Slicers let you create different variations of a published document based on different *SLICES* of the available data (for example, customers, employees, departments, and so on). In effect, the user is creating a template in Publish, and can use the Interaction Manager to manage data that will populate the document at runtime.
Adding a slicer opens the Interaction Manager, which is an interface used to connect slicers to publication components (visualizations, dynamic assets, and sections). This interface lets you "wire up" the data elements even if they are from different data models, in different databases, or on different servers.
Once all the artifacts, dynamic text and sections have been added to the template, users can elect to attach one or more slices. This can produce hundreds and thousands of published report variations.
Add Slicers to your Publication
You can add a slicer to your publication in the following ways:
- Add an existing slicer that was built in Discover (see below).
- Build a new slicer "on-the-fly" in Publish:
- Using the Quick Slicer function.
- Using the Advanced Slicer Wizard.
- Using the Add New Slicer button in the Interaction Manager.
Edit the Slicers on your Publication
Slicers in Publish are configured in the Interaction Manager.
Add Slicers
Add Existing Slicers from Discover
STEP 1
To add filter or parameter slicers that have been saved as part of a query in Discover, find the relevant slicer in the Content folders.
STEP 2
Drag the slicer onto the canvas. This action opens the Interaction Manager.
STEP 3
Drop the slicer onto the Interaction Manager, and find the slicer in the From column. Add interactions from the slicer by selecting the checkbox next the relevant visuals.
When ready, minimize the Interaction Manager.
Note: Your slicer will not be visible from the page view within Publish. You must configure additional slicer preferences when scheduling your Publication. For more information, see Publishing and Distribution.
STEP 4 (Optional)
Limit your slicer to only including those elements that are relevant to the publication that you are creating. For example, limiting a "Country" slicer to only include European countries as options.
- Open the interaction manager, right-click the header relating to your slicer, and click Slicer Settings.
- In the Slicer Settings panel, select Elements. Since the Slicer is currently linked to a discovery the panel appears as follows:
- If you want to change which elements are included on the slicer wherever it appears, you should edit the elements list in the source discovery.
- If you want to change which elements are included on the slicer in this publication only, you should unlink the slicer from its parent discovery and edit its elements here in the publication only.
You have two options for changing which Elements that you want to include in the slicer when it is used by the publication:
To do this, click Discover Link to open the source discovery and then edit the Slicer Settings in there. Your changes will affect the slicer wherever it appears (on the discovery, in the publication, and any other instances).
To do this, click Unlink at the bottom of the panel. Once the slicer is unlinked, its association with the discovery is broken and the elements tree is shown. You can now change the Elements for this slicer in this panel.
For more information about Slicer Settings, see Interaction Manager.
Warning: Unlinking a slicer from its discovery is permanent. Any changes you make to the discovery after it has been unlinked will not affect the slicer in the publication. You must be sure that you want to unlink your slicer before you click Unlink.
Create a New Slicer in Publish
Use this option to build slicers on-the-fly, or to filter your publication by elements from other data models.
STEP 1
Click the New Slicer button from the Home ribbon to open the New Slicer dialog.
STEP 2
From the Choose Model panel, select the required server, database, and data model.
STEP 3
Select the relevant hierarchy from the Select Hierarchies panel.
STEP 4
In Set Default Visualization, name your slicer and choose a slicer Type. To specify elements, hierarchy levels, sets, or parameters, switch to Advanced.
STEP 5
Open the Interaction Manager from the Home ribbon. From the dialog, check the relevant boxes to add slicer interactions to visuals.
STEP 6
Save changes to your report, and configure slicer settings from the Selections tab in the Schedule dialog. See Share and Schedule a Publication for details
STEP 7
To delete a slicer:
- Open the Interaction Manager.
- Right-click the slicer heading and select Delete Slicer.
STEP 8
To edit a slicer's settings:
- Open the Interaction Manager.
- Right-click the slicer heading and select Slicer Settings.