Wildcard Entries in User Maps

Version 6.2.0 introduces the option for Wildcard Entries in User Maps. This feature helps to simplify the process of building User Maps and determining values that can be accessed by different users.

This article describes:

Wildcard Entries may slow processing significantly.  Metric Insights does not recommend using this function for complex User Maps.

1. How to set User Maps to allow Wildcards

Edit User Map > Data tab

  1. Load the User Map file
  2. Select "Allow Wildcard Entries" to allow wildcard use in all value fields and to open the additional fields as seen in second screen
  3. Check "Enable for Usernames" to apply the wildcard Username field also (as in example #2 in Step 1)
  4. Enter a Wildcard character
    1. Default value is set as a system variable "USER_MAP_WILDCARD_CHARACTER_DEFAULT" ( access Admin > System Variables)
    2. Enter any other symbol valid for just this User Map

Save and Enable the User Map

1.1. Example of a User Map utilizing Wildcards  

Examples in this article are created using CSV/Excel file, although the system allows User Maps to be built with other Data Sources.

Create a User Map

The above example show the various ways wildcards can be used - note that wildcard is defined as an "*"

  1. Ryan is granted access to all Country, Channel, and Product Category values
  2. Everyone (wildcard) has access to "United States" for all Channel and Product Category values. This also applies to any User not included in the User Map.
  3. Anna only has access to Wine, bought from a store visit, for two Countries (Canada and Spain)
  4. Patrick  is granted access to only one Channel (email marketing) and one Product (wine)  in three Countries (Canada, France, and Spain)
  5. Peter has access to all Channels in three Countries (Canada, France, and Germany), but only for Wine sales

2. Apply User Map to Datasets (and other objects)

User Maps that utilize wildcards can also be applied to both External Reports and Bursts as described in:

  1. Set Access mode to "only specified rows"
  2. Select User Map from drop-down
  3. Map the values from the Dataset to the values in the User Map

2.1. Option to restrict access will be applied to all Dataset Views

Dataset Editor - Google Chrome

2.2. Create a Dataset Report and its User Map is automatically applied

Report Editor - Google Chrome

To easily check access restrictions, apply some filters:

  1. Our example is applying Filters and Grouping to simplify viewing
  2. Select "Restrict Data with User Map" in Editor (optional)
  3. Dataset Report will automatically apply restrictions in Viewer

3. Report Viewer results for the various scenarios

3.1. Scenario 1 - Ryan

Report: Daily Sales - Tableau Report - Google Chrome

 Ryan is determined by:

  1. Wildcards in all value fields related to his Username
  2. (Wildcard in Username is not relevant)

3.2. Scenario 2 - User is not in User Map

User Map: User map with wildcards - Google Chrome

Abby's access is determined by:

  1. Wildcard in User Name applies to all Users, including those with View or Edit Access but not in User Map

3.3. Scenario 3 - Anna

Usermap with wildcards - Excel

Anna's access is determined by:

  1. Two sets of rules applied specifically to her
  2. Wildcard in Username applies to all Users

3.4. Scenario 4 - Patrick

Usermap with wildcards - Excel

Patrick's access is determined by:

  1. Three sets of rules applied specifically to him
  2. Wildcard in Username applies to all Users