Pre-Filtering MicroStrategy Data (Dataset example)

When sourcing data from MicroStrategy for Metrics, Reports, External Reports, Dimensions, and Datasets, you can pre-filter data before fetching it. This function allows to focus on the slice of data that you really need and exclude those values that are currently irrelevant for the research.

PREREQUISITES:

Establish Connectivity to MicroStrategy

FINDING FILTER NAMES IN MICROSTRATEGY

Data displayed in MicroStrategy Viewers can be filtered by different criteria. Filters in MicroStrategy are built from Attributes. On the example above, they are displayed as Report Objects on the left of the Report Viewer.

To find Filter names in MicroStrategy:

  1. Check available Attributes OR
  2. Use View Filter grid > [+Add Condition] to open a list of available Filter values.

To view all Filters and Filter values at once, set PAGE-BY option to display Total (ALL values).

Supported MSTR Prompt Types

Aside from regular Filters, the Plugin also supports Prompts as External Filters for Report, Dossiers, and Documents.

Supported Prompt types are:

  • Element
  • Constant
  • [6.3.3] Expression
  • [6.3.4] Object

1. Define a Source Object for Data Collection

Start by creating an element. Once you get to the process of Data Collection, define the following:

  1. Choose Data Source that connects MicroStrategy and Metric Insights. For more information, see: Establish Connectivity to MicroStrategy
  2. Choose Data Collection Trigger that is going to initiate updating information in this Element
  3. Choose MicroStrategy Report from the pop-up list of available MicroStrategy objects that can be a source of data
    • Each item in the list is represented as the path (hierarchy) to the respective Report in MicroStrategy.
    • If the required item is not displayed, click the Refresh icon at the upper right corner of the pop-up

2. Manage Filters

2.1. Add MicroStrategy Filters to Metric Insights

Once filters are added to a Metric/Dataset or External Report for the first time, they are going to be automatically added to all new respective elements with the same Data Source/Report.

NOTE:

  • External filters are tied to MicroStrategy Reports, not Metric Insights' elements. This allows Filters to be reused for multiple elements (without creating new Filters every time an element is created in Metric Insights).
  • If there are more External Filters or Filter Values that you would like to use for the current element, you can always set the redundant ones to "ignore".

When creating a Metric/Report/External Report from MicroStrategy, after you define the Report that should serve as a Data Source, you may pre-filter information that is going to be fetched.

  1. Under Manage Filters, you can toggle on Retrieve Filter Names from MicroStrategy. The system will auto-collect all available MicroStrategy filters.
  2. Under Manage Filters > [+Filter], you can choose one of the five options for adding filters individually. Sections below provide information on how to do this.

NOTE: 

  • Examples given below are taken from the MicroStrategy Report shown at the top of the page.
  • MicroStrategy Filter Name must exactly match the column name of the MicroStrategy Report. Filter names are case sensitive. Unless the match is exact, the Filter will not work

2.1.1. Load Filter values from MicroStrategy

  1. Enter MicroStrategy Filter Name
  2. Choose the corresponding option for filter creation
  3. [Save]

2.1.2. Dataset

If you have already created Datasets from MicroStrategy in Metric Insights, you can choose one for pre-filtering:

  1. Enter MicroStrategy Filter Name
  2. Choose the corresponding option for filter creation
  3. Select Dataset & View
  4. Specify Value Column
  5. [Save]

NOTE: Datasets used here must have Values that exactly match the Filter Values in MicroStrategy (if the Values do not match, the Filter will not work).

2.1.3. Map to Dimension Values

If you have already used MicroStrategy filters to create Dimensions in Metric Insights, you can quickly choose which Dimension Values you want to use for pre-filtering:

  1. Enter MicroStrategy Filter Name
  2. Choose the corresponding option for filter creation
  3. Select Dimension
    • All Dimension Values are going to be loaded to the Values list automatically
  4. [Save]

NOTE: Dimensions used here must have Values that exactly match the Filter Values in MicroStrategy (if the Values do not match, the Filter will not work).

To source Dimension Values from MicroStrategy, see Create a Dimension with values automatically fetched from MicroStrategy

2.1.4. Enter Manually

  1. Enter MicroStrategy Filter Name
  2. Choose the corresponding option for filter creation and [Save] to display the [+Add Value] button
  3. [+ Add Value] and add the name of the filter value
  4. [Save]

2.1.5. Date

  1. Enter MicroStrategy Filter Name
  2. Choose the corresponding option for filter creation
  3. Select Date Format used in the MicroStrategy Report
  4. [Save]

2.2. Delete Filters

To delete a filter, go to Manage Filters and click the Trashcan icon next to the filter.

3. Add Filters to a Results Set from MicroStrategy

  1. Click the Pencil icon in the filter row
  2. Choose how you want to use the filter
  3. [Save]