HP Storage Essentials Storage Resource Management Report Optimizer Software 6.0 Building Reports Using the Web Intelligence Java Report Panel (August 2008)

Filtering the values displayed in reports246
The difference between query filters and report filters
Web Intelligence allows you to apply filters at two levels within a single document:
• the query definition – this is the data defined in Query View, retrieved from the data
source, and returned to the Web Intelligence document
• the data displayed in the report – this is a subset of the data in the query definition that
is displayed on a specific report within the document
Filters you apply to the query definition are called query filters. Query filters decrease the
time it takes to run the reports in the document and limit the size of the document to the
data relevant to the users who consult it.
Filters you apply to the data displayed in the report are called report filters. You use report
filters to limit the values displayed in the reports within a document. You can filter each
report to display a different subset of the same data.
The data hidden by the report filters is still saved with the Web Intelligence document. You
can modify the report filters to display different data in the report or remove the report
filters altogether without modifying the query.
Note: Filtering the query minimizes the size of Web Intelligence documents, minimizes the
time it takes to refresh report data, and ensures that the data the documents contain is
relevant to users consulting the reports.
For more information about using query filters, see ”How query filters work” on page 83.
Creating custom report filters
You define custom filters on reports, sections, or blocks to limit the displayed values to the
values essential for a specific business focus. The filters only affect the values displayed in
the specific report, section, or block.
The data hidden by the report filters is still saved with the Web Intelligence document. You
can modify the report filters to display different data in the report or remove the report
filters altogether to display all the data defined in the query.
You can define custom report filters two ways:
• Using the Quick Filter option – allows you to quickly select one or multiple values you
want to display in a specific section or block on the report
• Using the Filter Editor – allows you to select from many operators and to apply filters to
an entire report or to specific sections or blocks on the report
Creating a custom filter using the quick filter option
To create a custom filter using the quick filter option:
1. Make sure you are in Report View.
The Edit Report button is pressed in when you are working in Report View.
2. Click the report tab of the report you want to filter.