A summary table presents aggregate data information in a report, providing users with a concise view of the data. The aggregate calculation occurs at the data source level, which enables users to view summary information at a glance (also known as a contextual call-out) Provides information and actions in a dialogue box for an item on the screen when the user right-clicks or taps the item., which improves response time and reduces the load on the server. For example, using a summary table from a data source that contains two fields—Worked Hours and Dollar Amount—the user can view the total amount for each status.
Key components of a summary table are dimension columns, measure columns, and attribute columns.
- Dimension columns group data in other columns. Some examples of dimension columns include employee name, employee ID, and cost center. Dimension columns containing date-and-time data can be grouped in intervals in a summary table.
- Attribute columns provide additional information about a dimension column. For example, Employment Status or Hire Date can be an attribute of the Employee Name dimension. Each dimension can contain several attribute fields.
- Measure columns contain the aggregated values that are evaluated. Depending on the type of data in a measure column, specific aggregate functions are available to use on the column. Some examples of measure columns include Total Costs, Total Hours, and Actual Hours.
The following table compares the actions you can take on dimension, attribute and measure columns in a summary table.
| Action | Dimension | Attribute | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create filters | X | X | X |
| Delete the column | X | X | X |
| Edit and format the column header | X | X | X |
| Filter data using the Top/Bottom N condition. | X | ||
| Format data | X | X | X |
| Modify aggregate data | X | ||
| Show or hide columns | X | X | X |
| Sort column data in ascending or descending order | X | X |