How to Analyze Data in Microstrategy?
Sorting data
You can reorganize how data is displayed on your report by sorting the data. Sorting lets you move data so you can analyze that data more effectively. Consider the following sorting techniques:
- Move the most important data up to the top of the report where you can see it easily.
- Group particular chunks of data together so you can more easily compare the data.
You can sort on any column or row that is on a grid report. When you sort, you determine the sorting order, either ascending or descending:
- Ascending sort order arranges the data alphabetically, from A to Z, or lowest to highest, such as from 1 to 10.
- Descending sort order arranges the data in reverse alphabetic order, from Z to A, or highest to lowest, such as from 10 to 1.
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Quick sort
You can quickly sort the data in a column or row, in either ascending or descending order. A quick sort allows you to experiment with different sort orders for your data, so you can determine which sort order displays the data in the most useful way.
To perform a quick sort:
1. Open a grid report.
2. Right-click in the heading of the column or row to be sorted.
3. Point to Sort, and select either Ascending or Descending.
Finding values
Whenever you want to quickly locate a specific data value in a grid report, or you want to jump to a section of a large report, use the Find feature. You can also use the Find feature to locate a string in the SQL syntax, when viewing a report in SQL View.
To find a value in a report in Desktop:
1. Open a grid report.
2. From the View menu, display the report in the appropriate view, depending on what you want to find:
- Grid View or Grid Graph View, to find a value in the report
- SQL View to find a string in the SQL syntax
3. From the Edit menu, select Find. The Find dialog box opens.
4. Enter the value to search for and click Find Next. The first instance of the value is highlighted if the value is found.
5. Click Find Next again to search for additional instances of the value in the report.
Narrowing a search for report data
When searching for data in a report in Grid view, use any of the following options to narrow the results you get from a search using the Find feature. These options work similarly to Find options in Microsoft Excel
Searching by row or column
Search By Rows or By Columns allows you to set the direction of the search so that the data you are looking for may be located more quickly.
Making a search case-sensitive
Match case finds only text that has the same pattern of upper and lower case as the text you specify in the Find what text box. Use this option to make the search case-sensitive.
Finding an entire cell
Find entire cell finds only cells that match all of the text you enter in the Find what text box. For example, if you enter “3470”, a cell containing “3,470” will not be found. If you enter “50”, a cell containing “500” will not be found.
Narrowing a search for SQL syntax
You can use SQL view to searching for specific syntax in the SQL for a report. Use any of the following options to narrow the results you get from a search using the Find feature. These options work similarly to Find options in Microsoft Notepad.
Matching the whole word
Match whole word only finds only strings that match all of the text you enter in the Find what text box. For example, if you enter “temporary”, a string containing “temp” will not be found.
Making a search case-sensitive
Match case finds only text that has the same pattern of upper and lower case as the text you specify in the Find what text box. Use this option to make the search case-sensitive.