Filter Values Using Context

You can use one or more items to quickly focus your analysis on a particular view of the data. This technique is known as filtering using context.

For example, you have a crosstab showing products in the rows and revenue for different quarters in the columns. To change the context to Asia, you drag Asia from the source tree to the Context section of the overview area. The crosstab then shows only the values for Asia.

Changing context changes the values that appear. It does not limit or change the items in the rows or columns.

Note: You cannot use a set in the context section of the overview area if the filter rule of the set references automated subtotals such as More and Hidden, Subtotal (Included), or Subtotal (Excluded).

Steps

1. In the source tree, select or search for one or more items to filter on.

2. Drag the item that you want to filter on into the Context filter section of the overview area.

   A drop-down list box appears under Context filter.

3. Click the item that you want.

   The crosstab shows the results only for the selected item.

   Tips

   • You can right-click an item in the Context filter section of the overview area and click Use as "Go To" Parameter in the item’s drop-down menu to create a prompt that appears when you run the analysis in Cognos Viewer.

   • To change context, select a new item from the drop-down list under Context filter.

4. If you want to use a custom set as a filter, drag the custom set from the Analysis Items tab to the Context filter section of the overview area.

Pin the Context of a Set

When you change the Context filter section of the overview area, the values shown for the selected set also change. This includes the items that meet criteria for any applied filters, sorting, ranking, and so on. If you want the applied settings to ignore context changes, you can pin the context of the selected set.

For example, you have a crosstab showing the top three products by order method. You drag Years from the source tree to the Context filter section of the overview area. As you select different years, the top three order methods change. You are interested in the performance of a particular set of order methods and want to compare the results for the same set in other years, so you pin the current context. Now you can select different years and keep the same set of order methods in the crosstab.

Steps

1. Select the set whose context you want to pin.

2. Open the properties pane.

3. Click Definition.

4. Click Hold Current Context .

5. Click OK.

An icon  next to the item label in the overview area shows you that the context is pinned.

Tip: To restore dynamic context, repeat steps 1 to 3 and click Use Dynamic Context.