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Using Crosstab Formulas

Crosstab formulas are a type of extended formulas used only in crosstabs that are created using query resources. By using crosstab formulas, you can create custom aggregate functions in a crosstab to get the desired results. Crosstab formulas are private resources on the crosstab level. They cannot be used beyond its crosstab.

This topic includes the following sections:

• Crosstab Formula Syntax
• Using Crosstab Formulas to Apply Custom Aggregate Functions
• Managing Crosstab Formulas

Crosstab Formula Syntax

To support more powerful and flexible calculation logic in crosstabs, crosstab formula extends the basic formula syntax in the following aspects:

• A crosstab formula can reference another crosstab formula within the same crosstab. The format is @@<Crosstab_Formula_Name>, for example, @@CTF1, here CTF1 is a crosstab formula name. In this case, a crosstab formula can be written as @(@@CTF1).
• A crosstab formula can reference summary expression which follows the syntax of custom aggregation expression. See some summary expression examples below:

  @(Sum(@Sales))
@(@Country:"USA",@Year:CHILDREN, Sum(@Sales))
@(@Country:"USA",@Year:CHILDREN, @@CTF1)

Using Crosstab Formulas to Apply Custom Aggregate Functions

The following example shows how to apply custom aggregate function in a crosstab by creating a crosstab formula:

1. Make sure SampleReports.cat is the currently open catalog file. If not select File > Open Catalog to open it from <install_root>\Demo\Reports\SampleReports.
2. Select File > New > Page Report.
3. In the Select Component for Page Report dialog, select Crosstab and select OK.
4. In the Data screen of the Crosstab Wizard, select the query WorldWideSales in Data Source 1 of the catalog.
5. In the Display screen, add Country as the row field and Region as the column field.
6. Select <New Crosstab Formula...> in the Crosstab Formulas node in the Resources box.

   

7. In the Enter Crosstab Formula Name dialog, type CustomAgg and select OK. The Crosstab Formula Editor is displayed.

   

8. Define the formula as follows:

   currency ctsv1 = @(Sum(@Price));
currency ctsv2 = @(@Country:ALL,@Region:ALL,Sum(@Price));
if(ctsv1/ctsv2 >0.005)
return ToText(ctsv1)
else
return "N/A"

9. Save the crosstab formula and add it to the Summaries box as the aggregate field. You can find the aggregate function of the aggregate field is displayed as Custom and cannot be edited.
10. Switch to the Style screen and select Classic as the report style from the Style box.
11. Select Finish to create the crosstab and preview it. The crosstab is shown somewhat as follows. You can see that in the aggregate cell, based on the formula expression, "N/A" is displayed if the price value equals to or is less than 5‰ of the grand total price $16,337.85, while the actual price is displayed if the price is more than 5‰ of the grand total price.

    

Managing Crosstab Formulas

You can manage the crosstab formulas of a crosstab in the Data panel as follows:

• Creating crosstab formulas
  To create a crosstab formula, select <New Crosstab Formula...> in the Crosstab Formulas node, type a name for the crosstab formula in the Enter Crosstab Formula Name dialog and select OK, then in the Crosstab Formula Editor, compose the formula as required. You can then insert the crosstab formula as aggregate field to the crosstab or use it to control the properties of objects in the crosstab.
• Editing a crosstab formula
  To edit a crosstab formula, select it from the Crosstab Formulas node, then right-click the crosstab formula and select Edit Formula on the shortcut menu. In the Crosstab Formula Editor, edit the formula expression as required.
• Deleting a crosstab formula
  To delete a crosstab formula, right-click the crosstab formula and select Delete from the shortcut menu.
• Renaming a crosstab formula
  To rename a crosstab formula, right-click the crosstab formula and select Rename from the shortcut menu. Type a new name in the Enter Crosstab Formula Name dialog and select OK to confirm the change.
• Viewing properties of acrosstab formula
  To view the properties of a crosstab formula, right-click the crosstab formula and select Properties. The properties are then displayed in the Properties dialog.

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