaded for the column.

    • Custom

      Sorting is enabled, and members are sorted according to the custom sort order that is automatically specified or manually defined in the data module.

  4. Save the data module.

Results

The members display that is specified in the data module is used as the default display in the metadata tree of dashboards, stories, and explorations. The members sort order can be overwritten in visualizations.